Member & Firm Updates
Announcements from CannonDesign
Firm News
CannonDesign launched its Design Fuel™ Podcast with its initial episode with Paola Aguirre Serrano, “Borders + Equity,” now live. The podcast is hosted by CannonDesign’s Executive Director of Design David Polzin and is rooted in the company’s Living-Centered Design ethos. It features thought-provoking and necessary conversations around the ideas and forces driving innovation in the built environment and beyond.Listen to the first episode and subscribe.
CannonDesign also achieved a 100% score in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s (HRCF) 2025 Corporate Equality Index, the national benchmarking tool that evaluates corporate policies, practices and benefits supporting LGBTQ+ employees. Learn more here.
Staff News
Nickie Cheung, AIA, Architect in CannonDesign’s Pittsburgh office, was elected as the National Organization of Minority Architects Pittsburgh Chapter 2025 Vice Chair.
New Principals and New Hires at DRAW Collective
DRAW Collective Announces Two New Principals
DRAW Collective is pleased to announce its newest Principals, Jacklyn Cowan, RA and Elizabeth Cronin, AIA, LEED AP.
Jackie Cowan has over 20 years of expertise as a leading architect in Educational Design. With a sharp focus on detail and a commitment to excellence, Jackie collaborates closely with educators and student users to create innovative learning environments. Her portfolio includes everything from extensive renovations and campus-wide master plans to the design and construction of new educational buildings. Jackie’s expertise and team leadership continues to ensure the highest standards for today’s learning environments.
Beth Cronin leads DRAW’s Healthcare Studio, contributing 17 years of architectural experience focused on enhancing the patient and staff experience. Beth has a passion for designing healthcare facilities, from environmental hospitality to operational efficiencies that advance the core relationship between the patient and caregiver. She approaches her work from an empathetic perspective, achieving high levels of success from concept through to completion for the community’s healthcare environments.
DRAW is proud of the contributions that Jackie and Beth have made to the firm’s success and their outstanding service to each and every client and project, fulfilling the firm’s mission of designing places that matter, together.
New Hires at DRAW Collective
DRAW Collective is excited to welcome three new staff members to the firm.
Shane Brown and Michael Petrantoni joined DRAW Collective as Digital Designers.
Shane has over 15 years of Computer-Aided Drafting experience in the AEC industry. His expertise includes architectural design, existing conditions modeling, and voltage systems drafting and design.
Michael joins DRAW with 10 years of experience in 3D modeling, drafting, architectural drawings, and construction documentation within the AEC industry.
As Digital Designers, Shane and Michael use Revit to create detailed and organized construction drawings to assist the architectural team in producing high-quality design documents.
Jessica Klimczyk joined DRAW Collective as a Marketing & Communications Specialist. Jessica joins DRAW with nearly 10 years of experience in marketing and communications within various industries ranging from Finance and Accounting to, more recently, Corporate Retail, bringing a wide range of knowledge to the DRAW Marketing Team. In this role, Jessica will execute strategic efforts to grow and build the firm’s digital presence and client relationships.
HDG Architects Welcomes Matt Dawson as Newest Shareholder
HDG Architects is thrilled to announce that Matt Dawson, AIA, NCARB has become their newest shareholder. Matt has been an integral part of HDG Architects, bringing over 10 years of experience in educational, municipal, religious, and institutional design. As a Project Architect, he plays a key role in the firm’s success, overseeing project management, design, and the development of project drawings and documents from conceptual design through construction completion. Matt’s technical expertise enables him to effectively balance collaboration with clients, manage Associate Architects, and coordinate with project consultants. His dedication to ensuring that every project meets the highest standards of design and functionality has made a lasting impact on both our firm and the communities it serves. As HDG Architects continues to grow, they are excited to have Matt’s leadership help shape the future of the firm.
Partner News
Allen + Shariff Welcomes New Hires
Allen + Shariff Corporation is pleased to announce that Nicholas Gianella has joined the Pittsburgh Office as a Plumbing Designer and Anastasia Watson has joined the Pittsburgh Office as an Electrical 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.
Projects
Project Updates from AE Works
AE Works Designs State-of-the-Art Public Safety Building for Washington County
AE Works is honored to lead the design of the new Washington County Public Safety Building providing a state-of-the-art civic facility that enhances public safety, operational efficiency, and community engagement. The new development will enhance public safety operations, improve accessibility, and provide structured parking with future development potential.
AE Works Selected for the West Mifflin Community Center Feasibility Study
AE Works has been selected for a feasibility study for a new community center in West Mifflin Borough. AE Works will provide expertise in project management, architecture, interior design, MEP engineering, and cost estimating. The team will work on program development and concept design for a facility that will offer a dynamic mix of recreation, athletics, and community spaces. The center is intended to serve as a multi-generational, inclusive, and accessible hub, fostering connection and engagement for West Mifflin Borough and the greater Mon-Valley region.
AE Works Completes Innovative Labs at the ALCOSAN Environmental Compliance Facility
The new Environmental Compliance Facility, for Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, includes a state-of-the-art laboratory complex designed to support ALCOSAN’s $2 billion Clean Water Plan. This innovative facility reimagines laboratory operations to meet the ever-evolving demands of environmental testing. It houses cutting-edge spaces for microbiology, organics, and instrumentation testing, with a modular design that ensures flexibility to adapt to future needs and technologies.
AE Works Delivers New Computational Biology Labs for Carnegie Mellon University
At Carnegie Mellon University, AE Works transformed a traditional classroom into a cutting-edge computational biology laboratory. A classroom in Wean Hall is now a modern research hub, spanning approximately 1,000 square feet and features a fully equipped Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2) laboratory with standard laboratory benching designed to accommodate 5-6 students. The renovated space is a vital resource for the University’s ongoing research and educational efforts in computational biology.
Pioneering modular hospital design in Ukraine by CannonDesign
CannonDesign partnered with Sunflower Network, Northwell Health and Pelli Clarke & Partners to design a new children’s hospital in Ukraine. The hospital will serve as a pilot project, demonstrating how modular construction can deliver high-quality and sustainable healthcare in post- crisis settings. Once built, the project will be in Brody, Ukraine, a Western city that is less than 50 miles from the Polish border and more than 600 miles from active fighting in the current Ukraine-Russia war. The project is fully designed as the team continues to fundraise for implementation. Learn more here.
Knoch High School Additions & Renovations by DRAW Collective: Cafeteria and Commons Ribbon Cutting
Knoch School District recently held a Grand Opening for their brand-new Cafeteria and Commons area at Knoch High School. As a part of a phased project for Additions and Renovations, the District and DRAW Collective collaborated to create the addition to the high school. This large, open space was designed to create a welcoming and collaborative atmosphere where students can work together or independently.
Additional phases will include a bright new, distinct entrance for the school, converting the old cafeteria into a new Wellness Center to support the physical education program and athletics department, and upgrading the science classrooms and labs to implement much needed storage space. Construction is anticipated to be completed in time for the 2025-2026 school year.
Proposal for Major Development in Uptown Designed by GBBN
GBBN is working with Cincinnati developer The Stough Group on a proposal for a site in Uptown about five blocks from PPG Paints Arena that is striving to be the city’s first mass timber development. While not subject to commission approval yet, presentation materials for the project show a structure that extends for much of a block of Fifth Avenue and reaches six stories in height and a total 272,000 square feet in size, the layout featuring oversized windows and floors that terrace back from the street.
GBBN proposes the project with a mass timber approach, using wood compressed in multiple panels in a way that’s both strong and low carbon, as a green strategy in keeping with Uptown’s eco innovation district, which prioritizes green and sustainable building standards. Stough proposes to offer 5% of the apartments in the project at rents affordable to residents at 80% of area median income, as well as to install a green roof to capture storm water run off, both measures to achieve greater density allowances, according to agenda materials.
The project proposal also calls for a public plaza of more than 2,000 square feet, 8,000 square feet of first-floor commercial space, structured parking with an unspecified number of spaces along with amenities that include a fitness center, pool and rooftop deck.
“This project would be a great opportunity for Pittsburgh and the region,” said Amanda Markovic, AIA, a principal with GBBN, in an email. “Working with an innovative developer interested in the quality and sustainability of mass timber construction has been exciting. We are hopeful the developer is successful working with the city and county to see this project become a reality in Uptown.”
Read more in the Pittsburgh Business Times here.