Teammates Matter: Tim Hamnett

Several years ago, we said a sad (for us) “goodbye” to carpenter Tim Hamnett as he left to expand his education and career with larger firms as far away as Seattle.

But in 2021, when we were feeling the need for an additional designer to work alongside Matt and Bronwen, Tim was back in the Richmond area armed with a Master’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Washington and ready to move from the job site to the drafting table. We were thrilled to welcome him back to the RIC Team in this new capacity.

During the course of his 13+ years in the design/build industry, Tim has worked on residential, multi-family and large-scale community-oriented design projects. He was involved in the 17th Street Market redesign, the renovation and expansion of the Black History Museum of Virginia as well as numerous residential preservation projects in the Roanoke area. But he was enticed back to a smaller firm environment by the idea of once again being able to work directly with the contractor executing his designs.

Although his job description has changed from when he first joined our team, Tim is what RIC Owner Matt Warner refers to as “strong and steady.” He brings the same work ethic, creativity and attention to detail to his position as a designer as he did to his carpentry work ten years ago. Having another designer on the team has helped expand our capabilities and provide more value to our clients. After Tim and Matt met back in 2012 and discovered they were both runners, they spent countless hours and miles running together, creating a closeness that makes for a tight-knit design department.

On a day-to-day basis, you’ll find Tim measuring existing conditions of a project site, creating 3D models of current and proposed designs, creating permit and construction drawings, and coordinating with the field crew throughout the construction process. He finds that the most critical aspects of doing his job well involve communication - both with the client and with the construction team. Good communication helps him increase efficiency so that he can focus on the sustainability and aesthetics of each project.

Tim says his favorite thing about this job is “working with our clients on discovering ways to breathe new life into the existing urban residential fabric of the Richmond area.” This passion speaks to his unique ability to see homes within their context, while also being able to reimagine them for the present day.

When Tim’s not working with us, you may still find him running “too far” with Matt, cycling less often than he’d like, sailing small boats, or working on his sunburn on the sidelines of his son’s soccer games. We’re so grateful Tim decided to re-join the RIC team and we’re looking forward to bringing more of his great design ideas to life!