Thomas Gordon Smith established his architectural practice in 1980. He has continually expanded his understanding of theory and practice by building, teaching and writing. He became fully commited to the profession of classical architecture during 1979-80 as Rome Prize Fellow in Architecture at the American Academy in Rome. His projects culminated in his façade and exhibition on the "Strada Novissima" at the architectural exhibition, The Presence of the Past International Architectural Exhibition at the 1980 Venice Biennale. His book, Classical Architecture: Rule and Invention of 1987, advocates learning the classical language for application in current architecture. From 1989 to 1998, Smith, as chairman, applied his perspective of classical architecture to the curriculum of the School of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame. This became the primary school for study of classical and traditional architecture at the turn of the twenty-first century.

Thomas Gordon Smith’s role in contemporary architecture is reflected in more than twenty museum exhibitions, in extensive publications of his buildings, and in scholarly publications of his research. Richard John’s monograph on his architectural work, Thomas Gordon Smith and the Revival of Classical Architecture, was published in the New Architecture Series by Papadakis in December 2001. Monacelli Press will publish Thomas Gordon Smith’s book, Vitruvius on Architecture in Spring 2003. This book promotes classical architecture today by illustrating and discussing Vitruvius, a Roman architect who wrote a prescription for the renewal of architecture 2000 years ago.

Thomas Gordon Smith’s ecclesiastical projects include a new church, parish hall, and education building for St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dalton, Georgia; a new seminary near Lincoln, Nebraska; a new Benedictine monastery near Tulsa, Oklahoma; the renovation of two churches, and master plans for churches in Michigan and Texas. He has designed residences in California, Illinois, North Carolina, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Public projects include the Cathedral City Civic Center in California, a Visitor’s Center for the Lanier Mansion Historic Site in Indiana, and the Bond Hall School of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame.