Alan began his architectural career in 1980 at the San Francisco firm of Backen, Arrigoni and Ross after receiving degrees from UC Berkley and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. In 1985, he was welcomed as the senior studio designer at RMW Architecture where he was named an Associate and later elevated to Principal.

Alan's notable projects include the San Jose Art Museum, the Glickman Residence (California AIA Award), Temple Emanu-El, (San Francisco Historic Foundation Award) and San Jose Fire Station No. 1 (Santa Clara Chapter AIA Award). In 1990-1993, Alan was the Project Architect for the Center for the Arts at Yerba Buena Gardens, and from 1996-1998 he was a graduate design studio lecturer, critic and thesis advisor at the University of California Berkeley.

On a 6am morning before work, you can usually find Alan in a pool swimming with the Orinda Aquatic Masters. He and is wife Elaine spend their free time at tennis tournaments or swim meets of their two high school and college-aged sons.