Design Icon – Architect
Lawrence Lake
Douglas Sydnor is a modern architect, like his father, the late Phoenix architect, Reginald Sydnor. The first of five children, Douglas Sydnor was included in the profession from the beginning, drawing floor plans at an early age. With exposure to plans and job sites, he was prepped for architectural school. At the ASU College of Architecture and the Harvard School of Design, Sydnor trained his skills then joined his father in designing multiple projects, including the St. Joseph’s Medical Center. Sydnor went on to work at Lescher and Mahoney and at Gensler, where he broadened his portfolio of modern architecture. In 2017, he returned to his own Scottsdale-based firm to focus on personal design and client service. Sydnor’s design work focuses on residential, civic and commercial architecture, while his outstanding community service includes many causes, positions on three boards, an architectural column and his personal art in gallery shows. His most recent book, Sydnor Threads, traces his career and memories as a true Arizona renaissance man.