February 2025 Member Spotlight
Eric Sterner
Principal and Co-Founder, LAST Architects
What inspired you to become an architect, and how did you decide to start your own business?
My path to architecture was far from conventional. Growing up, I was drawn to two seemingly disparate fields: agriculture and medicine. However, architecture’s unique capacity to tackle complex, open-ended challenges dawned on me around the time I was making college decisions as I watched my hometown transition from a blue-collar steel town into a bustling and thoughtfully curated cultural region.
Architecture’s ability to clarify and distill intricate issues was a surprise – and it’s this aspect that continues to inspire me to this day. The more I practice, the more I have become increasingly passionate about seeking out thoughtful, curated solutions that incorporate diverse perspectives.
This commitment to meaningful design was a driving force behind the creation of LAST, the firm I co-founded with my friend and colleague, Brad Lang. From its inception, LAST has been guided by a singular mission: to craft places that not only inspire but also leave a lasting, positive impact on those who experience them.
What’s your favorite type of project to work on, and what makes it exciting for you?
Projects that demand deep investigation to reveal, expose and preserve are always exciting. Regardless of the type of building, any project that becomes a point of pride to the community it serves will always be favored. How could you not be excited to aid in the betterment of our collective quality of life?
Running a business comes with challenges, what’s one lesson you’ve learned that has shaped the way you work?
The value of the collective over the singular. The best architecture is one that assimilates seamlessly and becomes a point of pride. This requires being adopted slowly through outreach and research. Needless to say, it also requires a lot of patience – something I am still working on.
If you could design a dream project with no budget constraints, what would it be and why?
To find an outdated, forgotten, and exhausted building demanding thoughtful intervention and to be given the opportunity to reimagine its purpose as a vibrant community hub would be a dream come true.
Cities can be understood as comprising both ‘hardware’ and ‘software’. The hardware refers to the physical infrastructure – roads, utilities, etc. The software encompasses the municipal and civic spaces that bring a city to life.
A project that not only enhances the software through innovative programming but also serves as a catalyst for systemic growth, necessitating the development of new hardware, would be a truly compelling endeavor. It’s a testament to the power of thoughtful design to revitalize and transform urban areas.
Perhaps aiding in growth and storylines of cities takes me back to why I entered this profession in the first place.
Outside of architecture, what’s something unexpected or fun that you’re passionate about?
I am extremely passionate about music and have been playing the drums for almost 20 years. One of my favorite ways to experience live music is through the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix, which consistently brings world-class artists to our region. Sadly, I recently realized I can’t recall any song lyrics, but I am able to remember intricate drum beats and rhythms. Depending on who you ask, it makes long car rides more entertaining.