Meet Sara Jehn | Architect

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sara Jehn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sara, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
This is an interesting question for someone who is self-employed. I’ve known since I was a teenager that I wanted autonomy over my schedule, and one way to do that was by starting my business. I know when I’m really busy that I choose to be this busy, and when business is slow, it’s a chance to take advantage of the free time. For me, the balance is making peace with the ebbs and flows of self-employment and knowing I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a full-service architecture firm that specializes on environmental psychology, trauma-informed design, human-centered design, protecting the environment, diversity & inclusion, and building science & resiliency. We apply these principles with design theories and practices, including WELL AP. Our goal is to create a built environment for everyone that promotes health, happiness, and an increased quality of life. We are also passionate about our role within the communities we serve; pro-bono services are a big part of how we operate our business.

It was not easy to get where we are at today. I was often faced with choosing between paying the bills by taking a risky client or turning them down in hopes of another project presenting itself. Ultimately, I learned that taking risky clients ends up costing more in the end. Unfortunately, this can be an unavoidable reality for a lot of businesses in the beginning. Until we had the privilege of choosing clients wisely, we had to weigh the risks carefully.

I would like the world to know that architecture is for everybody! We spend 90% of our time indoors, and expertly designed spaces positively impact our mental and physical health. A sense of place, belonging, and quality can all be designed into our built environment. This new generation of architects is very community-oriented, environmentally centered, and inclusive. One of the best things about my job is getting to know the incredible people and organizations doing amazing things.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I think I would take them on a Colorado hot springs road trip, with stops at national parks or monuments along the way.
1. driving through Rocky Mountain National Park to Steamboat Springs,
2. then over to wine country and the flat top wilderness,
3. down to Glennwood Springs,
4. Ouray town and springs
5. Over to Pagosa Springs
6. Spend a day touring the ancient sites in southern Colorado
7. And then home via Leadville

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mentor and first boss, Ron Agor.

My husband, and my structural engineer, Ian Jehn.

Website: https://www.7272arch.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/7272arch/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-jehn/

Image Credits
Image 1, Garden Island Newspaper, all others I produced