Hello.
The curiosity of buildings and drawing began young, but not unlike any other curious mind. I was of the many on the edge to find answers to challenging personal questions.
I found a passion in construction working in Kalamazoo, MI as a residential carpenter during the early 2000s. I later went to work on commercial projects in Atlanta - then shortly with the local trade union in Philadelphia, PA. In 2005, I moved back to Michigan to take the Residential Builders license to lead out independent construction projects in my hometown of South Haven.
The market disappointments of 2008/09 brought challenge and inspiration to pursue a Masters degree in Architecture. I entered the Architecture program at Andrews University to further develop my curiosities in study, travel and the understanding of our world's cultural story.
Upon graduation in 2013, I was invited to Jordan to join the American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR) to help with the architectural documentation of one of Petra's few ancient freestanding Temples. Petra is a true destination for witnessing the essence of rich cultural history. Our dusty caravan would enter into the city every day on the mission to carefully document, protect, and preserve part of that precious historic place.
Activities also continued at another historic site at Tall Hisban - assisting with various design, planning, site work, and mapping projects. Many of the most recent projects are on display inside the Horn Archaeological Museum at Andrews University.
Following the year in Jordan, the focus shifted briefly into the design offices of "professional" architecture in Chicago and SW Michigan - practicing residential design, multi-family housing, mixed-use, commercial, adaptive-reuse, and planning.
I continue my work from my home office in Northern Michigan.
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Listen.
"The building itself (our 'mute but talkative witness') has the answers to our questions, our duty is to 'ask' him by means of the tools at our disposal, and to be ready to listen to him. Nobody knows better his own history than himself."
-Ignacio Arce