Meet Dustin Hauck

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dustin Hauck and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dustin, what do you attribute your success to?
We really focus on giving the client the information they need to make an informed decision. We listen to their goals and objectives, then come up with a layout that solves all of those in what is sometimes a way our clients never originally envisioned. Using our experience and creativity, we are essentially problem solvers, looking for ways to achieve their goals in exciting and imaginative ways. While we take pride in every project we do, we don’t seem them as “ours”, needing to be a reflection of who we are. The project belongs to our client and should be an expression of them and what they are trying to achieve. We have always put our clients first. I think they know that, and have come to trust our creativity and ideas.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I think I am most proud of our reputation. We have never done any paid advertising as we rely solely on referrals and word of mouth. We treat every client as a potential future referral, so we want to make sure they are happy with us and our work. I think that shows in the longevity of our business. Doing that took time. The first several years were rough, no only because we had only a few projects from which to show what we could do, but we started Hauck Architecture in 2007, right before the recession. We opened our doors right when everyone stopped building. We had to find ways to get creative by taking on a myriad of projects, mostly small ones. Over time, we climbed out of the recession with a reputation of getting things done in an efficient and creative manner. This taught us how important our reputation is. We have always cherished that.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in San Diego definitely has its advantages. Yes, it is expensive, but it is also America’s Finest City for a reason. Not only is the weather amazing, but the City as a whole is so dynamic. Every neighborhood has it’s own personality. We’ve had more than one friend come to visit and rely upon us for what to do and see. Being a long time San Diego resident, I don’t think any trip to San Diego can be complete without having a carne asada burrito. They are just different here than anywhere else, and have been a post-surf respite for me for more years that I can count. And what better way to wash that down than with a visit to one of our many brewery projects? We have been fortunate to work with some of the best breweries in the country from North Park Beer Co. to Pizza Port Brewing Co. and hundreds of others. It’s hard to pick a favorite as so many of them make some great beers. But we would definitely have to hit up a few of them. As far as hanging out, San Diego has so many great locales such as Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, Coronado island, and Petco Park. But for me, a day trip to La Jolla and Windansea Beach is something every visitor should experience. Not only is it a beautiful and unique spot, but the history and culture around it is something that should not be missed.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We do a lot of different project types, from custom residential to hospitality and commercial. I think a lot of our inspiration comes from growing up in a family that was always building something. As a kid, my dad built his own projects as well as developed property. I was lucky enough to get to travel throughout Europe a lot when I was young. So I’d have to first thank my parents for exposing me to so much amazing architectural history and immersing me in the construction industry my entire life. My first architectural job at Rossi Architecture exposed me to a mix of custom and semi-custom residential design as well as hotel redevelopment projects. The sheer quantity of residential projects we did exposed me to so many different scenarios that it prepared me for the plethora of design options in that environment. The hotel projects we worked on were like mini cities with not only hotel rooms but office and convention spaces, multiple restaurants and bars, pools, and all the back of house operations that make a hotel work. The experience I gained at Rossi Architecture has been invaluable. I can’t leave out the QUAFF homebrew club, of which I have been an avid member since 2003. The support I received from my friends allowed me to enter the exciting world of brewery design. We have been designing breweries for over 12 years and it has been the backbone of our business all that time. Without the knowledge and friendship of QUAFF, I definitely would not be where I am today. Last but certainly not least is my wife Jessica. Her support and understanding of all the long nights and out of town trips has made all of this possible.

Website: http://www.hauckarchitecture.com

Instagram: @hauckarch

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HauckArchitecture

Image Credits
Martin Mann, Vincent Knakal, Paul Body, Michael Auda, Brett Hilton