2021 Year in Review: Mike Aziz, Cooper Robertson

Name: Mike Aziz, AIA, LEED AP

Job Title: Partner and Director of Urban Design

Company Name: Cooper Robertson

What was the biggest lesson you learned while working during the pandemic?
One of the biggest lessons that I’ve taken from the pandemic is that it is possible to have a work-life balance, even while the world continues to spin off-kilter. I think a lot of colleagues in the real estate and design worlds would agree that we need to embrace this new way of living, take time to care for ourselves, and appreciate the extra time we have to spend with our families (even if those families include a three-year-old who never sleeps in!).

What is the best advice you received in 2021, and who was it from?
“Trust the process.” It’s a phrase coined by the Philadelphia 76ers, a client of ours, and it applies to much more than just the basketball court. In an effort to make something truly great, something long lasting and impactful, you have to fully commit yourself to the process of delivering it through hard work, teamwork, and determination.

How has your working environment changed over the last year?
Not much! I’m still largely working remotely, but have found ways to improve my WFH environment to create more separation between work and family space. I think we can all benefit from developing and respecting boundaries between where, when and how we work. Whether you’re in a creative field or not, the mind needs time to decompress, wander and reset, and we can’t do that working off the proverbial kitchen table forever!

What was your greatest professional accomplishment or most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2021?
From my perspective, it was a huge accomplishment for our firm Cooper Robertson to compete against 20 other top-notch architecture firms, and ultimately be selected to develop the master plan for reimagining the riverfront in Middletown, CT. Working with the city’s leadership and the Middletown community over the last six months to reconnect their thriving downtown with their historic waterfront has been incredibly rewarding and engaging.

What are your predictions for your industry in 2022?
I think our collective light bulb has gone off, and we now see how inextricably linked climate change, public health, and social justice imperatives are in today’s world. The challenges that lie ahead are too large and complex to tackle in isolation, and I predict that the AEC industry will enter a really exciting and meaningful period of collaboration and shared purpose. It’s encouraging to see more professionals in the design and development worlds thinking creatively about how we can involve a broader set of stakeholders and experts as project partners and allies, and overcome these challenges together.