About

pod, noun: an enclosure organic to its surroundings

pod architecture + design (pod a+d) is an award-winning, interdisciplinary design firm based in North Carolina’s Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill “Triangle” region, with completed architectural and experiential design projects from coast to coast.

Founded by modernist architect/principal design Douglas V. Pierson, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C, and experiential graphics designer/principal design Youn Choi, pod a+d is a non-traditional practice uniquely qualified to offer clients “whole building” results derived from integrated design. From the conceptual design phase through construction and completion, members of pod a+d’s design team work in constant collaboration to integrate valued input from stakeholders with their innovative thinking and skills in various design disciplines, including high-performance architecture, interior and experiential design, identity/branding design, and signage and wayfinding systems. The result is “whole building” design that exceeds the scope of standard architectural practice.

Regardless of building type, size, and budget, pod a+d approaches each project with the same commitment to design excellence and environmental stewardship, attention to detail, and respect for their clients’ time and financial needs. Whether woven into the rich tapestry of an urban setting or perched lightly on hillsides and coastal settings to leave natural contexts as undisturbed as possible, pod a+d’s integrated design methodology not only completes projects successfully, but also produces unanticipated benefits for the firm’s clients.

pod architecture + design’s projects have received numerous honors and awards and have been featured in a host of publications and digital journals. Along with leading an active practice with his partner and wife, Youn Choi, Doug Pierson is also a Professor of Practice in the Architecture Department at N.C. State University’s College of Design. He serves the regional architectural community as a member of the AIA Triangle Board of Directors.