Mr. Ryder received his Master of Arts degree in Architecture from the Yale School of Architecture after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at Wesleyan University. He has received training in sustainable technologies such as sandbag construction at the California Institute of Earth Art & Architecture in Hesperia, California and is a LEED-NC Accredited Professional.

Derek Ryder’s eight years of architecture and planning experience comprises a range of project types. His role at the firm includes project management, production and coordination of construction documents for several multi-family projects, including Silver Spur, an 18-unit condominium project in Rolling Hills Estates and Meta, a 41-unit condominium project in Ventura. In addition, his role involves production on conceptual design of a 297,000-square-foot mixed-use development in downtown Los Angeles, and a 17-unit single-family and multi-family development in Albuquerque.

Mr. Ryder’s institutional experience includes two branches for the Los Angeles Public Library, a new auditorium and classroom wing for St. Michael’s School in Tucson, and a lobby and bell tower addition for an existing church in south Tucson. Mr. Ryder’s planning project experience includes participation in the Stone Avenue Corridor study, a re-development of an under-utilized corridor in Tucson. Throughout his training and career, Mr. Ryder has maintained a strong commitment to the regional traditions in which he works.

Mr. Ryder has had a long-standing commitment to the issue of low-income housing through his volunteer efforts with Habitat for Humanity in Savannah and an independent delegation to Leon, Nicaragua. In addition, he has been awarded travel grants to study community projects in the shantytowns of Rio, Brazil.