Joshua Guerra, RA, CSI, CDT, LEED AP
Architectural Specification Writer
Joshua Guerra is an Architectural Specification Writer and Technical Advocate with over 20 years of experience delivering thoughtful, comprehensive, and well-coordinated projects across diverse sectors, including workplace environments, high-tech data centers and laboratories, multi-family housing, hospitality, retail, and mixed-use developments. He expertly leads project teams through the full architectural process—from programming and master planning to detailed construction contract administration—while emphasizing functionality, relevance, and simplicity in his design philosophy.
A certified Construction Documents Technologist (CDT®) and active member of CSI, Josh conducts rigorous quality control reviews and authors architectural specifications for a wide range of projects. He created the Otak Architecture Graphic Standards Manual and is currently revising the SERA Architecture Graphic Standards Manual, underscoring his deep expertise in establishing firm-wide standards that enhance clarity, consistency, and quality in construction documentation.
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Josh earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Notre Dame in 2000 (majoring in Design with studies in Industrial Design and Graphic Design), followed by professional graphic design work. He then completed a Master of Architecture at Texas A&M University in 2005, with international experiences including a semester at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain; historic preservation survey work at Pointe du Hoc in Normandy, France; and the Romieniec Fellowship supporting architectural research in Australia.
Passionate about collaboration and mentoring, Josh thrives in team environments, fostering open, honest, and professional communication while guiding junior staff through building codes, detailing, and professional practice. Outside architecture, he finds balance through soccer (as player, coach, referee, and fan), woodworking, philosophy, classic literature, and family time—pursuits that continually fuel his creative and strategic perspective.
Session: Graphic Standards; A Framework for Exceptional Construction Documents