Meet Nick Moorhouse

Kelsey Munson on Aug 21, 2024

Nick Moorhouse joined BBA Architects in 2022 with a wide range of experience under his belt. Originally set on following in his father’s footsteps to pursue civil engineering and landscape architecture, he quickly realized he wanted to pursue a career with a bigger mix of technical and creative work.

“I crave the organization and technical challenges that engineering encompasses, but I knew that I was a bit too much of a dreamer to be happy using math to solve every design challenge. Architecture is an incredible blend of both, and the technical challenges that interesting designs create are more of a thrill to solve. I feel a major sense of accomplishment when I can work through a tough problem that preserves an incredible design.”

A Wisconsin native, Nick earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and his Master’s from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Nick’s first job out of college was at a high-end residential firm on the North Shore, and he very quickly learned that this role entails much more than drawing a beautiful building.

“In this niche of the field, I get to wear a lot of hats. On any given day, I can be drawing building sections, making site visits, reviewing bids and budgets, working directly with contractors to solve problems on the fly, or meeting with clients to collaborate on their dream home.”

After nearly five years in an architecture office, Nick felt pulled to explore the contracting side of residential construction to help him become a more thoughtful and efficient designer.

“I wanted a deeper understanding of building practices, to understand why we build the way we do. So much of my academic coursework was focused on commercial architecture and building in steel, and I wanted to fill that gap in knowledge. I wanted to understand how projects were bid and gain experience with projects at different scales. It’s proven to be immensely helpful to me in my return to residential architecture in that I can speak to contractors in a common language or understand the rationale for numbers on a bid set. It helps me to work on behalf of my client to make reasonable adjustments to meet their design and budget goals.” 

That learning continued upon joining BBA. “I got to dive into the world of specialty systems with my first project at BBA. The client was an avid sports fan, so I spent a lot of time learning about indoor golf simulators and the best way to integrate underground sports courts into a residence. It was a unique and eye-opening experience.”

Working directly with clients is the most rewarding part of the job for Nick, from helping them understand a detail through a quick sketch or visualize the complete design through a 3D model to guiding them through the myriad of choices that must be made when designing a home. 

“Most people building a home will do it once or twice in their life, so I can only imagine how overwhelming the process must feel to someone who isn’t speaking this language daily. I try to be a collaborative partner our clients can lean on for guidance, to help them understand how a given design decision will impact the function of their space, and to be a source of reassurance if and when decision fatigue sets in. I feel very grateful that I get to play a part in helping someone create their dream home.”

Outside of the office, his combined experience in architecture and general contracting has come in handy now that he’s focused on his own home. Nick and his wife purchased their first home in 2023 after the birth of their second child. “For our first home, our dream was to find a little fixer-upper we could put our stamp on. Every time we take on a new project at home, my wife likes to joke that she ‘knows a guy’ who can help us. I’ve learned so much and have been able to get my hands dirty in so many areas. It’s given me a renewed respect for all of the trades.”

The majority of Nick’s workday is spent utilizing digital tools to help bring a design to life, so when it’s time to relax, he likes to take his creativity offline. From spending time woodworking, to maintaining his home garden and yard, to picking up his watercolors to paint, he is most at ease while getting his hands dirty in the quest to add small moments of function and beauty to his family home. 

“All of the men in my life growing up were ‘makers,’ tinkering in their shops or planting gardens. Some of my fondest memories with them involve us creating something together. They always let me ‘help,’ even if I was too little to really do more than add to the mess. That’s something I’ve carried with me now that I’m a parent— always saying ‘yes’ when my kids ask to be involved. I’m thrilled that they want to get their hands dirty and express their own creativity; it’s a delight hearing the ideas they come up with and watching how their minds work.”

Nick feels very lucky to have found a career that is both challenging and fulfilling, and it always gives him the opportunity to learn and grow. 

“I have a passion for all aspects of the work I do, but the creation of a space, whether through digital design or my own two hands, is what I find most rewarding.”