Originally from Gary Indiana, Greg grew up in an industrial landscape defined by the steel mills and rail lines of the Chicago outskirts. As place where buildings served a utilitarian purpose and materials were chosen for their resilience, it left a quiet imprint, informing a design ethos rooted in self-sufficiency and pragmatic resourcefulness.

After earning an associate degree in Industrial Illustration Technology from Purdue University, he began his career as an aircraft design engineer at Cessna, where he helped draft—by hand—the wing systems of the Citation III transcontinental business jet. He later joined LearAvia in Nevada, contributing to the aft fuselage of the Lear Fan 2100, the first graphite and Kevlar composite aircraft to take flight. The work demanded precision and a deep understanding of how materials perform under pressure. This knowledge would later inform his architectural mindset: make the structure light where it can be, strong where it must be, and always respond to the elements. 

He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Architecture from MIT and then set out westward to explore the backcountry of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Here, he developed a deep connection to the landscape—its topography, climate, and history—that shapes the subtle, respectful dialogue between his work and its context. Greg formed Faulkner Architects in 1998 and continues to draw inspiration from a wide pool of sources: a region’s historical vernacular, the tactile remnants of its geologic history, and the applicability of sustainable technologies. He carefully integrates leading-edge strategies into projects to ensure resilience in the face of growing wildfire threats, increasing snow loads, water scarcity, and extreme temperature swings.

Greg has lectured at Stanford University and the University of Arizona, appeared on design podcasts, and participated in juries at the University of California, Berkeley, and at Arizona State University. In 2024, he was elevated to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows.

He shared his approach and philosophy in this interview on The Second Studio.

Jenna has been a steady force at Faulkner Architects since 2002. Her path to architecture was unconventional. She earned a degree in Religious Studies, including fieldwork in biblical archaeology. After college, she worked in accounting at Northstar and later managed the homeowner’s association, where she first encountered the work of Faulkner Architects. She soon joined the team in a bookkeeping role. Since then, her range and adaptability have made her essential to the practice, managing finance and operations to staffing, design development, and client coordination.

Having grown up on 20 acres in Suisun, California where she and her brothers rode horses and dirt bikes, built forts, and slept in a treehouse Jenna is still most often found outdoors, spending time with her kids and friends. She lives by her grandfather’s words: kindness doesn’t cost a penny.

The natural beauty of Daniel’s native Marin County instilled in him an early appreciation for the environment. His grandfather, a builder and developer, and a childhood spent flipping through his mother’s stacks of design books and magazines sparked his interest. Travels that exposed him to iconic buildings by I. M. Pei and Santiago Calatrava affirmed his path toward architecture.

After earning degrees in Architecture and Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design, Daniel worked on healthcare and workplace projects, learning how daylight, acoustics, and circulation directly impact healing, focus, and well-being. Daniel joined Faulkner Architects in 2020 and helps carry ideas from early sketches through to construction, translating design intent into built form.

To reset, Daniel turns to mountain biking, kitesurfing, and snowboarding.

Tanner's interest in architecture began on his childhood farm, working outdoors and learning how structures could offer protection while retaining connection to the land. This shaped his belief that making an imprint on the ground should be done with restraint and respect.

He earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado Denver and completed a Design Build Certificate through the Colorado Building Workshop. Prior to joining Faulkner Architects in 2025, Tanner worked on hospitality interiors, mixed-use mid-rise buildings, and custom residential projects, adapting his skills across scale, program, and context.

Tanner focuses on design, documentation, and coordination, beginning with understanding a project’s story — its site, constraints, and the needs of the client — and translating it into clear, functional design moves.

Outside the studio, Tanner paints, sketches, hikes, kayaks, and snowboards.

Truckee native and third-generation designer, Lauren grew up viewing buildings and artwork as parts of the same story. She holds a bachelor’s degree in art history and studio art from Sonoma State University and a master’s degree in museum studies (Exhibition Design) from San Francisco State University. Before joining Faulkner Architects in 2022, she was an exhibition designer for the Charles M. Schulz Museum and a consultant on private art collections.

Lauren researches site history, identifies artists, and sources select commissions, ensuring each piece strengthens the project’s cultural context and material palette. Her curatorial perspective broadens design discussions and guides clients in shaping their art collections in alignment with their project.

Outside of work, she spends time with family, hiking, painting, and practicing yoga and Pilates—activities that foster connection, focus, and awareness of composition and space.