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Reviews
OUR TEAM
JOHN PUHR - OWNER
John began his architectural career at the University of Texas at Austin, making the most of the program's rich array of opportunities including a semester traveling in Japan and an extended professional residency with one of the most respected design firms in the country. This initial experience with will bruder+partners would develop into the foundation of John's design philosophy. Not long after graduation in 2001, John moved out to the desert to take a full time position at Will's New River Studio.
In the many years since, John has continued to gain experience and develop his design skills with several prominent and award-winning firms including The Lawrence Group, Dick Clark Architecture, and Ten Eyck Landscape Architects. These practices allowed John to develop his skills in design, project management, and construction administration. He learned to focus on the creative use of materials, sensitive response to climate and context, and attention to detail and craft.
Over the years, John has worked on numerous project types including residential, multi-family, retail, restaurant, mixed-use, higher education, museums, and libraries.
John founded Root Architecture in Austin, Texas in 2011 after more than ten years of developing many different facets of the practice of architecture. The foundational principles of materiality, context, and craft John learned early on are still at the root of his practice today.
DEMIAN RODRIGUEZ - PROJECT MANAGER
After graduating from the UT-Austin School of Architecture, Demian spent the first part of his architectural career helping produce high-end, multimillion-dollar projects. With experience in both the United States & Mexico, he has worked for architectural firms such as: David Heymann, Daniel Alvarez & Grupo Arquitectura, Miro Rivera Architects and Gary Devin of Solutions Studio. He spent a few years working for Habitat Austin where he re-imagined ways to reclaim and reuse donated building materials as well as learning more economical building techniques. With a newfound appreciation for how to design & build more conscientiously of costs, he returned to the private sector and joined Lamme + Misi Urban Studio. After serving as a Project manager & Studio Lead for 6 years, he became managing partner and principal owner of Lamme & Aker Urban Studio in 2018. In 2023, Demian joined the team at Root Architecture in hopes of expanding into larger Commercial Projects. For the past 18 years, Demian has enjoyed focusing on all manner of architectural challenges. He’s worked closely with a select clientele to bring thoughtful and beautiful improvements to buildings and communities around the world.
STANTON HOLLIE - DESIGNER
Stanton earned both of his Bachelor of Science degrees, (a BS in Architecture and a BS in Construction Science), as well as a Master of Architecture degree from Prairie View A&M University. Soon after graduation, he started his architectural career at Toll Architecture with a focus on residential design and marketing. In the years following, he took on various roles working for Dream Legacy in Austin as well as Rogers Ford L.C. and Elijah Kord Custom Homes in Dallas, and he honed his skills in residential, multi-family, interior/furniture, and commercial designs. Stanton joined the Root Architecture team in August of 2021, and he continues to practice his expertise in all facets of design along with project management and development. He is heavily influenced by modern and contemporary architecture and strives to create spaces that have positive impacts on the user experience while also continuing to adapt to new standards that aid in the accommodation for individuals to grow.
BEN STEPHENS - DESIGNER
Originally from Michigan, Ben received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. He began his career with NORR in Detroit as an architectural designer overseeing renovations for the national retailer. After 4 years of commercial design experience, he took a Project Manager position with Stokes Marine in Florida combining his architectural knowledge and retail experience to provide design solutions to a specific client base. Making a transition into the specialized field of structural glass, Ben took a Project Manager position at Sentech Architectural Systems in Austin, Texas where he continued his work in commercial construction. In August of 2021, Ben joined the team at Root Architecture where he continues designing and developing residential, commercial, and multi-family projects for the firm. His hobbies include beach volleyball and anything on the lake.
GABRIEL IZTAI GAYTAN - DESIGNER
Gabriel began his architecture journey at Texas Tech where he received his BS in Architecture. From there, he pursued his Master of Architecture at the University of New Mexico, and upon graduation, took a Designer position with Shelley M. Hughes Architects P.C. in Cloudcroft. During his 5 years there, he learned how to work with varied project constraints, be it a mountain, the odd shape of the owners' lots, or the complexity of a brewery project as well as the codes that guided them all. He applied his knowledge of CAD software and 3-D modeling to serve both residential and commercial clients, and the unique demands each had. Gabriel was given the opportunity by Shelley to lead the design and meetings of his projects and was soon promoted to Project Manager. In March of 2023, Gabriel joined Root Architecture with a talented and creative background. He continues to produce inspired construction drawings as well as bringing a thoughtful perspective to each project he is involved in.
DIEGO GONZALEZ - DESIGNER
Diego earned his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona, having grown up close by in Juárez, Mexico. While in school, he interned for the full-service firm FORSarchitecture + interiors, a boutique commercial firm in Tucson, and for the award-winning residential firm, Ibarra Rosano Design Architects. In school, he became particularly interested in material fabrication, fueling his study of industrial design, which he hopes to integrate into his future career. Upon graduation, he moved to Austin to join Dick Clark + Associates for a couple of years, where he worked extensively on large, multi-family and varied commercial projects. Diego joined Root Architecture in August of 2023 where he hopes to diversify his career with hands-on work in a variety of project scales and their specific challenges. His favorite design firm is Snohetta, and his hobbies include creative projects like 3D printing, making jerky, kombucha, and bread.
OUR TEAM
JOHN PUHR - OWNER
John began his architectural career at the University of Texas at Austin, making the most of the program's rich array of opportunities including a semester traveling in Japan and an extended professional residency with one of the most respected design firms in the country. This initial experience with will bruder+partners would develop into the foundation of John's design philosophy. Not long after graduation in 2001, John moved out to the desert to take a full time position at Will's New River Studio.
In the many years since, John has continued to gain experience and develop his design skills with several prominent and award-winning firms including The Lawrence Group, Dick Clark Architecture, and Ten Eyck Landscape Architects. These practices allowed John to develop his skills in design, project management, and construction administration. He learned to focus on the creative use of materials, sensitive response to climate and context, and attention to detail and craft.
Over the years, John has worked on numerous project types including residential, multi-family, retail, restaurant, mixed-use, higher education, museums, and libraries.
John founded Root Architecture in Austin, Texas in 2011 after more than ten years of developing many different facets of the practice of architecture. The foundational principles of materiality, context, and craft John learned early on are still at the root of his practice today.
DEMIAN RODRIGUEZ - PROJECT MANAGER
After graduating from the UT-Austin School of Architecture, Demian spent the first part of his architectural career helping produce high-end, multimillion-dollar projects. With experience in both the United States & Mexico, he has worked for architectural firms such as: David Heymann, Daniel Alvarez & Grupo Arquitectura, Miro Rivera Architects and Gary Devin of Solutions Studio. He spent a few years working for Habitat Austin where he re-imagined ways to reclaim and reuse donated building materials as well as learning more economical building techniques. With a newfound appreciation for how to design & build more conscientiously of costs, he returned to the private sector and joined Lamme + Misi Urban Studio. After serving as a Project manager & Studio Lead for 6 years, he became managing partner and principal owner of Lamme & Aker Urban Studio in 2018. In 2023, Demian joined the team at Root Architecture in hopes of expanding into larger Commercial Projects. For the past 18 years, Demian has enjoyed focusing on all manner of architectural challenges. He’s worked closely with a select clientele to bring thoughtful and beautiful improvements to buildings and communities around the world.
STANTON HOLLIE - DESIGNER
Stanton earned both of his Bachelor of Science degrees, (a BS in Architecture and a BS in Construction Science), as well as a Master of Architecture degree from Prairie View A&M University. Soon after graduation, he started his architectural career at Toll Architecture with a focus on residential design and marketing. In the years following, he took on various roles working for Dream Legacy in Austin as well as Rogers Ford L.C. and Elijah Kord Custom Homes in Dallas, and he honed his skills in residential, multi-family, interior/furniture, and commercial designs. Stanton joined the Root Architecture team in August of 2021, and he continues to practice his expertise in all facets of design along with project management and development. He is heavily influenced by modern and contemporary architecture and strives to create spaces that have positive impacts on the user experience while also continuing to adapt to new standards that aid in the accommodation for individuals to grow.
BEN STEPHENS - DESIGNER
Originally from Michigan, Ben received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. He began his career with NORR in Detroit as an architectural designer overseeing renovations for the national retailer. After 4 years of commercial design experience, he took a Project Manager position with Stokes Marine in Florida combining his architectural knowledge and retail experience to provide design solutions to a specific client base. Making a transition into the specialized field of structural glass, Ben took a Project Manager position at Sentech Architectural Systems in Austin, Texas where he continued his work in commercial construction. In August of 2021, Ben joined the team at Root Architecture where he continues designing and developing residential, commercial, and multi-family projects for the firm. His hobbies include beach volleyball and anything on the lake.
GABRIEL IZTAI GAYTAN - DESIGNER
Gabriel began his architecture journey at Texas Tech where he received his BS in Architecture. From there, he pursued his Master of Architecture at the University of New Mexico, and upon graduation, took a Designer position with Shelley M. Hughes Architects P.C. in Cloudcroft. During his 5 years there, he learned how to work with varied project constraints, be it a mountain, the odd shape of the owners' lots, or the complexity of a brewery project as well as the codes that guided them all. He applied his knowledge of CAD software and 3-D modeling to serve both residential and commercial clients, and the unique demands each had. Gabriel was given the opportunity by Shelley to lead the design and meetings of his projects and was soon promoted to Project Manager. In March of 2023, Gabriel joined Root Architecture with a talented and creative background. He continues to produce inspired construction drawings as well as bringing a thoughtful perspective to each project he is involved in.
DIEGO GONZALEZ - DESIGNER
Diego earned his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona, having grown up close by in Juárez, Mexico. While in school, he interned for the full-service firm FORSarchitecture + interiors, a boutique commercial firm in Tucson, and for the award-winning residential firm, Ibarra Rosano Design Architects. In school, he became particularly interested in material fabrication, fueling his study of industrial design, which he hopes to integrate into his future career. Upon graduation, he moved to Austin to join Dick Clark + Associates for a couple of years, where he worked extensively on large, multi-family and varied commercial projects. Diego joined Root Architecture in August of 2023 where he hopes to diversify his career with hands-on work in a variety of project scales and their specific challenges. His favorite design firm is Snohetta, and his hobbies include creative projects like 3D printing, making jerky, kombucha, and bread.