Keith Peiffer

1/20/20

Keith Peiffer graduated from NL in 2001. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Penn State University and a Master of Science in Architecture in Design Research from the Taubman College at the University of Michigan. While a graduate student at Taubman College, he was the sole recipient of the 2012 Master of Science Student Award for his graduate research. Peiffer spent over ten years as a practicing architect in Baltimore. During that time, his professional work encompassed a broad range of scales and types (high-end residential, performing arts, laboratory, secondary education, and multi-family housing) with budgets up to $65 million. His professional work has received numerous regional awards for design excellence from the American Institute of Architects and other professional organizations, and his project for the Parks & People Foundation was included in a national exhibition titled “Citizen Design.”

While practicing in Baltimore, Peiffer also taught as an adjunct professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and Morgan State University. Currently, Peiffer teaches full time at Oklahoma State University. As a tenure track professor, he teaches design studios as well as courses on building materials and architectural theory. His research and creative work have been published in academic journals and presented at conferences.

Peiffer resides with his family in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He is married to NL classmate Rebekah (Miller) and has three amazing kids. He is a follower of Jesus and an active church member, serving through leadership positions and teaching. In his (limited) spare time, Peiffer enjoys looking at buildings, traveling to places to look at buildings, and looking at buildings with his family. Reflecting on what he most appreciated about his time at NL, Peiffer shares, “The teachers made a hugely significant impact in my life (too many to mention all of them): Mr. Hunter opened my mind to the depths that literature has to offer, Mr. D helped to understand ways to civilly engage ideas and discussion with people, Mr. Hall challenged me to pursue rigor and excellence, Mr. Miller cared about me and appreciated the unique things that I had to offer. NL offered so many opportunities to try things and pursue your interests, which was great preparation for college and life after NL.” The following is Peiffer’s advice for current NL students: Take every opportunity you can to broaden your world and your perspective, talk to people who don’t look like you or think like you. Pursue excellence in everything you do, even the little things that don’t seem to matter. Find a way to actively contribute to the world in a way that is life-giving to you.