We had the good fortune of connecting with Lee Calisti and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lee, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It was the collision of a series of life events – simple and complex. However, to put it simply, my son Noah was born in 2002 while I worked in Pittsburgh, with over an hour’s commute each way. Once I saw him, I fell in love and wanted to be with him all the time. In early 2003, I was on my own, starting a business. I had breakfast with him everyday until he left for college.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

Why did you pursue an artistic creative career? – I’d have to say it chose me

There is a lengthier version of my story but let me take you back to 1977 when I started fifth grade. I became a massive fan of Marvel Comics and spent my free time drawing my favorite characters. For my birthday in 1978, I got the book “How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way” – the best gift ever. I was fascinated, no, obsessed by it and spent hours learning and practicing.

The exact day is unknown, but I discovered architecture between seeing house plans in the newspaper and art class. I started drawing houses, building models, and taking in anything related to architecture. That summer, my friend’s dad was building an addition to their home, and I was captivated by the construction process. My mother bought me a drafting board and T-square for Christmas, and I started designing houses in my room while listening to Beatles music. It felt right as an eleven-year-old kid.

At some point, I stumbled upon a book in the library written by an architect and was astonished at how they drew and designed buildings. I loved how they wrote – I mean lettered. That’s when I knew then that I wanted to become an architect. Art dominated my life until I graduated high school, and my story has now transitioned to architecture school. For six years, I spent countless hours of pursuit and many late nights, and it paid off in 1991 when I received the AIA Medal of Honor for being the top student in my class.

Years later, in 1995, I sat for the A.R.E. (registration exam), a grueling exam to become a licensed architect. I passed all the parts on my first try and knew I had made it. Yet, this was just the beginning of my journey as an architect.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live and practice in my hometown of Greensburg, PA, a small city of 15,000 people with a surrounding township of another nearly 41,000 people. You’ll find me for business and pleasure many days at my hangout, the White Rabbit Cafe, downtown. We can boast other cultural amenities like the Westmoreland Museum of American Art or the Palace Theater. Join us for Night Market once a month during the summer. Being 30 miles from Pittsburgh, I’d take guests on a trip to see what the Steel City offers. It would depend on whether they were into sports to see a Pirates game, culture, or wander around one of the many different neighborhoods. The food is great.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife Amy, a brilliant high-school math teacher, continues to inspire and encourage me as a man of faith; she is the source of my confidence. Without her, I wouldn’t have pursued many of the opportunities that led me to this point. My son Noah motivates me to have integrity – to be a good person, all the time. As I look back in time, my junior high school art teacher, Mr. D. was an early mentor and inspirational person that sparked my creativity and taught me to be myself, and proud of it. Later, in architecture school, Vince Leskosky was a remarkable professor who shaped and guided my thinking as an architect. I’ve spent years thanking each of these people.

Website: https://www.leecalisti.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecalisti/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecalisti/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecalisti

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leeCALISTIarchitecture

Other: Blog – https://thinkarchitect.wordpress.com/

Image Credits
SkySight Commercial Photography, Autumn Stankay

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.