Born in Helsinki in 1987 to a Finnish father and Russian mother.
Learned to draw before he learned to walk.
Once spent an afternoon playing violin in the streets because he didn't have enough cash for an ice cream.
Moved to New York City in 1993 and has dwelled there ever since.
Studied fine arts at LaGuardia High School, architecture at The Cooper Union, and urban planning at The Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia.
Believes in technique, adaptability, patience, storytelling, that touching cold stone or dry wood will never cease to delight, and that no single person has the power to build a community.
2017-2018
IAAC - Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Master in City & Technology
2005-2010
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art
Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture
New York, NY
B. Arch
2001-2005
LaGuardia High School of Music & Art
New York, NY
Fine Arts Major
High School Diploma
2004-2005
Saturday Program at The Cooper Union:
free art classes for NYC high school students
Classes: sculpture & portfolio preparation
1993-2005
Diller Quaile School of Music
New York, NY
Violin major
2020-Present
AECOM, Buildings + Places
New York
Associate Architect, Design Lead
Global firm with governmental and corporate clients, focusing on large, complex, public infrastructure projects. Projects include: NYC School Construction Authority (SCA) capital improvement program, NYC Borough-Based Jails (BBJ) Design-Build Program, Toms River Restoration Project for BASF Corporation, Last-Mile Warehouses for Amazon Logistics, Alternate Care Facilities (ACF) for US Army Corps Of Engineers.
2018-2020
PAU (Practice for Architecture & Urbanism)
New York
Project Designer
Versatile, diverse firm weaving commercial, cultural, and planning work. Projects include: Sunnyside Yard Master Plan for NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC), JFK Towers at Schuylkill Yards in Philadelphia for Brandywine Realty Trust, Ulaanbaatar Village in Mongolia.
2015-2017
H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture
New York
Staff Architect
Highly reputable NYC firm focusing on performing arts projects for institutions, governments, and universities. Projects include: Tanger Center for the Performing Arts in Greensboro NC.
2014-2015
Mitchell Kurtz Architect PC
New York
Junior Architect
Firm specializing in performing arts & institutional projects. Projects include: Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater renovation, 92nd Street Y offices and classrooms renovation, Shakespeare In The Park Delacorte Theater place of assembly filing.
2012-2014
Andrew Franz Architect PLLC
New York
Junior Architect
Boutique high-end residential firm. Projects include: Upper West Side Duplex monumental stair, Chelsea Residence, Henderson Place Townhouse rooftop addition.
2011-2012
Rockwell Group, LLC
New York
Junior Architectural Designer
Globally-recognized design firm with a diverse portfolio spanning cultural, hospitality, interiors, residential, institutional. Projects include: Google Cultural Institute in Paris, Pier 54 schematic design for Diller Von Furstenberg Family Foundation.
Fall 2011
HH Building Consulting & Architecture, PC
New York
Junior Draftsman
Spring 2011
David Ling, Architect
New York
Freelance Designer
Winter 2010
Robert Biviano Architect & Global City Realty
Astoria, Queens
Freelance Draftsman
Fall 2010
James Casebere studio
Brooklyn
Freelance Model Builder
Summer 2009
Alexander Gorlin Architects
New York
Intern Architect
Summer 2006-2008
George Tsypin Opera Factory
Long Island City, Queens
Freelance Designer
Summer 2007
EPR Architects Ltd.
London, UK
Intern Architect
Summer 2006
H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture
New York
Intern Architect
2023-Present
Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA)
2016-Present
Registered Architect, New York State
2005-2010
Saturday Program at The Cooper Union
"If you want to learn something, teach it."
The Saturday Program was founded in 1968 by Cooper undergraduates with the mission of alloting high school students suffering from deficient art curricula the opportunity to step into a college environment for a full day of intensive and thorough development of basic artistic techniques and thinking.
The seven classes: drawing, painting, sculpture, graphics, sound composition, architecture, and portfolio preparation (for seniors only) are led by current students who are put in charge of everything from lesson plans to ordering materials.
The peer-to-peer relationship makes for a stronger bond between teacher and pupil. I owe a great portion of my own thought process to the years I spent teaching.
2005-2006
Office assistance
2006-2008 & 2009-2010
Architecture class
2008-2009
Sound composition class
Saturday Program @ Cooper Union website
At every stage of their career, all architects should engage their profession beyond their 9-5. I follow what I call the "once a week" rule, mentoring younger architects, volunteering for nonprofits, beautifying the city, and more.
It's the unsung fuel of democracy.
2025-Present
Citizen Pruner
The nonprofit Trees New York and the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation certify everyday New Yorkers to maintain street trees. Citizen Pruners and Stewards play a vital role in the upkeep and promotion of the city's urban forest.
June-November 2023
AIA Civic Leadership Program
The CLP is a 6-month fellowship hosted by the Center for Architecture, bringing together 10 early- and mid-career professionals to develop leadership and advocacy skills, organize seminars, and engage the civic process. Everything is political.
2020-Present
The Architectural League Mentorship Program
The Architectural League pairs mentors with current students at NYC's public architecture schools: New York City College of Technology in Downton Brooklyn, The Spitzer College of Architecture at City College in Harlem, and Kean University in New Jersey.
In 2026 I was nominated to the Mentorship Program's Mentor Committee.
2023-Present
NYCCT Pre-Internship Program
Conceived by Sanjive Vaidya, the Chair of the Architecture Department at CUNY City Tech, the program pairs volunteer firms with small groups of City Tech students to introduce them to the porfessional working environment. Those who attend the full series of office and site visits that I organize get priority selection for summer internships at the firm, creating a pipeline for the next generation of talent.
January 2020, 2024
Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE)
NYC Department of Homeless Services
A one-night canvassing of NYC's public space by hundreds of participants to help establish an accurate count of people sleeping on the streets.
January 2020
A Brush With Kindness
Habitat for Humanity, Harlem, NY
Repainted the common spaces at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Community Center in Harlem.
Summers 2008-2011
Konnarock Crew
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, VA
The Konnarock Crew is the oldest and largest organization of the ATC. Each week throughout the hiking season the crew invites volunteers of every age and background to participate in a trail maintenance project in a specific location anywhere in the Appalachian mountain range.
Crew members must be prepared to get dirty and sweaty.
Tasks include: surveying existing terrain, digging new trail, rehabilitating existing trail, building steps or cribbing out of logs or rocks, building stream crossings, and using a grip hoist.
Konnarock Trail Crew Blog
Summer 2009
Washington Trails Association
North Cascades, WA
A strenuous hike into the beautiful North Cascades readied the crew for a 7-day project involving both rehabilitation and relocation of trail.
WTA.org description of the Meander Meadows / Dishpan Gap hike
2014
Guggenheim Helsinki
Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
Museum for contemporary art
2013
Public Summer: 1st Street Green
SUPERFRONT
Charrette-style competition in The East Village, NYC
***Honorable Mention
2012
Public Summer: Library of Immediacy
SUPERFRONT
Charrette-style competition on Governor's Island, NYC
2011
ONEPRIZE: Water as NYC's 6th Boro
Terreform One
2010
Prospect Park 3rd St Gateway Design Competition,
Park Slope Civic Council
***Runner-Up
2008
Gillette Landmark Design Competition
A sculpture to stand in front of Gillette HQ, Boston
2005-2010
Full scholarship for Cooper Union's 5-year B.Arch program;
Estimated at $175,000
2005
The Mark Rothko Scholarship
In Memory of Gustave Harrow for Excellence in Art
2005
LaGuardia High School Department Awards
Art history, computer graphics, portfolio
2025
To Sysiphus
Pilot Waves
I performed my poem for an independent podcast.
2024
Pylon Magazine, AIA Brooklyn
Interview for new chapter members.
2020
Our Streets, Our Stories (OSOS)
Brooklyn Public Library
Oral histories collected by the Brooklyn Public Library. Interview about my experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2017
¿Qué Le Dirías A Tlaloc? / What Would You Say To Tlaloc?
Wrote, produced, directed, and edited an independent documentary film about Mexico City's water infrastructure.
2017
The Architect Gets Grandfathered
Arts & Letters Magazine, Georgia College
Short Fiction, shortlisted for the Pushcart Prize
2017
Wildcat (Ballistics Report)
CLOGxGUNS, an online periodical
Short Fiction
2016
Construction Matters, by Georg Windeck; powerHouse Books
Brick; Alvar Aalto's Experimental House; Muuratsalo, Finland
Architectural Photography
2015
Lights Up, Bitches
As Seen On [], short story competition hosted by Urban Omnibus
Short Fiction
2015
Soma
Re:Public, Zagreb Rooms student workshop, Zagreb University, Croatia
Short Fiction
2013-2016
Satellite Collective, Transmission IV & V
Web Design Director of online periodical
November 2010
Park Slope Civic Council; Civic News
Winning entries for the Prospect Park 3rd St Gateway Design Competition
May 2010
Architecture at Cooper Newsletter
"2:09-10"
Thesis synopsis
April 2009
Based On Actual Events (The Break-In)
The Pioneer, 150th Anniversary Special Edition, The Cooper Union
Short Fiction
April 29th - May 31st, 2004
Trygve Lie Gallery - Meeting Place 6 (Press Release)
The 6th Annual Art Exhibit By Scandinavian Students Living In North America
Design:
Revit
AutoCAD
Rhino 3D
Grasshopper
Adobe Creative Suite
SketchUp
3DS Max
Programming:
Python
SQL
QGIS
Arduino
Processing
Craft:
Model making
Drawing
Architectural drafting
Photography
Native:
English, Russian, Finnish
Fluent:
Spanish
Studied:
French, German