Our Origin Story
We Chat 30 Years in business with Al
30th or “pearl” anniversary / signifies three decades in business, a significant milestone highlighting wisdom, patience, and resilience developed over time…
What inspired the move to self-employment and the launch of McDowell & Associates?
Before incorporating as McDowell & Associates, I worked on my own as a sole proprietor. Entering the workforce in the early 1980’s during a major recession was a challenging time to hold down a full-time job, so as a result, I worked as a contract draftsperson for a number of architectural firms in Calgary. I was inspired by the design work I witnessed in these offices, but noted that few took on residential projects.
At the same time, I noticed a major deficit in “good” residential design in Calgary. I’d travelled to a number of US cities and toured some beautiful subdivisions. I found driving through Calgary’s suburbs to be a bleak and disappointing experience, where the main focus of every home was a garage door. These communities failed to inspire, but rather felt unpleasant, inhospitable, oppressive, uncomfortable, vertigo inducing… which motivated me to raise the bar and create beautiful homes and streetscapes.
I knocked on many builder’s doors and eventually convinced one — Theilmann Homes — to take a chance on me. The design work I did for this builder won numerous awards for the company, and others took notice.
Builder: Gallaghers Homes & Mission Homes (formerly Granville Homes). This home is located in Pump Hill. 
Builder: Gallaghers Homes & Mission Homes (formerly Granville Homes). This home is located in Elbow Valley.“For three decades, McDowell & Associates has unearthed what clients need and want early on, while designing a plan that works in practise, which brings an admired ease to the build journey. It’s that simple.”
What did the first five years look like?
The office grew more quickly than expected. As new builders found their way to us and with their own companies growing, I quickly outgrew my first office space and moved a couple of times during this period. The most memorable was purchasing the Nellie McClung House and ultimately taking on a major restoration to the building. At the time, traditional architectural styles were in vogue, most notably the Arts and Crafts styles. The McClung house played nicely into this trend and was a large part of McDowell & Associates identity. Our company was also noticed by a number of developers, and so we became involved in Architectural Guidelines for some of Calgary and area’s most desired developments. This was an amazing opportunity for the company to have some control over the quality of design in these communities.
During this period of growth, I was blessed to have some very talented people join my team, some of whom are still with me. They all shared my desire for better home design in our city and to make a difference in the communities we were designing in.
A growing family added another layer to a very busy time. It was definitely a balancing act between office meetings, soccer games, and school concerts. Family has always been a priority for me and maintaining a work/family balance is very important. I supported the same for my staff and their families.
How (if at all) would you say to philosophy towards architectural design has changed/evolved?
The Timeless Way of Building and Pattern Language (both books by Christopher Alexander) have informed my design philosophy from day one. Styles may come and go, but principals of how we function in and experience a space changes little. Timeless principles of proportion and light never fail to bring life to a room.
Builder: Rawlyk Homes. Both homes are located in Elbow Park“For the past three decades, three words can still describe the experience of working with Al and his team: intuitive, engaged, and precise. They have a straight forward, practical approach to architectural design, which translates for us in a modern way with perfect proportions. Always a pleasant and effective collaboration for us, and our clients — here’s to the next 30 years.”
How have you adjusted to the business of it all over the years — being a boss, managing the economic ebbs and flows of Calgary's economy, managing shifts in technology, and now AI to stay competitive in the market?
Calgary, with its boom and bust cycles, is universally challenging for business owners; my business is no exception. Unfortunately, some valued employees have been victims of these cycles, but I know they have always found new opportunities with the experience gained in my office. Some have become my competition, which is a wonderful thing. There’s nothing like healthy competition to keep us all raising the bar.
As mentioned, when I started out, there were few architectural design firms focused on “good” residential design, or residential design, period. Calgary’s rapid growth has brought with it a demand for quality design firms, all delivering tremendous work; it’s exciting to see so many thoughtful projects changing the residential landscape.
The evolution of technology, specifically 3D imagery, has radically changed how we share ideas with our clients. This has made the communication of design ideas much easier for clients to understand. And coming soon, virtual reality: walking through your home before it’s built!
One of the biggest changes in my field has been the importance of digital media. Up until 2015 or so, all of my work came through word-of-mouth referrals. Since then, while many of our projects are still referral-based, growing a strong digital footprint with an amazing digital media person has proven invaluable for us to connect with new and existing clients.
Builder: Loratta Homes. These three homes are located in Elbow Valley
Which builders were you working with back then that you still work with today?
Thirty years ago, Theilmann Homes was the first builder our firm was fortunate enough to work with. They were one of the elite builders in Calgary. Soon after, I began working with Granville Homes (now Gallaghers Homes and Mission Homes), Rawlyk Developments, Laratta Homes, and Taradar Fine Homes, all of whom remain amongst Calgary’s premier custom home builders. To have grown and prospered with this group of build partners has been an absolute delight.
What are you most proud of as principal of the firm?
There are so many things to be proud of as the principal of McDowell & Associates. First, would be the people I have the pleasure to work with each day — past and present. Second, are the random phone calls I get from past clients who simply want to share how much they love living in the house we designed for them. And third — my North Star — I love driving through the communities we have had a hand in creating. I can be proud that my firm has indeed played a part in improving the quality of home design in Calgary.
What do you feel makes McDowell different from competing firms?
Our firm is very good at meeting clients where they are. By that, I mean we can take your ultimate wish list with your budget and deliver refined designs that are legitimately achievable. We’re also not afraid to challenge our client’s vision; if we see a better way to achieve your goal, we’ll shepherd you through.
As our build partners will echo, the experience and design process we provide is extremely dialed, allowing us to be efficient for you (and your builder). Learn more about our client experience with Dali and Damian Festa.
Canadian Architect, Witold Rybczynski’s book “The Most Beautiful House in the World,” refers to the home you build for yourself. Our goal is for each client to feel that they have achieved that in their own home.
With 30x the gratitude, here’s to the next three decades, friends!