Principal Parlin Meyer has been part of the BrightBuilt squad since back when the origin story was still being written. She initially landed at BrightBuilt Home thanks to a combination of timing and unique experiences, and there have been some notable milestones since it all began. Let’s dive into her story and discover more about her path, favorite moments, and passions outside of work.
You’ve worked at BrightBuilt for eleven years now - how did you land here?
It was really a blend of perfect timing, some prior experiences with off-site construction, and my unique work history that made me a good fit for BrightBuilt. I initially applied for a staff architect position at Kaplan Thompson but didn’t get it because they needed someone with three-five years of project management experience and knowledge of their drafting program, neither of which I had.
However, my background in high-performance residential, modular, carpentry, and building, along with a Masters in Architecture and a Masters in Real Estate Development, caught their attention. Four months after my initial interview, I joined the Kaplan Thompson team to help develop a new project focused on high-performance and off-site construction. By the summer of 2013, BrightBuilt Home was born, and the rest, as they say, is (my) history.
Can you share how BrightBuilt Home has evolved over the past eleven years and what you see as the key milestones in the company’s journey?
So much has changed in this industry in just the last eleven years, and we have worked hard to adapt and modify our processes in response. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, has been our mission. We continue to strive for ways to make high performance homes more accessible and to innovate with offsite construction.Some of the key milestones for us in the last eleven years have been: transitioning from working under the umbrella of our sister company Kaplan Thompson Architects to becoming our own entity in 2015; developing outreach and sales initiatives from 2016 to 2018, significantly growing the team in the first years of the Covid pandemic in response to the extreme demand for new construction; and most significantly the project delivery restructure that we’ve implemented over the last year, whereby we took a hard look at our process and added key team members and process improvements to best address project needs and support our clients.As a team of now twelve, there is an earnest and exciting collective commitment to advancing the mission of high-performance homes and improving the experience of building a new home, for our homeowners.
What does a typical day look like for you as a Principal of BrightBuilt Home? How do you balance the various responsibilities that come with your role?
Well, there is no such thing as a typical day! That said, much of my time is spent interfacing with the team, and working with outside entities such as manufacturers, general contractors, developers, and industry professionals, in support of building our mission and knowledge base. With the restructure firmly in place, and a strong leadership team established, I’m eager to continue to turn my attention outward and build relationships with entities that share common goals with BrightBuilt Home. The juggling of the day-to-day is just as it is with just about any other job, where I wear multiple hats throughout the day, and have my eyes on the many silos that comprise the company - from the team, to the clients, to our collaborators, to the business operations, to the business health, to our strategic plan and vision for the future, and beyond. It’s not too dissimilar from any other person's list of to-do’s, I suspect!
How do you stay ahead of the curve in sustainable home design and construction? Can you share any recent innovations or trends that excite you?
As a company based in Maine, we’re very fortunate to be part of an intellectually rich and innovative community. In Portland, and throughout the state, we have colleagues who are consistently pushing the envelope and staying ahead of the curve, so through networking conversations and the constant exchange of ideas, we all build upon each other's forward momentum. Also, by working with a large number of general contractors, we have the opportunity to see innovation on the micro scale, where we can see new systems, new ideas, and new approaches to construction that individual innovators are pursuing, thus enriching our overall approach to our homes. We are also active members of organizations that keep us abreast of new advancements in the industry and further support our ability to network and collaborate with like-minded specialists. Organizations such as the NorthEast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), AIA Maine, Portland Society of Architects (PSA), Passivhaus Maine, BS & Beer, the Modular Home Builders Association, Maine Biz, and Green and Healthy Homes Maine represent some of the mainstays in our stable. There are still others out there doing incredible work to advance the world of high-performance and energy efficient construction innovations. Those that are most exciting to me these days are the companies that are exploring automation alongside skilled labor, as a means of driving efficiency to reduce costs of construction. Recent examples of this include the University of Maine’s use of natural biomaterials and composites for 3-D printing structures, and robotics in offsite manufacturing.
What is your favorite part of working with clients on their custom home projects? Can you share a memorable experience or project that stands out to you?
As the business has grown, I have had fewer opportunities to work directly with clients, but it is absolutely work that I have loved and continue to relish when I have the chance. I love puzzles, and one of the most fulfilling aspects of my work with BrightBuilt has been arriving at solutions that address not just the performance requirements of a given home but the needs, wants and preferences of a client’s vision for their home. I have been fortunate to have so many rich, endearing, and wonderful experiences with our incredible homeowners so I certainly can’t identify a single standout. I will say that, by and large, we work with some of the most well-informed, earnest, and invested-in-healthy-common-sense-approaches individuals in this landscape. Our homeowners believe strongly in having a sound impact on the future of their families and the future of the planet. I love getting to know new families and individuals, and finding ways in which my own experiences and background present opportunities for connection and common ground. That is perhaps one of the greatest joys of architectural design: working with a variety of souls and personalities, and that each interaction renders its own unique outcome.
Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for BrightBuilt Home in the next five-ten years? How do you envision the company continuing to grow and impact the industry?
We have big aspirations for the years ahead! We are very eager to continue to grow and make high-performance homes more available to more people. We are very conscious of the current costs of construction and constraints in the marketplace, and one of our biggest goals is to arrive at meaningful, impactful solutions to the bottom line of building new homes. This will come from innovation in the processes of construction and manufacturing, but also in the packages that we offer that use pre-curated options and fixed designs to better predict costs at the outset. We’re here to change the world. We want to constantly challenge the paradigm and push the envelope in this industry. We want to grow throughout the region and across the country. We want to develop new partnerships with new manufacturers and general contractors. We want to offer new products and we want to continue to do what we’re doing now to the highest and best service of our clients. With more than a decade now under our belt, we’re ready to mobilize our ambition and further our impact on the built environment.
Can you tell us about a job you had in the past that wasn’t designing and building modular houses?
Sure! Architecture is actually my second career. I have a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and spent ten years at sea. Initially, I worked in science education, but soon switched to the professional mariner track, sailing aboard various ships for sail training and oceanographic research. I sailed on schooners, brigantines, sloops, a converted minesweeper, and an Antarctic icebreaker, earning a five hundred-ton Oceans Masters License along the way. Those were incredible years, filled with unforgettable memories and lifelong friends. Living in Maine keeps me connected to the water, though I do miss those star-blanketed nights in the Central South Pacific.
How do you like to spend your time when you’ve left the office?
With my family, outdoors, whenever possible. After transitioning from sea to desk, I crave the rush of cold air, the wisp of a summer breeze, or the night sky’s vastness. It never gets old, and sharing these moments with my kids makes them even more magical. Since 2020, we’ve been very lucky to enjoy much of that aboard our scrappy little live-aboard sailboat - upon which we ply the waters between Penobscot Bay and MDI from April-November. It’s just the soul food I need to strike the perfect work/life balance.
Do you ever get songs stuck in your head? Is there one in there now? What is it?
Ha! Yes. Right now it’s many songs from Taylor Swift’s oeuvre, thanks to my eight year old daughter. My leanings are a little more obscure, due to many years spent as a devotee of or participant in the underground British, DC and Midwestern punk scenes. Songs from that era that stay close to my heart include the works of Television, Fugazi, and The Clash. I once had “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones stuck in my head for six straight weeks. That was a particularly dark time…
If you had to describe yourself via a lunch order, what would it be?
Hm. This is a tough one! I think I’d go with a chopped salad with all the fixings because I’m a mix of many different flavors, and you never know what you’re going to get with the next bite. To accompany the salad, maybe unsweetened lemonade and a slice of key lime pie - I have moments when I’m not as sweet as I’d like to be, but deep down, I strive to be kind, warm, and generous, with plenty of depth. And of course, I can never turn down dessert.
Is there a children’s book you would recommend?
So many favorites. My top choices are “A House in the Woods” by Inga Moore, “Trouble with Trolls” by Jan Brett (and “The Mitten” for its unmatched artwork), “Picasso and Minou” by P.I. Maltbie & Pau Estrada, and, of course, “How I Became A Pirate” by Melinda Long and David Shannon.
