"Waters Edge Oceanfront Villas concept was born a decade ago out of my desire to give back to my community in a way that incorporates all design knowledge I have gleaned through the years. I am excited to see Waters Edge through to completion, along with a hope for a greener trajectory for all future builds in Kailua-Kona and worldwide."
Highlights
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International Architecture and Engineering with an environmental focus.
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Using the built environment as a remediation engine for ecosystems.
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Awards: AIA International Award Winner, AIBD National Conceptual Design Winner. ACI National Award Winner. Multiple Local and Regional Awards spanning 30 years. Skilled in addressing projects with difficult environmental and cultural issues - with the public, public agencies and in the courts.
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Member of the Microsoft Mixed Reality Development Team.
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Father of 3 grown children, grandfather to 6 girls and 2 boys. Many-time Ironman Triathlon finisher; ultra-runner and blue water swimmer.
Designing with Mixed Reality
The closer that plans can represent reality the better. The closer that collaboration can happen in real time, the more efficient progress will be. This is why I use Microsoft HoloLens mixed reality technology in architectural visualization and planning. The American Institute of Archirecture calls mixed reality technology a "big game-changer" for architecture, and I couldn't agree more. It has allowed for unprecedented innovation on this project.
Biography
Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i has been my home for the past 40 years. Despite the intrinsic beauty of each country I have had the privilege to work in, the laid-back Kona lifestyle with its multicultural residents, rich culture, and idyllic weather keep my Kona roots strong.
The following projects are listed as a short catalog of diversity, not as a tour de triumph. There are many larger and smaller, more complex and less complex. I have in most cases of my work signed Confidentiality Agreements as is a standard contractual affair, and so a large catalog shall remain between me and my clients, as it should be.
I have been blessed to work in many capacities on thousands of projects over 40 years in architecture and environmental studies. I have worked in many countries, including Belize, Mexico, Bermuda, India, Kenya, South Africa, Jamaica, Fiji, New Zealand, Bali, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the Marshal Islands, Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil, the United States and Canada. I did a small project in the UAE. I have done conceptual work in Majorca, Montenegro, Italy and Spain.
Despite what movies and books may suggest, architects work as members of large teams. There is no “Howard Roark” out there who single-handedly generates designs and engineering for large projects, then sees the construction through. My background is well-rounded, with work on skyrise teams for cladding and mezzanine design, bridge teams to connect existing tall buildings above the street level, land planning groups, environmental impact and study teams, alternative energy groups, interior transport teams for elevator and escalator study, permitting and construction team lead, construction document team leader.
My formal training as an aerospace engineer gives me the language and tools to understand the complex systems of tall buildings and short, the unique interplay of mechanical, structural and life-support methods on the inhabitants and their activities.
I have worked primarily in resort design and construction, and have worked on various projects for Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, Castle Resorts, Diamond Resorts, Pacific Monarch Resorts and many of their subsidiaries.
In my late 20’s I gained employment as a project architect on the Skidmore Owings Merrill designed Hyatt Regency Waikoloa. The resort, which has been rebranded as the Hilton Waikoloa in Hawaii was a $648 million dollar construct that included lagoons, dolphin training facilities, gondolas, a sky cab and assorted amenities that would function to create a unique one-stop destination. This project was my first association with resort design, development and construction, and it was executed on a massive scale. In today's dollars that $648M budget is equal to about $1.62 billion today. For a low-rise hotel! Very complex project and I was very lucky to be part of it.
Hilton Waikoloa formerly the Hyatt Regency Waikoloa
My association with the Four Seasons Hualalai came early in my studies of environmental science; I was on the team gathering reef data for the project Environmental Impact Statement as part of my doctoral project in 1980. Since, I have been involved in more than $400 million dollars in of high-end resort construction (cost not appraised value) on the Four Seasons campus. In neighboring Kukio I am associated with around $200 million in similar top-cabin design and architecture. The fit and finish pallet in these projects is an important experience in our proposed ultra-high-end resorts, and I am proud to be the Architect of Record for the work my teams have done there.
The Four Seasons Hualalai Campus in Kona Hawai'i
Kukio at Maniniowali in Kona Hawai'i
I have interned under some wonderful talents and been mentored by many others. Harold Houser was an architect who was more known for his land planning. He was instrumental in developing a community in the California desert which came to be known as Rancho Mirage. After a hiatus in Kona, Hawai'i, Hal went on to design an Oregon project to be called Sun River. I designed Hal’s home, and helped build it with him (physically). I gained a lot of insight into what makes successful, luxury communities and how to plan and implement them while under his tutelage and worked with him until his death in 1992.
Living mid-Pacific, I am central to many cultures and resort destinations. My work has been informed in too many ways to state by this exposure. However, there is something special in every local that can – if distilled – be an attraction to leisure. Small or large in scale, how deftly this is used separates the really great resort experiences from the rest and is an ongoing quest I strive to inspire in my people.
I worked for years as an interior architect, leading teams in the fit, finish and FF&E portion of resort design and implementation. I spend several hundred hours on the Jumby Bay Island Resort interiors and build-out for example, which is one of many like projects my team did interiors and exterior approaches and features for. Again, ultimate finishes installed thoughtfully and tastefully; a resort experience complete unto itself.
The Jumby Bay Island Resort Antilles
Fiji is one of my favorite locations, the environment is one in a million, the people caring and fun, the vibe a unique blend of Polynesia and Indian trading center if you will. Dere Bay is around the corner from my own property, and abuts a preserve owned by Clint Eastwood. Lauren Hutton lives on this tiny island as well. I have been involved as a structural consultant, and in logistics mainly on this development and adjoining proposed projects.
Dere Bay Resort Koro Fiji
I have been on a number of resort teams for ski areas and other adventure activities like ziplining and ecotourism, from the northwest to Panama and Columbia, over into Africa and through the Pacific. The lodge at Mount Hood Meadows was an interior-only consultation and design, construction and FF&E affair of the lodge and environs in a truly Northwest pallet. I believe our team, led by Rose Capistani, ASID with me tagging along as interior architect, did a wonderful job here.
The Lodge at Mount Hood Meadows Oregon