Why This Work Matters

Preservation Is About More Than Buildings

Historic places tell the story of the communities that created them. While architecture preserves physical history, it is the people, traditions, and shared experiences connected to these places that give them lasting meaning.

My work begins with a simple belief: successful preservation is not measured by the number of buildings saved, but by how those places continue to serve the communities around them. Design becomes most meaningful when it honors the past while creating opportunities for future generations.

My Journey

From Education to Design

My path to historic preservation has never followed a straight line. Beginning my career in education taught me that meaningful growth happens when people are given the right foundations to succeed. That perspective continues to shape how I approach design today.

After transitioning into interior design and historic preservation, I found myself asking a different question:

Can communities grow the same way people do?

That question ultimately became the foundation of my graduate research and continues to influence every project I undertake.

Research That Shapes Practice

Where Research Meets Practice

My graduate research explores the intersection of adaptive reuse, historic preservation, educational theory, and community resilience.

Rather than viewing preservation as the protection of individual buildings, my work examines how the built environment contributes to stronger, more connected communities.

This research led to the development of the Structural Scaffolding Framework, a methodology designed to help communities evaluate the conditions that support long-term revitalization before significant investments are made.

Experience & Skills

Preservation

  • Adaptive reuse

  • Historic preservation

  • Heritage planning

  • Community resilience assessment

Research

  • Community resilience

  • Educational theory

  • Heritage studies

  • Material culture

Design

  • Interior architecture

  • Educational design

  • Research-based design

  • Community spaces

  • Material selection

Technical

  • Section 106

  • HABS documentation

  • Historic research

  • Grant support

  • AutoCAD

  • SketchUp

  • Adobe Creative Suite

Philosophy

Design Should Leave More Than Beautiful Buildings

Every project begins by asking three questions:

  • What stories already exist here?

  • Who does this place serve?

  • How can design strengthen both?

Whether documenting historic resources, developing adaptive reuse strategies, or researching community resilience, my goal is always the same: to create places that respect history while supporting the people who shape its future.

Whether you're exploring adaptive reuse, preservation planning, or community revitalization, I'd love to hear about your project.