Get to Know Our Team
Discover the creative minds behind our innovative designs as we delve into the heart of our architectural and interior design firm. In this topic, you’ll get to know our team through their personal inspirations and dream projects. Our talented architects and interior designers share their unique perspectives and aspirations, offering a glimpse into the driving forces behind their most ambitious and captivating ideas. Read on to explore how each team member’s vision shapes our projects and brings exceptional designs to life.
The Team
#1 What led you to pursue architecture/interior design/construction management?
CAS: My interest in the built environment was sparked by my father’s career in the A/E industry. While I loved the tactile experience of his drafting tools and the pride of seeing his completed projects, it was understanding the architect’s specific role as the project visionary that defined my trajectory. Motivated by a desire to lead both the design narrative and the project team, I committed to the profession at a young age.
DSM: As a young child I went to the St. Louis Arch and I found that very inspirational. It’s probably the first trip I remember as a kid that was memorable. Then from there I started to pay a lot more attention to all forms of design.
AAH: I was inspired by my family to pursue interior design. My brother is an architectural engineer and my mother pursued interior design as well. Seeing their work sparked by own passion for design.
DTG: My passion for design is deeply rooted in my upbringing in Columbus, Indiana. Living in a community that actively celebrates its dense collection of modern landmarks inspired me to explore the technical side of the profession early on. I channeled this interest into a high school drafting course, which quickly evolved into a four-year academic commitment (and beyond) to learning the fundamentals of architecture.
DAM: My interest in CM-Construction Management was a desire to build and fix things. I have always been intrigued by the ways different components fit together to form a machine or building. What led me to pursue Architect-led construction was the desire to build structures that are also works of art. I want to build buildings that are 1-of-1 and turn heads.
JLH: While I started my career in the digital realm, I’ve always been energized by the “messy reality” of the job site. I love the challenge of taking a conceptual design and navigating the practicalities required to get it built. For me, success is found in the details—coordinating with vendors, managing timelines, and protecting the integrity of a space from the first sketch to the final walkthrough. I’m a firm believer that great design is only as good as its execution.
#2 Is there a specific design style/movement that is your favorite?
CAS: Witnessing the opulence of 15th and 16th-century masterpieces firsthand refreshed my perspective on enduring design. However, one of my strongest interests lies in the intersection of history and modernity. I am drawn to the challenge of unifying historic structures with contemporary needs—functionally, sustainably, and aesthetically. London’s Battersea Power Station and Brooklyn’s Domino Sugar Factory are two large-scale examples that come to-mind.
DSM: De Stijl, Bahaus, Prairie, Modern. I also enjoy traveling and seeing High Baroque, Gothic, and Rococo. I have a fond appreciation for all styles really.
AAH: My favorite style/movement is the Aesthetic Movement. It emerged in the late 19th century and advocated for the idea of “art for art’s sake,” rejecting the notion that art should serve a political or moral purpose.
DTG: Probably mid-century modern or brutalist. I enjoy the clean lines.
DAM: Bauhaus and Midcentury Modern are my favorite design styles at the moment. Cape Code and Queen Anne style homes are some of my all-time favorites.
JLH: I’m drawn to a refined modern minimalism—focusing on clean geometry and strong proportions to create spaces that feel both calm and intentional. For me, the goal is always ‘simplicity with warmth.’ I believe in letting great light and honest materials do the heavy lifting, creating quiet, well-executed details that don’t need to shout to be felt.
#3 Who are a few of your architecture/design inspirations?
CAS: My influences have evolved alongside my career. In college, I was drawn to the bold complexity of Morphosis, Eisenman, and Calatrava. Later, I gained a deep appreciation for the discipline of the ‘New York Five‘—specifically Meier, Graves, and Gwathmey.
Over time, my focus expanded to include masters of place and craft like Ando, Lake-Flato, Glenn Murcutt, and Hugh Newell Jacobsen. Despite their stylistic differences, what connects all these architects for me is their holistic approach: they all maintain rigorous oversight of every detail to ensure their original design vision is fully realized.
DSM: Stephen Holl, I.M. Pei, Tadao Ando, Jean Nouvel, Renzo Piano, FLW of course, and Alvar Aalto.
AAH: Zaha Hadid, Kelly Wearstler, Sarah Sherman Samuel
DTG: Eero Saarinen, Bangkok Bastards, Tadao Ando
DAM: Frank Lloyd Wright and Antoni Gaudi (Sagrada Familia). The Local Project is also a cool publication / YouTube Channel that highlights different architects / works of architecture and has been a big inspiration for me.
JLH: I’m most inspired by the architects and builders who prioritize proportion, natural light, and material honesty. I find myself returning to work that feels quiet and timeless—where the design doesn’t need to shout to be felt. For me, the best inspiration comes from projects where every detail, no matter how subtle, feels intentional and thoroughly considered.
#4 Is there a detail you would love to be able to incorporate into a project one day?
CAS: I am frequently looking for an opportunity to use board-formed concrete. I love how it captures the memory of the construction process, though it has often been value-engineered out of our projects due to cost.
On a more experimental note, I’ve been interested in exploring translucency—specifically, a shower adjacent to a hallway with obscure glazing that offers just a hint of a silhouette. It’s a play on light and movement, though clients have been hesitant about the privacy implications. That might be a detail I have to test in my own home first!
DSM: I’m most interested in resilient design, passive house, and other sustainability-related details. I would like to build buildings in unconventional ways that are more environmentally conscious.
AAH: Marble door frames.
DTG: Rammed Earth would be pretty crazy to work with.
DAM: Stained glass is a detail that I love and would love to incorporate into a build one-day. Specifically, large full-length walls of stained glass … maybe a stained glass greenhouse? I also would like to incorporate a fully-tiled “wet room” into a project. Sunken conversation pits are very cool too!
JLH: I’d love to incorporate Architecturally Exposed Structural Steel (AESS) in a really intentional way—steel that isn’t just “left visible,” but is designed to be seen. Clean connections, crisp lines, thoughtful reveal details, and junctions where the structure becomes part of the architecture, not something you hide later.
#5 Describe your dream project.
CAS: Simply put, my dream project is any work that achieves absolute excellence through shared passion. It involves a high level of engagement between the client and the design team, backed by the time and budget necessary to innovate. The ideal outcome is a cultural amenity that creates a genuine connection to its community and stands as a lasting legacy.
I believe this can only be achieved with a trusting client and a talented team of complimentary professionals (with all final design decisions going through the architect).
DSM: Totally off grid, resilient, modern, and fully automated home.
AAH: I think every new design project contains elements of my dream project. I look for work that creates a narrative and a connection to place—where we can solve complex challenges creatively and step outside our comfort zone.
DTG: Passive Coastal House or Brutalist Desert House. Basically exploring and pushing the boundaries in harsh or unique site typographies.
DAM: My dream project would be to build a church. Cathedral architecture is breathtaking and it would be awesome to build a building that is inspired by Gothic architecture, but at the same time, also embrace a Brutalist/Minimalist style.
JLH: My dream project is a modern, minimalist home for my family that balances clean geometry with a sense of warmth. I’m inspired by simple massing, abundant natural light, and a seamless connection to the landscape. Beyond the aesthetics, the ‘dream’ is in the execution—a project where the design intent is rigorously protected through every phase of construction, resulting in a space that feels both highly functional and entirely effortless to inhabit.
As we wrap up our journey into the minds behind our architectural and interior design firm, it’s clear that our team is driven by diverse passions and innovative visions. From Renaissance masterpieces to modern influences, each member brings a unique perspective that enriches our designs. Whether it’s integrating board-formed concrete, rammed earth, or pioneering sustainable, off-grid homes, our team’s dream projects reflect their commitment to excellence and creativity. By getting to know the team, you not only gain insight into their inspirations and aspirations but also see how their individual contributions come together to create exceptional, forward-thinking designs. We invite you to stay engaged and witness how these inspirations continue to shape the firm’s creative concepts!
Written by HAUS