Meet Glenn – Design Manager

Meet Glenn Howe, Design Manager at Shift Accessible Homes – a wholly owned subsidiary of Rocky Bay. Glenn has been on our team since early 2021 and has the exciting job of designing Shift’s Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) homes – two of which just opened recently! Click here to read more about the new SDA homes in East Victoria Park and Yangebup.

Glenn has an architecture background, and has been involved in community consultation and design for remote Aboriginal communities, health clinics and community facilities. Find out more about Glenn’s exciting and rewarding role with Rocky Bay and Shift Homes!

How did you come to first join the Shift team?

I saw a job ad which had my name on it in February 2021. I knew about Rocky Bay so I applied straight away. I had a Microsoft Teams interview during one of those seven day COVID lockdowns and was on board shortly after.

Can you tell us more about your role, and what it involves?

Essentially I’m responsible for the design of Shift’s SDA homes, however It’s a very fluid role and incorporates creating appropriate spaces for all Rocky Bay customers and staff, whether that’s new houses, new hubs, car parks or tweaking the staff kitchen.

Describe what a typical day looks like for you?

There’s not really a “typical” day. I might switch between management meetings and crawling under a sink to figure out new details for our height adjustable benches. I spend a lot of time working through aspects of our new housing and hubs. It’s pretty much picking the brains of Rocky Bay staff that have a lot of knowledge, and then compiling and sharing that knowledge with the people that are building new spaces for us and our customers.

Tell us more about your previous experience?

I started out in architecture, and had a brief stint drawing project homes and McDonalds stores. I then went traveling and then became involved in design and community consultation for remote Aboriginal housing, health clinics, community facilities, affordable housing and accessible design for the people that use those buildings.

What do you love most about your role?

Working with passionate people on interesting projects that make a difference in people’s lives.

What do you love to do in your free time?

Hang out in the sunshine or at a gig with my family and friends. Romantic walks on the beach or Fremantle golf course, and dabbling in woodwork, gardening, music, body surfing, snorkeling and oceanic stuff.

What are three things you can’t live without and why?

1. Sunshine! Humans aren’t meant to spend their lives in windowless concrete boxes

2. Music! It inspires and brings people together, plus you can drink coffee or wine whilst listening to it.

3. Flora & Fauna (i.e. trees and dogs)