I’ve been thinking a lot about Ian Atkins this past week and the incredible impact he had on so many people. He was the kind of person who made you feel like an old friend from the moment you met him—always welcoming, always generous with his time and knowledge. His recent passing has been hard to process, and it’s clear from all the stories being shared just how deeply he touched so many lives.

I first met Ian in the early days of CASE Inc, while I was supporting his design teams at KPF. He was the finest-dressed architect in the NY office—always sharp in a vested suit and tie. Paired with his British accent, he embodied design and class. For a couple of years, we worked closely together—often multiple times a week—designing interoperable workflows, implementing BIM, and helping around 30+ design studios kick off new projects. Through all of it, Ian was a constant source of positivity. I can’t recall a single moment where he was anything but upbeat, kind, and an absolute pleasure to be around.

We spoke together at conferences, met up regularly at industry events, and even after he moved back to London, he always made time to grab a meal and catch me up on the latest with the local design firms whenever I was in town.