From the island of Bermuda, to Canada, England, Germany and the United States, Peter Hind, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, has made his home in five different countries throughout his lifetime. His global travels have paved the way for his career and shaped him into the man he is today.
The Early Years
Peter was born and raised on the island of Bermuda. He grew up fishing in the ocean every chance he could. Peter aspired to be a fisherman or a house painter when he grew up, but his mother’s fascination with older houses ignited his love for older buildings. Little did he know that one day architecture would play a pivotal role in his life.
“When I was about 11 we moved into a house that was built in 1720. On the first day we bought the house, my mother was standing in the kitchen, which was original to the house, took the broom and shoved the handle through the newly added drop ceiling and opened it up. You could see all the cedar timbers that were built and wooden pegged by a ship builder. I lived in that house for around five years and it made me love older buildings and the potential they held.
Equestrian Training and Competition
During this time, Peter also starting riding horses. He worked at a summer camp in Canada, which led him to Canada for high school and gave him the opportunity to train.
“I qualified for the Pan American (Pan Am) Games and brought a horse from the racetrack to develop from a young age. I competed in three different types of riding over three days: dressage, cross-country and show jumping. It was about endurance, precision and partnerships. That was the kind of riding I did until I was about 24.”
After high school he went to the University of Ottawa, rode horses competitively and then lived on a farm in Virginia for a year, all while trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. Fate stepped in to show Peter his direction. One day while walking down the street in Mexico, he met a girl from Lincoln, Neb., and as they say… the rest is history.
College Years and Beyond
Still struggling to find a direction for his career, Peter’s wife suggested he would make a great architect, so he thought he’d try it out. A week later he signed up at the College of Architecture at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) and was accepted. Peter went on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Studies with high distinction.
His next adventure took him to London where he attended the Architectural Association and spent a summer and a semester there.
Peter and his family moved back to Nebraska. He went on to receive his Masters of Architecture from UNL. Peter served as a teaching assistant and lecturer; after eight years of full-time teaching he ultimately became an Associate Professor with tenure.
The Business of Architecture
Peter also owned his own award winning firm for 12 years and construction company for eight years. He experienced some very rewarding moments along the way, but admitted it could be lonely at times.
“I’m a people person and I love to work with people and be around a team, I thrive on interaction and seeing others excel. Working with clients is great, but actually doing the work, it took me a long time to realize that I didn’t like doing the work alone. Peter joined Schemmer in January 2019 and now has a team to work with to embrace design, engage in larger scale work, and complex projects; all with an aim for more holistic project delivery.
“The beautiful thing about Schemmer is, through a four-inch wall, I have a mechanical engineer, I can throw a rock at an electrical engineer and structural engineers are right around the corner. We have a transportation and civil department to have conversations about circulation, site, and discussion about larger scale environmental issues. For me these are some of the best things about transferring from my own firm to Schemmer, and the resources are mind blowing. Prior to joining the firm, people said the employees at Schemmer were so great, and that could not be truer. The kindness of the people is incredible, but there is also a high level of skill in what we do and a desire to keep getting better."
Renovations and New Construction
When it comes to new construction and renovations, Peter can’t pick a favorite type of project to work on. It’s like asking him to choose a favorite child: he loves both equally.
“New construction has a lot of value and we should aspire to design beautiful and efficient buildings. At the same time, if we don’t embrace and seriously consider repurposing the buildings that already exist, we’re never going to have a meaningful and broader impact on the environment. We need to think about our urban environments and the density we have, possibilities with existing fabric, and the energy we are consuming and the resources we are using.”
Design with Purpose. Build with Confidence.
Schemmer is a full-service architecture, engineering and construction field services consultant, providing responsible solutions for complex design and construction-related challenges. Founded in 1959, we are grounded in our past but remain fully committed to the future. Located in three States and six offices throughout the Midwest. Schemmer is providing services to clients from coast-to-coast and border-to-border across the United States.
