I was born in March of 1990 in Evanston, Illinois on the periphery of the city of Chicago. Raised among a family of architects, painters, welders, and craftsmen, I readily inherited my familial preoccupation, as well as a similarly genetic passion for the outdoors. I received my bachelors degree in architecture from the University of Kansas in 2012, which included semester studying urban design in a graduate program at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. During that time I worked for the dean of the school of engineering, assisting on a variety of projects. But my interest in outdoor recreation continued to draw my attention.
After my graduation I left the professional track to spend some time attending to my other interests working as an adventure trip guide, leading Kayaking and backpacking trips, and as a ski instructor, working with a surprising variety of clients during my time at Breckenridge ski resort in Colorado. My love of playing outside is as strong as ever, but I knew even then that my goal was ultimately to return to complete my architectural education. So after a brief hiatus, I returned to academia, where I attended The Illinois Institute of Technology's MArch program.
During my time at IIT, I began working with JDD Architects, a small Chicago firm specializing in single family residential projects, with a rising interest in warehouse conversion and renovation. As a project manager with JDD I was able to work on projects ranging from a 50,000 sq.ft. office space renovation in Chicago to a 2000 sq.ft. custom precast concrete home for a family in Indiana. I had an integral role in schematic design of complex projects, as well as engaging clients, contractors, and collaborators in developing and conceiving construction goals. The benefit I found of working with a small firm was the sheer number of learning opportunities, every day I was confronted with a new challenge. I took pride in meeting client needs with clear communication and considerate design, and enjoyed the challenges of working in the complex architectural environment of Chicago.
When I'm not drafting, designing, or on-site, I enjoy using my skills to work on smaller scale, personal projects like furniture and artwork. I enjoy woodworking and welding in particular and my living room is crowded with various experimentations in furniture and sculpture. The value in my life comes directly from the creative process; I design, build, plan and work because the sense of fulfillment and connection from creation is completely unparalleled. It is challenging, it can be frustrating, but there is nothing more engaging, and to me nothing more important.
