Rene studied at the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) graduating with a Masters in Architecture. Before moving to Chicago in 1983, he worked in The Hague and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. In 1993 he became a partner in his Chicago firm, PPKS Architects Ltd. Rene has lectured both in the USA and Europe and has been a visiting critic at the Illinois Institute of technology and Delft University. His designs have received AIA Awards, such as the Weinberg residence in Glencoe, Illinois, the Bridge Buildings in Amsterdam, and the ABN_Amro Tower in Zwolle, the Netherlands. In addition to his work as design principle, Rene is currently working on a TV documentary on the influence of Chicago architecture, and a research project on City Density.