Opening Blog Post

Everyone deserves a chance to participate from the schoolyard to the world stage. This guiding principle has pioneered a spirit of equity and inclusiveness and has provided inspiration to the work of SSA for nearly 40 years.  These are the values that have inspired my life’s work.  I am passionate about architecture and providing opportunities for all persons to experience the built environment.

I have carried this passion beyond our borders having assisted several countries with securing the rights to the Paralympic games including Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, Rio 2016, and, most recently, PyeongChang 2018, where I was able to bring full-circle the access work I did on behalf of South Korea more than six years ago when they secured the rights to the games from the International Paralympic Committee.

From a business perspective, while accessibility has been the primary avenue of the firm’s recent growth, I have observed many other architectural firms – sensing opportunity – attempt to compete in this segment.  Among my challenges is not only rising above this competition, but convincing more than a few of my clients that access is not merely a cost to be contained, but a principle to be embraced.  And in the context of an aging and often less ambulatory population, the need for this work only grows.

The stories and information I seek to convey in my blog attempt to put a personal face on the work of the firm and the beliefs I hold dear.  I’ll take this opportunity to thank you, dear reader, for spending a few minutes getting to know me.