Fresh off completing a tenant improvement project for Voices of Tomorrow with Josh Meharry of Anima Architects, we grabbed a few minutes to dive into his story: where he started, how he built his practice, and what he wants future architects to know. Oh, and a few fun questions too!
Where are you from originally?
I’m originally from San Diego. People ask me all the time why I’d ever leave. I do miss the weather and the ocean at times, but I love the Pacific Northwest for its natural beauty and wide array of activities and adventures out in nature.
Where did you go to school?
I went to the University of Oregon, which often earns me some sideways looks up here in Seattle. They have a great Architecture program with a focus on sustainability and a great football team (Go Ducks), and going to school in a relatively smaller town was a great opportunity to focus on my studies and college life.
When did you know you would be an architect?
When I was about 10 years old, I went to a soccer teammate’s house for an after-camp party, and they had the most beautiful modern house I’d ever seen with these massive doors that slid away into a wall pocket to create a seamless indoor/ outdoor environment. Afterwards I asked my mom if designing buildings was a profession, and she was very supportive and gave me various Architecture books that I would pour over and study. Somehow the idea just clicked for me and once I figured out that designing buildings was something that you could do for a living I never looked back.
What is the best thing about being an architect?
Designing the buildings and spaces that we live, work, learn and play in on a daily basis is incredibly rewarding, and I feel happy knowing that those spaces can positively impact the way that people feel about their environment and their day to day experiences.
How did the name “Anima Architects” come about?
When I was in college, I lived for a year in Rome and the experience was incredibly impactful for me and the development of my interests in Architecture, History and Urban Planning. The rich history, beautiful architectural details and variety, and the city’s unique ability to balance ancient ruins, renaissance structures, and modern buildings all within the same block was very inspirational to me. During my time in Rome, I lived in an apartment overlooking Piazza Navona, which had its main entrance on a small street called Via di Santa Maria dell’Anima. Anima translates to “soul” or “spirit”, and I’ve always been drawn to the concept of identifying the spirit or soul of a specific site and the community that a design would serve, in an effort to create a building design that is reflective of that underlying spirit.
What is your design philosophy?
Above all else our designs strive to be reflective of the needs and desires of the people that will be using the buildings and spaces that we work on, and we hope that the spaces bring a sense of joy, reflection and belonging. We prioritize a strong connection to the natural environment, through physical connections, views, natural daylight and ventilation. Where feasible, we also work to integrate sustainable strategies, features and materials into the overall design to minimize the impact that our projects have on the natural environment and to provide a cleaner and healthier space for the communities that we work with to live and work in.
How do you manage schedules and budgets?
We work closely with our clients and builders to integrate checkpoints early and often throughout the process where schedules and budgets can be examined and if necessary the design can be updated early in the process to ensure that the project stays on track and on budget.
How do you incorporate sustainability into your projects?
We feel strongly that passive sustainable strategies can be incorporated into every project through careful design of the building location and orientation, roof overhangs and shading, and the locations of windows and doors for natural daylight, ventilation and passive heating and cooling. We specify durable materials that won’t off-gas into interior environments and are sourced responsibly. When feasible, we also integrate more active systems such as solar panels, wind turbines, rainwater collection and reuse, and energy efficient heating and cooling systems.
How do you evaluate the success of a completed project?
The smiles on the faces of the people and communities that we collaborate with when they walk into a completed building for the first time. It’s also important to us to maintain a positive relationship with our clients and the builders that we work with throughout the project’s duration and long after it’s been completed.
What has been your favorite project to work on and why?
Picking a favorite project is a lot like picking a favorite child, as they all have their unique attributes and features that we’re particularly proud of. Oftentimes, my favorite project is the one that we’ve completed most recently. We just completed a project that Rafn built for a non-profit organization called Voices of Tomorrow, which will function as a pre-school and early learning center that will serve children and the families of immigrants and refugees from East African communities. We’re very proud of what we were able to achieve with the building and the spaces, which turned out very open, full of color and natural light, and should provide a great setting for learning, inspiration and healing for the children and their families alike. The school is set to open in early 2026, and we can’t wait to see the children enjoying the space.
What types of projects do you see yourself working on in the future?
We’ve historically focused on residential and community based designs, but we’re open to working on any project type that feels inspiring and gives back to the community. Given our recent and prior experience with educational facilities for non-profit organizations, it would be fun to continue to explore the architectural possibilities within that realm.
What is your best piece of advice for someone starting out or considering becoming an architect?
I’d suggest that they spend some time working in construction and getting hands-on experience at some point in their early career. I spent some time when I first moved to Seattle framing houses, and the experience significantly benefited my understanding of how buildings go together, and gave me an appreciation and respect for the craftspeople that help to turn our designs into a reality.
Fun Extras:
What is your favorite food?
Thai food. I especially like a good Pad Kee Mao dish and the crispy garlic chicken at Buddha Ruksa in West Seattle which the locals lovingly refer to as “crack chicken”.
Who is your favorite musician?
This changes all the time, but I recently saw a band called Dirtwire at the Showbox and it was a really great show and I like their music a lot.
Who would play you in a movie?
Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura (twelve year old me would be so proud).
What is your favorite pastime?
Any outdoor adventure where I can be physically active while enjoying nature (backpacking, mountain biking, white water rafting, skiing, paddleboarding, overlanding, etc.).