Q. What motivated you to choose the field of architecture?
A. I always admired buildings and enjoyed designing and constructing things, but I was most interested in the systems thinking and organizational strategies because of their broad potential applications.
Q. What type of work are you most interested in?
A. I like to read about unbuilt projects and super structures that imagine new societal models. While understanding there were good reasons many of these were not built, I think they offer amazing insight into how challenges related to the built environment were understood throughout history.
Q. What has been your biggest challenge since obtaining your architecture degree?
A. There was a gap between the academic world and practice that felt very abrupt, but I appreciate the two distinct modes of learning and believe the design thinking learned in school still applies to more technical and sometimes entirely non-building related aspects of practice.
Q. What did you like about architecture school?
A. Contrary to my expectations going in, the history and theory courses were a major highlight, but nothing beats the process of imagination, drawing, model building that goes into design projects.
Q. Any criticisms of the architecture education experience?
A. If anything, I think academics should celebrate exploration and failed experiments rather than seek perfection. Discipline and rigor can be instilled without using fear tactics. I think that’s evolving and saw progress in the 5 year gap between undergrad and graduate school.
Q. What are your professional goals?
A. I want to design and develop projects that challenge the status quo. By acting as developer, I believe you can explore alternative models that may not otherwise be tested because they do not align with the imagination and expectations of a client.
Q. Who do you consider to be some of your favorite architects?
A. I enjoy Rem Koolhaas for conceptual designs and social commentary, but my favorite designers are Peter Zumthor, Tadao Ando, and Luis Barragán. I also like Fay Jones, having started my architectural education in Northwest Arkansas where I experienced many of his homes.
Q. Do you have a favorite building or city?
A. My favorite cities are New York and Mexico City. My favorite building is the Kimbell Art Museum by Louis Khan in my hometown of Fort Worth, Texas.
Q. What do you hope to get out of your AIA Brooklyn Chapter membership?
A. To meet fellow architects and learn through their work and experience. Looking forward to it!
