The Construction Source America

6 | Richard Wittschiebe Hand to have greater creative autonomy and flex- ibility with her time schedule, Richard part- ed ways with large firm and established her own. Hers was among the earliest of woman- owned architectural firms in Georgia, but Richard says her professional plansweremore focused on going into medicine. Her archi- tectural work was viewed as a means to pay for her studies in pre-med, and she had actu- ally been accepted into medical school when she decided to evoke what has been said to be a woman’s prerogative – she changed her mind. Richard says the reverse of course was largely prompted by her joy of interacting with clients, solving complex challenges and using her creative talents to bring concepts into life, in measures that often exceeded cli- ent expectations. She found someone of like perspective in Janice Wittschiebe, and both became familiar with one another through their participation in an organization com- prised by women who worked in the trade. Their relationship, however, blossomed af- ter they both found themselves on a team ASHRAE, exterior at twilight (Fred Gerlich, Photographer)