Meet Luke Stevenson, our newest Designer! Luke came to RODE with eight years of experience designing everything from single-family and multi-family homes, to civic and academic buildings like libraries and theatres. We checked in with Luke this week to get the scoop on his background and ambitions.
What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture? Were there any other career paths you considered along the way?
As a child, my favorite toy was LEGOS, I guess foreshadowing my future as a Designer. I never considered any other career paths and went straight into studying architecture after high school. I obtained a degree in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado, Boulder before moving to Texas and attending UT Austin for my Master of Architecture. The rest is history!
Are there particular project types, skills, or experience that you'd like to focus on as a Designer at RODE?
I am particularly interested in honing my skills and experience with construction detailing and I would love to work on religious buildings and places of worship like the Congregation Kadimah-Toras Moshe Synagogue.
What architect do you most admire and why?
Todd Williams and Billie Tsien have always been inspirations to me. Both Architects create idiosyncratic sculptural forms that make their buildings unique and impactful.
When you’re not designing amazing spaces, what do you like to do for fun?
I can usually be found woodworking, hiking, and gardening in my free time. Even when I am not at work, I enjoy activities that involve creativity and working with my hands.
You’ve studied, worked, and lived in many different places. Are there buildings that resonate with you as a designer in Colorado, Texas, or Massachusetts?
I am fortunate to have lived in each of those places because I was exposed to many different types of architecture. One particular place is the Charles Moore House in Austin, Texas. It is a great example of how architecture can be whimsical and colorful instead of anonymous and pretentious. The very modest home responds to Austin’s climate by organizing the house around a central pool covered by an arbor.
