“One of the things that I've been encouraged about recently in architecture is the quality of what we might call ‘background buildings.’ They aren't meant to be ‘superstars’ but thoughtfully put-together buildings that repair the street, have an urban presence, and are good neighbors. These are very encouraging to me because, for most of us, our daily lives are impacted by the quality of the average building that we walk by. While we always have our standouts—amazing buildings that are flashy or twisty—I think the quality of life in cities is elevated by all these other buildings.”