Staff Spotlight: Morgan Rauh
If you visit an art museum with Morgan, you might notice that she’s admiring the structure of the building more than the art on the walls. While you are studying a painting, Morgan will point out where the benches are placed, or how the ceiling lights are angled.
Looking at Things Differently.
Since she was young, Morgan has been intrigued by the way spaces can evoke certain feelings and emotions, particularly museums. Born and raised in Maryland, Morgan grew up surrounded by some of the East Coast’s most notable museums and architectural landmarks.
“The Guggenheim Museum in New York has always been one of my favorite buildings,” Morgan said. “Every time I visit, I find myself more interested in the circulation of the building than the art. My favorite Museum in D.C. is the Renwick. The Renwick is special because it’s all based on circulation. The artists visit the museum and build customized exhibits in each room. The exhibits feature the building’s architecture as part of their work.”
Photo Credit: Morgan Rauh
From the Guggenheim to the Renwick Gallery, Morgan quickly became fascinated with architecture and the way people interact with the built environment.
“The layout of a building is very important,” Morgan said. “Whether you’re claustrophobic or lost in a vast space, the flow or circulation in a public area can impact how you feel. I find myself evaluating the spaces I walk into and wondering how it makes me feel and why, and wondering if changing certain details in the space could change that feeling for the better.”
Jet-Setting.
Inspired by her experiences in Maryland & D.C., Morgan decided to attend college at the University of Colorado, Boulder, pursuing her degree in Architecture. At Boulder, Morgan was able to dive into her passion for architecture and embrace her creative side.
“I fell in love with the city the second I visited. I committed to Boulder in the airport on the way home,” Morgan said. “I loved that my professors at Boulder gave us creative freedom with our projects. For a lot of the projects the site was placed around Denver or Boulder which was nice because we got to explore the cities in a different way.”
While in college, Morgan studied abroad in Barcelona at a graduate architecture program.
“Living amongst all of the notable architecture in Barcelona was eye opening and inspired me to be more creative,” Morgan said. “Those few months in Spain also gave me an appreciation for traveling and experiencing architecture in other areas of the world.”
After graduating with her degree in Architecture, Morgan decided to explore yet another new City and moved to San Diego.
“A huge reason I moved to San Diego was because of the pace of life here in California,” said Morgan. “Everyone is a lot more relaxed than they are on the East Coast. I love that at any given time you can walk outside and see people working out or enjoying the beach life - it motivates me to get out as well. The amount of people that are always outside creates a feeling of community.”
Photo Credit: Morgan Rauh
Embracing Creativity.
Morgan joined the COAR team in 2021. Since joining, she has had the chance to work on many different types of community buildings, from Emergency Operations and Dispatch Centers, to fire stations, to animal shelters. One of the first projects she’s seen through all phases was the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard Headquarters, which is now in its final phase of construction.
“I love that what we do as a firm helps communities and people in those communities,” said Morgan. “One of my favorite parts of working on projects is our relationship with the clients. A lot of the more experienced COAR team members have set a very high standard for attention to our communication with clients. We really care about the work we’re doing for them.”
Architecture inspires Morgan to be creative and find new ways to problem solve.
“The built environment isn’t all one look or aesthetic because it’s a combination of millions of creative thoughts combined, it's good to dislike some buildings so that we are motivated to design something differently,” said Morgan.
Creativity is an important aspect of Morgan’s life outside of the office as well. A self-proclaimed “Foodie,” one of Morgan’s favorite places to be creative is in the kitchen.
“I try to cook something new every week. Cooking is a form of meditation for me and it really calms my mind after a long day - unless something goes wrong or I burn something,” she joked. “I love food and my whole life basically revolves around it. So my perfect weekend day usually includes grabbing a coffee and something to eat and going for a really long walk to the beach. If it's nice out, I spend the day at the beach then find a fun place to get dinner or cook a meal at home with a good movie. My weekends also usually include spending as much time with friends as I can.”
“Happiness comes from noticing and enjoying the little things in life.”
This is a motto that Morgan carries through all aspects of her life. From finding exciting design elements in her work, to trying a new recipe, to spending time on her latest art project, Morgan embraces all the exciting little moments each and every day offers.
“Enjoying the little things calms me down the most,” Morgan. “It’s about moving slower. When life tends to speed up, that's when I need to take a second and enjoy whatever it is I'm doing at that moment. Life is just a bunch of little moments strung together, so might as well try to enjoy them all!”