Thomas Corrie Answers the Kinship Questionnaire

The Director at Hopkins Architects lives up to his own mantra as he talks to us about his love of libraries, his obsession with recording where he’s been, and his fascination with the journey from concept to reality.

1. Coffee or tea?

I never acquired a taste for hot drinks, so neither.

2. Novels or movies?

I feel like I should say novels, but probably movies—although most films I see these days are with my children and I often take the opportunity to have a nap.

3. Mountain or beach?

I go to beaches more regularly, but I would prefer to be climbing a mountain pass on my bike.

4. Favorite building?

It changes regularly but I like libraries of all eras and styles: the Laurentian Library in Florence, Adam’s Library at Kenwood, Beinecke Library at Yale, Kahn’s Phillips Exeter Library, John Rylands Library in Manchester and Plecjnik’s National Library in Ljubljana.

5. Favorite city?

London—infinite variety.

6. Which project are you most proud of (that you’re allowed to talk about)?

The London 2012 Olympic Velodrome. I was fortunate to work on it from the design competition through to completion with a great team. The previous projects I had worked on were largely drawn in two dimensions, but the Velodrome had to be modeled—very accurately—in three dimensions and so it set me on the path of modeling and scripting.

7. What is your most treasured possession?

John Piper’s 1965 book of lithographs of Venice and a Staunton chess set I inherited from my grandfather who taught me to play.

8. What’s your secret skill?

I know how to make a good poached egg.

9. How would your colleagues describe you?

A friend was once described as an “Asshole Colleague” in a text sent accidentally directly to him, so I generally aim higher than that.

10. Which word or phrase do you most overuse?

“Yes” (I should say “no” more often) and the 👍 emoji.

11. Where are you happiest?

When I have a satisfying task in hand.

12. What helps you focus?

Music. I go in cycles but Beethoven and Bach are always constants.

13. Which habit would you most like to develop?

Speaking Korean better so I can converse with my wife in her language.

14. Greatest achievement?

As a child, I won a drawing competition run by BBC Radio 4 for a cross-sectional picture of the Beavers’ Den from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I was very pleased, but unfortunately I no longer have the drawing.

15. What's missing from your LinkedIn profile?

Posts.

16. If you could choose one superpower, what would it be?

Teleportation—but with the ability to take others along for holidays. I don’t want time travel as I think that would create too many problems.

17. If you could work remotely from anywhere in the world for a month, where would you choose?

Isola Bella.

18. What is a mantra you try to live by?

Trying, but not always succeeding to follow: “Don't talk unless you can improve the silence.”

19. Best piece of advice you’ve received?

Don’t waste your time helping those who are unwilling. Focus on the people who want to move forward.

20. What's the best thing that could happen to you today?

A good night’s sleep.

21. What’s your favorite app on your phone?

Arc Timeline for recording my location. I am obsessed with tracking where I have been and over the years I went through many apps until I found Arc. It serves as a diary and journal for me.

22. What machine do you use for work?

A Lenovo ThinkPad laptop, with Parsec to connect to an Inevidesk virtual desktop for heavier lifting.

23. If you could change one thing about Revit, what would it be?

The ability to work in substantial models—no splitting up to overcome performance limitations.

24. Who are your favorite follows in the industry?

I struggle to keep abreast of social media, but it is important to keep up-to-date with the latest developments. I look out for John Pierson, Jonathon Broughton and Keir Regan-Alexander. I also find AEC Magazine very useful for technology news.

25. Describe the AEC industry in one word.

Adversarial.

26. Describe the future of construction in one word.

Collaborative.

27. What’s your favorite thing about working in BIM?

The same as when I worked as an architect—seeing reality emerge out of the conceptual.

28. What’s your least favorite buzzword in the AEC industry?

Blockchain.

29. What's your idea of a perfect workday?

One where I feel like I achieved something and ended ahead of where I started. And hopefully a decent lunch along the way.

30. Which historical figure would you bring back to life to have on your team at work? Why?

Michelangelo. If he was unavailable, then Borromini.

31. If you had to choose another profession, what would it be?

If I could acquire skills that have been resistant to me, then a pianist.

32. Which technology will have the biggest impact on construction in the years ahead?

Difficult to say anything other than AI.

33. What’s the most important skill for working in BIM?

A willingness to be rigorous.

34. If you could impose any rule or regulation for the construction industry, what would it be?

Consistency and clarity across rules and regulations. There are lots of contradictions and uncertainties currently.

35. What's your favorite thing about Kinship?

“Data! Data! Data! I cannot make bricks without clay.”

is best known for his attention to detail, memorable speeches and a mind geared toward progress. We welcome him for another round of the long-awaited Kinship Questionnaire, where he demonstrates his drive for rigor and seeing reality emerge out of the conceptual in the industry.