Gruen Associates Reviews
Updated 12 Oct 2020
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Full-time, Part-time
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Job Status (2)
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- - San Antonio, TX, US Area
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"Up and coming"
- Work/Life Balance★★★★★
- Culture & Values★★★★★
- Diversity & Inclusion★★★★★
- Career Opportunities★★★★★
- Compensation and Benefits★★★★★
- Senior Management★★★★★
I worked at Gruen Associates full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
Nice atmosphere for new employees
Cons
Office space could be refurbished
- Helpful (1)
"Promoted three times since joining Gruen Associates over 20 years ago."
- Work/Life Balance★★★★★
- Culture & Values★★★★★
- Career Opportunities★★★★★
- Compensation and Benefits★★★★★
- Senior Management★★★★★
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Gruen Associates full-time for more than 10 years
Pros
The Partners at Gruen Associates give each staff the opportunity to grow at their own pace. Their open door policy allows you as an individual to express your opinions and offer your insights to advancing the goals of making the office environment better and your work experience exciting. Loyalty and job security. Gruen Associates has not laid off any staff since I've been here. Gruen Associates prides themselves on being mentors to those straight out of college.
Cons
With having so many projects and the larger projects having similar schedules, while mentoring is good, the managerial staff can become overwhelmed at times requiring the need for more than usual extended hours to meet deadlines.
Continue reading "A great place to learn invaluable skills and quickly advance your career."
- Work/Life Balance★★★★★
- Culture & Values★★★★★
- Career Opportunities★★★★★
- Compensation and Benefits★★★★★
- Senior Management★★★★★
I have been working at Gruen Associates full-time
Pros
I have been working at Gruen Associates for over five years. The company has a long-standing philosophy that all staff, from recent graduates to senior management, should be encouraged to contribute their ideas for the benefit of the project and client. This started with our founder Victor Gruen and continues to this day. Given that Gruen Associates is a mid-sized firm, which is rare in an industry of mega-corporations, staff can move up through the ranks quickly if they show talent, enthusiasm, and professionalism. The Partners maintain an "open door" policy that allows direct access to the owners, something that is unheard of at most companies. The portfolio of work is diversified and exciting. Staff get to work with world-class design architects and major projects with key clients throughout Southern California. The firm sponsors many social and volunteer opportunities, such as the recent Heal the Bay Coastal Cleanup, an annual picnic and holiday party, and monthly celebrations where staff can present their projects to their colleagues.
Cons
The flip side of being a mid-sized firm is that resources can sometimes be limited. Many firms are landing more projects for which they do not readily have access to talented candidates due to the tight labor market.
"Lacks Camaraderie & Enthusiasm from the Partners"
- Work/Life Balance★★★★★
- Culture & Values★★★★★
- Career Opportunities★★★★★
- Compensation and Benefits★★★★★
- Senior Management★★★★★
Doesn't RecommendDisapproves of CEOI worked at Gruen Associates full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
Interesting projects & good long standing clientele
Cons
Gruen has a Good name & its legacy from Victor Gruen, however, the current partners running the show lack the leadership in encouraging designers/ architects to take the next step into innovation. They quickly shut down creativity and focus on practicality. They could be a great firm but they do not encourage social interaction for a happy workplace and leaves employees less than thrilled to work for them, which is why they have a quick turnaround
"Ehh"
- Work/Life Balance★★★★★
- Culture & Values★★★★★
- Career Opportunities★★★★★
- Compensation and Benefits★★★★★
- Senior Management★★★★★
Doesn't RecommendNeutral OutlookNo Opinion of CEOI have been working at Gruen Associates full-time for more than a year
Pros
There is opportunity to work on various projects. There is also opportunity to work on various phases of projects.
Cons
If you are interested in design, this is not the firm. Most of the projects deal with executive work and developing other designer's construction documents. Projects are very often under staffed which equates to long hours and high turnover.
Continue reading"Designer III"
- Work/Life Balance★★★★★
- Culture & Values★★★★★
- Career Opportunities★★★★★
- Compensation and Benefits★★★★★
- Senior Management★★★★★
RecommendsNo Opinion of CEOI worked at Gruen Associates full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
If you want to learn how to put together contract documents, this is the place. They give younger designers more responsibilities here than at larger architecture firms. They also have high end clientele from they’re Retail department and they’re the Architect’s of Record for famous global architecture firms. They finally have a BIM Manager!
Cons
They’re current business model is not competitive with industry standards where you might get paid less here but the trade off is they give you an opportunity to gain industry experience.
Continue reading"Entry Level Architectural Designer who performs technical drawings"
- Work/Life Balance★★★★★
- Culture & Values★★★★★
- Career Opportunities★★★★★
- Compensation and Benefits★★★★★
- Senior Management★★★★★
RecommendsNeutral OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Gruen Associates full-time for less than a year
Pros
Mostly friendly office environment for emerging professionals
Cons
There is no paid overtime and at times the ratio of work to manpower is unbalanced. Sometimes some projects are understaffed.
"Shape Your Career Identity"
- Work/Life Balance★★★★★
- Culture & Values★★★★★
- Career Opportunities★★★★★
- Compensation and Benefits★★★★★
- Senior Management★★★★★
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Gruen Associates full-time for more than 5 years
Pros
The firm has a great legacy of "firsts", landmark projects, talented staff (yesterday and today), diversity and influential position in the industry. The firm allows for opportunities to define your own career course, provides access to mentors through its leaders and through professional organizations. Where you go in your career is within your hands, if you use the tools that are available to you.
Cons
Majority of staff is very committed to the firm, the work and their colleagues. Work/life balance is essential. Benefits are fine, but could stand an update.
Continue reading"Great Company"
- Work/Life Balance★★★★★
- Culture & Values★★★★★
- Career Opportunities★★★★★
- Compensation and Benefits★★★★★
- Senior Management★★★★★
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Gruen Associates full-time
Pros
Great environment and very professional Fun company events and bonuses
Cons
The office is open for long hours.
- Helpful (6)
"Architectural Designer"
- Work/Life Balance★★★★★
- Culture & Values★★★★★
- Career Opportunities★★★★★
- Compensation and Benefits★★★★★
- Senior Management★★★★★
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI worked at Gruen Associates full-time for more than 8 years
Pros
All you need is a associates degree in drafting at a technical college to get an opportunity to play architect
Cons
Gruen USED to be a great and internationally recognized firm. There existed multiple offices with hundreds of employees that participated in massive projects all around the world. What happened, you ask? It's a combination of relying too heavily on one type of sector (shopping malls) and utter incompetence at the managerial level & above after the departure of Victor Gruen. Where once cars were given to staff members as gifts, where a private chef kept the staff fed, where things like bonuses were handed out and raises were given; in their place, we have "Bagel Thursday".
Continue reading
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