With over 40 years of experience in architecture, Greg Burke has insights into overcoming challenges and maintaining persistence in the field.
A member of the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects, Burke’s expertise in architecture started from a simple hiccup in his high school courses. He needed one more class to meet his yearly requirement for course load, and it was recommended that he take mechanical drawing on a whim. He loved drawing and completed high school with two years of architectural training.
Burke has been drawing since age three. He was born with a birth defect, missing two fingers on each hand and two toes on each foot. His mother was concerned with his ability to perform throughout life, so she encouraged him to draw from a young age.
Mr. Burke faced other difficulties due to his congenital anomaly. He was met with discrimination when the large firms he worked for were hesitant to place him in front of clients due to architecture being an image-driven field. Not until his late 30s did Burke meet face-to-face with a client. His first client happened to be Merrill Lynch, a highly renowned investment management company. Burke successfully won the project after being told the firm wouldn’t get the offer since they were too design-oriented. He is grateful that times have changed and there are more accommodations for people with different abilities and an understanding that they, too, can contribute greatness to society.
Burke completed a Bachelor of Science in architecture with an emphasis on urban design at The Ohio State University in 1981. This marked the beginning of his career in architecture. He is now the president of Gregory John Burke Architect PA and is the vice chairman and board member of the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design. Throughout his career, Burke has mentored over 200 young architects. He believes that a great leader doesn’t have followers — they create future leaders. Burke humbly acknowledges the value of various perspectives, seeking input from all colleagues in his field. No voice goes unheard by Burke because “You don’t ever know where a good idea is going to come from,” he says.
A dedicated contributor to his community, Burke is on the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, a nonprofit organization for business networking in Florida that serves the greater community. He is also on the Committee for Affordable Housing of St. Johns County, advocating for affordable housing through legal championing. Burke says: “I look at the world with open eyes to see what’s around us and what we can do to make the world better.” He does this through his continuous civil service and the promotion of better lives for individuals.
As AI becomes more involved in the field of architecture, Burke acknowledges the concern that AI could replace jobs. However, he believes that AI cannot replace human input in such a field without at least several more decades of development. In the meantime, Burke hopes to continue providing knowledge and support to others in his field. He is dedicated to continuously enhancing his skillset to contribute his best efforts to his business.
