Steven Grootaert at Big Sur — Hello

I am a Belgian-born, Midwest-raised, New Yorker currently living in Indianapolis after attempting to sail around the world — It’s a long story if you want me to tell you about it.
I am passionate and fastidious by nature and as designer and creator, I leverage my architectural experience in everything I do — I give a damn by default.
I’ve been hooked on architecture since I was old enough to pick up a pencil and trace floor plans from a home catalogue — I at the end of 2019 I completed all the requirements to become a licensed Architect.
I also enjoy film photography, traveling to new places, and programming.

2008-10-26_DSC_8379 copy.jpg — I hold two Master’s degrees from the University of Minnesota, one in Architecture and one in Sustainable Design. In 2011 I was nominated by Dean Tom Fisher to give a TEDxUMN Talk about my thesis projects. You can watch it here.
I find the intersection of natural habitat and industrial infrastructure fascinating. I worked professionally in Minneapolis, MN for several years gaining experience with residential and commercial projects.

20131001-IMG_4915 crop.jpg — Shortly after arriving in New York City I began working for an award-winning architectural firm designing the USA pavilion for the 2015 Milan EXPO - A fast track project collaborating with nearly every discipline imaginable from structural engineering and exhibition design to crowd control and vertical farming.

While the USA Pavilion was under construction, I was also the project manager on a Lower East Side restaurant expansion. This deceptively simple expansion gave me a deep understanding of the inner workings of the NY Department of Buildings and managing a project with many moving parts - keeping the client informed, coordinating consultants, and producing various permit sets for approval. It's given me the confidence that I can meet any challenge.

I put architecture on hold to help my partner scale her business from 5 to 25 employees and to focus on passing the architecture licensing exams. After becoming licensed we set sail for a multi-year sailing voyage that was cut short due to the pandemic. Relocating in my wife’s hometown of Indianapolis I am now co-teaching architectural studio as an adjunct instructor at Ball State University and working as an Architect in a mid-sized firm.

I am driven to design honest places that maximize human experience while minimizing environmental impact. I do everything I can to put the client first and let the architecture express their aspirations.

Get in touch with me at steven.grootaert@gmail.com