Bradley Touchstone is an architect with more than 35 years of experience specializing in complex bridge design. His work is visible on major signature bridges across North America and around the world, including the Gordie Howe International Bridge that spans the border between the U.S. and Canada, and the Kosciuszko Bridge in New York City. Bradley holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Mississippi State University and studied at the Technical University of Barcelona. Passionate about designing unforgettable bridges, he uses his architectural background to inform his bridge design, believing that bridges should not only be functional but impactful.

What inspired you to join the industry?

I’ve loved architecture since I was young. I even took drafting in high school. I grew up in a family of builders in Laurel, Mississippi. Early on, I saw how architects shape communities and knew I wanted to create places that matter.

That said, I didn’t set out to design bridges. After graduating, I launched my own architecture practice. Not long after, I received a call from Gene Figg — an icon in the world of bridge design. He was looking for someone with a fresh, creative perspective and believed my architectural background could bring that to the table. What began as a collaboration evolved into a series of signature bridge projects, starting in Toledo and Tampa, and eventually expanding across the country. That experience pulled me into the world of bridge design.

When Gene passed in 2001, I reestablished my practice with a new focus: bridges. I partnered with ArchTam on major projects across the U.S. and internationally before joining the firm in 2019 as National Practice Lead for complex bridge architecture. I’m now in a position that blends my design and architectural background, and desire to shape spaces that connect and benefit communities.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

I’ve worked on many major bridges, but two smaller bridges stand out. The first is the 2^nd Street Bridge in Austin, Texas, that we completed in 2013. This is a canted arch bridge, about 160 feet long and that is also known as the “Butterfly Bridge” for its outward-leaning steel ribs. It carries two lanes of traffic and a pedestrian sidewalk over Shoal Creek.

2^nd Street is the centerpiece of the City of Austin’s Seaholm District project, which revitalized an industrial part of Austin on the edge of downtown. The bridge links the district’s east and west sections and is now also a destination, integrated with an adjacent plaza that includes sitting areas and coffee shops.

I was responsible for community involvement, bridge type selection — along with the structural team — and preliminary and final design for all architectural and lighting components. As with all our bridge projects, I worked closely with our bridge engineers to deliver a bridge that met the city and community’s vision for durability and beauty. We evaluated girder, cable-stayed, and arch bridge options before selecting the canted arch bridge type as it is a dynamic and sculptural form that creates an interesting profile from the widest range of vantage points. Every detail had the user in mind. For example, we built a gap between the sidewalk slab and the bridge’s traffic deck to allow light to pass to travelers from the Shoal Creek below. With its trapezoidal shaped steel ribs, galvanized wire rope hangers and non-fracture critical structural system, we delivered a bridge that is not only striking but resilient and easy to maintain.

Another favorite is the recently completed Christian to Crescent Bridge along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. Like 2^nd Street, this bridge is a destination. It gives pedestrians and cyclists opportunities to create memories in an urban environment. The bridge is part of a 4-mile constructed stretch of an 8-mile planned Philadelphia section of a 128-mile Schuylkill River Trail of which half is currently complete.

I was the lead architect for this 650-foot-long cable-stayed bridge. This design presented technical challenges in part because the bridge is set in an active industrial area. I initially focused my design on its alignment. The reverse curve that I introduced was born from practicality, it allowed us to avoid those problematic areas. It also gave us the advantage of shifting the perspective. Providing a curved view added a sense of journey for people using the bridge.

Curving the alignment also led to the selection of a cable-stayed bridge. We opted for this structure in part because it provided a more prominent vertical profile for the bridge. Its lattice cable pattern and soaring pylons also allowed us to create a striking landmark along the river, one of the missions of the developers, the City of Philadelphia and the Schuylkill River Development Corporation.

These two projects, though smaller than many I’ve worked on, are special. The 2^nd Street Bridge helped bring an underused area of the city back to life. The Christian to Crescent Bridge provides a new type of greenspace and an entirely off-road means of moving through the city. Each is a testament to how bridge and landscape architecture can make lasting community improvements.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

The Hastings Bridge project in Hastings, Minnesota, showed me the lasting impact that our work can have. I was the architect and visual quality manager for the 545-foot-long bridge that carries Highway 61 over the Mississippi River into this small town. We completed it for the Minnesota Department of Transportation as a replacement for two previous iterations built in the same location. It’s the longest freestanding tied arch bridge in North America, and with a 100-year lifespan, it was built to last.

While the bridge is vital to the area’s transportation network, what struck me was that the community was less concerned about the crossing than its potential impact on the area around it. This bridge touches down on Hastings’ Main Street. Earlier bridge abutments had left behind neglected spaces. Residents were concerned that we would repeat this history. Instead, we listened. We created a plaza underneath the bridge on Main Street that became a town gathering point.

We also added an artist to our project team named Craig David. He designed two murals that became springboards for art along the town’s riverfront and public places. The community so loved the murals that we modified the abutment design so they could be detached if the bridge was torn down. When you spark that kind of community involvement, it becomes a magical experience.

Share a piece of career advice.

Confidence is important, but so is collaboration. Be open to input from your team members. You might have a clear vision for how to approach a project, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved with other perspectives. Listening to your colleagues often leads to better, more creative outcomes.

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Katerina has 20 years of experience in large-scale architectural and engineering projects worldwide. She specializes in terminal design, project coordination, and sustainable building solutions. Her expertise spans airports, mixed-use developments, hotels, offices and industrial facilities. She has led designs for major aviation projects, ensuring efficiency, passenger experience and sustainability. Katerina’s multidisciplinary background allows her to integrate architectural innovation with engineering excellence in complex infrastructure developments.

Tell us a bit about yourself – your role and career journey.

I’m an architect with 20 years of experience in architectural design. Originally from Greece, I began my career working in small architectural studios there before moving to Madrid, where my professional journey truly took shape.

Before joining ArchTam, I worked in the hospitality and industrial sectors, but my passion for aviation design began when I joined the company 10 years ago. Since then, I’ve focused on airport projects worldwide, serving as a lead architect and design manager. What I love most about aviation design is that it’s an ongoing learning experience — every project is unique, requiring new and innovative solutions.

I lead the design of terminal buildings, ancillary airport structures such as control towers and support facilities and coordinate various aspects of airport planning and design. I also take on the role of terminal planner for several projects, ensuring seamless integration between architectural design and operational functionality.

Can you share an example of one of your favorite aviation terminal design projects.  What was special about it and why? 

One of my favorite aviation projects is Terminal 4 at Kuwait International Airport, where I served as Design Manager, working closely with the client (the contractor) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Kuwait (DGCA). This was my second aviation project, building on my experience from Rome Fiumicino Airport. It was especially rewarding to apply my knowledge while also mentoring others, just as my colleagues once guided me.

What made this project remarkable was its fast-tracked delivery — completed in just 15 months — through close collaboration with our client. Our team prioritized efficient solutions aligned with production and procurement schedules, always anticipating site needs to ensure versatility and long-term effectiveness. Despite the rapid pace, we maintained high design quality, creating welcoming interiors and striking exteriors inspired by local patterns and symbols.

How do you combine sustainability and digital in your designs to elevate the passenger experience?

Sustainability and digital innovation go hand in hand in our aviation architecture designs. We collaborate closely with MEP and sustainability teams to integrate smart technologies like intelligent lighting and climate control systems, reducing the carbon footprint while creating comfortable environments that adapt to passenger needs. We also prioritize the use of eco-friendly materials, balancing environmental responsibility with aesthetics that enhance the terminal experience. High-quality insulation plays a crucial role in reducing energy consumption, maintaining stable indoor temperatures, and improving overall comfort.

We also leverage Building Information Modeling (BIM) to create digital twins of our terminal designs. This allows for early-stage simulations, optimizing passenger flow, operational efficiency and spatial functionality. These models continue to be valuable throughout the construction and operational phases, assisting contractors and supporting our clients with long-term facility management.

What are some of the trends in terminal design that you’re excited to explore or implement in your work?

One of the most important trends we factor into our terminal designs is flexibility. By creating adaptable environments, we support operators and contractors to optimize space and reduce costs. For example, we analyze peak times for international and domestic passengers and design shared-use spaces that can shift functions as needed. This is particularly valuable for seasonal airports, where certain areas can serve aviation needs during peak periods and be repurposed for landside functions — such as cultural or retail spaces — during off-peak times. This ensures terminals remain active and efficient year-round.

Energy efficiency is another key focus of our designs. By implementing smart climate control systems, we can deactivate HVAC systems in underutilized spaces, significantly reducing energy consumption without compromising passenger comfort.

Integration of touchless technologies throughout the terminal, from check-in and security to boarding is also now really important. The demand for contactless solutions grew significantly over the past few years, not only to enhance the passenger experience but also to address health and safety concerns while creating a seamless travel experience. These innovations not only enhance safety but also contribute to a more modern and efficient airport environment.

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