Joshua Silbaugh, AIA, DBIA, NCARB, LEED Green Associate

I have worked in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry since starting as an intern in 2001. I began by logging and copying architect and engineer shop drawing reviews in Gannett Fleming’s construction management group. I transferred to an architectural internship in 2003.

I have professionally practiced architecture since 2007. I gained my architect’s license in Pennsylvania in 2013 and have since expanded to licensure in 17 states and regions across the U.S.

In addition to my roles and responsibilities with Gannett Fleming, I’ve been an adjunct professor of architecture for Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) since 2018. I lectured on construction materials and methods and served on the architecture advisory and curriculum advisory committees. In 2021, I began volunteering on the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Central Pennsylvania leadership council, and currently serve on the Emerging Professionals committee.

In early 2023, I was selected for the AIA National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Architect Licensing Advisor position for Pennsylvania. In this position, I’m a non-voting board member of AIA Pennsylvania, serving as a liaison among the AIA, NCARB, and Pennsylvania state licensing board. I support licensure candidates and present licensure requirements to Pennsylvania architectural schools and programs.

My father was an engineer with Gannett Fleming, so naturally, Gannett Fleming was where I wanted to start my career. Gannett Fleming has always been a part of my life as a family- and employee-oriented firm. Honestly, there’s no other place I’ve ever wanted to work.

I’ve grown from architectural intern to project manager, then organization manager, and now principal architect, regional manager, and vice president. I manage talented and diverse architectural studios across Pennsylvania and in multiple markets, including federal, transit, water, and commercial. Our team provides integrated architectural planning and design consulting services as part of Gannett Fleming’s national architectural practice.

I have a heart for community involvement, and Gannett Fleming affords me opportunities to get involved in related extracurriculars. In addition to teaching and AIA board involvement, I regularly volunteer for student science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities and speak at elementary and high school career fairs. I’ve also been fortunate to have great managers and mentors who have prepared me for leadership roles.

I have honed my presentation skills by providing an architect’s perspective to Gannett Fleming’s INSIGHTS webcast series. “Fundamentals & Primers of Alternative Delivery for Buildings: A Designer’s Perspective” covers fundamental tenets and successful teaming principles of alternative delivery and design-build. “Resiliency in Response: Natural Disaster at Tyndall Air Force Base” recounts navigating the hurdles of the complex emergency effort following Hurricane Michael’s damage to the base.

I served as co-project manager and architectural lead for the Employee Learning Experience program, a year-long project for a large national transportation client. The conceptual campus programming and feasibility study involved multiple regions and business groups. It investigated the learning and training requirements, site selection and analysis, detailed architectural programming, and architectural concept designs for a 200,000-square-foot national training and learning campus.

The client had been trying to launch this training campus project for over a decade. Our analysis and concepts helped push the project closer to reality than ever before. Once completed, the campus will improve the company’s training standardization and consistency.

I had the opportunity to listen to former President Barack Obama speak in Chicago at the 2022 AIA Conference on Architecture. He said, “If you don’t have diversity at the table, you’re already losing.”

Architecture is a profession that affects every human, and every human has a right to good design (healthy homes, work environments, places of rest, places of worship, etc.). Good design…the best designs…only come from bringing a diverse group to the drawing table. Only then will we see the different needs and ideals that will push architectural designs forward.

This is more of a side gig than a hobby, but I love teaching. I teach adults in graduate school and children at my church. I hosted a television program where I lectured on Art Deco architecture in Harrisburg.

I absolutely love lecturing and teaching future architects at HACC. Teaching architecture at the college level is demanding, but it has easily been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life.

I’ve been married since 2006 to the only girl I ever dated. By chance, on our honeymoon, we were chosen to film different skits that aired on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. My wife’s segment was featured in the episode’s leadup commercial the night it aired.

We have two children, Hydee and Lochlann. We are very committed to our church and spend every Sunday there together. We love autumn and do a corn maze every October. We really love Walt Disney World® and have been fortunate to go twice as a family, and we hope to return sometime soon.

I have a strange affection for really bad movies. I love good movies too, but getting friends together to watch an unintentionally bad film is one of the funniest experiences you can have. If you’re looking for a hilariously bad movie, I recommend “Frogs”.

You wouldn’t know it to look at me, but I love to work out. A solid 60 minutes of cardio three to four times a week is a great way to unwind and relieve most kinds of stress.

My father was a successful engineer and an even more successful leader and manager. He told me many times that a good leader never micromanages staff, is patient, and doesn’t tighten his grip of control but instead supports his team and helps them grow.