Sven Shockey

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  • sven shockey headshot smithgroup

"Architecture really is a multi-headed beast," states Sven, and he means that in a good way. "It's why I went into the field. I like that each project has untapped potential. But I did not anticipate that I would be working on so many different types and scales of projects, which I really enjoy." As one of SmithGroup's design directors, Sven has led the design of a variety of mixed-use, commercial, planning and institutional projects from Washington, DC to India. Perhaps endless untapped potential is what draws Sven to music, too. He plays and listens to music as a creative outlet and, if not for architecture, would have pursued a career in sound design. He even has a desire to master the oud, an obscure pear-shaped stringed instrument with origins in the Mideast and North Africa. Other cultures clearly pique his interest: If he could go anywhere in the world, "I would take a private train across China with my family, with tours, hiking, and feasting along the way."