David Rockwell

Believe these reviews: Rockwell Group is not what they seem. Please take the time to read through the reviews on Glassdoor. Even after reading the countless negative reviews, I still accepted a job as an architectural designer, and it was a terrible experience. Do not be mislead by their shiny exterior - Rockwell Group is rotting from the inside out. I couldn't believe the difference between how the firm is perceived on the outside and what the actual experience is like. The firm is organized into studios that do not interact with each other at all - do not buy into Rockwell Group's claim that they are "multidisciplinary." There is a huge difference between what David Rockwell has done over his lifetime and what individual studios are actually doing. There are plenty of flashy articles about Rockwell; do not believe any of them. Rockwell Group's leadership firmly believes that you must work long hours to "earn your stripes." Working overtime is essentially a requirement - many teams work over 80 hours a week and through weekends with no additional compensation (yes, you get a car home and a $10 meal on Seamless. Does that make it worth it? No.). Your time is not respected - expect to be treated like a machine. Leadership constantly says "the best idea wins, no matter who it is from" - do not believe this - there is very little design thinking happening at Rockwell Group. The firm's work looks good because overworked employees are producing endless iterations to make up for lack of a solid design approach. I was constantly asking myself, "what am I actually learning here?" And the answer was, not much. Many senior employees are incredibly toxic, demeaning, and demoralizing, and yet are fully supported by leadership. Countless people have to be moved to other studios or have left the company because of problematic senior staff. There is no office culture, no matter which studio you are in, and no kind of mentorship - although, trust me when I say you do not want these people are your mentor. I have never worked somewhere with such a high turnover rate. The healthcare plan is probably the best benefit offered and it is still mediocre. PTO is low and includes both sick and vacation days, so you can either be sick or you can take a vacation. No support when it comes to professional development, taking the AREs, or going to lectures. The office is a great location but inside is outdated and grubby and poorly maintained. In conclusion, just stay away. Nothing is worth being treated the way Rockwell Group treats their employees.