Richard blends creativity, rigour, and pragmatism in every project he leads. With graduate and undergraduate degrees in architecture from Dalhousie University and a Fine Arts degree from the University of Calgary, Richard’s career has always balanced imagination with precision. In his nearly ten years at GEC, he’s moved through the roles of project architect, associate, senior associate, and now partner, contributing to some of the firm’s most complex and meaningful post-secondary work.
A registered architect in Alberta, BC, and Saskatchewan, Richard is known for helping teams cut through complexity—whether that’s streamlining design processes, solving technical challenges, or navigating building codes. His evidence-based, first-principles approach means every design choice is grounded in research, logic, and real-world outcomes. He’s not one to settle for how it’s always been done—instead, he asks: What is the core function? What does this space really need to support?
He describes his leadership style as democratic and hands-on. Teammates are encouraged to take initiative, test ideas, and grow through collaboration. That mindset carries over into his client and consultant relationships too, favouring meaningful work over small talk, and building strong partnerships through the process of getting things done together.
Outside the studio, Richard enjoys strength training, reading, hiking, and watching movies—especially horror films, a shared interest with his wife and daughter. He’s also a fan of walking the river valley at lunch, a daily reset that helps him return to work with fresh energy.
If he hadn’t pursued architecture, he imagines he might have ended up as a cartoonist, a barista, or a coal miner (though probably not all at once). However, he’s found his creative home in architecture, where curiosity, grit, and the courage to “just draw it” continue to guide his path.