Sam understands architecture as a means to communicate the ideals of the communities in which he works. He is a consummate craftsman, whose virtuosity with materials and details is always in service of translating his clients’ mission into built form. Often working at the scale of a detail early in a project, he understands that how we use materials judiciously and elegantly is a reflection of how we treat the world around us. 

Ultimately, Sam measures the success of his work through its impact on the people it serves. Whether it’s the wonder of a child watching water fill the first flush system at the Hitchcock Center on a rainy day, or the delight of a first-time visitor seeing the brightly colored sculpture transform the historic shell of the MassArt Art Museum, the impact of Sam’s work reverberates from his projects to the people who visit them and the communities around them. The success of that strategy has been recognized by numerous awards and publications. He has lectured nationally at leading design and educational organizations, and authored articles on his work and approach. By leveraging design as a tool for advocacy, and interpreting the local environmental, historical, and social context in his work, Sam’s impact is felt well beyond the walls of each of his projects. 

Sam studied architecture as an undergraduate at Yale University and received his Masters of Architecture from the University of Washington in Seattle.  As the child of an Architect and Landscape Architect, design has been in his life since birth. He, his wife Scarlet, and their children Max, and twins Iris and Eli live in Cambridge in the house he was born in.  Whenever they have the chance, they escape to Vermont to ski, ride bikes, and breathe the fresh mountain air.

sam@designlabarch.com