Brian Cummings

Background

About Brian Cummings

With 20+ years of experience at the intersection of strategy, architecture, and placemaking, I’m a multidisciplinary leader and big thinker bringing creative, future-focused ideas and designs to the built environment. I value strong partnerships with clients and teams, and lead with the belief that design and imagination are tools for purposeful transformation—reshaping how people, communities, and organizations live, move, and connect. With curiosity and a pioneering mindset, I strive to make bold yet rational moves that create memorable moments and lasting impact—regardless of scale or budget. Rooted in Washington, D.C, I served as International Design Director at Gensler—the world’s largest architecture and design firm—and co-founded The Strategy + Design Shop. Today, I continue to expand my practice as THINK HOUSE GROUP, a collective of creatives focused on shaping meaningful, people-first places. A deliberately wide-ranging lens shapes the breadth of my work across mixed-use, residential, hospitality, urban planning, transportation, healthcare, wellness, workplace, and education. My projects span continents and sectors: from large-scale city planning in Qatar and Beijing, to trophy office buildings in DC and next-gen healthcare models for Kaiser Permanente across the U.S. I’ve led high-profile national transportation initiatives such as Amtrak’s reimagined passenger experience (stations, lounges, and fleets), and new terminals at JFK Airport. My early career was dedicated to becoming an expert in residential and multifamily projects with the top firms across the Carolinas. Shaped by a global upbringing, I’ve long interpreted the home as a canvas for how we live and connect. Charleston served as my lab in the early where I led the design of over 25 custom homes during the formative development of communities such as Kiawah Island, I’On, and Daniel Island. That foundation echoes today through a few chosen residential commissions I take on each year. I stay engaged in academia and welcome opportunities to share knowledge, interdisciplinary dialogue, and help inspire future generations of thinkers and leaders. Some of those engagements include: Lecturer at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business Executive MBA Program Speaker at Georgetown University’s Capitol Campus Health Studies Program Guest Speaker at The WELL Building Institute Participant in joint studio courses with the Harvard Graduate School of Design Guest critic at various design schools, including UNC Charlotte’s School of Architecture