How would you say the architectural community – particularly academia – has played a part in your career?
The architecture community is an incredible thing to be a part of, and the academic side of it proved invaluable in my progression from student to working graduate. In my fifth and final year at the California College of the Arts, I enrolled in a Woods Bagot-hosted studio by Pat Daly. The studio was about tall towers in China, and I remember Pat’s charisma clearly – he was someone who knew, and loved, the kind of work I wanted to do.
This academic experience proved a strong foundation for the working environment, and I joined the Woods Bagot San Francisco studio in 2010. Ultimately, the introduction to the professional world via the studios I participated in during my final years of study played a part in easing my integration into a real architecture studio. The hands-on experience they offered in terms of the pace of the work, the process of learning how to think and execute via iterative design, and quick comprehension of intricate systems made my early professional years easier – though I certainly learnt a lot on the job!
“To me, fostering a sense of community isn’t necessarily about physical proximity—it’s about openness to learning from one another.”
You often work on international projects from the San Francisco studio, how do you contribute to a sense of community across time zones?
At Woods Bagot, our global network allows me to work on projects spanning London, New York, and China, among others. To me, fostering a sense of community isn’t necessarily about physical proximity—it’s about openness to learning from one another.
A great example is the Sunshine Insurance Headquarters in Beijing, a 205-meter tower I worked on from 2011 to 2021. This project was a collaboration between the Beijing and San Francisco studios. We divided responsibilities for design production, project management, and client collaboration based on what would deliver the best results. This partnership created a strong sense of community that lasted throughout the project’s lifecycle, despite the distance and time zones.
Working on projects like these not only connects teams across geographies but also allows designers and architects to tap into the diverse expertise of our global network. Large-scale international projects broaden our understanding of scope and complexity, enabling us to solve problems within unique cultural and logistical parameters.
What does your ongoing involvement in Leap’s Bay Area Annual Sandcastle Classic mean to you in terms of contribution to the architectural community?
The Annual Sandcastle Classic is, above all, about having fun, but it’s also a meaningful fundraiser. It supports high-quality arts and architecture education for 10,000 Bay Area public school students who would otherwise go without. Each year, the event draws around 3,000 participants.
As Leap board chair, the Sandcastle Classic gives me the opportunity to share my architectural knowledge with elementary school students. Together, we mimic the processes of architecture, engineering, and construction as we build giant sand sculptures. This year, the event’s 42nd edition, the theme was ‘Out of this World.’ My team of enthusiastic young designers came up with a design called ‘Galactic Suncastle,’ which depicted a story brought to life. The sculpture featured an opening book, an exploding sun, a sea serpent, and even bananas. While we didn’t win, we proudly took home the ‘Friendliest Sandcastle’ award!
Woods Bagot has proudly supported my involvement in the Sandcastle Classic since 2013, with teams of designers contributing their creativity and expertise to this inspiring event. It’s a testament to the firm’s commitment to community engagement and fostering the next generation of thinkers.
Events like this bridge the academic and professional worlds, offering students an alternative way to think and create outside the structured rigor of traditional programs. It’s a hands-on workshop in design: modelling, iterating, scaling, and executing—on the beach.
Reflecting on my own journey, from being exposed to art and architecture at a young age to my professional career, I’m deeply committed to inspiring the next generation of thinkers through design. It’s a privilege to have come full circle—from participating in the Sandcastle Classic as a fifth grader to now serving as Leap chair. It’s a meaningful way of giving back and building a sense of continuity and community.
“I’m deeply committed to inspiring the next generation of thinkers through design.”