Shay Zak was born in Mill Valley, California. He received a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University School of Architecture in 1984 and a Masters in Architecture from Harvard University Graduate School of Design in 1986. Shay also studied Architecture in Florence Italy and interned with Skidmore Owings & Merrill in their New York, Boston and Chicago offices. Shay joined the design department of Skidmore Owings & Merrill San Francisco in 1986, co-founded Eklund & Zak Architecture and Planning in 1989 and established Zak Architecture in 1996. Shay is an American Institute of Architects (AIA) member, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) certified, licensed to practice architecture in several states and currently serves on the Syracuse University School of Architecture Advisory Board.