What gets you up in the morning?

Each day is unique, and the things that draw me out of bed can be equally different.  the aroma of coffee in the kitchen is always a favorite – though lately it’s the dull pain of a shoulder that’s getting older.  But by far, the most common experience that gets me going in the morning is the sloppy – though well intentioned – kiss from an adorable western highland terrier.

What is your favorite part of the profession?

What I believe I love the most about the practice of architecture is that the work has a very tangible and measurable impact on the quality of people’s lives.  Being engaged in a profession that will create places for all of life’s many moments is a real honor and privilege.  When we get it right, and people are inspired and elevated by what they experience, there is no greater reward.

If I wasn’t in the architectural field, I would probably be…

If I had to choose an alternate career path it very likely would have been to design and engineer aircraft for one of the major U.S. defense contractors.  Building machines for flying has always captured my imagination and would have been challenging and rewarding I’m sure.  Nevertheless, any interests I may have had other than architecture was always a distant second at best.  Building machines for living – as architecture has often been described – has long been my desire, and has proven to be a profession worthy of one’s life work.