Wow! How is it already June?! Ack – totally didn’t mean to drag out our next “Get To Know Us” series by this long, but hopefully it’s well worth the wait! We’ve been busy busy over here working on new projects, fresh ideas, awesome designs, and some super exciting collaborations. Haha I can’t give it ALL away, but keep reading – I may or may not drop some hints below. 🙂
But let’s get back to the goods for now! Next up in our “Get To Know Us” series is Brandon Nobbs. Carpenter-turned-contractor extraordinaire, he’s a man of many talents and a founding member of Pacific Design Lab and Pacific Solutions Contracting. We talk business, inspiration, and dig into how we even got started in this industry to begin with.
Pacific Design Lab: You’ve been hard to sit down for this post, Brandon! You’re certainly a busy guy with a ton of projects going on. How did you even get started doing what you do?
Brandon Nobbs: I was framing custom homes and commercial buildings for years, but I was always intrigued on the next steps and being able to finish what I was creating. I took on every side job I could and one thing led to the next, and at the age of 23 I ended up going off on my own and started Pacific Solutions Contracting. It was a natural extension to start Pacific Design Lab with you and Darren after we were doing a lot of our own product building, and with an opportunity to help other commercial and residential clients outfit their interiors with custom work.
PDL: What’s your favourite part about building things?
BN: I love getting creative and seeing transformations take place – whether they be in a space or turning materials into something amazing. I like building things that people will talk about.
PDL: What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever built?
BN: The coolest life-changing project was the very first big one I did on my own as PSC, which was Clough Club. This was my first time working in a really old commercial building and it opened my eyes and fired up my drive to want to build in the service industry: two-way psychedelic neon mirrors, exposed old brick, animal heads and axes popping out of walls… how could one go back to doing ONLY residential construction?!
PDL: Haha nice! It’s always fun re-living some of those early projects. We certainly love admiring your work at Clough Club (and don’t get me started on the cocktails…mmm..)…Oh, but back to the questions! If you could make anything in the world, what would it be?
BN: Hmm, tough question. I would say that if I could make anything in the world it would be a teleportation device… Haha while I love what I do there are many stressful days that it might be nice to be able to transport to a sunny beach and take a time out to refresh!
PDL: Fair enough! Well I’m confident in our PDL team that we can totally turn some cool reclaimed wood and raw steel into a teleportation device. NBD, right? We’re taking orders now if anyone wants one!
Oh, right okay, back to the questions. If you could be any tool (either in the world or a fantasy tool), what would you be?
BN: I’d have to say being a bridge crane would be pretty bad ass!
PDL: Def bad ass! Tell us about where you find your inspiration.
BN: I would say I find my inspiration in just trying to do something different. That is why I love doing commercial work because everything needs to be better than the last. So I guess I find my inspiration right within the industry that we work in! There are so many talented and creative people we get to work with everyday with both PSC and PDL, so I feel it really rubs off on myself and the drive I have for my businesses.
PDL: What do you love most about your job(s)?
BN: My favourite part about my job is working with visionaries, dreamers, and most of all doers. We get to help them create something special that suits their business or lifestyle – whatever the project may be! There is no better feeling than to be the one that creates something that they’ve been dreaming of for years.
PDL: Love it! So tell us, what song is on repeat for you right now? Either in your head or on your iPhone/iPod/device?
BN: I am a pretty big music fan so I am never really just stuck on one tune, but I try to never miss the Gorilla vs. Bear blog on Sirius XMU. They are always introducing me to unreal, up and coming artists. Besides that, I get goosebumps every time I hear an Arcade Fire song. Those take me back to last year’s Squamish Festival! Too good!
Woo – we love Arcade Fire too. Always a hit in the workshop! Which, by the way, we are very excited will have some upcoming announcements in the near future too (hint: something along the lines of our very own retail/studio/showroom space?!). Woops – did we give it away…? 😉
Anyways, stay tuned folks! Feel free to drop your comments/questions/general brain waves in the comments below, we always love to hear from you! And thanks for sharing your story with us Brandon. We look forward to more bad-ass-ness from you this year!
– A