Meet Ellen Garland | Architect and Entreprenuer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ellen Garland and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ellen, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
I founded Silver Studio Architects on the principles of Impact and Integrity. As Architects, the places we design impact the people that occupy our spaces and the communities built in our developments. It is our professional responsibility to build projects with literal, structural integrity. The principles of Impact and Integrity however, reach beyond the physical places we create. We use these concepts to guide our relationships with each other, our clients and our communities. We have impact when we stand up for our beliefs, use our skills and knowledge to effect positive change and when we come together as unique individuals to create diverse collaboration as a team. We have integrity when we use our wisdom to do the right thing for each other and our work. I find that answering yes to the question, “does this project or this action I am taking have impact and integrity” keeps me on the path to successful endeavors.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Silver Studios is an imaginative, yet intriguingly small, Woman-Owned Architectural and Interior Design firm focused on mixed-use and town-center redevelopment projects in the Southeast. We approach each project with a unique design perspective often starting our process by understanding the context of our sites and drawing inspiration from the surrounding area or places that have influenced us. We take particular pride in our Town Center projects that enable us to use principles of New Urbanism, walkability, community integration, a mix of uses and densities to shape inviting communities. We draw on our unique backgrounds and the diversity of our team members to collaborate on creative solutions to design challenges. If you take a step back from our body of work you will see that no two projects are the same however, there is high standard of design and detail in our work that our client’s have come to expect and appreciate about our brand. Our success as a team of creative professionals has come from a high level of support and trust in each other and a drive to continually push ourselves to do better.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many wonderful things to appreciate about Atlanta. My favorite thing is the intentional preservation of the Atlanta tree line. I am always fascinated by the integration of an urban environment with nature. As such I would want to share the view corridors of the Eastside beltline trails and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. We would stop for a drink at Sweetwater Brewing (right across the street from our office). We would explore dining options on Buford Highway or West Midtown (one of my favorite neighborhoods). I also love to get out of the City and spend time, golfing and boating at Lake Oconee.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my Shoutout to all of the people who believe in me and support me. This is my family, my clients, my colleagues and friends. As a mother of two young kids, there is no way I could have accomplished my goals without the complete support from my husband. Sharing equal responsibility for making sure our kids are loved and cared for gives me the mental space to set professional goals. When I started my firm, there were several clients that immediately stepped up to support me and give me opportunities. In a male dominated industry, I was not confident that my Women Owned Business would get those opportunities and I am not sure I can adequately express my appreciation for the people who opened doors for me in my first year in business. I would not be where I am today if not for the people on my team at Silver Studio. We are a truly collaborative team and their trust and input mean a lot to me.

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