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88 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / March 2020 ence and medicine “are still going to have to go to a physical building,” says Barr, noting that the firm is able to apply lessons learned in education that apply to health care, and vice ver- sa. “How do we not silo ourselves off but play off all the strengths we have as an office?” This kind of innovation has emerged as a calling card for CannonDesign, he adds. The firm made Fast Company’s “10 Most Innova- tive Companies in Architecture” in 2017 “for taking a quantitative approach to architecture” and 2019 “for fostering healing environments for sick children.” It’s about evolving processes and a data-centric approach. Advancements in modular construction could cut design and build time in half for health care projects, says Barr, noting that the firm is the lead design firm for the ModularDesign+ alliance. CannonDesign also has an internal software group in FOS (Facilities Optimization Solutions). The firm reg- ularly uses its own tools to assess the facilities of an en- tire school district as its puts together priorities for bond funding, and has worked with Denver Public Schools, the Cherry Creek School District, and the Brighton School Dis- trict in this regard. “We can go into 50 buildings and catalog everything that they’ve got in those 50 buildings,” says Barr. “Our educa- tion group has an overlay where we’re actually looking at student adequacy scores within those classrooms ... We can actually point to data to say, ‘In this classroom build- ing where there’s more daylight, students are performing at a higher level than these students that don’t have the same daylight.’” Back at the new digs in RiNo, Barr says a flat organiza- tion with “leadership at every level” is his aim for the of- fice culture. “I want people who come in here right out of school to feel like they’re leaders in the firm,” he notes. “How do we mentor and how do we grow people, but also give them a sense of ownership and responsibility? Every- body adds value. I don’t care where you sit.” James Naylor, a relatively new hire, joined CannonDe- sign as a junior designer in Denver last March. Part of his decision was guided by the firm’s data-centric methods, but he also saw the potential for career growth. “It’s a re- ally good place for people at the stage I’m at in my career,” he says. “It’s a very interesting office in that it’s three firms that joined together.” Naylor says he’s been especially impressed by “the vast variety of knowledge” in diverse areas of architecture to be tapped into at the firm. “People have 20-, 30-plus years of experience,” he notes. “It’s really nice to have that.” As far as career opportunities at CannonDesign go, “The sky’s the limit,” he adds. “It’s really up to you.” \\ ABOVE: The firm’s combined portfolio includes design work for the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. / CannonDesign in Denver /