A self-described generalist with wide-ranging architectural interests, Clay has worked on single-family residences, multi-family communities such as the Cortland in New York City, large-scale hospitality developments, and cultural and workplace design projects. He is also deeply involved in local design/build projects and festival installations, valuing their opportunity for experimentation and immediate public engagement, which informs his other work. He served as design lead on ICE CUBE, an award-winning exhibition for the Seattle Design Festival, and has mentored numerous subsequent SDF installation teams.

At Olson Kundig, Clay specializes in residential and commercial projects that blend architecture and art at a variety of scales. His design approach starts with establishing strong client relationships to understand their needs and realize the vision through design and material decisions. Believing that buildings can be both beautiful and responsive to their site conditions, Clay enjoys testing material boundaries to develop intentional and contextually relevant structures. He feels that the essence of a building comes from thoughtful design and material selection, which can enhance every aspect of daily life.