Profile_AAP

I have been residing in the United States over approximately thirty years. When I completed my Master of Architecture degree in the Oklahoma State University School of Architecture (OSU School) in 1980, I felt that I had survived the finest, but perhaps the toughest, program of architectural education in the United States. After entering into the practice of architecture, I soon confirmed that my education provided me a superb foundation in architecture that indeed has supported me throughout my professional career. I had the good fortune to gain experience with several architectural firms before taking a position with Pei Cobb Freed & Partners in New York City (formally I.M. Pei & Partners).

Consequently, I had the privilege of working with I.M. Pei & Partners over ten years. Among its best known works are the Kansai International Airport in Japan, Los Angeles Convention Center, Holocaust Museum of Washington DC, Canary Wharf Financial Center in London, etc.: environmental analysis, land-use analysis, feasibility studies, urban planning and design, conceptual design, programming and space planning, master planning and complete architectural services for corporate, governmental, institutional, housing, and mixed-use/commercial developments in both the public and private sectors, that set high standards of excellence in design. It had been a most fulfilling experience for me as to international ventures at I.M. Pei’s office.

After leaving I.M. Pei & Partners, to meet greater challenges in my professional practice, I decided to pursue a Ph.D. in Urban Design with focus on Environmental issues based on thirty five years of my professional experiences, and received the degree in 2002. In the spring of 2000 I had the opportunity to return to OSU as a visiting faculty member. Since 2004 I have been a full-time faculty member and have worked hard to provide students with the same enthusiasm, background knowledge and values, and ability to think and solve problems that my mentors provided me when I was a student. I feel that one of my responsibilities as a faculty member at OSU is to provide continuity to the strong traditions of the OSU School.

At present, I am a registered architect of the United States and Japan with thirty five years of my professional experiences including a civil engineer. I have been working with several large firms in Japan, as an advisor or a consultant, forming partnerships with two principals at Associated Architects & Planners Inc. (AAP), Tokyo, in Japan. The principals of AAP have shared vision that has developed over the course of a fifteen-year friendship and professional association at the challenging architectural firm, performing work nationally and internationally.

During the past fifteen years, I have been further involving with the academic field, as teaching at Nihon University in Tokyo, Tianjin University in China, Chungnam National University(CNU), and Kyungpook National University(KNU) in Korea.

Due to my background in architectural practice with more than seven countries, Europe, the Middle East, Asia: Malaysia, China, Korea, and Japan, and throughout the United States, it is my understanding that valuable exposure to Architecture over several countries has been broadened my scope on understanding of society, people, history, and culture in other different countries.

To end, I am very excited for the opportunity to explore the possibility of an important part to play in the future of Asia to make it even better in the future.