From Legos to Virtual Reality: A Creative Journey
As a child, I found joy in constructing worlds with my little red Lego briefcase, foreshadowing a lifelong passion for building and creating. My artistic journey began in high school, where I honed my skills in photography and offset printing, leading me to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus on commercial photography. Under the tutelage of Walter Farynk and his iconic quote ‘the harder I work the luckier I get’, I expanded my artistic horizons, even dabbling in the mesmerizing art of glass blowing, with Herb Babcock.
My early career as a freelance commercial photographer at Guy Morrison Studios laid the foundation for my professional path. However, it was the groundbreaking Pixar short “Tin Toy” that ignited a new passion, propelling me from traditional photography into the realm of 3D modeling and rendering. This pivotal moment led me to train at Pixar Studios, mastering the Renderman software on early Macintosh systems using specialized UNIX based graphics cards.
From EDS/General Motors, I transitioned to the Detroit Virtual Reality Center, working on even larger Silicon Graphics Reality Monster computers. While at the Virtual Reality Center, I embarked on a monumental project: creating a 3D master model of downtown Detroit for the Renaissance Center renovation project with SOM out of New York. This project showcased the architectural transformation of the Renaissance Center, moving the massive central plant to the side of the building to allow direct access to Jefferson Ave.
In 1999, I moved to Arizona, where my career shifted to 3D architectural renderings for the booming housing market in Phoenix. After the housing bust, I pivoted to 3D fabrication, joining Comfort Systems Southwest. There, I honed my 3D BIM modeling and process skills for a national network of 51 Comfort Systems sister companies. This experience led me to a role in General Construction as a BIM/VDC Manager. Today, I leverage my extensive 3D construction knowledge, coupled with deep expertise in database management, to harness the power of AI in creating the next generation of construction management software. My career is a testament to the power of following one’s passion, embracing technological evolution, and synthesizing diverse skills in the pursuit of creative and innovative solutions for the construction industry.
RealeyesVR 