El Dorado Architecture

We went to tour a company called El Dorado in Kansas City. They are a small Firm that boasts a wide range of work. Their markets and work include retail stores, houses, condos, corporate environments, furniture, theaters, public spaces, and sculptural pieces. Their style in recent years seems to use a lot of stainless, steel, and concrete with a highly modern look. Because of the owners background they do a lot of metals work, brazing, and welding in shop. In recent years they have been winning a number of design awards, (KC Magazine: 2007 Best Kansas City Architectural Firm) The part of the tour I was there for was very short and pretty much consisted of telling us that El Dorado was not a start up (it seemed like a start up) and general advice for a Design Education and Job. One of those pieces of advice (pointed statements) was how unprofessional it is to be late. I was late for the tour but felt irritated because I viewed it as not anything I have control over. I had stayed in class till it got out, skipped lunch, walked to my car, and started making the not so short drive to Kansas City.  When I arrived at the tour I just heard how “unprofessional” it is to be late and then had the tour end. The only other question I heard was regarding the startup atmosphere surrounding the company. The man giving the tour did not seem to take kindly to the question, responding with an air of exasperation at the idea it had an atmosphere of a startup. He made sure we knew that the company started in 1996 and had a lot of experience.  I was surprised at this because I thought most people had a great deal of pride in the startup business model. Everything about El Dorado oozed startup mentality. They were in a business district surrounded by startups. The staff was all extremely young. The owners started a company with their own capital, receiving no outside investment to start. They were developing a unique business model, and had an in house welding shop. They lacked a visible corporate structure, didn’t have any corner offices, instead having employees sit next to owners.  According to their website, the began when architect Jamie Darnell began taking welding classes and convinced four other, Doug Stockman, Dan Maginn, Chris Kelsey and David Murrell, to join him in taking the class. They eventually decided to start a business, and incorporated as El Dorado Inc. They leased a 10,000 square foot space at 1712 Main Street for $600 a month thanks to the kindness of an arts-supporting Crossroads developer. They used part of the space for a welding fabrication shop and the other for an architecture practice. Their Idea was that the two could function independently but also generate business for each other. Their business struggled for many years. It was difficult to find work and compete with more established firms. They struggled with branding as their combined model of architecture firm and fabricator was innovative yet confusing. By the later 2010, they eventually went to a model that said “El Dorado is an Architecture Firm.” This helped their branding and they started getting more work, winning contracts, awards, and publications. In recent years they have started going into working larger commercial projects. Because of this they are not able to use the Fabrication Shop as much, but they are stilling going well as a side part of the businesses.