Desmone Architects has hired Prerana Paliwal, Assoc. AIA as Project Designer. Prerana previously worked in Dallas and Los Angeles. She is a Revit & BIM specialist with high-level graphics capabilities who excels in large-scale and complex projects.
Brad Frankhouser, Assoc. AIA has been named the 6th Principal at Desmone and currently manages the Morgantown, WV office, where he is responsible for the growth and development of the branch. A graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Architectural Engineering Technology, Brad joined Desmone in 2008, quickly becoming involved in a variety of healthcare, industrial and higher education projects.
Jen Bee, AIA has been named Associate at Desmone. Formally a Senior Architect, Jen brings decades of experience in regional large-scale multifamily and hospitality projects. As an AIA Pittsburgh board member, Jen was instrumental in reactivating the AIA Pittsburgh Foundation for Architecture with an eye to establishing the AIA Foundation for Architecture’s Leadership Institute, a nine-month program dedicated to the development of emerging architects.
Terry Oden, AIA is the second Senior Architect named Associate. Currently, he works with residential & commercial construction, renovation, and neighborhood planning; recent and ongoing projects include 2500 Smallman in the Strip District; Doughboy Square and Square View apartment complexes; and the Carrick master plan neighborhood renovation.
Nancy Policicchio, Assoc. AIA, Desmone’s single-family residential leader, has also been named Associate. Nancy has worked on hundreds of residential projects. Most recently she was the project manager and lead designer for 2500 Smallman Unit 5, which was named Pittsburgh Magazine’s Ultimate House in 2016. Her design scope ranges from small interior renovations to new construction of large-scale, high-end single family homes, condominiums, and multi-family housing.
Strada is delighted to announce that the firm’s newest partner is Sean Beasley, AIA. Sean’s expertise covers residential, commercial, educational, and hospitality projects, but he is particularly skilled with adaptive reuse and historic preservation work. He burnished his reputation while spearheading the nationally-recognized Market Square Place project, and has continued to excel through the renovation of a number of historic buildings to create residences, hotels, offices, and educational spaces. Currently, Sean is leading projects for Shadyside Academy, Distrikt Hotel, and Moxie USA, and is contributing his expertise to renovation and new construction projects throughout the office. Sean has been part of Strada since 2003.
Leading architecture firm, IKM Incorporated opened its new corporate office at Eleven Stanwix Street with a focus on mobility, openness, and collaboration. The future LEED Gold CI Certified suite boasts 360° views of Mount Washington, Downtown Pittsburgh and the Confluence of the Three Rivers. Construction on this project began in September 2016 and was completed earlier this year.
DesignGroup, an architecture and design firm located in Columbus, Ohio, has expanded by opening an office in Nova Place on the North Side. The firm is excited to bring 45 years of architecture, design and planning experience to the market in the areas of healthcare, education, mixed-use, civic and library spaces. DesignGroup brings the concept of client-focused architecture to each project and each relationship. Each team includes working principals ensuring every project benefits from the architectural expertise of veteran staff. The first hire, project manager Tom Chidlow, AIA, is a Pittsburgh native who brings a wealth of healthcare experience to the DesignGroup team.
LGA Partners, LP is excited to announce that David Schaefer, AIA, Scott Bofinger, AIA, and Wayne Chang have been promoted to the role of Partner within the firm.
David Schaefer, AIA, graduated from Florida International University in Miami, Florida having degrees in both Architecture and Landscape Architecture. He has worked in the field for twenty-four years and has been an Associate with LGA for four. David’s wide-ranging experience includes multi-family residential, corporate and educational projects. He is LGA’s resident code expert and recent projects include the Flats on Fifth Housing Development, Premier Medical’s Penn Hills Campus, and the Columbia Gas Training Center in Beaver County.
Scott Bofinger, AIA, has been an Associate with LGA since the merger with Glance & Associates three years ago. A graduate of Kent State University, he has been working in the field for nearly two decades, both in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Scott’s passion for public engagement has led to his specialization in urban design and planning projects as well as multi-family housing. He’s recently worked on the AIA Award winning McKees Rocks – Chartiers Avenue Streetscape Design, and sits on the Board of Directors for Uptown Partners.
Wayne Chang, graduate of Carnegie Mellon University has been promoted to Partner after eight years of dedicated service to the firm and three years as an Associate. Wayne thrives in the fast-paced environment of specialty retail, restaurant, and airport work, providing creative designs for his clients across the country. His innate ability to understand the wants and needs of the user has played an integral role in LGA’s growth in these markets and, along with his imaginative nature have made him an innovator in the field. He has also recently been named to the Zoning Board for Churchill Borough.
From the Firms is published quarterly. Please send news and information to Columns Editor Maya Henry.