like wildfire

Happy Summer! It's official; today's the first day of summer!

Today is also the day when all of my coworkers learned that I'll be leaving in August. Many people have said very nice things to me in-person and via email. Two fairly senior people told me that they would love to be architects, but they didn't have the head for math. Another person told me that she would love to study architecture and to do so at IIT. Yet another person told me that her dream is to be an interior designer and she's actually taking classes at IIT already. Who knew?! It's very cool to be able to connect with people that I've been working with for so long on a totally new level.

Here's the note that went out to the agency from my boss:
"It is with great sadness for us, but happiness for her, that I am announcing [A's] upcoming departure from [SB]. [A] will be leaving us early this August to pursue her dream of becoming an architect. She has been accepted into the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Masters in Architecture program, which she will be attending full-time this fall. While this is terrific for [A], it will leave a hole here at [SB] that will be very, very hard to fill.

I’ve only worked with her a short time but have been impressed with her from the very beginning. She’s a terrific and diligent researcher, a great, even-keeled thinker and simply a pleasure with work with. I know we’ll all miss [A's] intelligent and thoughtful contributions to the agency.

Please join me in wishing [A] the best of luck with her future plans. And who knows? Perhaps she will be the lead architect on the [SB] office complex one day!"

I feel lucky to work with such a wonderful group of people. Here are some of the kind things they wrote:

• "Thank god. You are much more!"
• "Shit. I thought it was a dream. :( Well, I’ll miss you but thankfully, I like you enough to hang out in person."
• Subject: "NO! Say it isn't so!!!!" Email: "Wow! Congratulations. That is so amazing. Good for you! I'll sure miss seeing you in the office, though. Enjoy, good luck and I wish you all the best!!"
• "I don’t know what to say, you will be missed greatly! Congratulations on being accepted into IIT, it’s a great school."
• "Best of luck and give my regards to Helmut Jahn!"
• Subject: "OH MY GOODNESS!!!" Email: "I’m so happy for you and so sad at the same time. I never knew you wanted to be an architect and I think that’s wonderful!!!! Congratulations on being accepted into such a reputable school :) You will be missed and we will have to have some farewell drinks soon :)"

And for those who are curious, the photo above is of the office of Snøhetta, a Norwegian architecture firm creating some interesting stuff.