Coming into the Christmas season, we held the first annual Hope For Architecture gathering. After striking out on my own a year and a half ago, it is wonderful to now begin a tradition of coming together. Sharing our personal projects and hashing out ideas plays a pivotal role in the building work each of us HFAers are pursuing. This year, we met in Carlton Landing, which was where I spent two years of my apprenticeship. I quite enjoyed seeing the progress made since my departure. Clay is finishing up a lovely pocket neighborhood of solid brick houses, and Austin is already structuralizing his first house! Wes sets off for Panama soon after Christmas to begin a building program for the folks at Kalu Yala.

Many thanks to Clay Chapman for the hefty diploma! Quite a fitting token for the years of solid teaching and friendship. And many thanks to Austin and Wes for their continued support and comradery!