Title: President, David M. Schwarz Architects
Years on the job: 10 years as principal, just recently became president.
Company: 38-year-old architecture firm, 40 architects plus support staff. It's not uncommon for the firm to have over a billion dollars of work being designed at any one time.
Memorable Project: Probably the most satisfying moment I’ve had was when I walked into the Dr. Pepper Ballpark, a 7,500-seat minor league ballpark we designed in Frisco, TX, and saw all the kids running around having a blast. In the midst of designing and coordinating construction issues, it’s really easy to forget the joy that we can bring to people through our work.
Current Project: Master plan to replace all undergraduate student housing at Vanderbilt University, with 10 new residential colleges. We’ve just completed design of the first building, which will have about 340 beds, a beautiful dining room, commons, a few classrooms, and faculty housing arranged around four courtyards.
CRE Career: Started working on airport terminal projects for HNTB for 7 years before being recruited to join DMSAS.
Grew up: Sioux City, Iowa. Dad farmed 320 acres of corn, soybeans, mom worked in community development for the city.
Current home: Have lived in Adams Morgan for 25 years.
School(s): Degrees in architecture and structural engineering from Catholic University.
Job in another life: Conductor of an orchestra.
Favorite app: Tie between Apple Music and PDF Expert.
Favorite movie: The Manchurian Candidate.
Favorite restaurant: La Tomate, Mintwood Place, The Riggsby.
Favorite band: The Cambridge Singers. It’s a choral group out of the UK.
Favorite vacation spot: Sister has been living in Singapore so we have been visiting exotic places like Vietnam and Laos. However, a week in Provincetown is cathartic.
Favorite charity: Food and Friends.
Hidden talent: I’ve been a singer since I was 4. I still sing in groups around town when time allows.
Drink of choice: Black coffee and a gin martini (not at the same time).
One thing you couldn't live without: Uber. It is the most brilliant invention in the last 10 years. It’s changed my life for the better.
Family: Married to husband Lars Etzkorn (on the left) since 12/12/12. We have a dachshund named Ada Louise.
