Jun 15, 2022

Johnston Architects

Kohl

Guerin

Ciaccio_

Nicolai

Abdallah

Johnston Architects has hired Dana Abdallah as interior designer, Jesse Baiata-Nicolai as design technology manager, Maggie Ciaccio as project architect, Natalie Guerin as office manager, and Kristopher Kohl as graphic designer.

Abdallah, Associate AIA, holds a Bachelor in Architecture from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and a Masters in Architecture from the University of Washington. She joined JA's Interior Design team with seven years of experience with a focus on creative workplace and hospitality spaces, including wine tasting rooms. Her past work includes the objeckts office and showroom, which was awarded Best Workplace in 2019 by the IIDA Pacific Northwest Chapter and published in Interior Design Magazine. At JA she is currently designing a full-building renovation for the pilots' lounge and administrative offices at the Renton Municipal Airport, as well as a 20,000-square-foot tenant improvement for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library Operations Center.

Baiata-Nicolai joined JA in the fall of 2021 to manage the firm's BIM and strengthen its growing Innovation Lab. He holds Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Architecture from the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. He spent a decade working in California on a mix of single-family homes, public and higher education facilities, and mixed-use and multi-family projects before relocating to Seattle. As JA's Design Technology Manager, Baiata-Nicolai streamlines the firm's Revit models and drawing processes. To support JA's architects and designers he has developed a custom Revit Toolbar that includes a “Help” button for on-demand assistance and additional tools to centralize resources and support advanced workflows.

Ciaccio, AIA, LEED Green Associate, brings eight years of experience to JA, including several years working in the Washington DC area after graduating with her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Virginia Tech, where she earned the award for Excellence in Undergraduate Thesis. Her past projects have included single- and multi-family residences, collegiate student housing, corporate workplaces, and senior living communities. At JA she is currently Project Architect & Project Manager for a 6,000-square foot house in Lakewood and a cabin in the Methow Valley while leading a residential remodel and addition in Laurelhurst.

Guerin studied Human Resource Management at Western Governors University and has experience in nonprofit program management. At JA she supports HR and business practices and led a restructuring of the firm's onboarding process in response to its hybrid work policy. As office manager, Guerin is responsible for day-to-day office operations, workplace enhancements, employee onboarding, general project support, and is an active member of JA's Firm Culture and Social Responsibility committees. Kohl earned a BFA in Graphic Design from Northern Arizona University and moved to Seattle in 2019 to work with AIA Seattle before joining JA in 2021. He recently completed a refresh of the firm's brand identity, guidelines, and templates. As JA seeks to broaden its in house design services, Kohl works to elevate design opportunities across JA's project types, including environmental graphics for architecture and interior design projects. He is currently completing the signage package and branding for the reimagined Old Works Golf Clubhouse in Anaconda MT.

Coleman

Justice

Simons

Leaman

Johnston Architects has promoted Shane Leaman and John B. Simons to associate, and Kathy Justice and Liz Wasson Coleman to senior associate. Leaman joined JA in 2017, and as design technologist he has applied his unique knowledge and skillset to elevate the firm's innovative design solutions. This includes parametric modeling for complex façade assemblies and a 3D interactive website that allows users to configure a customized Accessory Dwelling Unit, called the Parametric Casita. Leaman led the design and fabrication of a custom lighting installation, Digital Sky, as part of the Kirin mixed-use building lobby, recently featured in Multifamily Design + Construction Magazine. He has also created tailored workflows to integrate the DOE's EnergyPlus analysis tool to produce visualizations and better integrate energy analysis into JA's design process. As an Associate, Leaman will continue to lead JA's Technology Committee and champion data visualization, view and daylighting studies, and the development of online tools to support community engagement and data analysis.

Simons, AIA came to JA in the fall of 2019 as a project architect with ten years of experience. He is working with the City of Maple Valley on the design of the new Lake Wilderness Golf Course Clubhouse, which will include a restaurant and lounge, golf simulators, and a venue space available to be rented for private events. Simons' other current projects include Oak Tree Village, an amenity campus for the Ovation at Oak Tree development in Lacey; Ponderosa, a planned recreation community in Lake Chelan; a multi-family building in Crown Hill; and several single-family houses. As an Associate, Simons is responsible for strengthening JA team connections by organizing internal project presentations, especially important as the firm provides a hybrid workplace and in-person charettes have been reimagined to be virtual and more inclusive.

Justice, AIA, LEED BD+C has over 25 years of design experience with a focus on multi-family and mixed-use projects. Justice joined JA in 2016, was promoted to associate in 2018, and has worked on numerous residential projects at the firm. These include Alta Arlo, a 240-unit mixed-use building in Columbia City, and Winston Townhomes, a collection of 16 townhouses in Seattle's Ravenna neighborhood, both of which just finished construction, as well as DXU, which was honored by Built Green with a Green Hammer Award in 2020. At JA Justice is currently working as project manager for entitlements on the Redmond Senior Community Center, a collaboration with Opsis Architecture of Portland, as well as a 187-unit multi-family development on the Bremerton waterfront. As a senior associate she is focused on mentoring emerging designers to support technical excellence at JA.

Coleman, CPSM joined JA in 2019 as marketing director and was promoted to associate in 2021. She holds 18 years of experience in the Northwest AEC industry and leads JA's marketing department, including project pursuits, award submissions, social media, public relations, and brand development. She recently contributed to the firm's installation at the Bellevue Arts Museum, a collaboration with Facing Homelessness called The View From Here. As a senior associate, she collaborates closely with firm leadership to help shape JA's strategic planning across multiple sectors. Coleman is a Certified Professional Services Marketer and the current President of SMPS Seattle, the local chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services.

Parametrix

Diemer

Brent Diemer has joined Parametrix as executive vice president and chief financial officer. He has over 25 years of experience in the architecture and engineering industry, specializing in financial management, business growth and expansion strategy, and organizational culture development.

Diemer comes to Parametrix from KLJ Engineering. Prior to that, he spent 22 years with CH2M (now Jacobs). He has served in a variety of financial and business management leadership positions as well as project delivery and business development roles across the industry.

Toole Design Group

Soto

Xiao

Mueller

DuVall

DeKoekkoek

Toole Design Group announced seven hires in the Seattle Office: Dustin DeKoekkoek, Alex DuVall, Adam Mueller, Diane Xiao, Ryan O'Hara, and Manuel Soto. Amalia Leighton Cody has been promoted to director of engineering, Western U.S.

DeKoekkoek is a civil engineer and project manager and has a diverse background in all aspects of civil engineering with a focus on delivering high quality, constructible contract documents. His engineering experience is extensive and varied, encompassing full roadway reconstruction, ADA compliance and accessible design, drainage and utility design, site development, and construction management. DuVall is a professional engineer with public sector experience in designing and managing multimodal transportation projects. She has served clients across the US by leading a light rail design team, running a national traffic incident management program, and designing traffic systems for state projects.

Mueller is a licensed professional engineer with experience in the design and management of transit projects from concept to implementation. He specializes in pedestrian, bikeway, transit guideway, and roadway design; multimodal 3D corridor modeling; development of construction plans and details; cost estimating; interagency negotiation and collaboration; and technical writing. He has served clients in Washington, Oregon, and Minnesota on prominent transit projects including light rail, bus rapid transit, multimodal transit centers, and operations and maintenance facilities. Xiao is a professional engineer with background in safety, traffic, and pedestrian analyses, environmental reviews, Transit Signal Priority (TSP), and simulation modeling. She is passionate about Complete Streets, sustainable transportation, and pedestrian, bicyclist, and multimodal design.

Soto is a transit planner and mobility specialist with extensive experience in design, planning and implementation of projects and programs that increase multi-modal mobility and reduce the use of single-occupant vehicles. He has wide-ranging experience in transit service planning and operations, transportation demand management plans and programs, curb management and street design. He has led development of master plans, feasibility studies, operational analyses, market demand and performance assessments. He has also worked on the implementation of all types of transit services from BRT to shuttles to microtransit, for public agencies and private entities, and on the design of parking and mobility programs for major employers, hospital and university campuses, mixed-used developments, and downtown districts, that reduce vehicle miles traveled and parking demand.

O'Hara is a professional engineer with experience transportation engineering and planning, renewable energy sector, New Urbanism principles, NACTO design guidelines, geospatial analysis, mapping in CAD, project & data management, traffic studies, bicycle facilities, parking management.

Jun 08, 2022

BCRA

Sepulveda

Denison

Kihlman

BCRA has promoted Heidi Kihlman to associate principal. Kihlman has over two decades of industry experience and leads BCRA's retail and hospitality markets, which have grown significantly during her six years of leadership. As a shareholder and market lead, she has been instrumental in developing staff. Jenni Denison, a graduate of Clover Park Technical College's interior design program, has joined the firm as an interior design associate. Denison is kickstarting her second career after working as a cosmetologist. She previously worked as an intern with BCRA. She is based in the Tacoma office and supports the education and retail markets.

Tanisha Sepulveda is a recent graduate of North Seattle College's architectural engineering drafting program and joins BCRA as an architectural draftsperson. Sepulveda previously worked for the Seattle Department of Transportation's Inclusive Mobility on Demand pilot program, where she served as a steering committee member. She is based in the Tacoma office and supports multiple markets, including recreation, education and health care.

B + H

Dukehart

B+H announced that Chris Dukehart has joined the firm's Seattle studio as design director for architecture. Dukehart brings 17 years of experience in hospitality, multifamily, boutique retail and workplace projects. His past achievements include the winning entry in Greenbuild's Natural Design Talent Competition with Eco-Laboratory — a concept that included an innovative approach to urban farming, low-income housing and a public plaza farmers market in Belltown. Dukehart has worked interiors, lighting, graphic design, experiential graphics and furniture design.

Cast architecture

Craddock

Cast architecture has added Emilio Craddock to its team. Craddock received a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Virginia, and earned a dual master of architecture and master of landscape architecture from the University of Washington. Craddock is focusing on Cast's residential and community projects.

Herrera Environmental Consultants

Herrera Environmental Consultants has promoted 26 employees across its five offices. Chris Webb, Alice Lancaster, Jeff Parsons, Mary Shanks, Tyson Wright, Heidi Houck have been promoted to principal engineer. Dylan Ahearn, Ellen McClure, Christina Merten, George Iftner have been promoted to principal scientist. Jenn Schmidt is now spatial science director. Melissa Buttin and Jill Patterson have been promoted to marketing directors. Meghan Feller is now associate engineer, and Neil Schaner is senior engineer. Mindy Fohn has been promoted to senior scientist, and Katie Wingrove and Gretchen Kayser to project engineers. Riley Plumb, Danielle Rapoza and Nina Maas have been promoted to project scientists, and Matt Fidler and Julianne Chechanover to engineers. Makie Matsumoto-Hervol is now GIS analyst, Chuck Marston is CAD technician and Jordyn White is marketing specialist.

HNTB

Leary

Richard Leary has joined HNTB as a senior program manager of aviation and associate vice president in the firm's Northwest Division. Leary brings over three decades of experience to this new role, in which he will support project and construction management on aviation programs throughout the Northwest, assisting airports as they deal with increasing traffic demands.

Prior to joining HNTB, Leary spent nearly 20 years with a leading infrastructure engineering company, most recently working as a principal project manager of aviation. In that role, Leary managed design, procurement, construction and commissioning for aviation construction projects. He was also a subject matter expert for the installation of conveyance systems and baggage screening systems.

Earlier in his career, Leary worked as a design engineer. In this role, he managed research, design and development of new and existing products, and designed and conducted the testing and evaluation of new products. Leary also spent time as a project engineering manager, overseeing a mechanical engineering department of more than 20 engineers. Leary received his bachelor's in mechanical engineering from the University of Central Florida. He is a certified project manager.

MKA

Magnusson Klemencic Associates announced senior associate and associate promotions. Eight team members have been promoted to senior associate and 10 to associate. The new senior associates are: Abby Van Harpen, PE, SE; James Mahoney, PE, SE, LEED AP; Juliette Peyroux, PE, SE; Katie Reif, PE, SE; Kevin Aswegan, PE, SE; Mike Muller, PE, SE; Stephen Pool, PE, SE; and Travis Corigliano, PE, SE.

The new associates are: Amy Garras, PE; Ben Thomas, BIM technical lead; Bethany Myelle, PE, SE; Bob Boulware, senior building information modeler (BIM); Garrett Van Ruiten, PE; Jeff Pope, civil CADD manager; Kyle Campbell, PE; Lindsay Douglass, PE; and Taylor LaForge, PE, SE.; and Beatriz Arostegui, PE.

Olson Kundig

Massey

Olson Kundig announced that Kurt Massey has joined the firm as director of master planning. In this role, Massey will help to develop the firm's expanding master planning portfolio. He will also lead the landscape team and continue to grow this studio, developing additional planning and landscape design capacity across a wide range of project types and market sectors, as well as working closely with teams across the firm on business development initiatives.

Prior to joining Olson Kundig, Kurt worked in a diverse range of market sectors and locations around the world, spanning hospitality, urban mixed-use, residential and municipal projects. With more than 16 years of experience, he has worked closely with public officials in a variety of jurisdictions and has a deep understanding of finance and construction in addition to design. He earned master degrees in both landscape architecture and city & regional planning from Cornell University, and is an active member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, among other organizations.

RMC Architects

Meyer

Heather Meyer, AIA, LEED Green Associate, CPHC, has joined RMC Architects as a project architect. Meyer received a bachelor's degree in graphic design in 2010 from Whitworth University in Spokane, and a master's of architecture in 2015 from the University of Oregon. She is currently working on several multifamily housing projects in Bellingham, including Mercy Millworks Housing and 1411 Roeder Lofts. She is also working on The Way Station, a collaborative downtown Bellingham project for Whatcom County involving Unity Care Northwest, Opportunity Council, and PeaceHealth offering a clinic and respite care to the homeless population.

In her role at RMC, Meyer is contributing her knowledge of high-performance building design gained through her credentials with Passive House Institute, in addition to her combined strengths in both graphic design and architecture.