Kuo Pao Lian earned his masters degree at Texas Tech University College of Architecture. Upon finishing his academic career, Kuo Pao moved to Baltimore Maryland where he worked for RTKL & Associates, an international architectural and urban design studio dealing with commercial projects locally as well as internationally. He later transitioned to a local architectural firm of Hord Coplan Macht focusing his efforts towards healthcare facilities, commercial, residential, and educational projects. He later joined the studio of Sebastian Mariscal in San Diego
California where he practiced in the field of design build and contracting for a number of custom homes in Mexico and the Southern California region. Since then, Kuo Pao has begun his own interdisciplinary design practice PI.KL, with his partner Pavlina Ilieva, exploring concepts, ideas, and projects of the conceptual and built order. He currently teaches Integrated 3D Design Studio, co-teaching Architectural Visualization, co-teaching Environmental Design Thesis, and an independent study course in collaboration with Center for Design Practice for the Downtown
Partnership Baltimore.