Alan credits three prominent women in his life with shaping his architectural trajectory. In the 1960s, his mother introduced him to modern architecture, highlighting works that harmonized with nature in unprecedented ways, evident in his design of three rooftop parks and the “Fifth Facade.” In the 1970s, his Aunt Carol exposed him to NYC’s emerging art scene, where, as a teenager, he discovered the power and autonomy of conceptual ideas. These experiences informed the narrative approach used in the Bob Dylan Center, The City of Loneliness in Korea, and his work with artists in 38 Beams and Underbelly. In the 1980s, studying under Astra Zarina in Rome, he was inspired by ancient urban precedents in modern architecture, and in particular, the ways architects like Carlo Scarpa created inventive ways to react to historical contexts while simultaneously marking the notion of time passing. His designs for the Space Needle and ANOHA reflect his ability to honor past creations while enhancing them using modern tools and technologies.

It was no coincidence that during these early years Alan embraced his identity as a gay man. He found acceptance in these creative communities where differences were often celebrated as strengths. When he joined Olson Kundig in 1992, he found a place that embraced both his creative efforts and his desire to live openly.

Many of Alan’s projects pursue unconventional challenges, designed to have a broad impact on public and community life. As lead designer for The Century Project at the Space Needle, Alan transformed the iconic 1962 World’s Fair observation tower with a $100 million renovation. The project introduced the world’s first only rotating glass floor at a height of five hundred feet and added 200% more glass, expanding views for the tower’s 1.4 million annual visitors. The project received an AIA National Architecture Award for a new type of “observation architecture” while preserving and revealing elements from the original design, as well as the 2030 District Leadership Award for achieving LEED Gold certification.

Diverging from conventional after-life-care options, Alan also led the design of the world’s first human composting facility in collaboration with Recompose. This cost-effective project repurposed an industrial hanger into an environment that hosts a new, more sustainable death care alternative, emphasizing the positive environmental impact of composting as a final act. The process reduces carbon dioxide emissions by one metric ton per person and consumes one-eighth of the energy required by traditional burial and cremation.

Alan’s first project at Olson Kundig was the Frye Art Museum, a collaborative effort that earned him and his team their first AIA Honor Award. This project also established Alan’s primary career focus: expanding Olson Kundig’s portfolio of cultural projects.

This focus has resulted in built projects across the United States, as well as overseas. At the Jewish Museum of Berlin, Alan led a team through an international design competition for a new children’s museum. ANOHA, the winning design, is housed in a 1960s concrete structure originally built as a wholesale flower market. Here, the wooden “building within a building” uses the existing concrete shell as a thermal buffer to reduce energy demand, while operable windows allow the new museum to be naturally ventilated. The project team worked with an unusual Advisory Panel—comprised of 20 immigrant children who had recently arrived in the community. The group invented the museum name, workshopped exhibits and sculptures with local artists in Berlin, and tested new educational programming. ANOHA has required advance reservations for its sold-out ticketing since opening.

Research is central to every cultural project at Olson Kundig. Alan’s “Fifth Façade” concept investigated the underutilized potential of city rooftops. He delved into the environmental impacts and the historical allure of rooftops, tracing back to the Tower of Babel. This self-directed project ultimately won first place out of 1,500 entries in the world’s largest architectural ideas competition, and informed three rooftop parks in South Korea, as well as a concept for outdoor classrooms at Rice University.

Alan became an architect because of his love of drawing; while he still draws every day, his creative toolkit now includes leading teams of computational designers and digital artists. Presently, he’s collaborating with a team to develop concepts for a retail project in South Korea, using AI models to generate numerous design iterations.

Prior to earning his master’s degree in architecture, Alan was an early childhood educator. Identifying a gap in superior design for children, he established a practice involving young people in the design process. His first seminal project, Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center, incorporated interactive elements inspired by children’s drawings. Other notable projects include the Holocaust Center for Education and the Bay Area Discovery Museum, which transformed a WWI military campus into an indoor/outdoor museum.

Alan deeply appreciates the pivotal moment in the design process when clients metaphorically take the pencil from his hand to share their ideas, signaling true collaboration. He works closely with clients, colleagues, various creatives, and unlikely sources to move into the realm of unexpected solutions. Throughout his career, he has developed and refined strategies to work with clients and colleagues that begin with the question, “What can we do together that we cannot do apart?” This question provided the hypothesis for a two-year design experiment, called [storefront]: Olson Kundig, which featured over 21 installations and community events, co-led and curated by Alan and principal/owner Kirsten Ring Murray.

Alan has helped shape Olson Kundig’s studio environment with a focus on initiatives that support professional and personal growth. He also co-founded the firm’s International Internship Program in 1996, providing paid positions and mentorship to recent graduates. The program, now overseen by a rotating roster of the firm’s design leaders, has hosted nearly 400 interns from over 30 countries and every US state.

Additionally, he established the Speaker Series, a monthly program that invites creators, often outside the realm of architecture, to speak to the firm and provide a new source of inspiration. Curated by an internal team, the series has been active for over thirty years and recent presentations are now available on the firm’s website.

Alan has contributed his projects and perspectives to several books, including New Heights: Transforming Seattle’s Iconic Space Needle, co-authored with Blair Payson and published by Images Publishing in 2024. He also co-edited Arcade: Art Moves, Cities Follow, a design journal on artist migrations, with Kirsten Ring Murray, and supported the development of two volumes self-published by the firm, [Storefront]: Documenta and Kid Stuff.

He is dedicated to continuous learning and inspiration and frequently appears on design podcasts, in addition to lecturing extensively. He has been featured on podcasts including DESIGN:ED, Archinect Sessions, and Monograph, and has lectured at TEDxSausalito, Rice University’s Department of Architecture, the University of Washington’s Department of Landscape Architecture, the ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture, and the University of Florida, among others. He welcomes opportunities to contribute his knowledge and passion for design and culture to both architects and the broader community.