Thomas grew up in Bend, Oregon among a multigenerational family of builders. His father was a general contractor who built many of Bend’s most groundbreaking modern and sustainable homes. His mothers family operates a construction company in the Bay Area that has built hundreds of homes dating back to the 1950’s. As a child, he spent many hours tidying up construction sites. Eventually, he graduated from helper to carpenter, spending summers in high school and college framing, pouring concrete, and gaining an appreciation for the craft of construction.

His early interest in building led him to study architecture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Following his studies he practiced at award-winning firms on a variety of project types and scales, including: large commercial, multifamily, and public projects with Bjarke Ingels Group in New York City; high end residences and resorts with CCY Architects in Aspen, Colorado; and net-zero housing with 2757 Design Co in Carbondale, Colorado. 

Through all these experiences a desire to return to Bend never left, and in 2020 he moved home to found Studio Mas. When out of the office you are most likely to find Thomas climbing, splitboarding, or biking somewhere in the mountains and deserts of the American west.