Ray Tse’s first fascination with architecture came by looking up - way, way up.

A native of Hong Kong, Ray spent a good deal of his youth gazing up at the city’s striking, monumental skyscrapers, like architect Norman Foster’s HSBC Headquarters and I.M. Pei’s Bank of China building. Ray and his family later moved to New Orleans, where the famous architectural heritage sits much closer to the ground but proved no less captivating. Ray explored his new city with his pad and pen at the ready, making sketches of the Crescent City’s old colonial buildings and historic homes. He wanted to do more than just appreciate architecture, however, so when the time came to pick a career path, Ray’s choice came easily.

As Principal at KTGY, Ray is involved through all design phases and specializes in developing strong concepts that excite clients. Working in high-rise and multifamily design for over 20 years, Ray’s goal is for each client to walk away with contextual, balanced design solutions that exceed expectations, invigorate communities, and elevate the built environment. Over his career, Ray has worked in different typologies but maintains an affinity for striking, soaring structures. He served on the AIA Board of Directors in Baton Rouge, and he remains an active participant in AIA committees and in the ACE mentorship program.

Ray elaborates on KTGY's comprehensive approach to architectural development ranging from the embracing of new technologies like AI to strategic diversification into various housing typologies. Emphasizing the importance of cultural integration post-acquisition, Ray shares insights on effective leadership, design innovation, and the overarching vision that continues to drive KTGY’s national prominence. Additionally, Ray touches upon the pivotal role of lifelong learning and offers valuable resources and takeaways for aspiring architects and industry enthusiasts alike.

Key Takeaways:

• Emphasizing the importance of cultural integration and strategic collaboration in successful mergers and acquisitions within the architectural industry.
• Leveraging high-rise and mixed-use residential design experiences to create efficient and impactful urban spaces.
• The significant role of technology, such as AI, in enhancing architectural workflow and efficiency, especially in tedious or repetitive tasks.
• The significance of continuous learning and open communication in fostering professional growth and building resilient teams.
• Drawing inspiration from diverse global influences and past architectural practices to innovate modern-day solutions in the built environment.

Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.

Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!

Leave your thoughts in the comments and reach out if you want to be a valuable guest on the show!

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTube

Find out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/

Jonathan Garland is the President and Founder of JGE, a Boston-based 100% minority-owned architecture and design firm with a comprehensive portfolio comprised of multi-family housing, mixed-use development, academic, life sciences, commercial, and university projects.

JGE Development focuses on transforming underperforming assets and underutilized parcels into stabilized income-restricted, and market-rate multi-family housing. JGE Development partners with communities to activate and improve historically disinvested neighborhoods throughout Boston’s inner city and urban core.

Jonathan has over 25 years of professional experience planning and designing residential, mixed-use, academic, and institutional projects. He has cultivated a widely respected, seasoned approach to designing buildings and transforming neighborhoods and urban communities through high-quality collaborative design and development strategies. A Boston native, Jonathan launched his career with strong educational foundations from the Boston Architectural College and has since been committed to alleviating the housing crisis through innovative and socially responsible real estate solutions.

Jonathan discusses the strategic decision behind running both an architectural and development firm, underscoring the significance of community engagement in creating impactful projects. His firm focuses on solving the housing crisis through creative approaches and staying connected with the community.

Key Takeaways:

• Jonathan Garland emphasizes that launching a business requires careful client selection to align with the company's mission and prevent growth stifling.
• The housing crisis in Massachusetts is accentuated by high construction and living costs, making it crucial to provide affordable housing.
• Building with community involves genuine conversations to ensure developments meet the real needs of local populations.
• A deep understanding of development economics and proactive community engagement are essential for architects and developers.

Notable Quotes:

1. "When you deal with people in the community, and you engage them, they very rarely remember the designs. They very rarely remember how they got to the final result, but they absolutely remember how they were treated in those meetings."
2. “When we get on our horse every morning, it’s not just putting wall sections together and making floor plans; we’re really trying to marry cost-conscious budgets with housing.”
3. "It really is character, you know, before qualifications. There are certain things you can train with individuals and certain things you can’t train."

Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.

Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!

Leave your thoughts in the comments and reach out if you want to be a valuable guest on the show!

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTube

Find out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/

Phil Cohen, Principal at Boston Communities, has over a decade of affordable and mixed-income housing development experience working in both the public and private sectors. Phil’s projects include over 4,000 units of housing and leverage local, state, and federal resources to create affordable and market-rate rental and ownership housing for families and elderly adults. Phil has worked with Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Historic Tax Credits, Workforce Housing funds, Common Wealth Builders funds, RAD and Section 18 conversions, and myriad local funding sources. In the public section, Phil wrote the 2015 Inclusionary Development Policy and worked on other middle-income housing policies including Linkage, density bonuses, and compact unit policies, while permitting over $2B and over 4M square feet of construction including thousands of housing units.

The conversation starts with the impact of the Affordable Homes Act of 2024, which infused $5.16 billion into Massachusetts' affordable housing initiatives, strengthening state support and ensuring a robust pipeline for housing projects. Cohen elaborates on how this additional funding has facilitated the creation of diverse housing opportunities that serve communities better by preventing displacement and offering mixed-income housing solutions near transit-oriented areas.

Cohen discusses specific projects such as the Roslindale development and shares insights into project funding, acquisition, and the complex approval process required to make such housing a reality. Furthermore, the discussion navigates through pressing topics like rent control and how it can potentially distort housing economics if not implemented thoughtfully.

Key Takeaways:

• The Affordable Homes Act of 2024 has significantly bolstered Massachusetts's affordable housing landscape, allowing ongoing funding and development.
• Transit-oriented and gateway cities provide strategic locations for housing development, optimizing existing infrastructure to improve accessibility to jobs and resources.
• Phil Cohen emphasizes the value of mixed-income developments as they create socio-economic mobility and prevent concentrated pockets of poverty in urban areas.
• Affordable housing relies on complex funding mechanisms and partnerships with communities and multiple stakeholders to address displacement and achieve sustainable growth.

Notable Quotes:

• “We're all helping to create affordability in communities that really need affordability to prevent displacement, keep people in their homes, keep people in the neighborhoods.”
• “What we don't want to see is pockets of poverty where all the rich kids are on this side of the street, and all the poor kids are on this side of the street."

Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.

Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!

Leave your thoughts in the comments and reach out if you want to be a valuable guest on the show!

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTube

Find out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/