Tom received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2017, finishing his undergraduate studies in Barcelona at the ETSAV (Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura del Vallès). While receiving his master’s in architecture at Taubman College at the University of Michigan, Tom developed an interest in adaptive reuse, community engagement, and the application of storytelling and world-building in architectural practice. At Taubman College, Tom was part of the early development of the Public Design Corps, which worked to bring pro bono design services to communities and businesses in and around Detroit.

In Chicago, Tom has worked in affordable housing design for the past eight years, collaborating with groups like Lincoln Park Community Services, LUCHA, and Claretian Associates. He is inspired by housing organizers and developers who remain committed to housing as a human right and enjoys the collaborative process that this work requires between designers, organizers, and residents. Through this work, Tom is committed to the cultural and material value of building reuse and preservation. He is always curious to discover more about the history of Chicago and the Great Lakes region and is constantly looking for opportunities to help remythologize the past through its architecture and the stories we tell.

Outside of the office, Tom has been involved in the housing cooperatives of Hyde Park for four years. In this context, he learned about consensus-based decision-making and the shared effort required to maintain affordable housing on the other side of the architect-client relationship. Tom also loves to bike around the city and region, sketch and craft, write fiction, watch old films, cook for lots of people, and make slapdash music on piano and guitar.