Q&A: Joel Fidler on his New Role as the Next President of Ayers Saint Gross

Joel Fidler, architect and principal, will step into a new role as the next president of Ayers Saint Gross at the beginning of 2025. Here, Joel reflects on how he got into architecture, his philosophy of leadership, and his plans for the firm’s future.  

How did you become interested in architecture and design?  

When I was young, I spent every snow day (there were a lot more back then) and sick day playing under and around my parents’ desks at the design firm RTKL (now Arcadis), where they both worked. I would wander around and see people sketching, drafting, pinning up, and debating and I thought it looked like so much fun. I have always loved sketching, puzzles and problem-solving, and even then, I knew I could turn those passions into a career.  

How long have you been at Ayers Saint Gross? 

I started in the summer of 2011, which means I’ve now been at Ayers Saint Gross for over half my career. It doesn’t feel like that long and it’s amazing to see the progress we’ve made as a firm over that time. 

What are some of your most memorable projects that you have worked on at Ayers Saint Gross?  

I came to Ayers Saint Gross because I was excited to work for clients that were as passionate as I was about the impact of design and who wanted to make long-term investments in the built environment. From the first project that I worked on — designing a new academic building and residence hall at the Maryland School for the Blind — to my most recently completed project, the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center at the Missouri Botanical Garden, each client and project team has made these experiences memorable in meaningful ways.  

What do you think makes Ayers Saint Gross unique?  

We have a really talented and focused group of colleagues that seek to deeply understand our clients and their needs. That comprehensive understanding allows us to ask the right questions and to be more proactive and forward-thinking with how we address the issues they are facing. This makes for better design solutions and better engagement, and it elevates the work we do.  

In addition to that, our interdisciplinary nature allows us to tackle challenges in a unique way. We can easily work across studios and at different scales to develop holistic solutions that are both creative and effective.  

How do you approach leadership?  

My focus is on building and leading teams to deliver results and to drive solutions forward. I want to position team members in ways that suit their strengths, making sure teams are complementary, and that everyone is focused on achieving our goals. That is what I’ve found the most rewarding aspect of leadership — building teams and empowering them to develop really impactful solutions to challenges.  

We have a great array of talent within Ayers Saint Gross. We constantly assess how we get all our experts working together and connecting in ways that are beneficial and set us apart.  That is true from a design standpoint, but also from the business side of things — winning work, delivering work, and making sure people feel connected to what we are doing and are rewarded for their success. The firm is a complex organism, and everything needs to work together.  Building up our people and setting them up for success is ultimately what elevates our entire practice.  

What are some of the biggest challenges you see facing the architecture and design industry?  

Climate change is obviously a very large one. Every year, we see the effects of climate change grow more apparent and urgent. Weather events are getting more extreme, from dangerous storms to high heat levels. As a firm, we have been tracking our sustainability metrics and working toward a goal of carbon neutrality for more than ten years. Moving forward, we need to keep pushing ourselves in these efforts, exploring new material options, construction methods, and design choices to make our projects as resilient and sustainable as possible.  

Outside of work, what do you like to do for fun?  

I like to travel with my family, spend time at the beach, and generally just be outside — often needing to coax our Italian Greyhound, Enzo, to join me on walks. And I really love to cook. I relish the challenge of coming up with an idea of how a dish can come together and then needing to be able to execute it. Sometimes it works beautifully, and sometimes we wind up ordering takeout, but either way, I learn something from the experience. 

I also like to explore Baltimore. From parks to cultural attractions to the multiple universities to the amazing restaurants and shops, Baltimore is such a unique place. It is a city of neighborhoods, and while each neighborhood has its own character, people have connections across the city. The love that residents have for Baltimore is contagious, and I’m constantly looking for exciting places to check out. Luckily in our office, we have no shortage of people with suggestions of new places to visit and explore. 

What are you most looking forward to with your new role?  

Our firm, and the work that we do, is truly exceptional, and I am excited to be leading us into the future. Luanne has left big shoes to fill, but I’m both appreciative and energized to have the opportunity.  

As president, I am excited to continue to find new and creative ways to elevate our work — connecting with clients, telling our story, and developing new and deeper knowledge around the issues our clients are facing. I also want to utilize new technology to help us deliver better, more efficient design solutions. By capitalizing on these advancements, we will continue to innovate and remain at the forefront of our industry.   

Read the news announcement about Joel’s appointment.