Continuum Architects + Planners S.C. is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and Falamak Nourzad, Ursula Twombly and Robert Barr have made the company one of the most dynamic, urban and successful women-owned firms in the state.
The three are co-owners and principals in the firm.
Nourzad’s story is one that reflects American opportunity. At her father’s request, she moved to the United States from Iran. The year was 1977, a time of political turmoil for both countries.
Nourzad attended the University of Kansas, pursing her interest in interior design. In 1980, she moved to Milwaukee, earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). It was here she would meet her eventual partner, Twombly.
Twombly had completed high school at age 16. In 1975, she moved from Switzerland to the United States as an exchange student.
“In Switzerland, we pack a lot more into our schedule, so we complete school in eight years vs. 12,” Twombly said. “At that time, you have to make a decision as to what you want to do.”
Twombly eventually decided on architecture and completed a four-year apprenticeship. Her architecture accreditation didn’t transfer, so she too enrolled at UWM to study architecture.
Both Nourzad and Twombly took jobs with Kahler Slater Architects and met Barr, a 1990 UWM alum, at the firm.
Barr, a Milwaukee native, said he knew he wanted to become an architect at a very young age. After taking an aptitude test, advisors recommended that Barr explore engineering. Three years into the engineering program, Barr realized it was architecture he wanted to do after all.
“There are lots great big firms that do all the big commercial projects,” Barr said. “Then there are tons of little firms. There’s not a lot in the middle range. We thought we could compete directly with the big firms because they divide themselves up into small studios anyway. We thought we could take that approach. Where a 120-person firm does 20 major projects per year, we’ll do four and stay small to maintain the principal involvement from beginning to end.”
After completing projects such as the Pettit National Ice Center and the Harnischfeger corporate headquarters, Nourzad and Twombly opted to venture out on their own.
The third floor of an old foundry building on South First Street in Milwaukee became their first and only studio. Using all their contacts, Nourzad and Twombly found their first job to be remodeling a small bathroom. Within one year, Barr joined the duo.
Today, Continuum Architects is a thriving firm with 11 employees. Notable projects to date include Red Arrow Park, the Kramer Lifestyle Center and UWM’s Lapham Hall. Their start-up firm has grown to produce $1.6 million in revenue annually – a number the two women expect to double in three years.
Looking outside Milwaukee’s immediate vicinity and presenting different ways of thinking are two sources of inspiration for the firm, Nourzad said. Two more include the clients the firm serves and traveling to “keep up to snuff with what’s going on around the world,” Nourzad said.
The company’s name reflects what Nourzad and Twombly say is a legacy that will outlast the principals of the firm.
Address: 228 S. First St., Suite 300, Milwaukee
Web Site: www.continuumarchitects.com
Industry: Architecture
Revenues: $1.6 million
Employees: 11
