Lexi joined the Knoxville chapter in June of this year. She began working at MBI while still at UT where she was studying architecture and took a permanent position with the firm in May after graduation. She said this about her firm, “MBI is a wonderful architecture and engineering firm. I have had the opportunity to work on multiple different project types, dabbling in nearly everything. MBI is very supportive, and I have enjoyed being involved in all stages of the construction and design processes."
“I’ve wanted to be an architect ever since I learned what an architect does, around age 7. I chose this field because I like creating and realized the biggest thing that I can make is a building”, Lexi said, “I am thankful to this day for being in a career field that I feel passionately about every day.”
Lexi was born in Knoxville but grew up in Minnesota. She returned to Knoxville in 2018 to enroll at UT College of Architecture and Design. While at UT she worked as a TA in Gary Bergeron’s class. Gary described Lexi as “one of my outstanding teaching assistants.”
Lexi has family residing in East Tennessee. She has grandparents residing in Johnson City and is engaged to Danny Diaz. She resides in West Knoxville with two malti-poos, Matcha and Ace.
She has had the opportunity to work on multiple project types in her short time at MBI. Currently she is involved in the East Tennessee Vet Clinic being built in Greenville, which she saw in its early stages during her internship. She said this about the project, “it is amazing to see the building come to a completion and see my first building be a beautiful success”.
Lexi has big plans. She is working on her architectural registration and plans to take the CDT to assist her with her career and the architectural registration exam. She said, “I learned about CSI through the CSI student chapter at UTK. Once I started working at MBI, I became involved with CSI through Kathryn Fuller, and through her encouragement, happily decided to become a member. As a member, I hope to build my understanding of the construction process and gain professional mentorship. I also just really enjoy the CSI community. Everyone is very nice and helpful.”
She also shared this insight, “I see how CSI greatly benefits me as a young professional, and I hope my fellow recent graduates and current students may enjoy these opportunities as well.”
Please introduce yourself to Lexi at our next meeting and help her assimilate into the design and construction community of Knoxville.
We Are Growing - Come Join Us!
Posted: Sat, Jul 22, 2023
The Knoxville Chapter is growing and what a diverse group we are! Our membership is currently at 50 members.
We are made up of 43 Professional members who include Architects, Contractors, Project Managers, Business Development Managers, Building Envelope Specialists, Marketing Managers, Interior Designers and more. We have one Emeritus member who served the design & construction industry for an entire career. We have 3 Emerging Professionals who sought CSI to help them grow in their careers, two Retired Architects who can't seem to actually quit, a Landscape Architect and one Student member.
Nine of our members have their Construction Document Technologist certification and one is a Certified Construction Product Representative and one more is a Certified Construction Contract Administrator.
The Membership represents 14 architecture firms, the city codes department, 3 universities, 4 general contractors, the builders exchange, and numerous suppliers and product representatives.
There is someone to learn from for everyone in the design and construction industry. Come and join us!
CSI Summer Fun Party has been Cancelled
Posted: Tue, Jun 27, 2023
CSI Summer Fun Party and 4th of July Celebration that was scheduled for Saturday, July 1st, 2023, has been cancelled. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
CSI Knoxville Chapter Meeting - June 2023
Posted: Fri, Jun 02, 2023
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM EDT
Please make plans to attend the June CSI Knoxville Chapter Meeting at the Associated General Contractors (AGC), 3306 Ragsdale Ave NW, Knoxville, TN 37909, where Tricia Brindle will present "Prefabricated Fireproof Columns" 1 LU AIA/HSW
Please welcome Peter Zackery Giddings, CSI to the Knoxville Chapter. Peter has been a member of the Lewis Group Architects (LGA) team for four and a half years, where he is currently working as a project architect. Peter described LGA as a “family-friendly, very client-focused firm.” Educational and healthcare work constitute most of their projects, but their resume also includes a variety of other projects. Peter’s first project with LGA was the TBI Jackson building. His goal is to become a Project Manager.
Peter is a Tennessee graduate from the School of Architecture. His interest in architecture stems from an early addiction to Legos, and that interest grew when he began to be involved in the Boy Scouts. He said, “I fell in love with design and stuck to it!” He later earned the architecture merit badge and went on to earn the distinction of being a member of the elite Eagle Scouts.
Peter is a North Carolina native, but spent his early years in Kingsport, TN. He entered the architecture program in 2011. He and his wife and two stepsons live in South Knoxville near Seymour with their 3 cats – Storm, Saber and Goose. In his spare time, he loves movies, video games and coaching his younger son’s baseball team. He also shared that ‘Dad jokes’ and memes are a second language to him.
When asked about what brought him to CSI, he pointed to his LGA colleague, Stacy Colbaugh, and his desire for professional development, networking, and continuing education. When asked what his favorite part of the profession is, he said, “I get excited about building a Revit model from scratch”.
After joining our chapter, Peter immediately jumped right in assisting the House Committee at our membership meetings. Please introduce yourself to Peter at the next CSI get together and learn what else you may have in common.
.png)
