Tom Theobald

Growing up in a small farming community in Illinois, Tom developed an early fascination with urban environments which sparked his interest in architecture. His career path became clear after working construction in high school, where the creative possibilities of architecture – compared to the more rigid discipline of engineering – appealed to him.

Tom has played a key role in technically complex and innovative projects. His work on Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) was particularly significant for its pioneering use of laminated timber. RDU set a new standard for mass timber in aviation design. At Charleston International Airport (CHS) he tackled the complex task of transforming a dysfunctional layout into one with smooth, efficient passenger flow.

For Tom, architecture goes beyond creative expression. It is the embodiment of turning vision into tangible reality. His passion lies in figuring out the diagrammatic flow of a project – he knows that a well-conceived flow will naturally guide the form. Tom believes that often clients know the answers to their design problems – they just need help articulating those into a three-dimensional solution. Listening to and interpreting client needs is where Tom finds that the art of architecture comes to life.

Tom is actively involved in the architectural community as a member of the Government Affairs Committee of the AIA, a regular speaker at airport conferences, and a participant in ACI and AAAE.