Member & Firm Updates
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Announces Staff Promotions
Bohlin Cywinksi Jackson is pleased to announce the elevation of two new Associates in the Pittsburgh office.
These individuals have played integral roles in growing the practice—stewarding projects across civic, commercial, higher education, residential and retail sectors, helping BCJ garner new project work and build new client relationships, and mentoring young architects. As leadership diversifies and expands, BCJ is excited to continue evolving their practice and explore what is possible.
Victoria Acevedo, AIA is an emerging architect who joined BCJ from Georgia Tech, initially coming to Pittsburgh as part of CMU’s Dream program. She practices with a thoughtful rigor that has proven to be very effective at untangling complex issues and presenting well-considered design solutions. Her organized, well-crafted process is paired with clear communication and strong leadership skills honed as she served as president of the Pittsburgh chapter of NOMA, leading and growing their membership through and out of the pandemic.
She has worked across many projects and phases including Carnegie Mellon’s ANSYS Hall, Penn State’s Ostermayer Lab, and the EOAS building at Florida State University. She is central to our ongoing work on Carnegie Mellon’s Highmark Center for Health, Wellness, and Athletics.
Carolina Tamayo, AIA is an emerging young architect who joined after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University. She is a balanced designer who quietly absorbs client feedback, transforming it into clear forms and elegant solution. Her ability to rapidly test and develop design ideas with high quality visualization has been valued and recognized in her work for Carnegie Mellon’s TCS Hall, Margaret Morrison Commons, and the Rangos Ballroom. She has also been central to BCJ’s work in Google Pittsburgh and also led our development of a new retail prototype for the popular Smashed Waffles brand in Pittsburgh.
Promotions & New Hire at DRAW Collective
DRAW Collective is pleased to announce that Randall Riggans, Tricia Monaco, Jessica Ondrusek, and Daniel Dillow have been promoted to Associate.
Randy has made significant contributions to the firm’s educational projects, demonstrating his expertise and commitment to delivering high-quality work and his understanding of project production have been instrumental in the firm’s success. As an Associate, Randy will continue to bring his valuable insight and expertise to the team, contributing to the growth and success of DRAW Collective.
As both an experienced Interior Designer and recent Architecture Graduate, Tricia has been instrumental in designing spaces that are not only visually appealing but also highly functional, ensuring that the outcome reflects the owner’s vision and serves its intended purpose. This promotion recognizes Tricia’s expertise, dedication, and significant contributions to the firm and reflects her ongoing commitment to delivering outstanding design solutions.
Jessica’s understanding of creating spaces that enhance the user experience has been invaluable to the firm’s education and healthcare clients with a skillset that allows her to bring a diverse perspective to her design work. As an Associate, she will continue to make significant contributions to the firm’s projects and provide valuable insights and expertise to clients and colleagues.
With a decade of experience in planning, design, and construction, Daniel has demonstrated his expertise and dedication to delivering thoughtful education and healthcare designs focused on the human experience. This promotion recognizes Daniel’s contributions and is a testament to his talent and commitment to creating exceptional architectural solutions.
DRAW Collective is pleased to announce that Timothy Reidy, AIA, LEED Green Associate, has joined the firm in the role of Architect. Tim brings a wealth of experience in planning, design and construction projects across the Healthcare, Education, Corporate and Religious specialties. His past work includes a number of projects for UPMC, Duquesne University and the new Peters Township High School. Tim’s dedication to collaborative work and his attention to detail complement DRAW’s delivery of exceptional architectural solutions.
mossArchitects Promotes Architect to Associate
mossArchitects, one of the premier collaborative architecture and interior design firms in Pittsburgh, announces the promotion of Architect, Jim Bischoff, to Associate. This promotion reflects Jim’s exceptional dedication and leadership within the firm and his technical expertise in sustainable architecture and Passive House design.
Over the past four years with mossArchitects, Jim has demonstrated a high-level of project management and leadership, as well as a passion for sustainable architecture and a deep understanding of Passive House principles. His innovative design solutions and commitment to environmental responsibility have made a significant impact on our projects and clients. As an Associate, Jim will play a pivotal role in leading our sustainable design initiatives and integrating Passive House standards into our projects. Additionally, he brings significant experience in construction administration and technical detailing to his new role, which is invaluable to our team.
Jim’s work has already garnered recognition and awards within the industry, and we are confident that he will continue to elevate the firm’s projects. Jim’s role has been key to the success of projects such as the recently completed Penn Atlantic mixed-use building in Garfield and the new Argentinian restaurant, Balvanera, in The Strip District.
Jim holds a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree from Penn State University, a Masters of Architecture degree from Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) and is a certified Passive House (CPHD) designer and Trainer by the Passive House Institute. His dedication to ongoing learning and professional development ensures that our clients receive the latest advancements in sustainable design.
WTW Elevates Staff to Leadership Positions
WTW is pleased to announce several staff elevations that have taken place this summer to expand their leadership ranks. Amy Maceyko, AIA and Maria Kyriacopoulos, AIA have been promoted to Principal, four years after joining the firm partners as Associate Principal. Additionally, two Senior Associates have also risen to new positions. Greg Smith, AIA has been promoted to Associate Principal and John Campbell, AIA to Project Executive.
WTW recognizes the contributions that these staff members have made to WTW’s success as they have provided outstanding service to clients and projects. In addition to their skills and leadership, these team members contribute to the positive and collaborative atmosphere of daily WTW work life. WTW looks forward to all of the great things to come from this update to their leadership.
Firms on the Move
Strada Transfers Creative Vibes to New Studio in Chapel Hill to Accommodate Organic Growth
Strada, a leading design firm with studios in Pittsburgh, PA, Philadelphia, PA and Chapel Hill, NC announced its Triangle Studio has relocated to The Gwendolyn. The new studio location will accommodate the firm’s growing team and provide a space for collaboration and innovation.
Strada has been a positive presence in the Triangle since 2021 and has found success working with a variety of State and local private clients, including projects in the higher education, laboratory planning, hospitality and retail markets. They have also designed two new hospitality projects under construction at RDU Airport. Strada is actively engaged in local initiatives and organizations and excited to share their talents with this amazing community.
“We are excited to move into our new studio just blocks away from our previous location and continue to grow our presence in the Triangle,” said Founding Principal Al Cuteri. “This move is a testament to the success of our Triangle Studio and our commitment to the community. We look forward to continuing to work with our clients and partners to create innovative and impactful designs.”
The new studio is located at The Gwendolyn: 101 Glen Lennox Drive, Suite 280, Chapel Hill, NC 27517. Strada is hiring and encourages interested candidates to visit their website (stradallc.com/careers) for more information.
Partner News
New Hires at Allen + Shariff
Allen + Shariff Corporation is pleased to announce two new additions to the Pittsburgh Office. Kyle Brooks has joined as a Mechanical & Plumbing Designer and Kevin Carlins has joined as a Mechanical Designer.
Volpatt Construction & CMUSoA Initiate Digital Twin and LIDAR Scanning Research
Volpatt Construction, a leading commercial contractor in Western Pennsylvania, announced the initiation of research in conjunction with UrsaLeo and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Tannaz Afshar Bakeshloo, a PhD student in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Management program at the CMU School of Architecture, is working on two research projects. One focuses on the use of Digital Twin technology from San Francisco-based UrsaLeo. The research is taking a closer look at how digital twins can monitor and manage energy usage as well as assist in facilities management.
3D LIDAR scanning technology from OpalAI is also being tested in the research. The project focuses on using a LIDAR enabled iOS device to assist in the creation of a Revit file which is then converted into a Digital Twin. To date, the researcher has scanned multiple spaces throughout the city of Pittsburgh. This includes a church, now occupied by Abiding Missions in Allentown, that was built in the late 1800s. The Revit file is being used by LGA Partners, an architecture, interiors, and planning firm in Pittsburgh, to help plan for the renovation of the Abiding Missions space.
The technology was also used to scan and create a Revit file for CMUs Robert L. Preger Intelligent Workplace (IW) and a residential condominium complex.
“Decarbonization is becoming more than just a buzzword with organizations taking a closer look at how technology can be used to monitor and manage energy usage,” said Michael Volpatt, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Volpatt Construction. “Thinking about how we close out construction, hand over a building and all of the documentation related to the structure is also playing a role in the research. We are excited to share what we learn this summer with the industry at large.”
The Digital Twin research takes a closer look at what data/information should be collected, visualized, and used to help monitor and manage energy usage.
“We are excited about the application of digital twin technology and its applications in the area of decarbonization, building information and facilities management,” said John Burton, CEO of UrsaLeo. “Much of what we are focusing on this summer will help to further inform our product roadmap for architecture, engineering, and construction as well as facilities management.”