Built on Purpose

I didn't start Momentum to build just another architecture firm. I started it because I believe every client deserves an architect who treats their project like it's the only one that matters.

The Journey

Architecture has been in my blood for as long as I can remember. My grandfather was a real estate developer, both my parents were realtors, and I spent much of my childhood tagging along to open houses and walking through buildings at every stage of construction. By middle school, I knew this was my path. By my sophomore year of high school, I'd landed my first job as a drafter — and I never looked back.

After high school, I worked as a Job Captain for a residential architecture firm while taking night classes in Architecture and English writing at Saddleback Community College in Orange County. In 2005, I moved south to San Diego and transferred to Woodbury University, where I earned both my Bachelor and Master of Architecture — with a focus in Real Estate Development that gave me a rare understanding of not just how buildings are designed, but how they're financed, entitled, and brought to market.

For over eleven years, I honed my craft at Gensler — one of the world's largest and most respected architecture firms. I joined when the San Diego office had just 16 people and watched it grow to over 100. As a Project Architect, Design Manager, and Senior Associate, I led client relationships, managed design teams, and mentored junior staff on projects that taught me the discipline of large-scale design and the standards that separate good architecture from great. I also brought my expertise to DGA Planning | Architecture | Interiors, further deepening my skills in planning and interior design.

The Teacher

From 2010 to 2014, I taught night classes at the university level — courses in Rapid Visualization and Drafting in Light Construction. Teaching is one of the best ways to learn, and I've always believed that sharing knowledge is what this industry is all about. There's nothing quite like watching a student compare their first sketch of the semester to their final project and realizing how far they've come.

The Philosophy

Throughout it all, I kept coming back to a question: what would it look like to bring that level of rigor and care to projects of every size? To give a family building their dream coastal home the same caliber of design thinking that goes into a Fortune 500 headquarters?

That question became Momentum. Founded in 2017, this firm is built on the belief that architecture should enhance the way people live, work, and connect. If you ask me what the key to a successful project is, the answer is simple: collaboration. Nothing is done in a vacuum; nothing is a solo effort. We partner with our clients, consultants, and teams to bring every project to life.

We don't chase trends. We pursue clarity, purpose, and beauty — in that order. Every project starts with listening, moves through rigorous exploration, and arrives at solutions that feel both surprising and inevitable. We believe the best buildings are the ones that seem like they've always belonged to their place.

The Commitment

Whether it's a coastal ADU, a ground-up commercial building, or a full custom home, we bring our complete attention to your project. We're not a volume shop. We're a studio that believes in the transformative power of thoughtful design — and we'd love to bring that to your next project.