Jeffrey Chouinard joined HMC Architects in 2019, and leads some of the firm’s most significant PreK-12 projects as a senior project manager. Jeffrey is a dedicated project manager passionate about helping districts navigate their most pressing challenges and creating environments where students can thrive.

Q: Describe your educational and professional background and how you got into architecture.

A: I started at a trade school studying AutoCAD and was fortunate enough to have an architect take a chance on me and hire me. That firm designed residential spaces but then moved into hospitality and theme park work. While there, I had the opportunity to work on some exciting theme park environments, including designing a Gotham City Cafe for Spain’s Movie World, Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, and an Aman boutique resort on the border of Arizona and Utah. While I didn’t have a formal, traditional educational background, that experience helped me transition to where I am today. Once I had children, I saw their schools’ impact on them, and I began to think and ask them what they would do differently to give them a better experience. Those conversations fueled my love of the PreK-12 work, and I am passionate about watching how even the most minor design details can impact a child’s experience.

Q: Describe your current role at HMC.

A: I’ve been at HMC for six years as a senior project manager. And while I am focused on managing our projects from start to finish, I’m also very involved in mentoring our younger staff and helping them grow in their careers. It’s been very inspiring to me to watch our company and our culture grow into what it is today. It has been fascinating to help drive change within my studio and watch the younger staff learning, driving, and engaging in the company culture we’ve worked hard to
establish.

Q: What are some major projects of which you’re most proud and that our clients might want to know about?

A: I am very proud of one of our latest high school projects, Kern High School District’s Del Oro High School in Bakersfield, California. I was involved in the project from schematic design through the end of construction and on to project closeout. I learned so much about myself, the industry, and the students that we serve. Although this was a large project, it reminded me that no matter the size of the project, our designs can make a significant impact on students, staff, and the community, which embraces our Design for Good ethos here at HMC. From opening its doors to a low-income area of Bakersfield serving underprivileged students to hearing excited district alums wish that they could go back to school on that campus, there are so many amazing stories coming out of Del Oro, and I’m so proud to have been a part of helping it come to life.

Q: Tell us about the new Bakersfield City School District New Elementary School. What is your role in the project, and how will this new school impact the district and community?

A: As the senior project manager, I’ll manage the new elementary school from start to finish and ensure that our client is well taken care of and that our design helps them achieve their mission and goals. The project is located on a greenfield site that was once planned for a housing development but will now serve about 800 students in the growing East Bakersfield community with a safe, flexible, and collaborative campus.

Q: What are the biggest challenges facing our PreK-12 clients, and how can we help?

A: Declining enrollment and cost escalation are significant issues for districts right now. Once COVID-19 hit, construction costs and procurement times for materials increased, and we haven’t seen this ease in the last four years. At HMC, we work with our clients to understand these issues and leverage our cost estimators in our discussions with construction managers and clients to ensure we’re meeting the district’s needs and schedules. We must support districts in any way we can, whether designing a flexible facility to accommodate fluctuating enrollment, helping to navigate grants, or helping them create innovative, exciting campuses to attract future students.

No matter the size of the project, our designs can make a significant impact on students, staff, and the community, which embraces our Design for Good ethos here at HMC.

Q: You’re participating in the Coalition for Adequate School Housing’s (CASH) School Facilities Leadership Academy (SFLA). What has your experience been like, and how will your participation benefit our PreK-12 clients?

A: Participating in the CASH Leadership Academy has been a great and uplifting experience. I’ve gotten to meet a great mix of people, including clients and construction managers, while learning about how school district facility departments operate and the issues they are dealing with daily. As managers and designers, we don’t always hear about the surrounding issues a district is navigating, like lack of funding sources, going through a bond program, adjusting school boundaries, and CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) exemptions. It’s been enlightening and empowering to join those conversations and guide districts in considering specific design implications and impacts where possible. I’ve also had the chance to connect with mentors in school districts and in the construction industry who’ve helped me develop personally and professionally. It’s a great program that will help make me a better manager and partner to our clients.

When it comes to creating optimal learning environments, the health and safety of students is paramount.

Q: What are your passions outside of work?

A: I enjoy spending time with my family. My boys, who are eight and 10, are heavily involved in baseball, and I love managing their teams and sharing that with them. They’re so young, and I want to spend as much time with them on the ball field as possible. We also like to take our trailer out, go camping, and enjoy the outdoors. Our favorite spot is in Chula Vista—it is awesome to get away and spend time at the pool or go on bike rides together.