In the 5th grade, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I answered “Architect.” If you were to find my yearbook from then, you'd see that word written under my name. Since I was about 10 years old, I've been fascinated by design and construction—the process of bringing an idea from paper to reality. When my parents built their house, I begged for a copy of the blueprints and spent hours sketching my own floor plans and elevations on the kitchen floor. I would ride my bike to the construction site, observing the progress and trying to understand how the plans translated into the physical structure.

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By high school, I had a solid grasp of various CAD software and took courses focused on design and construction. I pursued this passion at Pennsylvania College of Technology, earning a Bachelor of Building Science and Sustainable Design and an Associate of Architectural Technology. Later, I graduated with distinction from Lawrence Technological University with a Master of Architecture.

 

After finishing my undergraduate studies in 2012, the challenging economic climate led me to a role as a BIM manager for a mechanical and plumbing design firm in my hometown of Chambersburg, PA. This unexpected detour into engineering provided invaluable experience in MEP systems, which has since become a significant asset in my architecture career. My interest in healthcare design blossomed while working on the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt vertical expansion project.

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In 2016, my wife Megan and I moved to Tennessee, where I worked as a mechanical designer and later as a project manager for a commercial architecture firm. There, I managed projects in higher education, K-12 schools, churches, and government buildings, guiding them from Schematic Design through Construction Documents and Construction Contract Administration. In 2021, I joined another firm as a project manager for their healthcare division. Following the retirement of the healthcare director, I was promoted to Healthcare Team Lead, overseeing all healthcare operations at the firm.

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In my free time, I enjoy playing golf and spending time with Megan and our two-year-old son, Cole. I also have a passion for music, having once been a songwriter for Universal Music Publishing Group—ask me about it! We are excited to start a new chapter in Columbia, MD, where Megan works as a pediatric psychologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Cole is closer to his grandparents.

I am a registered architect in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and NCARB certified for reciprocal licensure in any state. I would love to connect and discuss how I can meet your architectural needs. Looking forward to our conversation!

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Sincerely,

Joshua Baumgardner, AIA, NCARB