RLPS Architects is pleased to announce the promotions of Timothy R. Checchia, AIA, NCARB, and John D. Houck II, RA, NCARB, to Associate Partners, and Liz Haverstick, IIDA, NCIDQ, to Senior Interior Designer.
Each brings a different perspective to their work, shaped by the projects, colleagues and experiences that have influenced their careers. We asked Tim, John, and Liz to reflect on some of those experiences and share a little about what has helped them grow along the way.
- Member American Institute of Architects
- NCARB Certificate Holder
Tim joined RLPS in 2015 and has 21 years of professional experience. A graduate of The Catholic University of America with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, he is a registered architect and NCARB certified as well as a member of AIA. Over the past 11 years at RLPS, Tim has focused primarily on senior living design while taking on increasingly complex projects and larger multidisciplinary teams.
What experiences at RLPS have contributed most to your professional growth?
Checchia: The opportunity to manage large, complex projects with highly interconnected teams has probably contributed the most to my professional growth at RLPS. These projects require much more than simply understanding architecture. They require communication, organization, problem-solving, leadership and the ability to keep a lot of moving pieces headed in the same direction.
Describe an early job or life experience that shaped the way you approach your work today.
Checchia: In high school, I worked as an apprentice for a handyman. That experience taught me that manual labor can be hard work, but having a good plan can make even difficult tasks much easier. That lesson has stuck with me throughout my career: take the time to think through the problem, develop a plan and then get to work.
Something his coworkers may or may not have figured out about him: Tim is the middle of three brothers. When people learn this, he says the usual response is, “That explains a lot.” He’s still not entirely sure what they mean by that.
- Registered Architect
- NCARB Certificate Holder
John has 30 years of professional experience and has spent 16 years at RLPS. He earned an associate degree from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology before completing his bachelor’s degree at Drexel University, graduating magna cum laude.
Looking back on your career so far, what experience or project has had the greatest impact on your professional growth? Why?
Houck: The Lancaster Country Club project stands out most. Delivering it during the pandemic required our design team to collaborate entirely from home, introducing complex coordination challenges. Pushing through those obstacles and bringing the vision to life made the final result immensely gratifying. Watching the design breathe new life into the club, drive new membership and take center stage on national television for the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open was a true career highlight.
Explain something that has happened in your professional career that confirmed you are doing what you are meant to be doing.
Houck: Focusing largely on senior living communities has given me a deep sense of purpose. Every time I visit a completed community and watch residents interact with and benefit from the environments we created, it’s a powerful reminder that thoughtful architecture has the power to elevate human lives, and it confirms I’m doing precisely what I was meant to do.
John’s interest in architecture can be traced back to another longtime interest: baseball. Growing up, he was fascinated by ballpark architecture, particularly the opening of Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 1992 and the impact a venue could have on a city and community. Today, John and his wife, Hope, are working toward visiting all 30 Major League ballparks and have made it to 15 so far.
- IIDA Professional
- NCIDQ Certified
Liz has been with RLPS for 13 of her 14 years in the profession. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Drexel University and is NCIDQ certified and a member of IIDA. Before joining RLPS, Liz spent her first year after college working for a general contractor in a design center, helping residents make selections for their homes.
Looking back on your career so far, what experience or project has had the greatest impact on your professional growth? Why?
Haverstick: I would have to say the Willow Valley Vistas. This was the first project where I led the interior design. The project helped me learn to push the limits of what is expected in senior living interior spaces, but it also gave me the confidence to know that I was capable of leading my own projects.
What experiences at RLPS have contributed most to your professional growth?
Haverstick: I have had the opportunity to work with many talented interior designers who all have different strengths. I have always appreciated how willing our team, both current and past, has been to help each other grow and learn. My peers have definitely helped shape the designer I am today.
Liz says one of the most rewarding parts of interior design is seeing people enjoy the finished spaces she helped create. Her favorite projects are social hubs that bring people together. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking and entertaining and has recently taken up watercolor painting.
While their career paths are different, Tim, John, and Liz share an appreciation for the people and experiences that have helped them grow along the way. We look forward to seeing how they continue to build on that experience in their new roles.