I Am AIA:

Asawari & Samir Mokashi

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Samir and his wife Asawari Mokashi are the founding Principals of at Code Unlimited, a minority-owned accessibility, building code, fire and hazardous materials consulting firm. Samir has over 30 years of experience in code compliance for high rise, high tech, hazardous manufacturing, residential, assembly, commercial, educational facilities, and many others. Samir and Asawari moved to the U.S. from India in the 1990s, both finished local higher education programs and began the firm from their home basement office, which has now grown into a 40+ firm known for delivering simple and elegant solutions to regulatory issues.

WHY DID YOU JOIN AIA SEATTLE?

We had been involved with the AIA Portland as code educators, board members, and diversity initiative supporters since we moved to Portland in 1992. When we opened an office in Seattle it was a natural for us to join AIA Seattle. As code consultants we provide a valuable service to many local architectural firms, and we value participating in an association that supports and celebrates their work as well as positive work in the community.

WHAT IS THE VALUE OF AIA TO YOU?

As the design and construction market has changed, architectural firms have had to adjust to it, the AIA has played a critical role in filling the gap. More importantly, it has been the “safe space” where we can forget the work challenges & other pressures and just be individuals sharing, caring, and making a difference together about the world we live in.

WHAT RELATIONSHIPS HAVE YOU CREATED?

Many professional relationships and firm partnerships that go far beyond that of a client/consultant relationship.

WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?

We are currently working on multiple projects in diverse market sectors. These include large airports expansions, HUD and market rate residential buildings, multiple university campuses, specialty manufacturing facilities, public facilities, and high-tech campuses.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING?

We work with architects to make buildings safer. We free the designer from traditional code constraints by developing innovative solutions that perform equal or better than the prescriptive code regulations.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TODAY?

The opportunity to mentor a young staff member.

HAS YOUR CAREER TAKEN YOU ANYWHERE YOU DIDN’T EXPECT?

Samir started out wanting to be an architect and realized he wanted to be creative not just within architecture so the opportunity to be a code consultant working in a wide array of building types and growing the business was unexpected and loving it. Asawari began as a scientist and uses those abilities for critical business analysis.

WHERE IS THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING OR CONSTRUCTION HEADED?

The materials and methods of construction will continue to evolve as will the role and responsibility of the Architect/Engineer/Contractor teams, but the key consideration – namely the human experience – will endure for centuries without much change.