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Rich Peckham  AIA

Chief Executive Officer

Rich has dedicated his career to the planning and design of New York State educational facilities, striving to create spaces that respect the past, reinforce today’s education, and respond to the changing and diverse needs of the 21st century. With CSArch since 1995, Rich worked alongside the founding principals to set the direction for future growth, establish high standards for excellence, and create a culture that values its people as its most important asset. His decades of project management experience coupled with his expert knowledge in maximizing building aid make Rich an exceptional team and firm leader. 

What makes CSArch different? 
Our propensity to really listen and resist forming preconceived ideas. We can’t solve problems until we deeply understand them, so we work very hard to uncover what makes a client unique. Part of our job is to help our clients find success. Until we thoroughly consider current and future challenges, we can’t do that.

What is one project you're most proud of? 
The one that stands out most in my mind is the capital project we completed with Bethlehem Central School District. Not only was it one of the first projects that I lead,  I'm also a district resident. My wife attended there and now my daughter attends. So we designed her elementary school, we designed additions to her middle school, and we designed additions to her high school. Needless to say, that project is very close to my heart.

What is your biggest contribution as a team leader?
I strive to bring out individual strengths and remain flexible so teams can thrive and ultimately achieve the shared goal of delivering the best project possible within the defined parameters.

What advice would you give to budding architects and engineers?
Learn as much as you can. What you learn in school is a small fraction of what it takes to be a professional architect or engineer. Find yourself a mentor that you can trust, pick their brain, and always ask questions. 

 

Education
Bachelor of Architecture 
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Registration
Architecture, New York State

Affiliations
American Institute of Architects
Capital Region Chamber, Leadership Tech Valley

Personal Interests
Historic Buildings
Reading
Biking
Traveling

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