When approaching a new project, Peter Bates works hard to understand a client’s needs before designing a solution. “At the end of the day, I want everyone to have a good experience from start to finish,” he says. Peter’s previous project work at South Dakota State University has been meaningful, as he found it rewarding to work on the campus where he was once a student. He knows that new experiences turn into good stories and enjoys the opportunity to try something different. Peter volunteers at different events in the rock-climbing community, including serving as a belayer at youth competitions and participating in crag cleanup events. His one song that never gets old is “Thinking of a Place” by War on Drugs. “It can be intentionally listened to on the couch, it can push you along as you’re driving across the state, or it can fill your house when you are on a cleaning spree,” he says. For Peter, it is important to always stay curious and improve as a husband, engineer, and friend every day.