I believe that our relationship with our environment, built and natural, has the potential to be richer and more fulfilling. I am interested in contributing to a more symbiotic relationship between the natural and human-built, where what we create can become an acive participant in sustaining and growing the incredible resource that is our planet. I see the process of intentionally and thoughtfully integrating technology into the built environment in service of a better relationship with the natural environement as an important layer of design practice and something that should be investigated within the deeper cultural and socioeconomic context within which our experiences exist. In my design process I am inspired by the beauty and grace derived from the way nature solves functional challenges. Beyond the aesthetics, I am interested in understanding how natural systems are built and how they evolve to meet new requirements.

My range of skills and experiences spans across disciplines in order to most effectively approach the different ways people engage with the built environment. The diversity of tools and methodologies I use is driven by what I want to understand rather than what I already know. My process is built on a strong foundation of design thinking which gives me an ability to operate at all scales of a project. At the full system view I develop conceptual frameworks for projects and understand all the different elements that need to go into successful execution. At the same time I can drill into any one of those elements to develop proof-of-concept prototypes and communicate effectively with subject-matter experts and collaborators.

I grew up with Roman ruins as my playground, wondering how people lived their lives in those spaces a thousand years ago. I have continued this interest in understanding the built environment as an important backdrop for human experiences throughout my academic and professional path.

I received my Bachelor’s in Art and Architectural History from Emory University in Atlanta. Knowing that I would eventually be pursuing a professional architecture degree, at Emory I focused on learning as much as I could about the context of architecture: the social, economic, and cultural foundations that shape and define architecture and people’s relationship to it. After taking a set design class in my last year there I became close with the professor who taught it and ended up helping her on a few of her projects. This led to me doing my own set design and construction for small theater companies in Atlanta, which continued once I moved to Berkeley for my graduate work.

During my graduate studies at UC Berkeley I was able to connect with fantastic mentors whose work focused on innovative processes, materials, and systems in the built environment. With their guidance I was able to develop research around digital fabrication techniques and tools as well as explore innovate processes with a range of materials, such as ceramics and polymers. The use of technology to inform and push design has been a foundational aspect of my architectural education, informing my creative process and shaping my professional trajectory.

After finishing my Masters of Architecture, I took a detour from architecture and spent several years in the Seattle tech and fabrication community through my work at a local maker space, Metrix Create: Space. There I focused on helping other people realize their design ideas, using a wide range of analog and digital design and fabrication methods. Among many other things, at Metrix I learned proper soldering technique, how to design simple electronics boards, and how to turn a CNC router into a giant 3D printer for melted down milk jugs. One of the most important aspects of working there was to be quick at identifying all the different aspects of a project and what tooling and materials it might need, then acquiring any new workflows necessary to complete the work. It was fast paced and the diversity of projects kept me on my toes and constantly learning. The other most important aspect of working at Metrix was developing an ability to connect with many different people, understand their needs, and communicate with them effectively in order to get their projects realized.

My entry back into architecture was as the research and development coordinator for Olson Kundig Architects where I was responsible for advancing research efforts and the incorporation of new tools and technologies into the firm’s design process. After two years as the r & D coordinator at Olson Kundig, I joined LMN Architects as part of the Tech Studio research group. There I spent four and a half years combining my interest in electronics, digital fabrication, and software to push the practice of architecture through research, development of prototypes, and collaboration with other industries. I am currently finishing up my last requirements for becoming a licensed architect.