SPOTLIGHT ON: HUNTER THURLO

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Spotlight On is a Liollio tradition of interviewing team members to celebrate them and to get to know them better as individuals. Our August Spotlight On feature is Hunter Thurlo. Hunter became a welcome addition to our team his year, joining the Liollio studio as a Project Designer. He is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (2021) and a Masters of Architecture (2022). Hunter has become a valuable contributor, jumping right into studio pinups, production and the culture of the firm. We sat down for a little Q+A with one of our newest team members.

Where did you grow up? Mocksville NC

Are you married? No

Do you have children? No

What do you like to do for fun? Be outside, and explore new things.

Do you have pets? If so, tell us a bit about them. Growing up we had a recreational farm, and a slew of dogs and cats.

Favorite place(s) to go locally? Sullivan’s Island

Favorite food? Mexican

Least favorite food? Indian

Favorite book? Any well-articulated (with pictures) monograph on architecture.

Do you play any instruments? No

Favorite musical artist or genre? My Spotify favorites resemble a pinball …always changing directions

Favorite visual artist? Ralph Grady James

Favorite television show? The Big Bang Theory

Favorite podcast or blog? Oh yeah, I cannot pay attention to podcasts.

Favorite movie or genre? National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Favorite style of architecture? All styles resemble a time/place that represents the culture and technology of the time; therefore favoritism towards one is not allowing the understanding of what the style did for humanity.

Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to and why? St. Kitts. However, Rome would have probably topped it if my Study Abroad wasn’t cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What would the book or movie about your life be called? Dumpster Fire

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? Whale - the strong family aspect.

Are you messy or organized? An organized mess.

What’s your pet peeve? The lack of work ethic.

Tell us a random fact. I spent Thanksgiving in jail one time…it’s not what you think.

Favorite quote? “Humor is the absence of terror, and terror is the absence of humor.” – Jimmy Buffett

What three traits characterize you? Humorous, extroverted, selfless

What’s your astrological sign? Aries

What is your personal philosophy? Don’t Give Up the Ship

What is your greatest fear? Birds, snakes, ghosts

What inspires you most? Working hard and dedication.

What accomplishment are you most proud of? Making the rival high school swim coach break a clipboard because I beat his swimmer.

What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio? The culture and dedication to design.

What does true leadership mean to you? Selflessness and respect.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? Large machine operator at a landfill…I would crush it.

What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13? Go have fun and take a break.

How do you define success? Starts with waking up in the morning.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? “Confident, not cocky.”

Spotlight On: Cameron Foster

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Liollio is pleased to welcome Cameron Foster, Associate AIA, to our design studio! A native of Richland WA, Cameron completed his Bachelor of Science in Architecture at Portland State University and his Master of Architecture at Clemson University. Prior to his academic career and joining the Liollio team, Cameron enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2010. After allowing Cameron a bit of time to settle in, we sat down for a little Q&A with our newest Spotlight On feature.

How long have you lived in Charleston?
We moved here 2 years ago, but I have only physically been here for about a year because of school.

Where did you grow up?
The evergreen state of Washington; in a desert. Richland, WA to be exact.

Are you married? Children?
I have been married to my wife Kelty for 9 years in October, and we have 2 dogs that we treat like kids.

What is your favorite non-living thing in your home?
Nintendo 64

What do you like to do when you have free time?
Kelty and I love the beach or trying new places with food and drinks.

Do you have any pets? If so, tell us a bit about them.
We have a 9-year-old fluffball by the name of Reggie. He can be identified as a Pekingese. We also have an 8-year-old ham with selective hearing named Penny who can be identified as an English Bulldog, or a pig. They’re awesome.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Making it 29 years.

What building have you visited that most impressed you?
Notre-Dame du Haut, a.k.a Ronchamp

What architect or architecture firm most influenced you as a student?
Olson Kundig is my favorite, I love the way they are able to use nature in design. But I went to Switzerland last year and find myself referencing back to Herzog De Meuron buildings a lot… so I guess it depends on the day for me.

What is your favorite place you have traveled to and why?
I would say either Okinawa, Japan or Chiang Mai, Thailand. Both places are full of friendly people. It’s all about the people. But Alaska is pretty neat as well.

What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio?
The studio culture is great, and everyone genuinely cares about the work each person is doing. I had the opportunity to learn from a few of the principals at the firm while studying at Clemson and it was evident from the beginning that collaboration is a key trait at Liollio, and that has only been made more clear since working here that some of our best work comes from discussion and contribution in the design of projects. And of course, the people are awesome, and you can tell that it is more than just a work relationship for everybody. We are able to have fun together at lunches, events, happy hours, etc. … When COVID-19 isn’t happening.

What inspires you most?
Knowing that one day I will have little mini-me’s that are going to look up to me.

What style of architecture most impresses you or is your favorite?
I am impressed by repurposed/restored architecture; the blending of historic and contemporary is pretty fascinating to me. It creates such unique places with so much character and gives such varied effects.

What is your favorite book?
You are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For by Don Yaeger and Kyle Carpenter

What is your favorite restaurant?
Chapala Express in Richland, WA

What’s your favorite place in Charleston?
Any of the beaches.

What is your favorite food?
Tacos and Enchiladas.

What is your least favorite food?
Cereal creeps me out.

If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
I hate snakes, so I’d like to be a Mongoose or something cool like that who won’t take any bad business from snakes.

Do you play any instruments?
My Grandpa bought me a Harmonica when I was younger.

What song is at the top of your most played list?
I’m not sure but probably Rocketman or the Cops theme song Bad Boys.

Who is your favorite musical artist or genre?
I like a lot of different music ,but as of late, I find Tyler Childers to be the frequent.

Who is your favorite artist?
Claude Monet had a nice touch.

Favorite television show?
Game of Thrones, Peaky Blinders or How I Met Your Mother.

Last book you read?
HOG’s in the Shadow by Milo S. Afong. If I am not studying, I typically read military books.

Do you have a favorite book or author?
Roald Dahl

Last movie you watched?
Django Unchained. Netflix has had me on a Quentin Tarantino binge as of late.

Favorite movie or genre?
Bad Boys II… I know every word.

Any random fact you could share with us?
The Earth is flat.

Are you messy or organized?
Not messy.

Do you have a favorite newspaper, blog or website?
ESPN is a good one.

Favorite quote?
If it’s not broke, don’t fix it – not sure of anybody specific saying it before, but I’d bet someone scholarly has said it.

If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?
Ernest Hemingway

If your house was burning down, What is the one nonliving thing you would save?
Aside from my important personal identifying documents/records, my old alice pack with a bunch of my old sentimental stuff

Guilty pleasure?
Double Stuffed Oreos

What’s your astrological sign?
Cancer

What three traits define you?
Committed. Humble. Not normal but not weird.

What is your personal philosophy?
It’s better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it.

What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
COVID-19 has made me realize that I really enjoy sports and social activities.

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far? 
Well I guess I would have to go with a combat deployment to Afghanistan or winning an argument with my wife.

What is your greatest fear?
Spiders

What does true leadership mean to you? 
Working alongside rather than from ahead.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
A tuk tuk driver in Bangkok.

What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?
Try everything.

How do you define success?
Being able to look back and have appreciation for the work you have done to get here; and enjoying yourself.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I don’t have pinky toenails.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Keep your head down.

Liollio Architecture Welcomes Cameron Foster

Cameron Foster Associate AIA

Liollio Architecture is pleased to welcome Cameron Foster to its design studio. Originally from Richland WA, Cameron enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2010. After his service in the military, he fulfilled his aspiration of studying architecture and went on to obtain his Bachelor of Science in Architecture at Portland State University and his Master of Architecture at Clemson University.

Cameron is passionate about community-based, sustainable, and innovative design and the influences of academia on architecture. He has a strong appreciation for architecture that is restored or re-used in order to facilitate progressive cultivation of community, while maintaining historic and cultural value. Upon joining the Liollio team, Cameron’s work has consisted of Community and Healthcare projects. Cameron enjoys the beach, traveling, sports, and spending time with his wife and dogs. The Liollio team celebrates Cameron’s achievements and welcomes him to its studio.

Spotlight On: Lance Eubanks

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Liollio is pleased to welcome Lance Eubanks, Associate AIA, LEED AP, to our design studio! A native of Mississippi, Lance completed his Bachelor of Architecture at Mississippi State University. Prior to joining Liollio, Lance worked as a Project Manager and Project Architect with ZGF Architects in Washington DC. After giving Lance a bit of time to settle in, we sat down for a little Q&A with our newest Spotlight On feature.

How long have you lived in Charleston?
A little over two months.

Where did you grow up?
About five miles outside of Lucedale, Mississippi – a tiny town near the Gulf Coast.

Are you married? Children?
Not married, but I moved here with my partner, Justin.

What is your favorite nonliving thing in your home?
I have a cedar chest that was originally my Great Aunt’s dowry chest from around 1930. It somehow made its way to me. It’s moved with me everywhere I’ve been since college, and I would probably try to carry it out if my house caught on fire.

What do you like to do when you have free time?
Social distancing has taught me that I need more hobbies. I try to spend as much time outside as possible. Virtual game nights and cooking keep me going while I’m stuck in the house.

Do you have any pets? If so, tell us a bit about them.
We have a dog named Bee. She’s an eight year old Beagle mix, and she will literally never turn down an offer for someone to pet her. She’ll let you go for three hours straight if you’re up for it.

What architect or architecture firm most influenced you as a student?
I have always loved Tadao Ando’s work. What he does with natural light in his projects, in the simplest way possible, has always amazed me. 

What is your favorite place you have traveled to and why?
Florence, Italy has to be my favorite. Ankara, Turkey is probably the most interesting place I’ve been.

What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio?
When I was moving to Charleston and looking for a job, I read a few of the Spotlight On posts on the Liollio website. Everyone said that their favorite thing about working here is the people. Well, they were right. I have been blown away at how many awesome people I get to work with. 

What inspires you most?
People. All of them. Everyone has an interesting perspective to offer to the world.

What is your favorite restaurant?
So far, Leon’s on King Street is my favorite Charleston spot, but there are so many more places to try.

What’s your favorite place in Charleston?
The beach at Sullivan’s Island at sunset has been my happy place so far.

What is your favorite food?
I could eat seafood every day for the rest of my life. Let’s hope I don’t get mercury poisoning.

What is your least favorite food?
I’ll eat almost anything, but the sight of blue cheese is sickening to me.

Do you play any instruments?
I was in the band in high school, and I played the trombone. It’s been a really long time since I’ve played though.

Who or what is your favorite musical artist or genre?
So, I like a lot of musicians, but Dolly Parton definitely has the number one spot. She’s a great songwriter, and she has this warm and positive personality that is infectious.

Favorite television show?
Law & Order (original) is always on the DVR. The Sopranos was fantastic. Right now, we’re watching The Crown, Schitt’s Creek, and Grace and Frankie.

Last book you read?
Educated by Tara Westover.

Last movie you watched?
The Irishman

Favorite movie or genre?
The Godfather is a classic.

Are you messy or organized?
The kitchen is spotless. Sometimes the closet overflows.

Do you have a favorite newspaper, blog or website?
I love local news. I got a subscription to the Post and Courier before I moved here. I also really enjoy reading CityLab online.

If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?
Betty White

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?
The March on Washington in 1963 must have been a truly amazing sight.

What would the book or movie about your life be called?
Life of a Klutz: How to Get Back Up Again

What’s your astrological sign?
I’m a Capricorn. I don’t think it matters, but I’ll still read a horoscope every now and again.

What is your personal philosophy?
Treat others well.

What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
My people. I’ve always thought this, but recent events have completely reinforced that for me.

What does true leadership mean to you? 
Empowering the people around you to be their best self and do their best at whatever they are doing.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
It’s a toss-up between a chef and a retirement home activity director.

How do you define success?
Being happy, healthy, and engaged.