BLAKE SLOAN: MAN OF MANY HATS

Blake has been with Heights Venture for 32 years. Since 1999, when he became a partner, Blake has helped shape the firm into the successful, family-oriented entity that it is today. During his architectural journey, Blake has worn many hats and made many diverse contributions to the firm. Currently, he holds the leadership position of Administrative Partner of the LLP.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Texas Tech University in 1986, Blake began his career as a drafter, then transitioned to store designer and project manager for the Tom Thumb grocery chain in Dallas. Fun fact: Blake had an on-camera part in a Tom Thumb commercial campaign that aired on local Dallas television channels. No autographs, please! Little did he know that the grocery industry experience he gained during this first professional job would be the catalyst for his growth at Heights Venture.

In 1993, Blake was hired by, the then Houston-based, Heights Venture Architects to be the start of a Dallas presence for the company. The firm owner at the time, Glen Dickerson, utilizing Blake’s background, made him the project manager for the many DFW and Austin area grocery store projects being worked on by the firm. Blake very rapidly outgrew the Dallas office sublease, hiring new staff to keep up with the busy workload, and soon established the firm’s first real satellite office. In 1996, he recruited his future partner, Robert Holton, to relocate from the Houston office and help further expand the Dallas office’s capabilities.

Blake spent the next several years guiding building programs for several grocery chains, restaurants, and fitness chains. His expertise focused on helping clients develop prototypes and design guidelines that could be used for roll-out building programs. He gained insightful and extensive experience meeting with executive stakeholders to determine their vision and carefully craft design solutions.

During his early tenure at Heights Venture, Blake showed a proclivity for gravitating towards professional social engagements by attending industry conferences, charity events (especially golf tournaments), and filling his calendar with lunch, dinner, and happy hour appointments. Whether in the office or on the job site, Blake has curated a reputation for collaborating as an effective and affable team member with all clients, consultants, vendors, and contractors he comes in contact with. This trait eventually made him the appropriate team member to be the firm’s Director of Business Development & Marketing for several years. Trust us; he seems to know everyone!

A couple of years ago, Blake eagerly accepted the opportunity to lead the firm’s design studio, which eventually evolved into the newly launched DOT Studio. As the Principal of this team, Blake gets to promote and exercise his extensive experience in programming, master planning, site planning, space planning, design development, and client relations. Backed by an uber-talented team of forward-thinking designers, the opportunities are unlimited for continued success and notoriety.

Who knows what hat he might wear next?