Dan Zou, AIA, NCARB

Principal Architect   |   Founder

Dan Zou is a registered architect in the states of Texas and California, originates from the beautiful city of Wuhan, China, where ancient wisdom flows with the Yangtze River, nurturing generations who have peacefully coexisted with nature for thousands of years. This is a place where traditions meet modernity; Here, bamboo beds stand in the shadow of colonial and contemporary structures, refreshing memories of how cultures meet, conflict, and dance together. It was the wellspring of wisdom and memory enlightened Dan to seek architecture as a bridge between human and nature, past and future, one culture and another.

Dan's journey began with Five years of Architectural studies at her hometown university, punctuated by frequent travels to ancient temples over China including Shanxi and Sichuan, this magic bridge led Dan to UT Austin and completed her Master of Sustainable architecture in 2012. After graduation, Dan embarked on her professional voyage with Nelsen Partners in Austin, honing her design, modeling, and presentation skills on mixed-use and commercial architecture. Two years later, Dan explored her career towards custom homes at Mark W Todd Architects at the woodlands. She cherished the intimate moments of crafting dream homes into tangible realities side by side with her clients. Seeking diverse architectural experiences, Dan joined Huckabee in 2018, contributing to larger and more intricate educational projects. Over five years, she dedicated herself to designing sustainable inspiring educational spaces. Her collaborative efforts with her team on McGhee Elementary School with Channelview ISD earned recognition for excellence in design, community impact, and school transformation.

After dedicating 12 years to her architectural practice, Dan unearthed a deep-seated passion, leading her to embark on a grand tour in Europe and establish studioD2 architecture. In every project she takes on, Dan enjoys infusing a touch of Eastern wisdom. She consistently strives to find common ground and strike a purposeful balance between customer expectations and resource consumption, tradition and modernity, as well as sustainability and humanity.

Outside of her studio, Dan finds joy in spending time with her husband and two children. She loves baking and capturing memorable family moments through photography. As a mother, she's deeply connected to her profession, recognizing that her work plays a vital role in shaping the lives of future generations within thoughtfully designed environments.