Love Stories from Pittsburgh Architects

By Brigid Moser

Architecture is, at its core, about relationships, between space and structure, vision and reality, society and environment, and for some architects, it’s also about the relationships they build with each other. For this Valentine’s Day, we spoke with Pittsburgh-based architect couples to explore what it means to design a life together.

Christine & Marc Mondor: A Shared Vision

When Christine Mondor, FAIA and Marc Mondor, AIA met while studying abroad in Copenhagen in the 90s, they were inspired by the smorgasbord of ideas and people taking action in sustainable design in the region. When they later returned to Pittsburgh, together, it was with a shared interest in bringing sustainable practices to the United States. At the time, sustainability was still niche, but Christine and Marc dove in wherever there was opportunity. The pair helped grow the Green Building Alliance, were involved in the founding of Sustainable Pittsburgh, and were heads of the Western Pennsylvania Sustainable Energy Association. But they wanted to go beyond advocacy and put their principles into action.

In 2004, they founded evolveEA, dedicated to designing sustainable buildings, eco-districts, and infrastructure. What started as a focus on architecture expanded to urban planning, mobility, and climate resilience, all part of their vision for systemic change.

“Pittsburgh was the right place to hatch an idea like this is because Pittsburgh was and is largely hackable,” says Christine. “You can have an idea and you can try to make it happen. A lot of our work then was trying to get people excited about the city, excited about sustainability, and to carve out a space for Pittsburgh on the national scene.”

The first ten years of their practice were spent building their vision, project-by-project, and creating demand for the relatively new concept of Green Building Consulting. They’ve been excited to see the climate industry grow since then, providing them with a new body of work to keep up with and demonstrate mastery in.

Christine and Marc’s complementary strengths made them natural partners—Christine gravitates towards big-picture thinking in planning and landscapes, while Marc specializes in concrete manifestations of sustainability in building performance. Christine has a knack for active listening that is subtle and insightful, which balances Marc’s eagerness and desire to act.

Decades later, they still find themselves revisiting their roots in Copenhagen – working late into the night together, like in the studios where they originally met, and traveling back to Scandinavia to explore (or for a cheap date, the couple claims, sometimes a quick trip to IKEA does the trick).

Cherie & Gary Moshier: Collaboration Through the Years

For Cherie Moshier, AIA and Gary Moshier, AIA, architecture has always been a collaborative process, one that has shaped not only their professional paths but also their relationship. They first met as students in Carnegie Mellon’s architecture program and after graduating, they spent nearly two decades at separate firms, developing their own specialties and strengths. But when Cherie launched her own solo practice and Gary’s firm needed schematic design outside their usual scope, they teamed up. What started as a one-time collaboration turned into a lasting professional partnership. Rather than competing, they found that their strengths balanced each other; Gary specializes in writing specifications and is highly knowledgeable in sustainability and rating systems, while Cherie focuses on design, construction documentation, and firm administration.

Their long-term relationships extend beyond their marriage. Over 25 years, they’ve built a network of trusted collaborators, including engineers, landscape architects, and even former classmates from CMU. They’ve partnered with national and international firms, helping them navigate Pittsburgh’s architectural scene.

Being married and working in the same industry comes with unique risks—especially during economic downturns. They’ve navigated six recessions over the course of their professional careers, knowing that when the industry struggles, they feel the impact twice as much.

But whether it’s a nonprofit, an educational institution, or a community project, their work is about helping people bring their visions to life, and the optimism of working with people realizing their dreams keeps Moshier Studios inspired, even in tough times.

“Coming alongside a client as they realize some kind of a vision or a dream that they’ve had, and seeing your work enhance their ability to do what they do well is so satisfying,” says Gary.

When the Moshiers moved their practice into their home, they worried the lines between work and life would deteriorate, but it had the opposite effect. Now, when the dog comes down to nudge them for his afternoon walk, they know it’s time to wrap it up.

Anastasia & Parva Markiw: Building a Home

Working together was not in the plans for Anastasia Markiw, AIA and Parva Markiw, AIA when they connected over late studio nights and looming deadlines at Kent State’s Architecture program. After graduating, however, they found themselves both drawn to the opportunities at DesignGroup. Initially their positions in the office did not overlap, as Parva focused on Education and Anastasia worked in Healthcare, but when Anastasia took on a new role as Project Manager, the couple was challenged to navigate new dynamics in their professional relationship. Fortunately, they had experience in tackling projects together as they had recently realized a long-time goal: building their dream home.

As two architects, Anastasia and Parva never wanted a run-of-the-mill house and the pair quickly realized they weren’t going to find one that checked all of their boxes, so, during the pandemic, with time on their hands and nowhere to go, they set out to design their own. They planned to take on every aspect of the process – site acquisition, construction documentation, pricing, and even some of the literal groundwork, purchasing a lot in fall of 2020 and clearing the site themselves. After rising construction costs forced a temporary pause, they finally broke ground in July 2022. Acting as the homeowners, architects, and general contractors, the project provided a unique opportunity to develop their practical skills as well as their ability to balance each other.

“What was great about having a strong partner was they we could take turns stressing about it,” they both laugh. “One of us would be super stressed about lumbar prices or construction, and the other one would say, ‘Okay, let’s figure it out.’ And then the roles would switch. There was always a kite and a rock – one floating and one grounding them so they didn’t disappear.”

They used their skills as designers to pitch their visions to one another and divided up responsibilities, with Parva focusing on site development and Anastasia handling structure and MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing). The final product is a monument to the time, dedication, and love that was put into it. Their shared vision is reflected throughout, from the floating staircase (they discovered the perfect product while wandering at an AIA Conference) to the home’s exterior, which was carefully designed to express what’s happening inside, blending form and function.

“We got to envision what we saw our lives looking like here, what we saw our family looking like, and then build it. Being able to be both the architect and an owner was really gratifying,” says Anastasia.

Architecture has been the thread running through their story, from their first late nights in studio to the moment Anastasia proposed at Fallingwater to the life they live in their custom built home. However, when considering advice to other couples in architecture, they both agree: as amazing and important as architecture is to the relationship, it is never more important than the relationship itself.

Bea Spolidoro & Eric Fisher: Beyond the Studio

Bea Spolidoro and Eric Fisher, AIA initially crossed paths at a PechaKucha Night in 2013, where Eric showcased one of his architectural projects and Bea reflected on the differences between life in Italy and the United States.

“She was fun,” Eric says emphatically.

This sense of fun and creativity that drew them together at that first event proved to be a foundational element of their relationship and the studio they came to own together. For many, working with a spouse might seem daunting, but for Bea and Eric, it became a way to push each other creatively, expand their firm’s impact, and, most importantly, stay inspired by the world around them.

In 2019, after getting married, Bea joined Eric at the helm of Fisher ARCHitecture. Merging their approaches took some adjustment but over time, Eric’s bold ideas and Bea’s pragmatism merged into a brand that emphasizes progressive, high-quality design. Like many architects, they find it can be tough to say goodbye to work. Their commitment to their work bleeds into many aspects of their lives, but the richness and originality of their designs comes largely form the creative pursuits that fill up their time outside of work hours.

Their shared passion for learning and creating extends to all aspects of their lives. Lately, Eric explores writing and Grasshopper scripting, while Bea knits and experiments with textiles. They converted their garage into a gallery of models and a gym and yoga studio, a real-life representation of the way their work and home lives co-exist. In everything, they find an opportunity to create something, training their brains to stay elastic and curious.

For the sake of their practice, their partnership, and their own self-development, Bea and Eric make it a point to engage with the city around them. Visiting their own city, through “staycations” or experiencing the urban environment through running, allows them to see Pittsburgh as a whole. By starting at their house and embarking on a journey through a neighborhood, they can see plainly that architecture is not just buildings, but all that is around it. Their travels also play a crucial role. Spending two months a year in Italy, Bea’s home country, offers a needed reset. During these visits, architecture isn’t the focus. It’s about culture, nature, family, and friends.

“It’s important as architects to be out as much as possible,” Bea says. “If we just hunker down in our offices and don’t go out to see how people live, what people are talking about and prioritizing, you end up designing in a bubble.”

Despite the blurred lines between work and life, Eric and Bea draw energy from the intersections. Their partnership allows them to take on more projects, challenge each other, and build something greater than they could alone.

Curiosity and exploration are at the heart of everything they do. Their favorite project? Always the next one.

Happy Valentine’s Day!