James Polshek — American Architect

James Stewart Polshek is an American architect living in New York City. He is the founder of Polshek Partnership, the firm at which he was Principal Design Partner for more than four decades. He is currently Design Counsel to the legacy firm Ennead Architects, as well as actively engaged as design lead on multiple projects... (wikipedia)

I've always seen architecture as a healing art, not just as a beautification art.
I had it drummed into me from an early age that personalizing everything was not a good thing. Besides, I don't think that kind of commodity-driven system makes for the most productive architecture.
I went into architecture a little as 'Peck's Bad Boy.' It allowed me to be a critic in a socially condoned way.
I don't think architecture should be considered as an art form in the first instance. Whenever I say that, it makes people really angry. But this is a very political profession in the Grecian sense. I believe there have to be reasons for every building, and that the ideas should not be self-referential.
I kind of cherish at least the idea of Midwestern candor and openness. But I couldn't live there.