My love of music informs my thinking about architecture. Many of the projects I work on – in fact, those I seek out – are extremely complex from both a technical and operational perspective, requiring the architect to listen as well as direct many talented specialists, the same way a conductor must relate to an orchestra. The engineering thinking must be in harmony with architectural space and form to create not just functional but beautiful buildings. Architecture is not “frozen music,” as one analogy states; it is a dynamic being that plays with light, sights, sounds, and the feelings of its occupants in an evolving way that can be a thrilling experience for both the designer and the client.

Although my most recent projects have been designing solutions for American embassies, other past projects involved facilities in higher education, civic planning, commercial offices, and even simple residential projects. All of them provide the same excitement and hope for creating a built form that enriches people’s lives, no matter the size or budget, much the way a piece of music can creates joy, whether performed by an orchestra or solo musician.