“My passion lies in the pursuit of tomorrow’s home. When I look down the road 20 years from now, I hope the technology of home building catches up to other industries. And I also hope that we have a better understanding of what a home means to how families and communities function. I sense that some things about our homes will get simpler, and other features, such as energy efficiency will become more sophisticated. Technology is the great hope and promise for a future in balance with the earth’s resources. At the same time I wonder how will our lifestyles shift in response to environmental concerns? To me it’s all part of creating a home for the future.

Day to day, it’s the nuts and bolts of putting together a project that makes work interesting and engaging. Integrating technology into a design and our drawings is something I really enjoy. Nothing is better than working with a tradesman, and gaining insight on how things are done on the job site, and how the guys who build our projects think about their work and the products they use. Nail by nail, each project’s success also depends on the care of the builder, and understanding their point of view has become really important to me.

In my own life I try to practice what I preach, by working on the solar tour, or by using the products I encourage our clients to consider. Making a difference is rewarding. While some may view the challenges ahead of us as huge, it’s also exciting to be part of the solution.”

Education
Cornell University, 1988, Bachelors of Science, Interior Design
University of Houston, 1994, Master of Architecture, Valedictorian

Affiliations and Memberships
Solar Tour Coordinator, 2006, 2007, 2008
USGBC Residential Green Working Group, LEED Advocacy

“Design is part good work and part obsession. Good work means taking the time to assess client needs, taking the time to craft a project, and taking the time to listen. Obsession is about the art of creating, or even being consumed by the idea that there’s a better way of doing something. Making a space more beautiful and more functional is always a couple steps around that corner, and I always seem to be chasing it. A passion for color, form, and function, plus a patient ear as I work with each client, means waking up at 4 am in the morning, wondering about the best solution.

My undergraduate degree was mainly focused on painting. Color, light, shadow and composition all come into play while I design. I not only design, I compose and sculpt. Objects in the space, like a set of stairs, or a kitchen island have the potential to become a piece of art. A wall or ceiling condition becomes an opportunity to highlight the client’s individual tastes.

As an architect, I know that the career I’ve chosen, is not just that – a career, it’s a way of living. And the passion for design is never something I can turn off when I leave the office. That passion is something I love to share with the people we work with.”

Education
University of Texas at Austin, 1991, Bachelors of Arts
University of Houston, 1995, Master of Architecture

Affiliations and Memberships
American Institute of Architects Houston and National member
Texas Society of Architects
United States Green Building Council
Avenue Community Development Corporation – Honorary Committee member

“When I first entered the field of design in 2004 I wasn’t sure exactly where I belonged. I knew I wanted to make things pretty but I also wanted to make a difference. I joined RD part time in January 2007 with little more than two years management experience in the industry. I continued my education, earning a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Interior Design in March 2008 and joined RD Architecture full time. Before me I saw an industry primed for a new wave of consumers who value quality of life more than quantity of space.

Every project is like a great puzzle, each with a number of pieces – program requirements, spatial relationships, lighting, codes, and more. All of which must fit together for the project to work. The challenge of green design is figuring out how all these pieces fit together while staying environmentally conscious. The greatest reward is watching a green community rise one home at a time and knowing I am a part of it. Everyone has the choice to live green, just as every home has the potential to be green. The spirit of the color is the belief of a homeowner that one building, one person can make a difference. We’ll always have a carbon footprint, but it’s up to us what size shoe we wear.”

Education
Art Institute of Houston 2008, Bachelor of Fine Arts Interior Design, with Honors

Affiliations and Memberships
Solar Tour Coordinator 2008
American Society of Interior Designers, ASID
National Technical Honor Society, NTHS