As a boy growing up in a prominently Black Memphis suburb called ‘Whitehaven’, Mario came from a large family of nine. Growing up in a large family with little resources, taught him how to problem solve, share, and compromise. It also taught him what unconditional love looked like at an early age as four of his siblings are adopted refugees from Haiti. His parents worked hard to blend the family and one strategy they used was travel. It was a major part of his upbringing and aided in his outlook on life and the power of architecture. Today, he uses travel to introduce his own children to the world, giving them something that can never be taken away, which is experience, exposure, and a way of life.
As a young boy, Mario loved constructing things with the interlocking plastic toys and using them in school science projects. His mother, a real estate agent, encouraged him to become an architect and took him on listing appointments. By age 12, he aimed to make his passion a career. Growing up, He had very hard working, supportive parents that made him who he is today, even at a time when there were very few black children heading in this professional direction. There were very few people to look up to at that time.
Early in his college career, sadly he was told that he would “never become an architect” and that he should “find another major” to study. As difficult as that situation was, Mario has used that moment as a springboard to reach his goals to this day. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 2007 as a student of architecture at the University of Memphis, graduating at the top of his class. At that time, the University did not have a Master Program for Architecture. He returned to the University in 2009 to helped build a M.ARCH program for the Department of Architecture and later graduated from it, earning a Master Degree in 2012.
One of his greatest professional achievements to date is becoming a licensed professional. Mario became a licensed professional in the State of Tennessee in 2019 and subsequently in Mississippi in 2020, thus becoming the youngest Black Architect in both states at the time. As lead designer, he has charged his team to produce architecture that expresses thoughtful design and aspirations which galvanize communities, elevates sustainability, and delivers economic success. He attributes these aspirations to his early upbringing.