For over two decades, Jason Millhouse has set the stage for luxurious and memorable guest experiences. Now, as the Washington DC Managing Director of ZDS Architecture and Interior Design, he guides the multidisciplinary firm in creating bold, imaginative, and timeless designs.
His impressive resume includes a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Architecture from Rice University, as well as a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Before joining ZDS, Jason was the Director of Design Management for IHG Hotels and Resorts’s Luxury, Lifestyle, and Premium Brands, including renowned names like Regent, InterContinental, Hotel Indigo, and the newly introduced Vignette Collection. His experience extends even further, with more than a decade spent at Marriott International and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, where he led the design of high-profile global projects.
Jason Millhouse and ZDS Architecture & Interior Design specialize in authentic, immersive, thoughtfully crafted interiors, aiming to enhance guest experiences and make a lasting mark on the industry.
Design Questionnaire with Jason Millhouse of ZDS Architecture & Interior Design
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
As I grow older, my thoughts on this have changed significantly. When I was younger, I thought perfect happiness was moving up the ladder and making as much money as possible. Nowadays, my priorities have shifted, and the idea of living a life of emotional calm and creative fulfillment is my new idea of happiness. Of course, professional success is still important, but my primary focus is on my own well-being and feeling of tranquility. The perfect happiness is finding a balance between the two.
I believe this shift is greatly due to my newfound passion for yoga. The practice allows me to reflect and enjoy a quietness in my life that wasn’t there before. I’m even currently studying to become a yoga teacher and hope to share the peace that I’ve found with others.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I am the most excited and fulfilled when I feel as though I have helped build something with a positive impact or when I help bring about positive change. In my career field of architecture and design specifically, when I work on a project that has significant influence—that is success to me. I’ve worked on several projects over my career that have had lasting impacts on not only the local community but also the hospitality industry as a whole. Being an integral part of large-scale projects and working closely with leadership teams to move the needle is a great achievement.
