Founders Francisco Benavides and William Leavy emphasize a level of design, rigor, and personal service to exceed many larger firms.  They bring to these projects the design sensibility, experience, and technical skill acquired from years of prior tenures at varied architectural practices.  While at Zivkovic Connolly Architects, Francisco met William and collaborated on multiple projects.  This collaboration sponsored the formation of POUN[D]ESIGN STUDIO in 2007.  POUN[D]ESIGN STUDIO initially started as an independent design collaborative and has worked more recently as an extension of William Leavy Architecture in a supportive and consultative role, building a roster of different project types and associated budgets while producing designs that are thoughtfully conceived, thoroughly developed, and carefully executed.

Francisco received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell University, College of Architecture Art & Planning in 1996.  Upon graduating, he received broad training at a number of prestigious offices in New York including Peix & Marchetti Architects, Smiros & Smiros Architects, Fahey Design Build, and Zivkovic Connolly Architects.  He was project designer, project manager, and project architect at these firms involved with a variety of work and associated budgets.

William received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from New York Institute of Technology, School of Architecture in 1994.  Upon graduating, he received broad training at a number of prestigious offices in New York including Brennan Beer Gorman/Brennan Beer Gorman Monk (BBG/BBGM), DiGiorgio Associates, N2 Design Group/Narofksy Architecture, Zivkovic Connolly Architects, and Derecktor Shipyards.  He was project designer, project manager, and project architect at these firms involved with a variety of work and associated budgets.