Sam earned his Bachelor of Architecture from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, where his thesis focused on the relationship between New York City and  the landscape that supplies its water, seeking a beneficial future for both in the face of climate change. While completing his degree, Sam worked as a model maker, completing works that have been exhibited at The Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, various exhibitions at The Cooper Union, as well as being published in A+U magazine. Sam was excited to bring his passions for sustainable design and physical modeling to ChoShields Studio, where his role has expanded from model making to working on all stages of projects as a design team member.