In Italy since 1992, Studio Rome director Tom Rankin has worked in architecture, cultural heritage, environmental and cultural sustainability and digital media. He created and led the successful non-profit cultural travel association Scala Reale and continues to support culturally and environmentally sustainable travel as a partner in Context. In 2002 he co-founded the American Institute for Roman Culture, a 501(c)3 organization for which he served as President until April 2008. Tom has worked as an architectural designer and consulted with such companies as Studio Fuksas, Gemini Consulting, Alitalia, Autostrade.  In addition he directs the Cal Poly Rome Program in Architecture and has taught for various Rome-based architecture programs and at the engineering school of the University of Rome.