10/14/2025
When I began my journey in community recreation design, the landscape looked pretty different. Most centers were basic—just a gym, a weight room, maybe a meeting space. Aquatics facilities were even more outdated: rectangular lap pools, diving wells, and bathhouses that hadn’t changed since the ’60s. These places didn’t reflect how families actually wanted to spend time together, and they weren’t accessible or engaging.
At SFS Architecture, we weren’t known for recreation work yet. But we had a few solid projects, and I had a personal passion for aquatics—growing up in a swimming family and raising one too. I wanted to do more, and thankfully, I had a mentor who believed in that vision.
Mike Fickel and Mike Shaughnessy, two of SFS’s founding principals, were instrumental in shaping my path. Fickel had a gift for connecting with people and saw the value of building relationships in the industry. More importantly, he gave me space to grow. He encouraged me to attend conferences, make cold calls, and chase opportunities—even when they were outside our comfort zone. That kind of support made all the difference.
One of our first big challenges came with the Maryville Aquatic Center. We met Rod Auxier through the Missouri Parks and Recreation Association (MPRA), and he shared our vision for family-focused aquatics. Winning that project was exciting—but also intimidating. We were stepping into a space where expectations were high, and the old way of doing things wasn’t going to cut it.
Shaughnessy pushed us to think differently. He challenged the team to create something unique—something that didn’t just meet the community’s needs but exceeded them. That mindset helped us deliver an award-winning design that redefined what a municipal aquatic experience could be. It wasn’t easy. We had to rethink bathhouse layouts, site design, and how to make the space feel fun and inclusive for everyone. But it was worth it.
From there, the challenges - and opportunities - kept coming. Every community had different needs, wants, budgets, and politics. We had to learn how to listen, adapt, and design with empathy. Since then, our portfolio has grown to include well over 100 projects—from waterparks and fieldhouses to arts centers and observation towers. Each one came with its own hurdles, but also its own impact.
One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been mentoring others, just like my mentors guided me. Brian Garvey, now a Principal at SFS, discovered his passion for community recreation through our work together. Watching him lead and expand our reach in the community recreation market has been incredible.
Today, I’ve shifted my focus toward sustaining and growing our Civic and Federal markets—working with local municipalities and the GSA, National Park Service and Department of the Interior. But the heart of what we do hasn’t changed. We design spaces that bring people together, and we do it by embracing challenges, building relationships, and staying true to our purpose.
