SmithGroup Reviews

I have been work for ambitions Dallas office for a couple of years, everything “looked” great in the first. They call them the longest architecture firm in the states, which I agree it’s true. They are also proud of their projects and culture, well it is true that Smtihgroup has some great projects, but those limited to certain offices, like CA, DC, and MI. There are three studios in Dallas office (was four, Science and Technology studio was dismissed), only the Higher-Ed studio makes money, the other two Healthcare and Workplace are just jokes. Dallas office hired a lot of employees in the past couple years according to their great ambitious and pictures, but when the time goes by, dreamers and talkers are not able to continue fooling everyone. They had huge losses in the past years due to poor management. Fancy-talker principles, higher leaders were brought on board, they told everyone how great their project will be, how great chance they would win the project……But, every time it came on nothing, but will great bill of unchangeable hours and a long list of principle’s traveling and accommodation expense report. Keep losing money, no enough projects to support the finance, and things became ugly. Studio leaders, Principles, Associates and Designers, every level of employees got laid off. It’s common to see that one guy was laughing and talking with his or her leader in the morning, then afternoon everyone got news that he or she got laid off. They laying off people without any ahead notice, just tell people by the end of the day and you don’t need to come. Especially, for the international employees, who are holding the working visa, this suddenly lay off can cause them the have to give up their life in the state and back to their home country. But, they don’t care. I saw two international employees and two females were laid off at the same day without giving them any notification and only reason was due to the company downsizing

I was recruited out of state to join the firm. The position described to me was healthcare/health science higher education design & planning role. What I did not realize is that planning is siloed from architecture. This arrangement creates a internal dynamic which planners are seen as inferior and not adding value to projects. Design and planning are also physically separated creating coordination problems. The Detroit office also lacks a healthcare studio so there is no ability to collaborate, mentor or learn beyond the office. Detroit and local clients in general are entrenched in a dated culture; a vestige of the auto industry, thus career growth is stifled. Overall, low Detroit wages and cost of living arguments don't justify working for national firm. Limited career growth and awkward office organization remain concerning. I left as other firms came calling offering recognition, collaboration and better pay.