(3) The Beginning

As graduation drew closer, I began anxiously waiting for a

response from one of the historically greatest architectural

schools in the world: Taliesin West, founded by one of my heros--

Frank Lloyd Wright.  I had decided that I really didn't want to jump

into the business world until I had acquired a Master's in Architecture.

It would give me a "leg up" so to speak.  And since I was only 23

years old, a couple more years of professional preparation wouldn't

hurt.

Need I say that I was more than thrilled when I learned that I had

finally been accepted by Taliesin West.  I quickly hopped a flight

out to Phoenix, went to nearby Scottsdale and checked in at this

famous school.  I was nearly breathless with awe, as I sat in my

Taliesin digs looking out at the edge of the Sonoran Desert.

Before I had to delve into the program I had a chance to familiarize

myself with the locale--and it was no disappointment.  Taliesin West

was "ecologically" designed decades before the public ever 

thought about environmental or ecological issues.  And there was

Beauty to behold, all over the place.

As I was also to discover, the Master's degree work at Taliesin West

involved not only Architecture but also the Landscape and the Fine

Arts.  We would work as "apprentices," getting a hands-on education

that blended the natural and built environments.

Sustainability was also in the forefront when it came to the thinking

at Taliesin West.  For quite awhile they had already moved into the

second generation of sustainable housing that went beyond the

prototypes that showcase sustainable technologies and materials.

Very much in the spirit of Frank Lloyd Wright, this effort revolved

around "elegant, efficient simplicity."

In due course I decided upon attaining a combined degree, the

Master of Architecture and Ecological Design.  This added more time

to my stay at Taliesin West, but I hardly took notice.  I was far too

occupied balancing ecological and architectural design, media,

construction technology, and project management courses.

More specifically, the courses I managed to study proved fascinating.

For example, the History of Ecological Sciences, Integrated Bioclimatic

Design (design and technology of climate-sensitive architecture),

Urban Ecology, Exterior and Interior Plantscaping, and Advanced

Technology and New Materials.

Frankly, I  wished that I could have stayed even longer at Taliesin West.

The time there went far too fast.  This always happens when you

are at your best creatively.  But upon receipt of my advanced degree,

I moved towards my next step, back in San Diego interviewing at some

of the better architectural firms for a position.

A pleasant surprise, but I received more than a few offers.  So I had

the task selecting the firm I believed might be best for my career.

Amazed at myself, I actually took a rather pragmatic approach

when it came to my selection.  I chose a firm that really covered the

entire "ballpark" of Architecture: i.e., Architecture Design, Program

Development Planning, Site Analysis and Entitlement Research,

Government Processing, Project Management, Construction

Administration, Interior Design, Space Planning, Sales Center Design,

and Restaurant and Retail Design.

Need I say that I spent another three years just getting a grip on this

spectrum of know-how, if you will.  But it was important to build a

broad base before I even thought about ploughing into a specialty.

Finally I did, however.  I blended Green Design building churches

and developing their landscapes.  And, actually, this so-called

specialty was originally foisted upon me by the firm.  Surely their

thinking was that this was a good place to start.

Truth be said, architects weren't much into building new churches,

since there was little call for such.  Mainline denominations were

shrinking when it came to their membership.  Indeed they were more

than often selling off their properties.  And the Fundamentalist and

Evangelical groups were usually refurbishing old theatre structures

with large seating capacities.  So any new churches being built

were few and far between.

Regardless, I quite enjoyed designing some of the simple but

beautiful little churches I had put my hand to.  I had just turned

30, so I felt that I had plenty of time to move into other kinds of

projects.  Than one day a monk walked into my office, and my

life changed forever.