Team

Tony Coll

When did you know you wanted to be a designer?

I grew up on a farm in Donegal, Ireland, and, as a kid, wanted to become a veterinarian. As I got older, I became more interested in engineering which is what I studied in college. When I came to New York in 1985, it was originally to pursue a career in engineering, but one day I got a call from an architectural firm that I had partnered with on a project to see if I would be interested in working for them. The rest is history—I found my calling.

Where is your favorite travel destination?

I’ve traveled to Italy for both business and pleasure but being there for business was a pleasure! One of my favorite experiences was visiting different quarries, selecting marble, and being inside a mountain in Carrara…an amazing experience!

What’s one accomplishment you’re most proud of?

I’m most proud of raising my son to be the wonderful human being that he is. I’m especially proud of the work he’s done overseas in Japan, where he’s a teacher and is studying the language.

What’s the one phone app you absolutely can’t live without?

I’ve spent the most time with my Golf GPS app. As an avid golfer, it helps me navigate around golf courses and records my (dismal) performances.

What was your first computer—and what did you spend the most amount of time doing on it?

My first computer was a Gateway 2000 386-25—in the early 1990s I ran AutoCad Version 10 on it and spent most of my time waiting for it generate.