Richard Tenguerian was born in Aleppo, Syria. His parents are survivors of the Armenian Genocide. His father, Antranig Tenguerian, was a sculptor and his mother, Mary Tenguerian, was a fashion designer who worked for Chanel Studio in Lebanon.

At age 14, while attending school, Richard entered a summer internship program with one of Lebanon's leading architectural firms, where he made his first model. He applied to the American University in Beirut, but the 1975 Lebanese Civil War thwarted his intentions.

At age 21, Richard visited a relative in New York and was intrigued by the opportunities the city offered. He began working as a model maker, and built a reputation in the architectural community, which helped him finance his undergraduate education. He earned a bachelor's degree in architecture from Pratt Institute.

Encouraged by the high demand for model makers in the architectural community, Richard started his own company, becoming a pioneer in the field. Early on in his career, he was contacted by the legendary architect Philip Johnson, who sought his services, thus paving his way to greater accomplishments.

In addition to various projects in the United States, he has created models for buildings in Dubai, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Indonesia and England. He has also developed models for clients in Russia, South America, the Fiji Islands and the Bahamas.