Samantha Gardner’s career at APD began after spending a summer at the firm as an intern. After graduating from Pratt Institute in 2017, she returned to APD, and nine years later, she has grown into an Associate Principal of Architecture. Along the way, she has built a career around a philosophy that is simple in theory but powerful in practice: there is always a way to make things better.
Whether she is solving a challenging design problem, helping a client navigate a difficult decision, or finding ways to improve how her team works, Samantha has always been drawn to looking beyond the immediate task to see the bigger picture.
“I like to think that I’m good at making sense of chaos,” she says. “There has to be a better way.”
That mindset is part of what drew Samantha to architecture and continues to keep her energized today. Every project brings a new problem to solve, a new set of priorities to balance, and ultimately, a space that people will experience and use in their everyday lives.
For Samantha, seeing those spaces come to life never gets old. Behind every finished building are conversations with clients and consultants, complicated site conditions, design decisions, and countless details that had to come together.
At the center of that process is something Samantha believes matters just as much as the design itself: communication.
She approaches client relationships by making their priorities her priorities. That means staying responsive, following through, and thinking beyond any single decision to consider what comes next. By anticipating challenges and weighing different options, Samantha helps clients understand the tradeoffs and make confident decisions about their projects.
A defining milestone in Samantha’s career came when she stamped her first Taco Bell project as a licensed architect. After years of working toward her license, seeing her name on the drawings brought a new level of responsibility and a sense of pride in the work she had helped bring to life.
The opportunities that have shaped Samantha’s career have also influenced her approach to leadership. Throughout her career at APD, she has benefited from leaders who recognized her potential, encouraged her professional growth, and entrusted her with meaningful responsibilities. Today, she is committed to creating those same opportunities for others.
She believes that giving people the opportunity to take on challenges, make decisions, and learn from experience is essential to their growth. Her approach is to provide guidance and support while giving her team the space to build confidence, develop their own judgment, and take ownership of their work.
Her focus also extends beyond her own team. Samantha enjoys looking at how APD operates as a whole, finding opportunities to simplify processes, strengthen collaboration, and make it easier for people to do their jobs well. For her, improving how the firm works is just as rewarding as solving the challenges of an individual project.
“I can’t imagine reaching a point where I feel like I’m done growing. There’s always more to learn, more to experience, and something new to work toward,” Samantha shares.
For Samantha, growth isn’t about reaching the next milestone. It’s about staying curious, taking on new challenges, and finding fulfillment in what comes next.
Outside of work, Samantha’s curiosity and appreciation for new perspectives are reflected in her passion for travel. Italy holds a particularly meaningful place in her life, having first experienced the country while studying abroad in college and later returning for her honeymoon. With strong ties to her Italian heritage, she continues to be drawn to its rich history, architecture, cuisine, and culture.
For Samantha, travel is an opportunity to broaden her perspective, experience different ways of life, and find inspiration beyond the familiar.
“It gives you perspective,” she shares. “This isn’t the only way to live.”
Whether she’s exploring a new place, tackling an unfamiliar challenge, or helping someone on her team grow, Samantha values the opportunity to see things from a different perspective. It’s a curiosity that has shaped her journey from intern to Associate Principal and continues to influence where she goes next.
