I am an internationally recognized leader in the advanced use of technology in design and experience for the built environment. As a Principal at Woods Bagot, my platform is centered on technical innovation. I lead a global DesignOps team dedicated to researching, developing, and applying new models of design and delivery to projects, and I foster a global community of designers that is defining the innovation-led future of practice.
Design and user experience remain central to my vision for technology in our industry. By providing a positive experience to designers, their efforts are more informed, enjoyable, efficiently delivered, and communicative, ultimately driving a greater value for our clients.
Starting in the early 2000’s, I was an early advocate and active developer of design computation methodologies in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. I served for 8 years as a director of the design computation and education non-profit Smartgeometry, firmly positioning that organization at the intersection of art, design, technology, and the modern human experience. At Smartgeometry, I promoted the emergence of a new paradigm for digital designers and craftsman where mathematics and algorithms are as natural as pen and paper. Education was at our core - through mentorship we helped create the next generation of computational designers.
My expertise and curiosity have made me a sought after lecturer on a range of topics including BIM, design computation, digital fabrication, building and spatial performance, analysis and simulation, augmented design, VR/AR, Smart Buildings, Artificial Intelligence, and digital culture and experience.
Curriculum Vitae
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Woods Bagot
2011 - Present Principal, Global Leader for Technical Innovation
I lead the design technology strategy for 17 offices, foster an innovation community defining the future of the practice, and serve as a member of our global executive team.
Member of the Global Studio Executive (reporting to CEO/COO)
Co-lead the firm-wide technology strategy (roadmap, resourcing, budget)
Direct management of 14-person team, co-manage additional 20+
Advisory role to global design, delivery, and management leaders
Creator of Design Intelligence Portal (project knowledge sharing platform)
I direct the Global Design Technology group at Woods Bagot. This team leads company-wide efforts around:
BIM technologies and methodologies from clients to construction
Augmented design, computation, analysis, and spatial simulation tools
Environmental performance and sustainability tools
Visualization technologies
Firm-wide standards, content development, templates
Delivery automation, QA/QC tools, model quality
Skills development and tracking
Software Development
Data Science, Analytics, Place Intelligence, and AI
Lastly, I lead a 50+ global community of designers dedicated to creating the future of practice through innovative technical approaches to the design and delivery of projects.
Applied R&D topics include:
High Performance Design (environmental, building, and spatial performance)
Advanced Materials, Fabrication (DfMA) and Construction methods
New modes of design exploration, representation, and delivery
New models for collaboration, management, and knowledge sharing
New spatial experiences through digital culture
Grimshaw Architects
2007 - 2011 Associate, Head of Design Technology
I specialized in the design of Arts & Cultural facilities (performing arts centers, art museums, science centers) and worked in both the transit sector and sustainable residential design.
In addition to project design work, I also researched and applied advanced computational design techniques to projects, launching an internal specialist consulting team for performative design in 2007. This group’s topics included advanced geometry, design systems, environmental analysis, fabrication, and visualization. I also directed the firm-wide design technology strategy and established Grimshaw’s first projects utilizing BIM.
Select Projects:
Experimental Media & Performing Arts Center / EMPAC (RPI @ Troy, NY)
Fulton Street Transit Center (Manhattan, NY)
Via Verde (Bronx, NY)
Queens Museum of Art (Queens, NY)
Museo de Acero (Monterrey, Mexico)
Doha Airport City - competition for a masterplan + 5 buildings (Doha, Qatar)
Earthpark Concepts (Iowa, Doha, Florida, Malaysia)
Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle
2001 - 2003 Architectural Designer
University of Cincinnati
1995 - 2001 Bachelors of Architecture
College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning
ORGANIZATIONS, TALKS, AND PUBLICATIONS
Organizations
AIA Large Firm Roundtable CTO/CIO group since 2020
Autodesk Architecture Executive Council Advisory since 2018
Smartgeometry Managed & led organization and events from 2008-2018
ACADIA Contributor, speaker, and paper reviews
Talks and Publications
AIA National 2023 Building Connections Keynote “The 21st Century Architect - Digitally Augmented, but Very Human”
AIA Puerto Rico 2023 Keynote “The Augmented and Empathetic Architect”
Design Technology in Contemporary Architectural Practice 2023 Interview for the book
Monograph Podcast 2022 “Increasing the Impact of Digital Culture”
AEC Symposium 2021 Keynote “The Augmented and Empathetic Architect”
Design Intelligence Podcast 2021 “Seats at the (Data) Table”, “Innovation for the Artistic Soul”
TRXL Podcast 2022-2024 “A Wealth of Abandoned Ideas”, “Why Are We Doing This in the First Place?”
Superusers: Design Technology Specialists and the Future of Practice 2019 Interview for the book
BiLT Conference 2019 Opening Keynote
AIA Center for Architecture 2019 “Medium / Process / Product”
Construction Innovation Forum 2017 Melbourne “From Static to Dynamic”
AEC Tech 2014 “Sketch, Prototype, Experience”
Columbia University & Book Essay 2012 “Digital Workflows in Architecture”
AJ: Architects Journal 2011 “3D CAD - Solid Modeling Technology”
Western Red Cedar Conference Whistler, Canada 2010 “EMPAC’s Wooden Instrument”
MIT Guest Lecturer 2009 “Embedded Intelligence: Design-Driven Computation”
Smartgeometry San Francisco 2009 “Parallels: Algorithmic Design as a Common Language”
AIA National 2008 Conference “Adopting BIM”
ACADIA 2008 “Approaches to Environmental Performance and Analysis”
The Economist June 9 2008 “From Blueprint to Database”
Smartgeometry Munich 2008 “Carbon Neutrality: Form or Technology”
Festarch Sardinia 2008 “Technological Ecologies: Advanced Digital Design“
Smartgeometry New York 2007 “Design by Computation and Analysis“
AIA New York 2006 “Venturing Forth from Eden“
ACADIA / Smartgeometry 2004 “Fulton Street Transit Center”