About

I believe great places unlock human potential – and that strategic design is the key to making it happen.

As founder of Field States, I work at the intersection of urban design, human-first technology, and real estate strategy to create place-based transformation that generates lasting civic value. From sustainable manufacturing campuses to innovation districts to co-housing, my projects demonstrate how thoughtful design can drive economic opportunity while strengthening communities.

My approach is grounded in rigorous research and genuine curiosity. I have a PhD in Advanced Urbanism from MIT, where my work explored urban experimentation and civic value creation. I've co-authored two books – The City of Tomorrow (Yale University Press) and Open Source Architecture (Thames & Hudson) – and published seminal peer-reviewed research on how proximity drives collaborative innovation. I'm proud that my academic work that has influenced how architects, developers, and space managers understand the microgeography of creativity.

My career has had several surprising turns. With Curative, I designed and scaled a COVID vaccination program from a concept and pilot project in LA to two million doses – all in five months. I co-founded MIT's designX program for entrepreneurship and venture building in the built environment, and was on the founding team of a Bluetooth beacon tech company called Beco, which we grew and brought to acquisition. I advised Canada's $50M Smart City Challenge, and was a fellow at the Purpose foundation. Through all of this, I'm driven by the belief that innovation should serve communities, not just markets. Integrity and curiosity guide everything I do, from academic research to real estate development.

I'm committed to my community. Currently, that looks like service on the board of Caldera, an arts organization that nurtures the explosive potential of creativity in young people.

I am always curious about what makes places thrive, and I am always committed to making it happen.