Today we’d like to introduce you to Purva Jain.
Purva, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
From India to New York City to Dallas… with the common thread of Architecture – that’s the gist of my story! But one thing that never changed as I moved across nations was the desire to start my own business. There’s no better spot to fulfill that entrepreneurial spirit than Texas, so here I am, a Texas Licensed and Registered Architect cherishing the opportunity to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams.
I grew up in Lucknow, a small town in Northern India. Even as a child, I was constantly fascinated by the construction and design process throughout the city. The process of going from a rough concept/idea to sketch to implementation and construction is a tangible high that is near impossible to replicate. During my high school years, my parents underwent a major renovation for our home and their office space and I would beg to tag along to their meetings with the architects and general contractors. I was fascinated by the constant iterations, the design challenges, and the coordinated solutions required between the client, the designer, and the builder. That’s where the calling towards this field began. For me, it was never just about building blocks. I was so drawn to the idea of how a person might use their home based on the design, and how critical each decision (while seemingly small) incrementally build upon each other to make an amazing experience for someone every single day.
After high school, I pursued my undergraduate studies in Architecture in India. I wanted to see and experience design on a larger and more innovative scale, so I naturally was drawn to New York City (one of the greatest exhibits of architecture in the world) to study at Pratt Institute and receive my Masters in Architecture and Urban Design. After graduating, I had the great fortune to gain mentorship at some of the leading international design firms in NYC, during which I had the opportunity to work on many high profile single and multi-family residential projects across the world.
My experience in NYC fueled my fire to focus on designing single-family residential. Given my husband’s roots in Dallas, TX, I jumped at the opportunity to relocate in 2013 to DFW, given the metroplex’s strong taste and demand for creative single-family residential architecture. Post relocation, I spent a few years learning about the residential market in Dallas and learning from some of the finest architects in the city. Through my past work experiences, global travels, and underlying desire to start my own business, I forged ahead to start my own practice, Purva Design Studio (www.purvajain.com). While nerve-racking at first, I’ve never looked back, and am grateful to all of our clients for believing in our firm’s vision and contributing to our sustained success.
Has it been a smooth road?
I started my business when my first daughter was four months old. I was dealing with the struggles of newborn, first-time motherhood, and of course, a first-time business owner. Going from an employee to a self-employed carries the usual expected challenges of wearing multiple hats – marketing for new projects, account payment collections, research, customer service, just to name a few). Transitioning to motherhood also has the usual expected challenges of wearing multiple hats – taking care of another human! Now, imagine both of these sweeping changes happening at the same time! Needless to say, it was quite the opposite of a smooth road. But looking back, would I have done anything differently? Absolutely not.
All these challenges made me a stronger person both as a mom and a business owner. Every time I had a down moment (which was a LOT in the beginning!), I thought to myself – how can I be the best strong, independent role model for my daughter? If she were in this position, what would I tell her, as her biggest champion and advocate? Always keeping this in mind, I charge ahead every day, learn from my mistakes, and hope to get better with each day.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Purva Design studio specializes in architectural design across residential and commercial projects, both in Dallas and nationwide. Our strongest focus is on residential design within the DFW area, both for new construction and remodels/renovations. We turn our client’s dreams into reality!
One of our strongest core competencies is complex remodels and renovations. There are so many more nuances and hidden surprises in a remodel that can force the initial design to keep changing and adapting. Many architects prefer not to take on these remodel projects for this reason, as new build construction projects on an open piece of land are easier and quicker to design for. However, we don’t shy away from remodels and are always eager to show our innovative design and approach for these types of projects. It gets those creative juices flowing!
A couple of key elements set us apart. First, our design experiences on both global and local level and the ability to bring those experiences to the table. Second, our start to finish process – we have actually built both new constructions and renovated ourselves! Before starting my business, I completed several renovation projects and acted as both the architect, general contractor and the owner. Wearing all the hats allowed me to bridge the gap between the vision (fulfilling what the client wants) and the reality (building something that is structurally sound and financially viable).
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Dallas and the overall metroplex is a homerun environment for all entrepreneurs. Not surprisingly, it would have been more difficult for us to reach the milestone level for our business, had we started out in New York City. The lower cost of living and business operations in Dallas, combined with the booming economic environment allowed me to be much more confident about going on my own. Furthermore, the entrepreneurial community here is robust and growing – resources like the Dallas Entrepreneur Center have provided tremendous opportunities for collaboration and support.
More specifically, Dallas is a wonderful place to start a business, given the large population growth and upward trajectory. Particularly, Dallas is such a strong hub for contemporary design, creatively utilizing light and space for truly innovative design. It is such an exciting time to be an architect and designer in this amazing city, and I cannot wait to leave my imprint on the Dallas skyline.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.purvajain.com
- Phone: (469) 609 7109
- Email: hello@purvajain.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purvajaindesignstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purvadesignstudio/
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