How did you get started in the Industry? 

Probably from building forts as a kid. Two of my uncles were masons, and I was fascinated by construction and cool buildings. But I started as an English major at the University of Pennsylvania before switching over to architecture sophomore year.

Has there been someone along that way that you credit with helping you to get where you are? And why?

I was most influenced by a truly visionary architect from New Jersey named Malcolm B. Wells (Gentle Architecture, and Building Your Natural House, (Van Nostrand) are a couple of his books. I interviewed him in 10th grade for an article on Mathematics in Architecture, and was lucky enough to intern for him one summer as he worked on underground architecture projects around the country.

What do you love about the Industry and why? 

I love everything about the construction process, the process of imagining and creating something out of nothing.  I love the sights, sounds, and smells (does anyone else out there love the smell of curing concrete?) My special niche is taking old houses and solving their problems, and opening them up, adding onto them to bring them into the 21st century.

Tell us three things about you that people do not know! 

a.    In high school I was the only varsity football player (center) who also played in the orchestra (cello).

b.    I’ve worked for the National Park Service for a total of  6 years from 1977 to 2012, during which I got to walk on top of Mount Rushmore while leading a sculpture preservation study.

c.    Besides  my work in architecture, historic preservation, sustainability, illumination and design, I am an Army-trained tank mechanic, having served 6 years in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard (I don’t miss that!)

Anything else you would like to share? 

I’ve done remodels ranging in cost from $25,000 to $2,000,000, and the larger ones having substantial fees attached. But my favorite projects, out of the 500 I’ve done, have to be the projects I’ve done for no fee at all: 5 for the Home Builders Foundation, 4 for Habitat for Humanity, 3 for Easter Seals Handicamp (including Home Builders Lodge, done with Godden/Sudik Architects) , and 1 for Jewish Family Service.

There is nothing that compares to the satisfaction of helping others through pro bono work. These deserving clients expect nothing, so we try to give them everything, and they are so very appreciative.