Young architectural firm lands major projects, expands staff

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Young architectural firm lands major projects, expands staff

David McFadden | architecture, architecture jobs, jobs, recession | May 13, 2011

Reaching higher in a recession

In just five years, Matt Rinka has built his firm, Rinka Chung Architecture Inc., into one of the hottest architectural firms in the area.

The Milwaukee firm is working on two major downtown projects — the Moderne apartment high-rise in the former Park East freeway corridor and Washington Square, which could be the first new downtown Milwaukee office building in years if it moves according to plan.

The firm has grown from a half-dozen people in its first three years to 17 and growing this year, increasing revenue by 50 percent or more each year.

About the author

Drawing upon original ideas and extensive personal and professional experience in the field, David McFadden crafted this article to explore the untapped potential of making historic architectural masterpieces more sustainable. After working at various design practices—both full-time and freelance—and launching his design firm, David identified a significant gap in the industry. In 1984, he founded Consulting For Architects Inc. Careers, an expansive hub designed to align architects with hiring firms for mutual benefit. This platform enables architects to find impactful design work and frees hiring firms from the time-consuming cycles of recruitment and layoffs. David’s innovative approach to employer-employee relations has brought much-needed flexibility and adaptation to the industry. As the Founder and CEO, David has successfully guided his clients and staff through the challenges of four recessions—the early ’80s, early ’90s, early 2000s, the Great Recession, the pandemic, and the current slowdown due to inflation and high-interest rates.