Member & Firm Updates
Acquisitions, Appointments, & Promotions at AEWorks
AE Works Announces Strategic Acquisition of WTW Architects
In March, AE Works acquired WTW Architects, creating one of the largest architecture firms in Pittsburgh. For over six decades, WTW Architects has stood as a beacon of design excellence and innovation across a wide range of markets. With a distinguished history marked by more than 50 recent awards, WTW has left an indelible mark on over 140 college and university campuses nationwide. More than just a fusion of resources, this strategic move is founded on a mutual commitment to values and a visionary outlook for the future. Together, the firms are set to continue shaping Pittsburgh’s skyline and making significant contributions to architecture locally and beyond. Read more: https://aeworks.com/news/aew-acquires-wtw/ (Photo: University of North Dakota, Memorial Union)
AE Works Makes Appointments and Promotions
Following the acquisition of WTW Architects, Lawrence Payne, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP has been appointed Managing Principal; Warren Bulseco, AIA, LEED AP has been appointed Senior Vice President and Principal; Amy Maceyko, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP and Maria Kyriacopoulos, AIA, LFA, LEED AP have been appointed Principals; and Greg Smith, AIA has been appointed Associate Principal. In recognition of their leadership and contributions to the firm, Sara Lappano, PE has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Client Engagement; Tiffany Haile, AICP, LEED AP has been promoted to Principal, Planning + Project Services; Dawn Cindric, AIA, LEED AP and Beverly Shelby, NCIDQ have been promoted to Associate Principals; and Michael Carroll, PE, DCEP has been promoted to Associate Principal, Project Management Center of Excellence.
AE Works Teams Contribute 6,000 Cans to CANstruction
This spring, AE Works teams brought their creativity and compassion to CANstruction Pittsburgh. Using 6,000 donated cans they created “Celebration” structures in the forms of cake and champagne. CANstruction is a unique charity that hosts competitions and exhibitions featuring large structures made entirely from cans of food. After the event, all cans are donated to local hunger relief organizations.
AE Works Named one of Zweig Group’s 2024 Best Firms To Work For
AE Works is recognized in both the 50-99 employees category and the overall top architecture firms list. This national, industry-wide accolade reflects the firm’s commitment to creating a great place to work where our team feels valued and appreciated. Read more: https://aeworks.com/news/2024-best-firms/
Promotions, New Hires, & Announcements at CannonDesign
NEW HIRES
Gretchen Kurzawa, AIA
CannonDesign is thrilled to welcome Gretchen to its Pittsburgh team as a senior health planner. With over 25 years of proven experience in the healthcare design space, Gretchen will help advance Living-Centered Design solutions for Pittsburgh-area health clients. Outside of work, Greta enjoys golf, pickleball, sporting clay and spending time with her husband Mike and two children Nate and Natalie.
Hiral Betai, Intl. Assoc. AIA
Hiral joins CannonDesign‘s Pittsburgh office as an architectural designer. She will support projects across all different markets and most recently worked for GND Design Consultants. Outside of work, Hiral enjoys skating, basketball, piano and painting.
Nickie Cheung, AIA
Nickie Cheung joins CannonDesign as an architect in its Pittsburgh office. Nickie is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University where he studied architectural history and integrative design, arts, and tech. Away from work, Nickie is a board member for the Minority Architects of Pittsburgh Scholarship and the director of education for Pittsburgh’s chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects.
Suzanne Severino
CannonDesign welcomes Suzanne as a new senior health planner based in its Pittsburgh office. Having recently worked for Ballinger in a similar role, Suzanne enjoys yoga, running, calligraphy and spending time with her family and puppy (Coco) outside of work.
PROMOTIONS
Jeffrey Murray, FAIA, has been promoted to a Principal at CannonDesign. Jeff is a proven leader for both CannonDesign’s Pittsburgh office and its national science and technology practice. Jeff has dedicated his career to helping advance collaboration, discovery, and ingenuity by design.
EVENTS and COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
CannonDesign proudly supported the AIA Pittsburgh Build Pittsburgh 2024 event this past May. Specifically, Gretchen Kurzawa and Jacob Morrison took part, leading different discussions.
Gretchen helped facilitate a conversation on “Facilities of the Future and Beyond: How AI will Transform Healthcare.” Jake was a panelist on the “Exploring the Future of Design: Navigating AI and Emerging Tech” conversation. It was an exciting event, and CannonDesign was proud to have played a key role throughout the day.
HDG Architects Hires Two New Team Members and Held Annual Adopt-A-Landmark Volunteer Day
HDG is proud to announce two new team members to join their firm! Senior Architectural Designer, Neil Morea, brings with him over 10 years of architectural experience on healthcare, commercial, and educational projects. Neil has earned three degrees from Kent State University, including a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Master of Architecture and a Master of Business Administration. Architectural Designer, Sam DeBlase is a recent graduate of The Pennsylvania State University where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a minor in Architectural History. HDG looks forward to having both Neil and Sam grow their professional careers on the HDG team.
Additionally, HDG held its annual company-wide Adopt-a-Landmark program at the National Opera House, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve the arts, culture, and music in underserved communities with the restoration of the historic home, located at 7101 Apple Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Throughout the day, HDG employees completed exterior landscaping and cleanup of the surrounding grounds as well as boarding up windows, replacing temporary flooring, and minor carpentry tasks to help maintain the condition for continued restoration.
Founded over 30 years ago, HDG Architects is a medium-sized architectural design firm located in Pittsburgh that prides itself for always putting their clients first. Click HERE to find out more about our HDG.
IKM Architecture Appoints Tami Greene as President
The Board of Directors for IKM Architecture is pleased to announce the appointment of Tami Greene, AIA as IKM’s first female President, effective June 1, 2024.
Tami has 27 years of experience in the architecture industry and began her career at IKM where she currently serves as principal and shareholder. Tami received her Bachelor of Science and Architecture from Kent State University and is a registered architect in multiple states. She is also active in industry organizations including the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the American Institute of Architects. She has completed projects in various market sectors and has focused her professional growth within the healthcare sector where she has a specialization in Ambulatory Care and Women’s Health.
“I am excited to step into the role of President for IKM. IKM has a remarkable legacy of providing innovative and informed design solutions that inspire and create enduring value in this changing world. I am deeply committed to building on that legacy. Together, with our talented staff and collective expertise, we will continue to prioritize delivering exceptional service to our clients as well as cultivating sustainable growth,” stated Tami.
Tami will succeed John Schrott who held the position for 20 years and will remain with IKM as Senior Healthcare Planner. John stated, “Tami is the perfect choice to continue to grow and evolve our firm as we open offices in new markets and expand the services we offer. Her passion is to make a difference for our clients, the end users, and our employees. She will serve the firm well and help us to continue to be a leader in the industry and improve the human experience through design.”
New Hire at Larson Design Group
Larson Design Group, an award-winning, employee-owned national architecture, engineering, and consulting firm, is pleased to welcome Tim Kelly as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President. With over 25 years of experience across a diverse range of industries, Tim has served in executive leadership roles, built shared service teams in Accounting and Human Resources, implemented innovative technology solutions, and led organizations through acquisition and due diligence processes.
New Hires at SCHRADERGROUP
SCHRADERGROUP welcomes three new hires:
John Evans
With nearly two decades in the industry, John Evans brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a Project Manager. His central responsibilities at SG include overseeing complex projects through every phase, from planning and development to construction documentation. John is directly involved in SG’s K-12 and Higher Education Market, focusing on the academic and spatial needs of students and staff. When it comes to leading multi-disciplinary teams, John coordinates them skillfully and efficiently, building a sense of community and collaboration. John also helps advance SG’s business development and interface with clients and consultants. He excels at fostering relationships and ensures a seamless, successful product while fulfilling the client’s goals. John maintains clear communication at each step of the process to establish trust and satisfaction.
Before joining SG, John learned and refined his work at other design firms by collaborating with clients and consultants, working alongside general contractors throughout pre-construction and construction, and ultimately managing numerous successful on-time and on-schedule projects from inception to completion. In addition, John has previously served as the Project Manager for a wide range of commercial and residential projects. John earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Drexel University and has worked on projects across thirteen different states.
Allison Mason, AIA
Allison has extensive project management experience, most notably in the K-12 and higher-ed markets. Before joining SG, Allison served as the primary K-12 Project Manager for her previous firm and helped develop their studio. Additionally, she helped lead projects to completion and made sure they were on time and within budget.
At SG, Allison’s involvement in projects will begin at the planning and development stage and continue throughout construction documentation. She will serve as the liaison between our firm, clients, and consultants, ensuring a seamless communication process. She will continue to grow both the internal team and educational portfolio in the western half of Pennsylvania. Allison is a Pennsylvania State University graduate, a registered Architect, and an American Institute of Architects member.
Craig Schulz
The newest member of our Mission Critical Facility team, Craig Schulz has thirty years of experience in the Public Safety market with expertise in critical infrastructure design, disaster recovery planning and continuity-of-operations management.
Craig’s background makes him an ideal liaison and interface between SG and both Owner/Clients and the specialty consulting firms with whom SCHRADERGROUP works. Moreover, his knowledge of and experience with the grant processes is a valuable resource to stakeholders as they seek project funding sources.
In his role at SG, Craig will manage Mission Critical projects from inception through planning, oversee construction document production, and have an integral role in the construction administration process. More specifically to the construction process, Craig will be the coordinator for technology integration into these new facilities.
Craig is based in the Raleigh, NC office, and will support Mission Critical Facility endeavors nationwide. He is a true asset to SG.
Promotions at Strada Architecture
Megan Carleton has been promoted to Associate at Strada Architecture. Megan lives the core values that define Stradistas—innovation, collaboration, and pursuit of excellence. Her organizational skills, design acumen, communication style, and passion for helping people through design set her apart as a leader poised to advance the interior design side of Strada’s practice. She is committed to integrating well-being principles into the projects and studio culture. Her elevation to Associate is a result of her talent, commitment and vision for the future.
Becky Cole, RA, has been promoted to Senior Architect. Becky has demonstrated an ability to manage complex projects meticulously. Her knack for unraveling intricate project challenges and her skill in fostering collaboration have earned the respect and gratitude of clients, contractors, and peers. Becky’s proactive efforts to advance the studio’s understanding of universal accessibility in multi-family housing and interior pave the way for more inclusive and thoughtful architectural solutions.
Acadia Klain has been promoted to Associate. Acadia’s elevation to Associate is a recognition of her talent, and celebrates her influence on her firm and the broader design community. Beyond her role at Strada, Acadia extended her passion for teaching as a Landscape Design Instructor at the Phipps Conservatory. As a key figure in the Pittsburgh Passive House community, her connections with sustainability experts underscore her commitment to eco-conscious design. Clients and peers view Acadia as a composed, skilled architect and PM.
Partner News
Promotion at Allen + Shariff
The Board of Directors of Allen + Shariff is pleased to announce the promotion of Diane Bookwalter to the role of Chief Operating Officer of Engineering of Allen + Shariff Engineering. Diane has been with the company for 10 years, demonstrating her strong leadership capabilities while working with the senior management team and across offices to implement key strategies that are important to Allen + Shariff’s continued success. Diane will work alongside President of Engineering, David Price, to envision the company’s growth in both market sectors and locations, and to maintain the day-to-day quality operations of our staff and offices. Diane will continue to co-manage the Pittsburgh office in addition to her new role as the COO.
Projects
Project Updates & Children’s Book from CannonDesign
State of West Virginia’s Consolidated Laboratories Facility
CannonDesign was proudly on hand for the State of West Virginia’s recent groundbreaking for its new consolidated laboratories project. Once complete, the $250-million facility will encompass 285,000 square feet as a central hub for key state agencies to work together to safeguard public health.
Specific agencies that will be housed in the building include:
- Department of Health’s Office of Lab Services
- Division of Labor’s Office of Weights and Measures
- State Police and the Department of Homeland Security forensics lab
- State Medical Examiner
The facility will also include dedicated lab space for Marshall University and West Virginia University, a provision that will unite students pursuing careers in public health with key workforce departments to address ongoing and emerging public health challenges.
Michigan Public Health and Environmental Safety Building
CannonDesign recently attended the groundbreaking for Michigan’s dynamic new Public Health and Environmental Safety Buidling. At 300,000 sf, the project is designed to foster collaboration and efficiency across key public health and safety departments.
The building will offer leading-edge labs to support testing for emerging pathogens and public health challenges. CannonDesign is working in collaboration on the project with Hobbs + Black (Architect of Record) and IMEG, PEA Group and The Christman Company. The building features Cross Laminated Timber as a substrate for its high-performance envelope. Other sustainable measures include a subterranean ice storage area, geothermal well fields and all-electric HVAC systems.
CannonDesign recently published its first-ever children’s book, Designing Dreams: An Official Deja the Dynamo Adventure. The book is available for purchase at Deja the Dynamo’s official website.
Deja is a creative, inquisitive young girl who uses design thinking to explore her world. CannonDesign hopes that the book will connect with diverse youth and inspire more of them to pursue careers in the design professions. A portion of proceeds from the book will be donated to ACE Mentoring.