From mentorship to educational opportunities, the firm is purposeful in creating a place for its Architects to grow.
Rebecca McCormick, AIA
With over 16 years of combined experience at Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects, Ryan Shank, Pete Colello, and Rebecca McCormick have grown into their roles over the years.
The three licensed Architects were each drawn to M&D — which has locations in York, Pa., and Baltimore, Md. — for a similar reason: They found a culture that helped them take their craft to the next level.
Colello, who started working for the firm in 2017, was first drawn to the type of commissions the company managed. When he learned that M&D had been selected for the Harrisburg Forum commission, he wanted in.
For McCormick, who grew up in Baltimore but then moved to North Carolina, the desire to be closer to home ignited her search for Architectural firms in the area. The quality of work that Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects was creating caught her attention. She and her family settled in York because of M&D.
Shank, who grew up in York, worked at several different Architectural firms in the Philadelphia area before transitioning to M&D because, he says, “They get the best projects and do the best work.”
Finding meaningful mentorship
After starting at M&D, Colello was struck by the level of mentorship he found at the firm. He worked closely with senior Architects who were very influential in helping steer the younger Architects.
In 2021, two of those senior Architects retired, which gave Colello the opportunity to step into lead roles on both the Forum Building and a commission at the Governor’s residence in Harrisburg.
Peter Colello, AIA
It’s rare for an Architect at his age to be assigned such a position in such a big project, Colello says, and he’s jumped in with both feet, knowing that his mentors and experiences have helped prepare him to take on the responsibility.
With senior Architects retiring, Colello has also stepped into the role as mentor, helping younger members of the firm prepare for their exams and learn new software.
“It’s just a part of company culture,” he says.
McCormick found her own form of mentorship in Principal Architect and co-founder Frank Dittenhafer.
“Frank realizes that if you’re interested in specific topics, he’ll try to get you on those projects,” she says. “He puts a lot of energy into the personalities of the staff and how we work together. The firm allows us to hone in on what we’re good at.”
Bringing the team together
Beyond just being a workplace, the Architects have found that M&D is a community. When McCormick first moved to Pennsylvania to work for M&D, she didn’t know anyone in York.
“Now it feels like home,” she says.
Having the ability to work with a diverse array of people all dedicated to their craft has been a great experience for her.
Colello agrees and points to a unique benefit of working with the firm.
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“One thing I really appreciate is M&D Day,” he says.
Each year before the pandemic, all of the M&D employees from both the York and Baltimore offices would get together to tour completed or in-the-works projects. Then they would go out for a meal and beverages together.
“Sometimes, when you’re sucked into a project, you’re unaware of other projects going on,” Colello says. “M&D Day is a way to get everyone in the company on the same page and see what the firm is working on.”
Murphy & Dittenhafer also holds quarterly Design Forums where the teams from both offices get together to talk about design and give updates on how they came up with their concepts.
“It gets every eye in the company on a project,” Colello says. “You get additional collaboration that you wouldn’t have working at your desk every single day.”
Ryan Shank, AIA
Investment in the future
M&D also makes an effort to invest in the futures of its Architects. Shortly after Shank began working for M&D, he saw that The American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention was coming to Philadelphia. He asked M&D if he could go. M&D paid for his tickets and even gave him three paid days off.
Architects are encouraged to join AIA. For those that join the local chapter of the AIA, M&D pays the dues, McCormick says. The firm also allows architectural designers to take days off and helps pay for their exams to become licensed Architects, Shank says.
All of these factors have played a role in helping M&D receive the AIA EPiC Award five years in a row for firms that foster emerging professionals. That’s no surprise to McCormick.
“I love working here,” she says. “It feels like the right fit.”
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