A NEW BEGINNING

In August of 2016 - Ryan had an idea to build “pop-up” shelters and place them all over North America. He wanted to post pictures with GPS coordinates to the locations to encourage people to get outside, however Drop Structures started and it was put on hold.

After three years as a trio, DROP Structures is moving forward under the direction of Ryan Abernathy.

“Recently, I had the privilege of buying out my partners,” Ryan said. “It has been an honor working with them and I am excited to see where the future takes them as they pursue new endeavours.”

Today, Drop Structures is more focused than ever on nurturing a passionate, creative culture that will spill over into their product, the people they work with and the lives of their clients.

“I believe the people, the creatives and construction workers that we partner with, are what really drives Drop Structures forward,” Ryan said. “Our collaborations with our writers Jonas and Jordana of Grub Street Writing, our digital creatives like Brock Boot, our friends and builders (Brent and George Feyter (Structural Truss and Forma Steel) among many others)  and most importantly, our families, my wife Lisa and our 3 kids, will grow this gift we have called Drop Structures.”

To better facilitate those relationships, DROP Structures has moved offices and is in the middle of a renovation that focuses on creating a space that pushes the company culture forward.

But before we go into the new...

Allow us to re-introduce ourselves (yes that’s a Black album Jay-z reference).

As a founder, Ryan has always been leading the charge into the future. With the majority of the constructions and advertising experience in Drop Structures - there will probably only be a very subtle change. 

But building DROP Structures still takes a back seat to Ryan’s greatest joy, his family. Together with his wife, Lisa, they boast 3 ‘absolutely amazing’ kids, who are central to what DROP Structures will become.

With people around him to support his dream, along with the freedom and experience to make it happen, Ryan is focused on growing Drop Structures in new and different ways.

A Construction foundation...

Ryan got his start in the construction industry over two decades ago, when he started working for his father.

“My first “real” job at 16 was on a 12 million dollar construction site in Northern Texas his father was running which then moved onto a 250 million dollar site,” Ryan said.

With his dad, Kerry Abernathy of Flintrock Construction, as his friend, father and mentor, Ryan learned the ins and outs of every aspect of construction first hand while on the job. After years of working with his dad and learning all he could, Ryan set out on his own and began building houses before graduating to larger projects.

...With A focus on aesthetics

But construction, as creative as it was for Ryan, wasn’t enough. To satiate his yearning to create beautiful things, he began to pursue his love of photography alongside his construction business. 

Together with other photographers and friends in his orbit, he co-created the Great North Collective, a highly-successful IG community platform. Through this, and other means, he was able to learn on the job once again. Over time, his photos caught the eye of brands like Target, Toyota, Herschel Supply Co., Jack Henry and a variety of other companies he was able to work with.

To this day, Ryan brings his enthusiasm for photography to work with him. In fact, many of the beautiful shots you see of DROP Structures on Pinterest, Instagram or Dwell are taken by Ryan.

It’s a desire for creativity, in both design and aesthetics, that has helped DROP Structures carve out a niche building for individuals who want a space that fosters freedom, imagination and fun.

The passion to create

Ask Ryan about creativity or passion and he can talk for hours. But, with a background in blue-collar construction, his focus isn’t on ‘artistes ‘. For Ryan, creativity is at the centre of life, no matter what is happening.

“Creativity at its finest,” Ryan said. “ Is looking at something and thinking differently about it. It’s looking at something and involving yourself and your identity into whatever it is you’re working on.”

That means whether you’re making a bed, or painting, creativity can be a part of every action you take.

The future of DROP Structures

Currently, Ryan’s focusing his creativity on building a DROP Structures office that has the same focus as every Mono, Duo or custom building that passes through the workshop – the push to build a space that inspires people to go further and do more. 

That starts with space to work with a variety of creatives. But the new office, just like passion and imagination, is not reserved for the grown-ups. The office will be a place where all the Abernathys, including the youngest, will be able to pursue their dreams, even if that means bombing down a slide into a ball pit.

That’s where the kids come in. Overflowing with energy and imagination, Ryan wants to create an office, and culture, that opens work up to include family, friends and lots of fun.

“It’s about being human,” Ryan said. “We all have to work, but my brother (Abernathy Carpentry)  made a really good point one day. He said “I spend more time at work than I do with my family; so if I’m not doing something that I love and that’s fun; why the hell am I here?” I’m lucky enough to be able to create my own workplace, so avoiding that question is one of my top priorities.”

That may seem like a departure, but for Ryan, that fun has always been a central part of what Drop Structures is. From the moment DROP Structures started, the passion to build a company, to fabricate beautiful, elegant buildings and designs, to develop a culture that would continue to nourish the company.

For now, that will only grow.

The next step

The world is changing fast right now, and DROP Structures is working to keep up by creating new products that will help people looking for a better way to work from home. COVID-19 is daily changing the world and how we work and Drop Structures is strategically placed to help out.

Look for more details about the newest members of the DROP Structure’s portfolio, the Micro and the Mondo, next week, on the blog, and in the newsletter.

– by Grub Street Writing

UsApril 13, 2020