Mel Schenck

A San Francisco architect finds the antidote to burnout in returning to construction in Vietnam

I was a burned-out architect after 24 years at an architectural firm that I loved.

I was no longer learning new things, and I wasn’t meeting my own objectives for performance. I was still passionate about many issues at the same time, but I was no longer keeping my own promises to myself.

But worse, I was making promises to my friends and religious organizations that I was no longer keeping. And I was no help at home, either. And I was also taking life in San Francisco too much for granted.

I finally realized I was burned out -- but too late to simply take a vacation and rededicate myself to work, family, and friends.

But what would be the antidote to this burnout?

I needed to leave my life in San Francisco and start over somewhere else for awhile and recharge. But what and where? I knew it would not be a good solution to just change firms -- I needed to do something entirely different, but within the architectural profession.

Why not relocate for a couple of years to an old love of mine -- Vietnam!

I began my professional career fresh out of the Montana State University School of Architecture 35 years ago by joining the Naval Civil Engineer Corps as a naval officer and volunteering to manage construction contracts in Vietnam. I mark that year in Vietnam as the best in what has been a good life. After release from the Navy in 1974, I moved to San Francisco with the idea that it could be a good jumping off place to return to projects in Asia. But it hadn’t happened yet, and now was the time.

An architect/developer friend of mine approached me at my old firm a year ago with an opportunity to help him with a hospital project in Vietnam. In addition, he had several other hospitality projects for which he was trying to find funding. I realized that he would need help to bridge the gap between design in America and construction in Vietnam, so I suggested that I jump to his side of the table and organize an office for him in Vietnam.

Thus the antidote to burnout -- do something entirely different and unexpected. And then return eventually to the old passions with a renewed spirit and energy.

And it is just not for me. I met my wife Hien 34 years ago in Vietnam, and she has reminded me every year that we had wanted to return to Asia for awhile. Finally I will be keeping that promise.