President - Principal Architect


Chris Culbertson was born in 1967 in Asheville, NC to a French mother and US Air Force Father as their second son. Chris and his family moved to Memphis TN in 1970. In 1985 he entered The University of Memphis and attained a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. In 1994 he married his wife, Denise, and moved to GA. There he worked for an architectural firm and at the same time furthered his education and graduated with honors at the top of his class in 1998 with a Bachelor of Architecture. He and his wife moved to the Tampa Bay area that same year and have lived in the Seminole, FL area since. Chris and Denise have a daughter, Sydney, in New York City and a son, Connor, attending the University of South Florida.

Mr. Culbertson is President, owner, and partner of EMPAD Architecture since their beginning in 2003. Chris has had a passion for architecture mentoring his team to create spaces and places for the human experience.

He has been actively involved in the local and state chapters of the American Institute of Architecture in several positions including President. He enjoys being part of the community and collaboration of the AIA, the members, and its awareness to the profession of architecture. Chris is also involved in many National and local corporate and community organizations. He also strives to embrace the collaboration with the AEC community in business and social arenas and helps to push Architectural agendas at the State Legislative Day in Tallahassee; he is expressively interested in working with our political leaders wherever possible. He has been interested and involved in Advocacy for the Architect profession since becoming a part of the AIA.