matthew peterson and doug warner, the principals at element, have taken a different approach to design and engineering.  their unique backgrounds, personalities and thinking have enabled them to blur the lines between the creative and technical aspects of the business. 

matthew founded element to establish a collaboration of talented individuals focused on improving the design process through a holistic, no wall, practical approach.  prior to founding element, matthew was a land planner and designer specializing in low to high density residential and commercial projects nationally.    after graduating from texas a&m university, he joined humphreys & partners architects, l.p. in dallas, tx.  matthew also worked as an owner’s representative with bala multi-family investment company. while overseeing $75 million worth of new multi-family construction throughout the southwest united states, he was able to acquire field knowledge while gaining insight into the business side of architecture, engineering, and real estate development.

doug leads the operations and business aspects of element. with eighteen years of experience in residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation fields, warner's expertise spans the breadth of his discipline, from both civil and structural applications to business operations.  doug’s engineering career began at stone and webster engineering corporation where he served as a lead civil engineer on transportation and nuclear power plant projects.  prior to joining element, doug was a program manager for ilc dover overseeing various programs for the private and public sectors while also heading up key research initiatives for nasa and the national missile defense program.  doug earned his bs in civil/environmental engineering from rutgers university and his ms in civil engineering from widener university. he holds professional engineering licenses in de, md, pa and nj, and is a licensed real estate agent in delaware.

element’s versatile staff provides the back bone for the implementation of the designs.  through the assemblage of engineering and design professionals from throughout the country, element approaches the region’s design challenges with a fresh perspective.  the team controls each step of the process, from design through implementation, by applying the same enthusiasm for design to the technical, budget, and project management aspects. as accomplished engineers, architects, landscape architects, artists and strategists, they bring commitment, expertise and passion to collaboration with clients

element employs over 15 people at its offices in lewes and wilmington, delaware.   the lewes office is the headquarters for the majority of the professional personnel.  the trolley square studio serves as a more intimate locale that provides space for creativity, interactive design sessions and marketing for element’s client base, particularly the north east region.    element’s professionals are registered throughout the us and boast educational and professional credentials from around the world.  in addition to element’s dedicated work ethic, the team enjoys sharing the benefits of both locations – the relaxation of beach life and the energy of the city.