Awards matter. They reflect trust, excellence, and a body of work built over time. But for Erik Peterson, President of PHX Architecture, what continues to drive the work goes deeper than recognition. These insights reveal what still excites him, what challenges him, and the quieter instincts guiding his work today.
On Awe & Emotion
“I like to create awe and delight, and after all these years, what still gives me that feeling personally before the client ever sees it is understanding the difference between the two. Awe is often vast and transformative. It can trigger chills or goosebumps. Delight is typically immediate and pleasurable, often expressed through smiling and emotion. Light and shadow make the most impact. How I use sunlight on a building to create dynamic effects is different every day.”
On Surprise
“I talk about an element of surprise that the client doesn’t realize until they occupy the space because that’s what makes what we do exciting. If anyone can draw up a house, then the question becomes what makes an architect special. Adding an element of surprise and unexpected interest through material juxtaposition, texture, and shape is the difference between normal and special.”
On Mastery vs. Curiosity
“When you reach a level where expectations are already high, the way I keep myself curious instead of just excellent is remembering that as architects, we are always curious and always learning. I love to travel because it inspires me to keep educating myself on new and exciting ideas.”
On Mentorship
“I trained under legends through Frank Lloyd Wright’s lineage, Sir Terry Farrell, and Bing Hu, and the lesson I still lean on today is that they all inspired me to do better and never give up. Each of them faced challenges that were overcome and ultimately made them stronger.”
On Leadership
“As president of a 30 person firm, leadership has changed the way I design by teaching me to delegate. I no longer draw on the computer or produce construction documents. I am mostly focused on client management and business development now, and I have become a mentor as well, just like those who mentored me.”
On Restraint
“There is a moment where the best design decision is knowing when to stop, and it may be the most important lesson. If you can’t stop and it never ends, then you fail. You have to finish and you have to meet a budget or it simply doesn’t become reality. To me, architecture doesn’t exist until it is built.”
On Reputation
“When your name carries weight, protecting the integrity of the work comes down to reputation. Reputation is everything to my brand. When your work is primarily word of mouth, your brand is your reputation. That means making sure my staff reflects my values and represents the brand in the same way I do.”
On Clients
“Before clients ever talk about style or square footage, I notice how they treat me and how they treat each other. I pay attention to whether they are prepared and respectful. I also notice how they dress and what they drive.”
On Place
“Designing across deserts, coastlines, cities, and countries still influences me emotionally, not just architecturally. It feels so free. You can really do anything.”
On Legacy
“What matters more to me than it did 20 years ago is not just doing buildings, but creating iconic buildings that have cultural impact on communities and bring people together in an impactful way. When you first start out, it’s more about ego and self fulfillment.”
On the Opera Dream
“My ultimate goal is to design opera sets, and that comes from starting as a set designer in high school and being drawn to Franco Zefferelli productions at the Met. They were spectacular stage designs that became iconic. I see architecture as a bit of a set for real life. It should create drama and make you feel something.”
On Still Becoming
“What I’m still trying to get better at, not as an architect but as a person, is getting healthy. That has probably been the least important part of my life, and I’m realizing now that I had it backwards.”
phxarch.com