Bringing Out the Best

Alumnus named Architect of the Year two consecutive years

Keith Shaw ('88) has been designing custom homes (such as the one pictured here) and churches for over two decades. (Photo by Keith Shaw)

Keith Shaw, alumnus of the Andrews University School of Architecture & Interior Design, has been doing big things since his graduation in 1988. As of this year, he has officially been named Architect of the Year for the second year in a row in Chapel Hill Magazine.

Shaw founded his own architecture firm in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 1995, where he has been designing custom homes and churches for the past 20 years.

Since the firm was first established, they have designed over 80 custom homes, 100 houses for sale and numerous church projects. These are just a few of the factors that resulted in Shaw being named Architect of the Year for the second consecutive year.

The award recognizes professional service companies, restaurants and hotels, among others, for their outstanding service in the community. The award is given to a professional in each of the categories based on the amounts of votes they receive from the magazine’s subscribers and online readers.

“Throughout the years, I have relied on word-of-mouth referrals to generate my next client,” says Shaw. “The only way for this approach to be successful is to always do your best, go the extra mile and listen well.”

As a result, more than two decades of Shaw’s efforts in Chapel Hill have generated quite a list of happy clients and their golden referrals.

“It is a great honor to be recognized in this venue since it is driven by such loyal and wonderful clients,” says Shaw.

Shaw credits the education he received at Andrews for contributing to his success in the working world.

“Andrews prepared me very well to perform upon graduating. The teachers worked to bring out the best in me, and by doing so, they allowed me to see the possibilities and encouraged me to strive to achieve them,” says Shaw.

The University’s architecture program prepares students for their future jobs and careers through giving them practical knowledge of how buildings go together and teaching them the integral relationship between design and budget.

The diversity among the department’s faculty gave Shaw a unique perspective on architecture. As a student he was not only influenced by architecture professors from all around the United States, but also India, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the Netherlands. According to Shaw, this made his educational experience even greater.

Shaw continues to spread his passion for architecture around Chapel Hill through his custom homes and churches. To see some of Shaw’s work, visit shawdesign.us. To find out more about the architecture program at Andrews, visit andrews.edu/andrewssaad, email saad@andrews.edu or call 269-471-6003.