LAN Associates Architect, Interior Designer, and Sr. Associate Matthew Fink has been named a Zweig Group 2024 Rising Star in the AEC industry. This prestigious award is given annually in recognition of architecture, engineering, and construction industry professionals under the age of 35 who have shown great technical capability, leadership ability, and effective teaching or public service that has benefited the design profession, their employers, project owners, and society. Matthew was selected in honor of his impressive career at LAN Associates, where he takes a leadership role on some of the full-service architecture and engineering firm’s largest and most innovative projects.
In addition to being a registered architect, Matthew Fink is a certified interior designer, project manager, mentor, and design expert. His work spans multiple sectors, including commercial, amusement parks, recreation, faith-based, and K-12 educational facility design, but the thread that connects his major projects is their value to the community. Matthew is a creative lead architect and project manager handling design, client relations, and business development for the company’s most notable projects. His work designing K-12 educational facilities was a major factor in the Zweig Group’s decision to honor him as a 2024 Rising Star in the AEC industry.
Matthew’s forward-thinking design approach embraces flexibility, creativity, and wellness, along with curriculum enhancement in K-12 designs through specialty and common spaces that accommodate diverse learning styles and teaching techniques. He pushes LAN’s design team forward, setting both an influential tone for architectural style and project approach among his peers and a standard of quality that LAN’s clients have come to expect.
As one of LAN’s larger market sectors, Matt has been a leader in providing environments that enhance the student experience and curriculum. This includes the Culinary Arts Lab at Leonia High School, which won the Outstanding Design Award from Learning by Design and led to an 80% increase in enrollment in Leonia’s Culinary Arts program. Matthew’s design of the Aerospace Classroom at Bergen Country Technical School had similar success. It was honored by American School & University, and a post-occupancy survey showed a 78% increase in interest in aerospace studies among students, 85% of which also said the space fosters the design thinking process.
“I am honored to be recognized alongside such a talented group of individuals,” said Fink when asked about his award. “The outstanding work LAN provides is truly a group effort. The input and engagement of our great clients and professionals play a vital role in the realization of every LAN project along with my fellow architect and engineer teammates LAN, without whose contributions, none of this would be possible.”
In addition to his work in the K-12 Sector, Matthew has made his mark across the architectural market with diverse and award-winning projects. From the complex geometries in the design of the Riverside County Park amphitheater to the structures in motion at LEGOLAND New York Resort and the timeless designs of Most Blessed Sacrament and Hawthorne Gospel Church, Matthew has shown time and time again that his ability to design beautiful and impactful projects is not limited to any one sector.
“Matthew Fink is a creative powerhouse who brings a diverse and well-rounded skill set to every project he works on. He is truly an invaluable member of our team,” said LAN Assistant Vice President Matthew Wolfe, who leads the architecture department in LAN’s Midland Park headquarters. “He understands how to work with his clients, providing effective project leadership and a fresh vision every step of the way. He sets a high bar for all of LAN’s projects, especially his educational projects. He has a distinct style that is reflective of a visionary architect who is passionate about his craft.”
Matthew also has a passion for giving back to the community. He helped found the AIA NJ Emerging Professionals Community, forming a sector specifically to guide young professionals through their career paths. For over a decade, he climbed the ranks within the Board of Trustees for the Architects League of Northern New Jersey, eventually becoming the President of their local chapter.
As a third-generation resident of Waldwick, NJ, Matthew has made it his mission to give back to the town that provided him with many opportunities. For the past ten years, he has been aiding with developing theme concepts for the annual Waldwick Grad Ball, transforming these ideas into three-dimensional imagery for volunteers. Matthew is also an annual contributor to STEAM competitions, assisting in their formulation and acting as a judge for student teams. He currently serves as a trustee for the Waldwick Education Foundation, supporting them in their mission to provide annual scholarships, grants, and community events.
Matthew Fink brings creativity, experience, skill, and passion to his work and is committed to making a difference in his community. His achievements have not gone unnoticed. In addition to being named a Rising Star in the AEC industry by the Zweig Group and the numerous awards his projects have won, Matthew was recognized for his efforts with the Young Architect of the Year award in 2017 and Community Service Award from the Architects League of Northern New Jersey in 2022. Matt is a gifted architect with extraordinary talent. LAN Associates is proud to call him a member of our team.
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LAN Associates is a full-service engineering, planning, architecture, and surveying firm founded in 1965. We take pride in our ability to address the distinct needs of our large and varying client base.
