Thomas Phifer studied architecture at Clemson University, receiving his Master of Architecture in 1977. He founded his own architectural practice, Thomas Phifer and Partners, in 1997. Since then, the firm has completed a variety of projects. The studio’s work includes residential, public, and cultural projects, built throughout the US and Europe. Notable designs range from an expansion of Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York, to the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, North Carolina. Thomas Phifer has received many awards and mentions. These include the prestigious Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome, the Medal of Honor from the New York Chapter of the AIA, and the Arts and Letters Award in Architecture from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His firm has received more than 20 honor awards from the AIA as well as many national and international citations.