Method Studio is a relatively young design firm (founded in 2007) that has experienced meteoritic growth, swallowing large segments of the Utah architectural market in the higher education, performing arts, workplace, sports and recreation, housing, religious, and healthcare sectors. From its small beginnings, the firm now boasts 100+ employees in four offices in Salt Lake City, St. George, Rexburg, Idaho, and Raleigh, North Carolina. That is quite impressive for a home-grown, nearly 18-year-old firm that has flown largely under the radar.

There aren’t many secrets in the architectural design industry, but what Method has done is striking. We, the Utah architectural community that is, all want to know just how they have been so amazingly successful in a fairly short period, especially as the firm was founded on the precipice of a major economic downturn. So, I asked Becky Hawkins for the recipe to their secret sauce.

First, she gave me some history. Becky Hawkins, Joe Smith, and Kelly Morgan are Method’s founding principals. The founding partners met when Becky opened the Utah office of a nationally recognized design and planning firm and was fortunate to meet and hire Joe and Kelly. That was where the seeds were planted to start their own firm. “While we valued the connection to the national firm and did some wonderful projects together, we really wanted to focus on projects that would have an impact in Utah, no matter the scale. It was much more about enhancing community, serving our community than anything,” shares Becky. They have built a firm focused on responsive client service as pivotal and a practice that puts the human experience at the forefront, working hard to serve the needs of our extended community.

The three partners brought varied backgrounds and talents to the firm. Although Becky has been in Utah for a good portion of her life, she lived all over the country, including California, Chicago, New York and Virginia, before landing back in Salt Lake as a teenager. She studied business and marketing early on, moving into graphics and interior design. She has continued her studies in multiple design and executive education courses and considers herself a lifelong learner. Joe Smith was born in Brazil but moved to Mexico shortly after, where his mother and her family are from. Joe’s dad was a civil engineer, and his work ultimately brought them to Utah County, where Joe spent most of his younger years and where he still lives. Joe got his degree at UVSC and then transferred to the University of Utah, where he completed his education with a master’s in architecture. Kelly Morgan was born and raised in Spokane, Washinton. Following in the footsteps of his parents and two older siblings, he moved to Utah to attend BYU, where he received a bachelor’s degree in interior design. However, his goal was always to become an architect. Strong consideration was given to moving back to the Pacific Northwest to attend graduate school either at the University of Washington or the University of Oregon, but he eventually decided to keep his young family in Utah, where he earned a master’s degree in architecture at the University of Utah. Joe and Kelly met at the University of Utah and then later worked together at NJRA before meeting Becky. Now, they have become close friends and trusted partners, having worked together for over 20 years.

But as they started the firm, Becky shared, “It was really about taking a leap of faith and following our hearts. We knew we had experience and something unique to offer, but we also knew we were starting at square one. Thankfully, we were able to express that, and one client at a time began momentum that continued. These clients, who trusted us and took a chance with a new firm, were our lifeblood.”

They never set out to be a big firm, quite the contrary. They wanted to do meaningful work. By focusing on that, they were able to serve the community in a variety of ways. They used, and still use, their mission statement: “People first, creating spaces that influence, motivate, inspire and uplift” as a litmus test test for making hard decisions. These include which people to hire, how to balance good business with creativity and making commitments they can follow through with. They very specifically said that “they would not operate like a corporation or a bureaucracy” and that their decisions were not based on hitting specific profit targets. Prudent and fiscally responsible, yes. But doing so with people and working on projects that had an impact first and foremost.

They leaned into their individual strengths: Becky’s experience in firm leadership, marketing, planning and design. Joe’s expertise in exceptional design and client leadership, Kelly’s technical prowess both in architecture and the programs needed to deliver architectural plans. They balanced each other out, and while far from perfect, they offset one person’s weaknesses with another’s strengths. They created an outstanding balance that lifted each other and the team. When the 2009 downturn came, their largest projects went on hold. They went back to those clients who trusted and supported them from day one. “It is because of them that we are here today — Brigham Young University, the DFCM, BYU-Idaho, Hemming Development, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We had steady work that helped us continue to grow even through the deep recession.”

Building on that momentum, they remember a pivotal moment: landing the new Tooele Technical College project. Method Studio was the new kid on the block and underdogs to say the least. The team had strong personal experience, but not depth of firm experience that often reassures a selection committee. However, the client believed in them, and they won the job. Becky indicated that in a debrief, a client shared that “they sensed our sincerity, our passion for the work, and our desire to serve them at the highest level, and they took a chance on us.”

It became clear their greatest strength is in that sincerity, that commitment to the mission statement. Becky said, “We really drive with our hearts. It has been a key to our ability to hire outstanding people, key to the marketing success and has led to the strength and power that comes from long-standing, trusting relationships.” That Tooele Tech win came in their earlier years, and now, 10 years after completing it, they have worked on every tech college in the state in planning, designing and building many new learning facilities. Another key project that contributed to Method’s growth is the Utah Valley University Classroom Building (teamed with CRSA) because of its size. The partnering with CRSA, who had an extensive classroom portfolio, combined with a long-term relationship with UVU and design acumen, resulted in another highly successful classroom building — the largest project the firm had worked on at that time.

“Certainly, the breadth and density of Method’s 2024 portfolio is very attractive to prospective clients. It gives clients the confidence that they have the experience to do the job right. However, there is also the authentic desire to serve the client and plan and design buildings precisely for the client’s key objectives. They work rigorously to listen, learn, collaborate, find creative and optimal solutions, and do so with service and commitment that is off the charts. They listen hard. Then, proactively work to deliver.

Becky said, “The performing arts is also a specialized market sector for us. We worked together on several prior to starting Method, and now we have been blessed to be working on dozens of performing and cultural arts facilities throughout Utah and the region, known as experts in this field.” This work is led by Joe, who has a deep and personal love for the arts. He and the balance of our performing arts team bring unrivaled expertise and passion to projects like the new Hale Center Theater in Pleasant Grove, UVU’s Noorda Performing Arts Center, the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, and now the Southwest Performing Arts Center and Southern Utah University’s new music center, to mention just a few. And, of course, there are the religious and healthcare sectors with a multitude of key projects, the civic work from city halls to libraries and public works, not to mention the variety of sports and recreation projects, as well as their multi-family housing and mixed-use and workplace projects.”

They also recently completed one of Utah’s first and most significant mass timber Class A office buildings, Baltic Pointe, in Draper. Kelly brings significant expertise in multi-family housing, amongst other things, and helps to lead those efforts throughout the region. Becky enjoys helping to lead several key market sectors, while working to steer the ship operationally. Overall, they have a breadth of expertise with highly talented professionals in key market sectors who are the essence of Method’s secret sauce. Becky continued, “We are who we are and have achieved this level of success because of the great, incredibly talented people who are here with us, helping to lead and deliver the work. It is a team effort only achievable because of the collective efforts of the firm.” Their new set of rules approach is to collaborate/imagine/listen with all of your senses while keeping things balanced and pragmatic.

Method has also created a highly diverse staff. They recognize that fostering a diversity of culture, lifestyle, gender and religion provides a naturally wide perspective for us in both our innovation and ability to achieve superior results. Becky said, “We have incredible people here, important people who share in the vision that all voices matter. Cultivating creativity has led to diversity and opportunity within a framework of work-life balance with a unified, collaborative team. The result is reciprocal; staff are engaged, and they deliver because they are valued. At Method, we are architects, designers, accountants, principals, interior designers, marketers, planners, project leaders, administrative support and BIM technicians. We work hard to be the best leaders we can. Leaders that are focusing on serving both our staff and our clients.” They want to serve their clients and their people at the highest level. They believe this is a key part of their growth.

Their enviable workflow, largely provided by repeat clients, provides financial stability. Still, “we are judicious, we are prudent. We are very conservative with our dollars. 2009-2010 taught us to be prepared.” But there is also balance, with human and project needs coming before the dollars, “We will never be the most profitable.” Method gives back to the community and to their clients not only by pro-bono work in low-income housing, community arts and other key community project endeavors, but because they are driven by doing what is right for the project and its community. That means doing what is needed to do the job right, even if we compromise higher profits. “Success has been very humbling,” Becky said. “We work hard as a team; we are all in this together and value each other’s contributions. Each of us aspires to do impactful work, which is a key driver in our overall narrative. We maintain smart business practices but are not driven solely by the bottom line or certain percentage in profitability, quite the contrary.” Their mission of serving people first always takes precedence.