New buildings are major projects – even the smallest of houses. For buildings like the apartment communities, industrial centers, offices, hotels, and much more that Holladay Properties construct, the building process can take months of work from hundreds of people. At the center of that effort are architects like Laura Small who plan and design the buildings, and work with clients to make their visions come to life in the best way possible.
Small is a veteran licensed architect, bringing more than 30 years of experience to Holladay Properties’ Portage team. She is a LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional, certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and has designed and engineered educational, medical, municipal, commercial, residential, and industrial projects. From a young age she had already decided that architecture could be something she excelled in.
“I felt like this was one way to help people and do things for people, and I always enjoyed seeing buildings go up,” she said. “I remember watching Southlake Mall get built in the '70s and going out to the site with my dad and walking around to see what they were doing. I was always intrigued by that and had a passion for the math and structural side of things and felt like I had a little bit of a creative side.”
Her drive to help people is reflected in how she approaches each project – getting the client deeply involved in the process.
“I think that when you’re working with the client and really getting them involved in the process, they enjoy it a lot more along the way,” she said. “I’m not coming in and saying ‘I’m the architect so I’m going to tell you what to do.’ That’s never been my approach, I want to hear from you, find out what you’re looking for, and then work along with you to create spaces and buildings.”
Following that philosophy has led to her being one of the most respected architects in the Region – and created many excited clients.
“One of the best things is when you finish a building and see a happy client,” she said. “They’re saying ‘oh my gosh, this is great, I didn’t even think it could look like that!’ For us architects, it’s so easy to look at a plan and picture it in three-dimensions, so we try to help them see that vision early on.”
Small also gets her client’s other employees involved in the process in order to get a better understanding of how they work on a day-to-day basis.
“If I’m working on a medical building, I’m talking to the doctor and seeing what he/she wants,” she said. “But I’m also talking to the nurses, and assistants, and all the rest of the staff. I want to hear from all of them, so I’m asking them 'how can I make this building better to suit you and what you do in your profession?'”
When she first entered the field, there were very few women architects for her to look up to. Now, the field is more diverse than ever, and she is seen as an industry leader around the Region.
“There’s a lot more women in architecture and the trades, I love that the diversity is growing,” she said. “I want to be available to help these women and talk them through balancing everything in their life.”
In 2021, Small was named the Influential Woman of the Year in Construction and Manufacturing by the Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association. The organization focuses on fostering the professional development of women and their careers in the Region.
“When I first found out about Northwest Indiana Influential Women, one of the first things I did was sign up to be a mentor - not just for other women in architecture, but in any profession. When I was their age, I didn’t have any of those female role models to look up to because this was such a male-dominated field.”
Small joined Holladay Properties in 2019, and it is a company that she found allows her people-first philosophy to thrive.
“It’s a wonderful company to work for because they truly live by their mission to enrich lives through investment and service,” she said. “In all my years in the industry I’d never worked for a company that actually did live out their mission. We’re on this planet to do good for others, and Holladay really does recognize that.”
To learn more about Holladay Properties, visit www.holladayproperties.com.
