Creative problem-solving drives Nourzad’s success

Listen to this article

Falamak Nourzad views her work in design and architecture as the ideal way to engage both the analytical and creative sides of her brain.

“You use logic to think through the project and how it will come together while at the same time you use your artistic side to bring the design to life,” said Nourzad, a founder and principal of Continuum Architects + Planners in Milwaukee.

For most of her career, Nourzad was well known for her work on commercial and healthcare projects, including housing projects and build-outs. The jobs have included the National Avenue Lofts and renovation projects at the Tomah VA Medical Building. About three years ago, all that changed when she dived into the market for historic consulting and preservation. Nourzad said a client’s request for help led to the leap.

“We didn’t want to lose the project, but they needed help figuring out how to get their building on the historic register so they could utilize historic tax credits,” she said. “It was something new to me, but I thought outside of the box and was able to help them. Then another client came along and then another. It continued to grow.”

Some of the historic projects Nourzad has worked on include the Broadway Market Lofts and the Grain Exchange Room in downtown Milwaukee.

Finding ways to overcome obstacles is nothing new to Nourzad.

“As developers, not everything we work on immediately graduates into a viable architectural project,” said Lindsey S. Bovinet, a partner with Milwaukee View LLC who worked with Nourzad on the Broadway Market Lofts. “Falamak understands the value of our long-term partnership, and provides us with essential early-stage architectural advice, helping us to define which projects have the potential to move on the next stages of development. This takes a great deal of patience, and trust; two skills that Falamak has mastered.”

Nourzad enjoys the sorts of difficulties that are in inherent in historic rehabilitation projects. “You are taking something and helping it find a new life,” she said. “You are forming and shaping something. It’s a great accomplishment when it’s complete.”

Whenever working on a project, Nourzad strives to keep the technical team and the client moving in the same direction.

“You have to take that technical language spoken by everyone involved in the design and construction side of things and what the client is expressing as their wants and make sure everyone understands each other,” she said. “It sometimes feels like they are speaking different languages.”