Lee Calisti

Lee Calisti, AIA, a 1991 graduate of Kent State University, won the AIA Medal of Honor as the top member of his graduating class. After being in practice for twelve years, he established the firm to pursue an interrelationship between practice and teaching. Since 2002, his role as an adjunct associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Architecture has afforded opportunities to draw upon the fresh energy and investigative methods inherent in the studio environment as a tool in his office. His values of architectural education and its relationship to private practice began while he was a graduate teaching assistant in his final year of college.

Throughout his career, Mr. Calisti has approached each project with his pro-active and energetic approach as well as his attention to detail. Regardless of the project size or type, he has searched to find exciting aspects within each design to celebrate. This approach has allowed him to share in earning of numerous design awards. He is capable of finding unexpected solutions to complex issues that meet the client’s needs and budgets, but exceed their expectations.

Mr. Calisti is licensed in Pennsylvania and is NCARB certified. As an active member of the American Institute of Architects; currently as a member of the CRAN (Custom Residential Architects Network) Knowledge Group. Previously, he was one of the original founders of the Pittsburgh Chapter’s Young Architects Forum in 1996 and was the co-chair for seven years. He went on to serve as the Regional Liaison representing Pennsylvania as part of the AIA National YAF. He currently serves on the City of Greensburg’s Historic and Architectural Review Board (HARB) and is a member of the Design Committee for its Main Street Program. Prior to starting his own firm, he was a Senior Associate at Integrated Architectural Services in downtown Pittsburgh, PA and was instrumental in many of the firm’s numerous AIA Design Awards and City of Pittsburgh Preservation Awards.

Lee Calisti writes regularly on his blog, Think Architect. His interview on the Novedge Blog can be read here.