Nine Years. Still Building.

A reflection on the relationships, purpose, and people that have shaped Moment Architects.

Blog /Architecture Starts Before Building Begins

By: Matthew Giardina, Principal Architect

Nine years ago, Moment Architects was just me.

Well... me and a home office, which sounds more official than it actually felt.

Like most firms, we didn't start with a large team or an impressive portfolio. What we did have was a clear purpose. When Moe Moe and I decided to start Moment Architects, we wanted to build a firm that reflected what we believed architecture should be, a profession centered on serving people. More specifically, we wanted the opportunity to choose projects that would have a lasting impact on the communities they serve.

From the beginning, we've been passionate about faith-based architecture, particularly churches and private schools. Over the past nine years, we've been fortunate to work alongside incredible clients on projects that support education, ministry, and community, and we're excited to continue growing in that direction.

It's Always Been About People

When I look back on the early years of Moment Architects, I don't immediately think about buildings. I think about relationships.

The homeowners who trusted us with their homes. The pastors who invited us into their vision for their churches. The contractors, developers, consultants, and clients who gave a young firm an opportunity before we had much of a track record.

Those relationships didn't happen overnight. They were built one conversation, one meeting, and one project at a time. Looking back, I'm incredibly grateful for the people who believed in us and helped shape the firm we are today.

Architecture Is a Service

One of the principles we've tried to hold onto from day one is that architecture is ultimately a service profession.

The buildings we design aren't for us, they're for the people who will use them every day. That's something we remind our team often. Every decision we make should be guided by what's in our client's best interest. Sometimes that aligns perfectly with our own design preferences, and sometimes it doesn't. Either way, our responsibility is the same: to listen well, serve well, and create spaces that accomplish our clients' goals.

That mindset has shaped every project we've had the privilege to work on over the past nine years.

Growing Together

‍For the first three years, I was the only employee, which naturally limited the size and complexity of the projects we could take on. As our team has grown, so has our ability to tackle larger and more challenging work.

Growth hasn't just meant adding people, it has meant learning. We've expanded our services, gained experience with new project types, and continually refined how we operate as a business. Some lessons came through careful planning. Others came from experience. (As it turns out, experience is a very effective teacher.)

But the greatest part of that growth has been watching our team develop.

One of my favorite parts of leading Moment Architects is seeing people take ownership of projects, build relationships with clients, and contribute ideas that make every design stronger. We intentionally encourage everyone on our team to leave their fingerprints on the work we do, and it's inspiring to see what they're capable of accomplishing together.

Our Mission

Moment Architects is founded on a mission statement that defines our “why”.  It is the reason for our existence as a firm.  That mission statement is “We exist so that we might have the opportunity to use our God-given talents to the best of our ability, for the good of others, and to glorify God.”  We recognize that we are good at what we do, and therefore we have a responsibility to be the best we can be.  Not for ourselves, but for those we serve.  And not so that we can receive praise and admiration, but so that we can give that praise to God, who gave us our strengths in the first place. 

I wrote this mission statement for our firm, but as I’ve reflected on it over the years, I’ve come to believe that it can be applied much more broadly than that.  I believe it can apply to each of our personal lives.  The reason we exist at all on this earth, the reason God created you and me, could very well be so that we might have the opportunity to use our God-given gifts to the best of our abilities, for the good of others, and to glorify God. 

If we look closely at the lives of the great saints throughout history, this is exactly what they did, and how they lived.  And in the words of the novelist Leon Bloy, “The only real sadness, the only real failure, the only great tragedy in life, is not to become a saint.” (La Femme Pauvre)

A Project That Reflects Our Mission

When I think about a project that captures what Moment Architects is all about, I immediately think of TheMission Church.

What began as a renovation of an existing home into a temporary chapel gradually grew into the master plan for an entire campus. Today, that vision includes a permanent chapel, an early childhood center, a gymnasium, a K–8 school, a future high school, and a future sanctuary.

Watching that vision unfold has been incredibly rewarding because we know those buildings will serve children, families, and the surrounding community for generations, and will ultimately play a pivotal role in building God’s kingdom. Knowing we had the opportunity to play even a small part in that story is something I'll always be grateful for.

Looking Ahead

When I think about the future of Moment Architects, I'm excited.

Looking back over even the last couple of years, it's incredible to see how much progress we've made. It also makes me excited about where we'll be five years from now. I believe our team will continue to grow, our expertise will continue to deepen, and most importantly, our ability to serve our clients and communities will continue to improve.

The biggest difference between Moment Architects today and nine years ago isn't our portfolio, it's our people.

Nine years ago, it was just me in a home office. Today, it's a team of talented people who genuinely enjoy working together, solving problems together, and serving our clients together. That's something I'm incredibly thankful for, and it's what makes me most optimistic about the future.

Thank You

Anniversaries naturally encourage reflection, but they're also an opportunity to say thank you.

To every client, consultant, contractor, partner, and team member who has been part of this journey, thank you for trusting us with your projects and giving us the opportunity to use our God-given talents to serve your vision.

The first nine years have been inspiring, not because of the buildings we've designed, but because of the people we've had the privilege to work alongside. We look forward to continuing that journey together for many years to come!