In late 2019, when architect Daniel Joseph Chenin met the client for his future Tombolo project in the Nevada desert, the chance encounter was brief, with little more than an exchange of names and a quick handshake. The introduction took place at the office of a Las Vegas–based construction company, where Chenin was in an all-day, number-crunching team meeting for a local residential build. “I was just burnt out,” recalls Chenin, who was recently elevated into the prestigious College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects, the organization’s top tier, to which only 3 percent of members ascend.
“At the end of the meeting, this woman comes in and she’s stunning, just dressed to the nines, and she’s with the owner of the company, touring the facility.” They said their quick hellos, and each continued on with their day. “And then, the following year—it was January or February 2020—I got a phone call from her, saying she wanted to meet.
” More from Robb Report During her visit to the construction company, the client had seen images of some of Chenin’s projects and was immediately drawn to his portfolio, which displayed a keen attention to detail. “From the beginning, I knew it was the right fit,” she says. “I didn’t shop around because I didn’t need to—his work spoke for itself.
What sets Daniel apart is that he doesn’t just design homes; he curates experiences. He listens in a way that makes you feel completely understood, and he.
