Member & Firm Updates
AE Works Announces Two New Hires
AE Works, a Pittsburgh-headquartered building design and consulting firm, is excited to announce the strategic hiring of two new team members.
Samantha Singer, AICP has joined AE Works’ Planning + Project Services group as Senior Project Manager. An experienced Project Manager and Certified Planner, she will lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver transformative solutions for critical building projects for government, healthcare and commercial clients. Her global planning and design experience enables her to guide projects effectively with AE Works’ growing team, making building projects a better value for clients.
Jeanmarie Zimmerman, ACHA, AIA, EDAC, CCIDC has joined AE Works’ Planning + Project Services group as Healthcare and Planning Strategy Leader. An American College of Healthcare Architects and Evidence Based Design Certified Architect and Interior Designer, Jeanmarie brings her passion for design and patient-centered solutions to her role in growing AE Works’ established Healthcare practice. Her experience ranges from senior living and the full continuum of patient care.
DRAW Collective Welcomes Two New Employees
DRAW Collective is pleased to announce the addition of two staff members.
Adam Warner has joined DRAW Collective as an Architectural Illustrator, bringing more than 15 years of experience to the team. Adam’s advanced approach to visualization goes beyond illustrating a project’s appearance to include delving into the realm of emotion and cinematics to convey not just what a project looks like but also how it feels. His addition to the team will elevate DRAW’s ability to effectively communicate concepts and designs to clients and communities in a meaningful manner.
Ashlyn Wilson has joined DRAW Collective as an Architectural Designer. A graduate of Penn State, Ashlyn has contributed to the design and development of projects ranging from educational facilities to healthcare buildings including Duquesne University and UPMC. With a passion for exploring how architecture can create meaningful and memorable places, Ashlyn is a welcomed addition to DRAW’s team.
Staff Updates at GBBN
GBBN Client Development Manager Sabreena Miller was recently awarded a national NAIOP and Prologis Inclusion in CRE Scholarship for Women and Underrepresented Professionals. This scholarship recognizes young professionals in the commercial real estate (CRE) industry who have demonstrated leadership and responsibility.
GBBN welcomes architect Liza Cruze to its Pittsburgh office! Guided by a concern with history, materials, and a building’s responsiveness to its physical and social context, Liza has spent decades unearthing the hidden gems of Pittsburgh’s built environment. Supplementing her architectural experience with the eye of an industrial designer and hand of craftsperson, Liza delves into the project’s details to discover unexpected ways of cultivating comfort, belonging, and wonder.
HDG Architects starts 2024 with a new shareholder and a new hire
Mike Smith, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Project Architect, was announced as a shareholder for
HDG Architects in January of 2024. With over sixteen years of experience in total, Mike joined HDG in 2015 and has since established himself as a leader in design for educational, commercial, and municipal spaces. Mike’s relationship with his clients and his leadership in the development of emerging professionals has led him to become a key component of HDG’s future.
In January of 2024, HDG Architects also hired Architectural Designer,
Winnie Ting! Winnie is a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University where she earned a Master of Science in Architecture-Engineering-Construction Management. Prior to that, she completed her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University and then went on to work in Taiwan for the next 7 years; working for renowned architectural firms before returning to the Unites States to get her Masters at CMU. Throughout her experience she has specialized in commercial and high-rise buildings.
IKM Architecture Announces New Associates
IKM Architecture is excited to announce three new associates:
Catherine Wick, Ben Clements, and Dan Polak. They are proud to recognize these individuals for their leadership, dedication, and contributions in advancing the firm.
Catherine Wick, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, EDAC
Catherine (Cat) has over 12 years of experience in the design industry, with a focus on healthcare. Her passion for healthcare design is evident in her sensitivity to client, staff, and patient needs. She demonstrates a detailed understanding of the technical complexities inherent in healthcare planning, as well as in existing operating campuses. By earning the Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC), Cat proves her commitment to healthcare design as a learning process that contributes to a wider body of knowledge. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and has participated in several LEED-registered projects that have achieved Certified, Silver, and Gold certifications. Cat was also recently voted onto the AIA Pittsburgh Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning in 2024.
Ben Clements, LEED AP
Ben has 16 years of architectural experience, specializing in a range of projects, including K-12 and higher education with a focus on health, wellness, and athletics. Apart from excelling in his project teams, he plays a significant role in IKM’s recruitment efforts and assists with all employee onboarding. Ben serves as an excellent mentor to the younger architectural and design staff and is the go-to resource when the team seeks to utilize our in-house maker space.
Dan Polak, AIA
Dan is a Senior Project Manager with 20 years of experience working on healthcare, civic, and education projects. He is an active member of the local design community and volunteers with the ACE Program to mentor students interested in architecture, construction, and engineering professions. Recently, Dan led an incredible effort to revise IKM’s internal project process, creating a user-friendly resource guide that all positions at the firm can utilize. His passion for design excellence shows in the excitement he brings to each project and his overall approach to management.
Join IKM in congratulating Cat, Ben, and Dan, and learn more about the rest of their incredible team here.
Promotions at LGA Partners
LGA Partners shares the promotion of three staff members.
LGA Partners is pleased to announce
Mary Rose Hopkins, ASID, NCIDQ, as a newly elevated ASSOCIATE. A thought leader in workplace design, her acclaimed portfolio includes Fortune 500 companies and numerous revered clients. A Sr. Project Manager, Mary Rose leads the Workplace Design Studio and drives Business Development. As an Associate, she will extend LGA’s presence in new regions and markets. She is a Past President of CREW Pittsburgh and sits on the Membership Committee for NAIOP Pittsburgh.
LGA Partners is excited to announce that
Stephanie Nepali has been promoted to ASSOCIATE. With over a decade of experience, Stephanie is a Senior Client Manager and Retail Studio Leader with LGA – specializing in the design of eye-catching retail and healthcare environments. Her design work can be found in nearly every state and across the globe. As an Associate, Stephanie will help lead efforts in business development, client retention, and firm operations for our Retail Design Studio.
LGA Partners is delighted to welcome
Tyler Niedzwicki to the leadership team as an ASSOCIATE. In his expanded role, he will guide the Marketing and BD budgets and help to shape revenue targets for each of LGA’s 6 Design Studios. Tyler, a leader in the local AEC industry, is past treasurer and current President-Elect of SMPS Pittsburgh. His promotion marks a pivotal chapter at LGA Partners, reflecting his expertise and commitment to elevating the firm’s profile in the industry.
Rothschild Doyno Collaborative Welcomes Robert Tuñón as Owner
Rothschild Doyno Collaborative is proud to announce that Robert Tuñón, AIA has become an Owner at Rothschild Doyno Collaborative, an architecture and urban design firm. He joins Partners Daniel Rothschild, Ken Doyno, Kate Tunney, Geoff Campbell, Mike Gwin, and Melanie Buzgan Dower as part of the ownership team.
As a Principal and registered architect, Robert supports clients and communities as they improve their organizations, reimagine their properties, and have positive impacts in their neighborhoods. As a project team leader, Robert promotes collaborative environments where team members and stakeholders can meaningfully contribute to the design process. His emphasis on sustainability, resiliency, and social equity helps individuals and groups as they seek to envision a better future where all can thrive.
Robert joined Rothschild Doyno Collaborative in 2013 and has worked on the nationally-awarded Ohringer Arts affordable artist housing redevelopment, the Second Harvest Community Thrift Store, and the rebuild at the Tree of Life Synagogue. Driven by his passion for community service, Robert is the recently appointed Mayor of Etna, PA and serves as the Board Chair of the Etna Community Organization. As a mixed-race Hispanic person and a dual citizen of the US and Panamá, he is proud to be contributing to a more diverse architectural profession in Pittsburgh. He is a Co-founder and Board member of the Minority Architects of Pittsburgh Scholarship and an active member of the National Organization of Minority Architects.
SCHRADERGROUP Welcomes New Public Safety Market Segment Leader
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is delighted to welcome Pat McFeely as their new Public Safety Market Segment Leader. Pat brings over three decades of experience in the Public Safety Market. His contributions will add to the dynamic team at SG.
Pat’s expertise will expand SG’s project delivery for facilities supporting Law Enforcement, Fire/EMS, 9-1-1 and Communications, Emergency Operations and other Mission Critical agencies. His primary responsibilities will include leading, operating, and growing our Public Safety Facilities sector. His capabilities include: defining the connection between facility and technology, site selection, building and site threat assessments, infrastructure and technology requirements, and ensuring the proper incorporation of technology and audio visual systems into facility design.
Beyond Pat’s technical role, he will continue to support communications between the team and clients, establishing and expanding relationships within the community. He provides clear client interface, ensuring the design team meets the needs of each client’s vision.
With over thirty years of experience in the industry, Pat has served as an IT Director, an IT Infrastructure Manager, and an Enterprise Client Manager. One of his greatest accomplishments was partnering with FEMA on the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP). CSEPP was one of the largest international efforts to eliminate large-scale deadly chemical weapons. As part of this effort, Pat assisted in the design and construction of multiple EOC/9-1-1 centers nationally, all of which were located within the plume range of the CSEPP facilities. These facilities were equipped with high-tech systems to provide effective communication between first responders and citizens.
SG welcomes Pat McFeely to the team and is excited to leverage his expertise for future Public Safety and Mission Critical projects!
Source Architechnology Systems Inc. Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Congratulations to Source Architechnology Systems Inc. as they celebrate their 40th year of business this year (1984-2024).
Partner News
Allen + Shariff Welcomes New Staff Member
Allied Member Allen + Shariff Corporation is pleased to announce that Yermek Bestembekov has joined the Pittsburgh Office, as a Mechanical Designer.
Allen + Shariff Corporation is a mechanical/electrical/plumbing/fire protection engineering and commissioning services company, with its headquarters in Columbia, MD and offices in Pittsburgh, PA, Zelienople, PA, Chicago, IL, and Salisbury, MD.
Firms on the Move
DLA+ to Open Morgantown Office
In a strategic move to expand services and deepen its commitment to the region, Pittsburgh-based
DLA+ Architecture and Interior Design has opened a new office in Morgantown, West Virginia. The new location will serve as a hub for the firm’s growing portfolio and a catalyst for further growth in North Central West Virginia and the Northern Panhandle region.
The office opening coincides with DLA+’s 15th anniversary of its founding in Pittsburgh, where it has experienced continued growth and recognition as a design leader. Morgantown is the third location for the firm, which also operates an office in State College, Pennsylvania, in addition to its headquarters.
The West Virginia office is a natural progression in DLA+’s ongoing efforts to support and transform higher education, sports, healthcare, and commercial/corporate environments in the state’s northern regions.
The Morgantown office is located at 449 Fortress Blvd, Suite 2408, Morgantown, WV, 26508.
Projects
AE Works Celebrates Opening of Primary Health Facility for Lebanon VA Medical Center

Answering the demand for increased support for our nation’s veterans, the recently completed, $12 million behavioral health clinic is 17,000 square feet with 20 exam rooms, eight consult rooms, and two group rooms. AE Works provided their full spectrum of integrated services including architecture, interior design, building systems engineering, security risk management, and planning + project services. The project exemplifies the future of care for veterans, integrating primary care with mental health support in spaces thoughtfully designed to create a calming, comforting environment through daylighting, color palette, acoustics, and materials.
DRAW Collective Unveils New Projects

The New Bethel Park Elementary School will consolidate the District’s elementary learners in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade into one facility. The consolidated facility is organized as a ‘school-within- a school’ with two-grades on each floor; administration centers focused on each grade grouping and specialty learning and support spaces are strategically located adjacent to the grade-level classroom wings.

The grand opening of Waynesburg University’s new Entrepreneurial Hub for Innovative Ventures and Endeavors (eHIVE) marked a significant milestone for the institution. Driven by the vision of fostering entrepreneurship and innovation across campus, the eHIVE represents a culmination of efforts to instill an entrepreneurial mindset among students from various disciplines.

DRAW Collective is currently overseeing the construction of a new Intermediate School for the growing Trinity Area School District. The new building will serve grades 4 and 5 on the Trinity Middle School site in Washington, PA. DRAW also oversaw the addition of the new Trinity Sports Complex at Trinity Middle School, a 26,300-square-foot complex that will provide students, teachers and coaches with state-of-the-art equipment and large spaces to train, practice, teach and exercise year-round. Additionally, they have completed work on the Trinity Middle School’s esports classroom. The middle school team now has their own arena with gaming PCs, LED lights, ergonomic chairs, and large TVs sounds like an excellent environment for practice and competitions.
GBBN Releases Inflation Reduction Act Calculator
GBBN has publicly released its Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Calculator, a tool that helps their clients—and now, the wider public—understand funding opportunities in the IRA for sustainable design.
“In conversations with clients and other colleagues in the construction and development industries, we found that many people either didn’t know about (or didn’t fully understand) the resources the IRA makes available to incentivize sustainable and equitable development,” GBBN Principal, Amanda Markovic, AIA explains. “We developed an IRA Calculator to change that by making otherwise dense legislation accessible.”
By answering a brief series of questions about the sustainability features your project may involve—for example, does it include renewable energy, high-efficiency HVAC systems, or affordable housing—you can discover potential funding opportunities. The IRA Calculator is not a substitute for professional tax advice, but it can help developers take the right questions to their financial team.
Access the IRA Calculator here.