Front is a design and façade consulting practice made up of cross-disciplinary creative individuals with professional backgrounds in architecture, structural engineering, and mechanical engineering. Established in New York City in 2002, the firm has since grown to a staff of nearly thirty people with offices in San Francisco, Seattle, and Hong Kong.

Marc Simmons is professor of the practice at the School of Architecture. He holds the Thomas Ventulett Distinguished Chair in Architectural Design. A leading advocate for innovative and critical practice, Simmons has produced seminal works in contemporary architecture including most recently:

• the China Central Television Headquarters with OMA;
• the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center with Renzo Piano Building Workshop;
• the Dee and Charles Wyly Theater with REX;
• the Yas Hotel with Asymptote; and
• the Glass Pavilion at the Toledo Museum of Art with Sejima Nishizawa Associates.