Collaborative to the Core

When Abraham Ahmad began experimenting with video game design as a teenager, he had no idea it was a skillset he could turn into a career path. He was drawn to creating his own levels using 3DS Max – the software he now uses to bring Revit models to life. Abe went on to earn his BS in Architectural Engineering Technology from Farmingdale State College, then beginning his career as a 3D artist for architecture firm Thomas Juul-Hansen. At Workshop/APD, he enjoys entering the design process after drawing sets are complete, creating the first lifelike rendering of a new project that generates excitement from both the designers and the clients. In his free time, Abe can be found practicing jiu jitsu, playing with his black lab, and, of course, enjoying a video game or two.

Adam has been immersed in architecture since age twelve, when he began learning construction, management and design from his family. Today, he guides Workshop/APD projects of all types from concept through completion, coordinating details and communications seamlessly. He keenly evaluates elements at all scales to bring a project from abstract design to final product. Adam draws inspiration from art, music and film and their ability to express and visualize the intangible. He finds motivation and innovation through collaboration with his team. A graduate of Stonehill College in Massachusetts and New Jersey Institute of Technology, Adam holds a BA in fine art and a Master of Architecture.

As a Designer in Workshop/APD’s Minneapolis office, Adam Hunt pairs a technology-driven approach to design with a strong visual sensibility. With a background that blends computational thinking and hands-on making, he is particularly interested in how emerging tools – from advanced rendering techniques to AI – can inform the design process and expand what is possible in the built environment.

Adam began his career working in a model shop, where he developed a deep understanding of materiality and construction through physical fabrication, bridging digital workflows with real-world building techniques. He also worked extensively on adaptive reuse and multifamily developments in Philadelphia, including the transformation of historic industrial buildings into mixed-use residential communities. His experience also includes ground-up residential work and large-scale developments across the US, along with independent design collaborations. At Workshop/APD, he contributes to large, complex projects like the University of Health and Performance, bringing a thoughtful, systems-oriented mindset and a passion for clear visual storytelling.

A hands-on design leader with nearly two decades experience in architecture, business, and strategy, Alex Dunham joined Workshop/APD in 2025 in a new role expressly created to improve and enhance the firm’s day-to-day business systems and processes. As a registered architect, Alex’s diverse portfolio includes aviation, healthcare, higher education, infrastructure, and commercial interiors work. He has developed considerable expertise in managing and cultivating global teams, operational leadership, and business development, providing him with the broad insight required for innovation and effective change management. Over the past decade in particular, Alex has partnered with numerous Fortune 500 clients to help them navigate the future of work, both spatially and culturally.

At Workshop/APD, he applies his background to enhance project delivery performance and evolve the firm’s operations alongside its partners, principals, and departmental leaders. He is passionate about marrying the needs of the business and its team, applying rigor and accountability without detracting from a vibrant culture of creativity and collaboration. A born listener who is equally interested in quantitative and qualitative data, Alex brings an informed, evidence-based approach and collaborative spirit to his work. Alex earned a BS in Architecture from the University of Virginia, a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business, where he was also a member of an acapella group. The father of two young boys, his hobbies include coaching little league, building forts, skiing, and golfing. In his spare time, he also enjoys traveling, gardening, and dining out.

Executive assistant Alexis Corrao is used to working in a fast-paced, creative  work environment. Lexi’s own creative studies include a decade of Irish step dancing and a BS in Dance Education from Hofstra University,  and she is a certified New York State Dance Educator. Following college, she taught at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts High School in Hartford, Connecticut, where she initially started her pre-professional dance studies. She also danced professionally with a modern dance company. Previously an assistant at a New York real estate investment firm, Lexi now combines her creative background and administrative experience to support founding principal Andrew Kotchen and the team in bringing Workshop/APD’s artistic vision to life. She is especially interested in the way textures, materials, forms, and shapes bring a space to life and build unique narratives through interior design.

Alicia Barrera’s design roots reach back to a childhood spent upgrading her home with her mother and grandmother, a former fashion designer. She went on to study Architecture and Urban Studies at SUNY Binghamton, while studying interior design in the summer at NYSID and Pratt. Through years in high-end residential design, Alicia developed a minimal, eclectic style informed by Scandinavian design. Alicia’s design process involves in-depth exploration to find inspiration for each project, focusing on every detail of a space until it reflects the client’s unique desires and skillfully blends old and new.

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Portland, Oregon, Allen Chung brings more than a decade of experience in residential, commercial, and hospitality design to his role at Workshop/APD. After earning a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon he moved to New York City, taking on diverse roles at respected residential architecture firms before moving into corporate interiors. As a Senior Architect at Soho House, he developed a deep appreciation for operational logic and design constraints, viewing both as essential tools for creating spaces that feel intuitive and well considered. Today, his work run the gamut from hospitality projects to luxury residential developments, where a keen understanding of the way people use and inhabit space, his interest in craft, and commitment to functionality make each space feel personal. Allen enjoys being involved throughout the life of a project — from early planning through documentation and construction — bringing a steady, detail-driven approach to each phase. Outside of work, Allen enjoys staying active, exploring the city’s restaurant scene, and traveling to experience new places, cultures, and cuisines.

Designer Allie McBrearty’s professional experience spans complex retail, hospitality, and residential projects as well as historical preservation. The daughter of an architect, Allie grew up surrounded by the profession and eventually found her way back to it, earning an undergraduate degree in psychology and art history from Lafayette College before receiving a master’s in architecture from Pratt institute. A detail-oriented problem-solver, she enjoys the intimacy and scale of residential design, and the opportunity to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. She relishes the opportunity to contribute to new residential and mixed-use work across the US at Workshop/APD, diving deep into each client’s unique personality, their preferences, and the context in which their project will be built. A native of New Jersey, Allie enjoys painting, trying new cafes, restaurants, and speakeasies, and spending time with her dog, Blondie.

From interior elevations and 3D modelling to presentations and site plans, Amanda brings a detail-oriented approach to all aspects of her highly-customized design work. She enjoys the unique challenges presented by each new project, working to create a synergetic balance between aesthetics and technical elements. Inspired by nature, Amanda appreciates architecture that honors its environment and believes that good design engages the exterior landscape to enhance the mood of interior space. A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, she holds a Bachelor of Architecture.

Andrew Kline views the built environment as a catalyst for connection, capable of evoking emotions and meaningful human interaction. Early in his career, this perspective drew him to hospitality and retail design, and it has guided his later work on award-winning hotels and restaurants, luxury residences, multi-family developments, and products. He relishes the freedom to move fluidly between design verticals and project typologies, developing designs based on a unique set of conditions – as opposed to a singular, static firm aesthetic – and centering visitors’ and inhabitants’ experiences.

As a principal at Workshop/APD, he leads a multidisciplinary team of architects, interior designers and product designers. As a leader, he is known for fostering seamless collaboration, drawing on each team member’s skills and experience and pushing the boundaries of design to inspire the best outcome. He is passionate about breaking down the barriers to good design, pursuing projects that are immersive, approachable, and livable, with each essential element distilled down to the purest expression of their unique narrative. He champions a creative process guided by a fully realized conceptual narrative, a lens through which all design decisions are filtered, resulting in a unified creative direction from site, to structure, to space, furnishings, fittings, and even branding. This approach has shaped a range of celebrated projects including Michelin Key recipients 1 Hotel Nashville and Faraway Martha’s Vineyard, and the new Moxy Banff.

For 25 years, Andrew Kotchen’s distinct aesthetic vision has shaped Workshop/APD’s remarkable portfolio of projects across North America and abroad. Under his leadership, the award-winning architecture and design firm has expanded to a vertically integrated, 90-person team with offices in New York City, Minneapolis, and Greenwich, CT, and teams in Nantucket, Palm Beach, Phoenix, Boston, and Denver. Site specific, modern and meticulously crafted, its projects include luxury residences; groundbreaking multi-family developments such as 70 Charlton, The Printing House, and Hawthorne Park; amenity rich social living projects from Denver and Miami to Phoenix and Houston; Hotels including AutoCamp and Faraway Martha’s Vineyard, and design products developed in partnership with the industry’s leading manufacturers.

Andrew’s work is defined by a distinctive sense of place and purpose, delving into a project’s unique location and history to inform its details at every scale. This approach yields highly customized spaces across diverse contexts, and provides Andrew and his team with new ideas, sources and inspiration to fuel and evolve the firm’s work.

Though he earned a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Utah, Andrew Mickelson always planned on a career in architecture. After focusing on the technical aspects of building construction during undergrad, Andrew came to New York looking  to tap into his creativity. He went on to earn his Master of Architecture from Pratt Institute, and began working in luxury residential and commercial design. His passions and experience align with Workshop/APD’s attention to detail, material selections, and personalizing spaces to reflect clients’ lifestyles – visually, sensorially, and programmatically. Andrew finds renovations and adaptive reuse projects provocative, especially when he can impose order on disorder to create a functional, contextual – but unexpected – end result. Perpetually in awe of the mountains’ natural beauty, he recharges by skiing and backpacking.

Ansley Wilson joins Workshop/APD as the studio coordinator for Studio 1, serving as a crucial point person for designers and project managers within the team and the rest of the office. With a BFA in Interior Design from Virginia Commonwealth University, Ansley is no stranger to the design world, and its unique language, rhythms, and people. With an astonishing ability to organize and see tasks through with precision, she has quickly become an integral part of her team. Ansley keeps a finger on the pulse of the studio and the industry, serving as a connector between people, schedules, and materials.

As an architectural visualization specialist at Workshop/APD, Ays Albustanli partners with the firm’s architects and designers to translate concepts into ultra-realistic visuals that helps teams—and clients — understand a project’s intent before it’s built. After earning a degree in architecture from Eskisehir Osmangazi University in her native Turkey, she tackled architecture and visualization roles in London and Dubai before settling in New York, where she draws inspiration from the city’s energy and architecture. Ays brings a designer’s understanding of massing, light, and materiality to each scene, collaborating closely across disciplines and sharing new workflows with her studio and the larger team as technology evolves. Today, she renders Workshop/APD projects using a wide range of tools, also incorporating emerging AI technology to streamline complex modeling and detailing. In her free time, Ays enjoys long city walks, exploring new neighborhoods, visiting museums and exhibitions, and seeing live music.

As a BIM Specialist, Becky Zhang brings a unique blend of architectural design experience and technical expertise across engineering disciplines to the Workshop/APD team. After receiving a BA in Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, she worked as a designer on a range of complex cultural and institutional projects, including performance-driven public spaces and historic preservation work. Realizing she was more interested in the tools that power designers’ work than in design practice itself, she shifted her career focus to Building Information Modeling (BIM), working as a BIM specialist in structural, façade, and MEP engineering. Since then, she has honed her skills both as a BIM modeler and specialist, as well as a teacher and consultant.

At Workshop/APD, Becky focuses on building and maintaining healthy Revit models, creating standardized content libraries, and developing automation tools to streamline workflows across multiple studios. Her role helps ensure that projects move seamlessly from concept through construction, supporting architectural teams with precision and technical rigor. She continues to push boundaries by exploring Dynamo scripting and emerging technologies such as pyRevit and Guardian, helping the firm stay ahead of industry trends. Outside the office, Becky channels her creativity into photography, videography, and running a food blog that celebrates New York City’s vibrant culinary scene.

Workshop Collection National Sales Manager Ben Paciello began his career in furniture in 2004 as interim manager at the Ralph Lauren Home Chicago flagship store. In 2011, he made the jump to becoming the first store-based operations manager for Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Over the years, he developed a passion not only for the design world, but also for the relationship-building aspect of a career helping trade clients to create spaces that uniquely reflect their voice. Ben serves as the first point of contact for Workshop Collection, overseeing the NYC showroom and other sales channels, and guiding clients through the specification process from start to finish. Ben also collaborates with Workshop/APD’s product design and development team on a wide range of responsibilities and projects, from the development of order and customization SOP to systems implementation, client outreach and order fulfillment. Outside of supporting designers, Ben spends his leisure time playing with his dog, Arthur.

From micro to macro, Ben Tulman looks at every project holistically to create beautifully integrated results. Though he originally considered pursuing a career in engineering he fell into architecture at Tulane University, where he earned a Master of Architecture with a minor in social innovation and entrepreneurship. The school’s immersive 5-year program brought Ben onsite and into the community and its culture, driving his interest in planning, sustainable design and architecture’s ability to impact the greater good. Ben carries all of these things into his work on both residential and commercial projects today, thinking critically about whatever challenges arise, pouring love and creativity into his work to make the client’s dream a reality.

Brittany Heller’s interest in architecture took shape at Washington University in St. Louis, where she enrolled in an architecture studio and found herself drawn to the process of turning an idea into something physical. After graduating, she spent three years working in commercial interiors before returning to Washington University for her master’s degree, further developing her design skills and exploring Passive House design.

Her experience across commercial and residential work has shaped an approach centered on how people live and interact with space, with a particular appreciation for architecture that responds thoughtfully to its site, climate, and context. As a designer at Workshop/APD, Brittany contributes to design development presentations and permit sets. Outside the studio, she enjoys traveling, reading, drawing, playing pickleball, and spending time with friends, family, and her dog.

Brook Quach equates his role as a design director to that of a composer, applying a creative and functional vision to our practice and projects, providing clear direction to move work forward and ensuring and elevating the quality of all design at Workshop/APD. A twenty-year veteran of the firm, he loves creating harmony between a well-designed space and its inhabitants and applies an intuitive approach and sharp eye to designs that achieve this critical balance.

His childhood passion for designing dream homes led to a five-year BS in Architecture from the University of Houston, a program that refined his understanding of architecture and fostered a deeper appreciation for the intimate details of the space. His broad professional experience spans nearly two decades and includes work at every scale, from casinos, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and corporate projects to luxurious private homes and apartments. Brook finds great satisfaction in physically building his ideas and seeing them come to fruition in as little as a season.  At Workshop/APD, he bridges the gap between high end residential and development work, driving creative direction and developing solutions to complex architectural and design challenges, helping clients to realize projects that suit their unique needs and desires.

Raised in Aspen, Colorado, Brooke Pisani was drawn into architecture through her love of math, science, and art. These passions ultimately led to a degree in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado Boulder and six years at Rowland & Broughton, contributing to high-end residential projects across Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. She has managed ground-up builds, historic renovations, and interiors projects from schematic design through construction administration, also playing a key role in refining firm-wide Revit standards and BIM workflows. At Workshop/APD, Brooke is excited to expand her experience in hospitality design while continuing to explore holistic, client-centered architecture. She’s inspired by the energy of the city, the diversity of its built environment, and the opportunity to shape how people experience space. Outside of work, she’s a regular runner and hiker, and channels her creativity into drawing, DIY projects, and digital illustration. 

Studio Coordinator Caitlin Burdick feels at home amongst creatives, helping them move projects forward with organization and logistical support. With a background in coordination roles – first at a merch design company, and then for a florist – Caitlin discovered a penchant for detail-oriented work that supports the big picture. For the Workshop/APD interior design team, she manages schedules, deliveries, installations and much more. Caitlin earned her BFA in Visual Communication with a minor in Art History from the University of Oklahoma and enjoys working on graphic design projects for friends and family in her free time.

Growing up in a mid-century modern home with a butterfly roof and abundant natural light, Camilla Oliverio developed an early appreciation for the ways thoughtful environments can shape daily life and well-being. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, and a Master of Arts in Art History and Museum Education from The City College of New York. Over the past decade, Camilla’s career has spanned museums, arts education, special education, and hospitality, including supporting exhibitions at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum and preparing artists with disabilities for gallery exhibitions. These experiences deepened Camilla’s commitment to making art and design more accessible, a perspective she brings to her role at Workshop/APD as she supports project teams through coordination, communication, and thoughtful problem-solving. Outside the office, Camilla enjoys painting portraits inspired by color theory, exploring independent cinemas throughout New York City, and spending time in nature.

As a Business Development Coordinator at Workshop/APD, Carter brings a strategic, relationship-focused approach to connecting clients with the firm’s design expertise. Originally from Evanston, Illinois, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Information Sciences from the University of Alabama, where he developed an interest in how research, data, and storytelling can work together to communicate ideas and uncover opportunities. Prior to joining Workshop/APD, Carter was a member of the Hudson Advisory Team, providing marketing and operational support for high-profile real estate transactions throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Hamptons.

At Workshop/APD, Carter supports client engagement, proposal development, and strategic business initiatives across the firm. He enjoys analyzing market trends, project data, and industry insights, transforming complex information into compelling narratives that communicate the value of design. He also plays a key role in the firm’s RFP and proposal efforts, helping shape tailored responses that align with each client’s goals, vision, and aspirations. Outside the office, Carter has a passion for architecture and design, with a particular appreciation for traditionally inspired spaces that balance timeless craftsmanship with a fresh, contemporary perspective.

Celia Heenan comes to our interior design studio with two years of high-end residential experience and a BS in Interior Design from Philadelphia University. However, her design journey started much earlier, drawing floorplans as a child instead of coloring in books. As soon as she could, Celia began taking classes on design, exploring every facet from sourcing to psychology. At Workshop/APD, Celia supports residential interiors throughout the design process, applying a theoretical lens for the project to each furnishing and finish.

Hailing from a family of NYC real estate developers, designer Charlie Verni grew up knowing one day he’d make his own mark on the city. After completing his Bachelor of Architecture at Hobart College, Charlie went straight on to complete a Master of Architecture at Pratt Institute. Perpetually drawn to residential projects, Charlie has honed an aptitude for contextual design, from Brooklyn brownstones to ground-up homes in Palm Beach. With each new project, he enjoys the diversity of client’s wishes and shares in their excitement as the design comes to life. In his spare time, Charlie enjoys building furniture, playing guitar, and spending weekends upstate.

Cherie Wan brings a global perspective to her work at Workshop/APD, shaped by her upbringing in Hong Kong and her education in the US. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture with a minor in Urban Studies from Northeastern University, where she completed internships working on both mixed-use developments and aviation projects, including the Hong Kong Airport expansion. Cherie graduated with distinction from the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her Master of Architecture and was awarded the Arthur Spayd Brooke Memorial Gold Prize.

Her career expanded as she gained expertise in multi-family and mixed-use development through projects in Puerto Rico and New York. At Workshop/APD, Cherie supports the design and documentation of high-end single-family residential projects, drawing inspiration from diverse contexts and material palettes. Her multicultural background and passion for the intricacies of building tectonics inform her approach to crafting cohesive and beautiful spaces. Outside of work, Cherie enjoys traveling, playing pickleball and netball, and exploring new environments.

Christian Oanda grew up around video games and animated films during his childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, resulting in a fascination with animation and video game environment design. These interests led him to the US to pursue an undergraduate architecture degree from Syracuse University. Today, he applies his interest in digital design to his work on hospitality and high-end residential projects at Workshop/APD, using 3D software to help visualize a captivating end result. An avid designer and musician, Christian aspires to advance architectural and design practices across Africa by highlighting and incorporating the continent’s endless regional artistic influences in his work.

As managing director of Workshop/APD’s Technical Design Studio, Colin Murtaugh focuses on the building science and construction methods behind our work, bringing his intimate knowledge of architectural technology to a wide range of projects. Colin got an early start in construction in his teens, followed by a BFA from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master of Architecture from Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and has been an essential member of the Workshop/APD team since 2015. Armed with a deep understanding of building systems and strong technical skills, he works closely with architectural project teams at each phase of the design process to ensure a rigorous and thoughtful approach to complex architectural conditions. Colin is passionate about technological advances and education and has served as an adjunct professor at the City College of New York, teaching BIM software to graduate students. When not focused on architectural design, he can be found at the beach, playing soccer, watching soccer, or discussing soccer.

Collin Kroll discovered design through his early love of fashion and furniture, eventually choosing architecture as creative but pragmatic career path that dovetails perfectly with his passion for making. A Florida native and a graduate of Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture before taking on roles in New York City in museum exhibition installation, retail design, and high-rise multi-family residential. As an architectural designer at Workshop/APD, he focuses primarily on luxury single-family homes from the Northeast to the Caribbean. Collin is drawn to the craft of detailing, celebrating natural materials and finding ways to express material connections and construction through his designs. His spaces celebrate function, aesthetic, and uninterrupted contextual relationships. In his free time, Collin can be found building furniture, enjoying music and basketball, sketching, and experimenting with 3D printing.

As accounts manager, Daisy oversees and tracks funds and expenses, provides billing and purchase reports for clients, and makes purchases as needed, providing indispensable support to the interior design team. A seamless multitasker, Daisy applies the diverse experience she has gained in roles managing the reception, scheduling and bookkeeping at a nail salon; working as a personal assistant; and serving as operations manager for an event planning company. While she has a natural affinity for numbers, she loves the interconnected nature of Workshop/APD, which exposes her to all aspects of our work and allows her to learn more about the inner workings of interior design each day. A graduate of Stonybrook University in New York, Daisy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing management with a minor in psychology.

Daniel Relyea is passionate about traditional materials and construction, and the innovative ways that both can be applied to modern residential architecture and design. Most recently a Senior Associate at Ike Kligerman Barkley Architects, he has spent the last two decades immersed in every detail of the design process from pencil sketches to complex development sets. He approaches each project’s design challenges as a starting point, finding novel, functional solutions and then enhancing the resulting spaces and structures through detailing. As a Senior Project Manager at Workshop/APD he is focused on a wide range of high-end residential projects ranging from the modernization of an Aspen retreat to a ground-up Nantucket compound, collaborating internally with architectural and design teams and overseeing external consultants to bring projects to completion. Daniel studied engineering at The George Washington University, and architecture at Boston Architectural College.

Since joining Workshop/APD in 2013, David McEachin has been instrumental in the evolution of its brand and creative vision. Today, he serves as both steward and gatekeeper for all visual assets and photography, working across marketing, business development, branding, internal communications, and more. From its earliest work in residential branding for private residences, David has grown Workshop/APD’s branding practice to include comprehensive packages – and thoughtful implementation – for development, hospitality, and product clients. As part of the firm’s vertically integrated approach, he frequently collaborates with Workshop/APD’s architects and designers as part of a holistic process to express the design vision at every scale. As the firm grows, David continues to cultivate a sense of community within the team – as a longtime employee, he has a deep understanding of its values and history and a passion for bridging past, present and future with his colleagues. With vast knowledge of the Workshop/APD archive, and oversight of new asset development, David displays a commitment to 360-degree storytelling through photography, video, web and digital, branding and more. A keen follower of architecture, design, and development in and out of the office, David’s encyclopedic industry knowledge makes him a vital member of the team. A Troy, Michigan native, David holds a BFA in advertising art direction from Columbia College in Chicago.

As an interior design manager, Deana develops and executes unique residential and hospitality interiors. She particularly enjoys work that allows her to dive even further behind the scenes and channel her diverse interests towards creating meaningful, lasting experiences. A world traveler and foodie with a background in the restaurant industry, she finds inspiration in global art and architecture, imbuing her work with a love for different cultures, tastes, and people. A graduate of Syracuse University, Deana holds a BFA in environmental and interior design.

Inspired by the beauty of his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, Drew felt called to become an architect at an early age. He attended Southern Polytechnic State University in Atlanta, where he earned a Bachelor of Architecture with a minor in business administration. As a graduating senior he was also the recipient of the Alpha Rho Chi Medal, in recognition of his leadership and service. His career began in Atlanta, where he focused on residential design before coming to Resolution: 4 Architecture in New York. With a decade of experience in award-winning residential projects, he has developed a skill for blending modern contemporary elements with a warm, inviting atmosphere. He also understands how to effectively manage projects and navigate the complexities of construction, ensuring a smooth process from concept to completion. Drew enjoys connecting with other architects and students to guide them through the ins and outs of licensure and the industry. He has shared his insights on various industry podcasts and served as a keynote speaker at the 2019 Young Architect Conference.

Product designer Dwight Wu found his calling at the intersection of engineering and art – but not before trying his hand as a cook, a personal trainer, and a photographer in his native Taipei, Taiwan. After earning a degree in electrical engineering, Dwight came to New York to earn a Master of Industrial Design at Pratt Institute. Though much of his role involves complex problem solving and execution, his favorite projects allow him to work with people who share a similar vision and a passion for bringing that vision to life. Dwight brings a fresh perspective to custom client product and Workshop Collection designs alike. A multihyphenate through and through, Dwight enjoys listening to jazz, training friends, and shooting street photography.

Years of doodling houses in the margins of his middle school notebooks drove Dylan Kessler to a high school summer architecture course at Roger Williams University, where he eventually earned a BS in architecture. But, earning his Master of Architecture from the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin was particularly formative. His time in the desert – worlds away from his childhood in New Jersey – and the program’s extensive international travel, has imbued his work with a sustainable, organic quality and global perspective. Before coming to Workshop/APD he worked on restaurants, international hotels and resorts at Rockwell Group, and on residential and cultural projects with studioMDA. Today, his work is defined by an innate understanding of a project’s purpose and end user, as well as a contemporary aesthetic. Dylan enjoys  pushing the limits of design through technology working in BIM, Revit, Rhino and Enscape and exploring new technologies.

Assistant project manager Emily Ellison joined Workshop/APD with a head start, having a unique blend of experiences from the fields of hospitality, event planning, and interior design sales. Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, Emily earned her B.S. in Hospitality Management from the University of Mississippi before moving to New York City. Both efficient and detail-oriented, she has made herself an indispensable part of our interiors team. With an appreciation for design and a mind for logistics, Emily works with designers to get each project across the finish line with ease.

Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Esteban Campino applies a lifelong interest in architecture and making to his role as an architectural designer at Workshop/APD. Esteban earned his architecture degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, also broadening his global perspective through study abroad in Madrid, Barcelona, and Venice. His current work spans high-end residential and hospitality projects from New York City to South Carolina. Esteban approaches design as a holistic, people-centered practice, shaped by an interest in how place, climate, and materiality influence experience. Known for his persistence and emotional intelligence, he values collaboration and sees design as both a creative and deeply human process. Outside the studio, he enjoys exploring creative pursuits, including floral design, that allow him to continue engaging with design at a personal scale.

From the outset, Workshop/APD’s vertically integrated approach was what drew designer Ethan Reichel to the firm. Ethan believes that high-quality work is best produced through a comprehensive approach, and his background serves as evidence. He earned his BA in environmental design with a minor in graphic design, and certificate in renewables from CU Boulder, and then his Master of Architecture from CU Denver. Ethan went on to work on a wide range of projects at Studio Completive, Stantec and DTJ Design in Colorado before heading East to join our team. The iterative design process has always inspired Ethan, and he looks forward to bringing more projects to life at Workshop/APD.

Though she often dreamed of designing homes as a child, design came later for Fran Fang. With a degree in advertising and marketing from Chinese Culture University in Taiwan and a master’s degree in transportation geography from SUNY Buffalo, she eventually made her way to Pratt Institute to pursue her passion with an interior design degree. In her time at top firms including Wimberly, Tihany and Foster & Partners and in her own practice she has realized restaurant, hotels, and social lounges, relishing the opportunity to create a unique personality and narrative for each project. Fran takes a broad view of every project thanks to her education in geography communications, applying both a contextual and branding lens to a project’s interiors. She enjoys the opportunity to explore project design at all scales at Workshop/APD, where she collaborates with a diverse team of specialists as a single team on residential and hospitality projects.

Originally from Florida, Grace Toal brings a natural interest in people, creativity, and relationship-building to her role at Workshop/APD. After studying Fashion Merchandising and Political Science at Marist University, she shifted from an early interest in law and toward a career rooted in client service and creative industries. Her fashion-focused retail experience, combined with internships in product development and time spent studying abroad in Florence and London, gave her early exposure to design, fashion, and international creative environments. Grace brings a thoughtful approach to sales shaped by strong communication and an intuitive sense of connection, making Workshop/APD a natural fit for her interest in design and the energy of New York City. On the weekends, she enjoys Pilates, cooking, trying new restaurants, and staying active, a passion shaped in part by 13 years as a gymnast.

As a child in Dallas, Texas, Grace Voorheis would often visit open houses with her mother – a real estate agent – brainstorming ways to improve each space. At Tulane University, she later earned dual degrees in architecture and real estate, but ultimately pursued a career in interior design. Grace dove head-first into residential work at a homebuilder in Dallas, managing projects from design, to construction, to installation, before transitioning to a high-end interiors firms with a focus on soft finishes. At Workshop/APD, Grace works to design homes that simplify and beautify clients’ day-to-day lives, applying all of her diverse education and experience to her projects.

Raised in Las Vegas, Hannah found an early creative outlet in drawing before studying graphic design and photography in her high school’s digital media program. Drawn to the possibility of designing beyond two dimensions through architecture, she became interested in its ability to shape complete environments and the way people experience them. At the University of Washington, Hannah studied architectural design and minored in landscape architecture; her work with the university’s capital planning and design team introduced her to interiors and helped bring her multidisciplinary interests into focus. She went on to contribute to high-end residential and real estate development projects in New York and abroad, and now brings that experience to her role as a designer at Workshop/APD, with a focus on FF&E selection and interior millwork. Outside the studio, Hannah enjoys exploring New York’s neighborhoods and coffee shops, bouldering, and running with a local club.

Hunter Suraci’s dedication, organization and discipline began with her 15-year ballet career and early roles in fashion PR. Although she enjoyed her internship at brands like Moschino under Jeremy Scott, she liked the idea of using her skillset and laser-focused mind to assist in making a single person’s life easier. This led her to becoming an assistant at Coldwell Banker Town and Country Properties. These experiences taught her to be extraordinarily resourceful and nimble, able to see how each small task contributes to the big picture. As Executive Assistant to Matt Berman, Hunter’s data-driven approach is part of what keeps things at Workshop/APD running.

For more than two decades, Workshop/APD Principal Tyler Marshall has brought architectural design, engineering insight, technical rigor, and project leadership to some of the firm’s most complex residences. Passionate about architecture as a process of discovery, he considers how each building fits within its environment and how people will experience it. Tyler approaches projects through their site, client, history, and purpose, seeking a distinctive, contextually relevant design response. His work moves fluidly between historic and modern design, reimagining homes and estates through a contemporary lens while preserving the character, craft, and sense of place that make each property unique. 

Though largely focused on the ground-up creation, reimagination, and renovation of significant residences and estates in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey, Tyler’s portfolio extends well beyond the region. He is particularly drawn to a project’s earliest stages, when ideas, spatial logic, material language, and architectural details begin to take shape. From schematic design through construction administration, he guides teams toward thoughtful, buildable solutions and coordinates the technical details required to bring complex projects to completion. A background in both engineering and architecture gives Tyler a holistic understanding of how buildings are conceived, detailed, assembled, and experienced. While pursuing a Bachelor of Science in architectural engineering at the University of Kansas, he discovered an interest in architectural design and completed degrees in both disciplines concurrently. As one of Workshop/APD’s earliest employees, he developed a broad practice spanning design, project management, technical coordination, scheduling, and team leadership. He also contributed to Workshop/APD’s winning entry in Brad Pitt’s 2006 Global Green competition, a pivotal moment in the firm’s growth.  

Tyler’s role has evolved to balance mentoring and communication with design and delivery, working closely with clients, consultants, and internal partners while helping his team develop the judgment and confidence required to lead. Notable work includes residences in New York City’s Printing House, Central Park apartments, the renovation of an 1800s miner’s cottage in Aspen, a Brooklyn town home’s modern reinvention, and a 1920s waterfront Tudor estate in Greenwich, CT. Certified in passive design, he brings a deep appreciation for landscape, environmental performance, and outdoor living to his work. A resident of New York’s Hudson Valley, Tyler spends his free time kayaking, hiking, and climbing in the surrounding area. 

Jaron Popko always knew his future was in architecture. As a child, he would ask his parents for books containing drawings of elevations and floorplans, studying them and earmarking his favorites. After earning a B.S. in Architecture and Master of Architecture from the University of Cincinnati, Jaron returned to his native Pittsburgh, where he spent eight years at AE7 tackling large-scale international projects. As a senior designer at Workshop/APD, he brings a mastery of space, light and sculptural forms to residential and hospitality projects.

Jeremy Morton applies a unique vision and broad interior architecture and project management experience to his projects at Workshop/APD. With eight years of experience in high-end residential and hospitality design, he is involved from concept programming, massing and project narrative, to interior architectural design, material selections and branding elements. A native of Maui, Hawaii, Jeremy has always loved New York for its diversity and cultural complexity, which he now examines and incorporates to enrich his designs. Through his interests in art and photography he has learned to absorb his environment and examine every detail, taking a progressive, open minded approach to every project. Jeremy’s work is inviting and livable, characterized by clean lines and layered curated colors and textures applied to contemporary forms. Jeremy holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Drexel University.

Though he was raised just miles from the American furniture mecca of High Point, North Carolina, Workshop/APD furniture designer Joel Edmondson discovered design through elective courses like woodworking while pursuing a degree in business administration at North Carolina’s Appalachian State University. Location, timing – the media had recently begun to place a broader emphasis on architecture and design – and a newfound passion for furniture converged, leading Joel to SCAD for a master’s degree in fine arts in furniture. Throughout his career, he has applied his business acumen and creativity to produce successful furniture designs at all scales for a wide range of leading trade and consumer brands, both as an in-house designer and in his own practice. Whether it is a luxury gallery piece or a design intended for mass production, Joel is adept at finding the resources necessary to create a unique product that is beautiful and functional, but also efficient and economical. He brings a timeless, modern approach and a reverence for craft to his work, and he particularly enjoys seeing a piece come to life through the process.

Jonah is Workshop/APD’s lead brand evangelist, developing business strategy and catalyzing more meaningful relationships within the industry in order to identify and secure projects that are aligned with our design philosophy. As a child, Jonah was influenced by his grandmother’s modernist aesthetic, igniting a passion for architecture and design and a keen awareness of architecture’s effect on our lives. In his five years at Architizer, he ran the digital design resource’s business development and sales. Today Jonah brings a unique ability to converse about the intricacies of architecture and design to his role, as well as an infectious enthusiasm for projects of every type and scale. Passionate about Workshop/APD’s holistic, vertically integrated approach, he truly enjoys contributing to the firm’s growth by  building connections and serving as a resource for the team and the greater architecture and design industry. A graduate of Tufts University in Massachusetts, Jonah holds a dual BA in political science and architectural studies.

If there’s a problem, Jonathan Kirby will solve it. From client concerns to contractor relations, his ability to consistently and efficiently troubleshoot makes Jonathan an invaluable part of the Workshop/APD team. No matter the scale, meeting the needs of clients, collaborators and teammates gives Jonathan a sense of achievement – especially as our firm continues to grow. Jonathan’s diverse background includes design for higher education, commercial interiors, and high-end residential projects. At Workshop/APD, he has expanded his portfolio to support hospitality projects across North America as well. Jonathan enjoys managing and manipulating the flow of light through a space, changing throughout the day. Jonathan holds a Bachelors in Architecture and a Masters in Architecture from Ball State University, and enjoys playing recreational league softball In his free time.

Jonathan Perkins earned his BFA from the Pratt Institute and started out in the retail and hospitality sectors working for brands such as Dolce & Gabbana and Equinox Fitness. Wanting a develop a closer relationship with clients, he shifted into residential interior design becoming intimately familiar with clients’ needs. Variety drives Jonathan as a designer; he moves quickly between projects, with an appreciation for the differences that each new day brings. Born and raised in New York, Jonathan was a former junior tennis player and still plays daily.

As an architectural designer at Workshop/APD, Jongseok works on a wide variety of residential, hospitality and development projects, handling everything from pre-design to construction administration. With a keen interest in the way different forms can shape human experience and the combination of methodology, he constantly seeks the perfect unity of technical and aesthetic design. Often inspired by the works of other modern architects, he enjoys exploring the various construction techniques and scales that high-end residential properties allow for. A graduate of Kookmin University in Korea and University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Jongseok holds a Bachelor and Master of Architecture.

As a designer in Workshop/APD’s Minneapolis, MN office, Jono Decipeda brings a thoughtful, technically-grounded approach to residential design, with a particular focus on the clarity and precision of architectural representation. Originally from Brisbane, Australia, Jono moved to Cleveland, Ohio at a young age and earned both his Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Master of Architecture from The Ohio State University. His broad professional experience spans architectural roles in outdoor media and housing development, where he developed a strong technical foundation and exposure to large-scale, highly visible projects. Prior to joining Workshop/APD, Jono worked on high-end residential projects in the Twin Cities, further refining his sensitivity to detail and client-driven design. At the firm, he contributes to the development of complex residential work, with an emphasis on producing cohesive, highly legible drawing sets that communicate design intent with clarity. His interest in both visual composition and process-driven craft informs his approach to design. Outside of work, Jono enjoys photography and baking, often experimenting with new recipes.

Project manager Kate Poppel’s dual expertise in landscape architecture and urban planning inform her work on complex master planning exercises where the relationship between structures, site, and the public realm is central. At Workshop/APD, she helps shape projects from the outside in – considering how a site connects to its larger context and how people move through and experience it across seasons and scales.

Kate has worked for a multitude of public, private, and non-profit organizations around the US and in Denmark and Sweden. Before joining Workshop/APD, she spent eight years as a lead planner and master planner at EDSA, with a focus on large-scale hospitality and destination environments as well as high-end residential landscape design. From the Caribbean to the Rocky Mountains, to the Red Sea region, she is passionate about aligning design intent with real-world constraints and balancing ecology, infrastructure, and long-term usability. In the community-facing planning processes, she is known for translating planning and design ideas into clear, accessible language that builds consensus and helps projects move forward. Most recently, Kate worked as a studio manager for a high-end residential landscape design/build in the greater NYC region, rounding out experience that supports her focus on expanding master planning and landscape design at Workshop/APD

Kate holds a Bachelor of Urban Planning and Design from the University of Cincinnati, and dual master’s degrees—a Master of Landscape Architecture and a Master of Urban Planning and Design—from the University of Washington. She is a member of the American Planning Association (APA) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).  Outside of work, she’s a soccer enthusiast and an avid traveler, exploring new places through design and photography. Kate is also active in her local community, volunteering with a community garden and a reading mentorship program.

Skillfully guiding design projects from concept to completion is second nature to Project Manager Kathryn Sheridan, who was raised in the design business. Shaped by years around- and working in – her parents’ residential architecture firm in Rhode Island, Kat developed an early appreciation for the care and collaboration required to bring spaces together in a meaningful way.  At Loyola University Maryland, she received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainability Management, with a minor in Studio Arts. Now LEED certified, Kat’s interest in sustainability continues to influence her work. Naturally organized and detail-oriented, she enjoys being closely involved in the design process while ensuring that schedules, logistics, and coordination align seamlessly to support both the team and the client experience. After navigating each project’s logistical complexities, she is especially drawn to the moment when all the pieces come together to make clients feel truly at home. Outside the studio, Kat enjoys spending time at the beach, exploring museums, and creating art.

Katie Lanski has long been fascinated with buildings, and her experience designing everything from an African embassy to a Miami mixed-use development has given her diverse global perspective. Katie is currently focused on a social living projects at Workshop/APD, creating spaces with an experiential quality where people can come together for work or play. Her role includes collaboration with partners and consultants to bring projects to life, designing interior layouts, and construction administration. In all of these roles, Katie is a problem solver, seeing a space as a puzzle that can fit together ideally for the occupant. Katie’s inspiration comes from her daily exploration of New York City, gathering details and sensations from the structures and spaces around her.

Senior interior designer Kelsey Hutchins brings more than ten years of experience in high-end residential design to her role at Workshop/APD, including a previous stint on the firm’s interior design team. An Austin, Texas native, Kelsey earned her Interior Design degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio and has worked on projects across the U.S. and abroad. Starting at Workshop/APD as a Junior Designer, she advanced to Senior before launching her own firm in 2018.

After several successful years, she returned to Workshop/APD, valuing team collaboration and studio culture. Passionate about residential interiors, Kelsey focuses on helping clients express their style through materiality by exploring palettes, textures, and fabrics. Her style blends classic and eclectic elements inspired by nature. Outside work, she enjoys hiking with her son, visiting botanical gardens, and practicing woodworking, a craft rooted in her hands-on, DIY upbringing.

A licensed architect and project manager at Workshop APD, Kelsey brings a broad and diverse range of experience to high-end residential and hospitality projects across the United States. Raised in Texas and now based in New York City, her work is shaped by the contrast between a grounded, pragmatic approach and the rigor and pace of a dense urban environment. This dual perspective informs how she navigates the intersection of design intent, technical coordination, and execution. She is known for managing complex projects with clarity and precision.

Kelsey’s portfolio reflects a career shaped by variety and challenge; from managing the design and execution of the Armani flagship retail store and luxury condominiums on Manhattan’s Upper East Side to overseeing the transformation of an old movie theater into a modern surgery center. She has also delivered numerous luxury private residences nationwide, each with its own distinct architectural and logistical demands. This breadth of experience informs a thoughtful, adaptable approach to project management, allowing her to anticipate challenges early and guide projects through realization with confidence. Grounded in organization, communication, and attention to detail, Kelsey is deeply invested in translating ambitious design visions into refined, buildable spaces.

Ken brings 14 years of accounting experience to Workshop/APD, where he oversees every financial detail.  His complex day-to-day responsibilities include managing the books, handling and tracking expenses, coordinating client invoices, and assisting with budgeting and forecasting to ensure a solid financial future. Though experienced in finance, Ken is new to work in a creative industry, and he enjoys seeing firsthand the creative, collaborative work he supports and contributes to. Naturally, his favorite projects are the expensive ones. Ken finds inspiration in his creative surroundings and enjoys teaching others about Excel and the fun, easy world of accounting. A graduate of Colorado State University in Pueblo, Ken holds a Bachelor of Science and Business Administration in accounting, with a minor in art.

Khuyen Luong comes to Workshop/APD with an extensive background in institutional design, a vivid imagination and love for sketching. Born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Khuyen earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Ho Chi Minh City University before moving to Boston in 2010 to pursue his Masters in Architecture from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He spent nine years focused primarily on higher education projects for schools like UCSF, University of Victoria, and University of Miami, and public institution Boston Public Library branches. As a project manager, Khuyen balances both designing and managing the team, ensuring a seamless flow of communication between senior leadership, collaborators, and clients. Khuyen spends his free time travelling and exploring places with his family.

What seemed like an excuse to play Minecraft during the school day turned into a genuine interest in building and creating when Kokeith Perry enrolled in drafting class during his junior year of high school. From there, it was off to Syracuse University, where the designer earned his Bachelor of Architecture with minors in philosophy and visual culture. After graduating, Kokeith began his career with an internship at Studio O+A in San Francisco, eventually transitioning to a full-time position. In his time there, he focused on workplace design for major tech companies throughout Silicon Valley, as well as several start-ups. At Workshop/APD, Kokeith is expanding into residential and hospitality projects, exploring the world of adaptive reuse and finding inspiration in clients’ personalities and art collections.

For more than 15 years, Laurin VanBeukering has partnered with designers and clients to identify artworks and develop collections that strengthen a home’s architectural narrative. As an art advisor at Workshop/APD, she balances scale, medium, subject, and budget to create rooms that feel both elevated and livable. With a career rooted at the intersection of interiors and fine art, Laurin’s experience spans hospitality and residential work, including end-to-end coordination of sourcing, custom commissions, framing, and white-glove installation. She began in interior design and expanded her practice into art advisory, progressing from project coordination to senior creative leadership and portfolio development. Laurin earned a degree in interior design from Central Michigan University, with dual minors in art and construction management—an academic foundation that supports her detail-driven, highly collaborative approach. Outside of work Laurin finds inspiration in nature, hiking, working with horses, skiing, and traveling with her family.

Leo Fuchs knew from an early age that he wanted to be an architect, an interest shaped in part by watching his parents build their home in his native Brazil. His path has since taken him across South America, Europe, and the United States, where he earned his Master of Architecture from Yale University and developed more than a decade of experience across high-end residential and hospitality projects. A licensed architect in New York and Brazil and a member of the AIA, Leo has increasingly expanded his practice beyond design into project delivery and development, with an emphasis on guiding projects from their earliest stages through construction.

At Workshop/APD, Leo is a Project Manager, bringing together design thinking with a strong understanding of the complete arc of a project. His approach begins with proportion and the relationships between architectural elements, building from those fundamentals through layers of detail and materiality to create spaces that feel considered as a whole. Outside the studio, Leo enjoys windsurfing, playing tennis, spending time outdoors, and continuing to read about architecture.

With art and antiques in her blood – and nearly two decades of marketing and PR experience in architecture & design – Lisa brings diverse and specialized knowledge to her role leading internal and external communications and brand strategy at Workshop/APD. Drawing on expertise in digital and social media, PR, brand development and events, Lisa ensures that Workshop/APD’s marketing initiatives are aligned with business and creative goals to drive our practice forward. In previous positions at the New York Design Center and as a principal and chief innovation officer at design-focused PR firm VP+C, she honed a creative, strategic approach to campaigns and outreach for clients including Dornbracht, One Kings Lane, Interface, Allsteel, and Benjamin Moore. Lisa holds a BA in journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, and sits on the board of non-profit NYC design atelier The Alpha Workshops.

Project Manager Logan Dumont – a northern California native and San Diego State graduate with a BA in Public Administration and an emphasis on city planning – always dreamed of a career in architecture. Though he ended up working in digital post-production for TV and film after graduation, Logan ultimately returned to the University of Southern California to obtain a Master of Architecture. Since then, he has practiced on both coasts, with projects spanning high-end residential and hospitality design. Logan is passionate about the conceptual development of a project, creating a story to tie each element of a project together. Having worked at firms both large and small his experience spans every aspect of the design process, a diverse skill set he now applies to projects at Workshop/APD. Passionate about detailing, Logan strives to create breathtaking spaces that are unique to their occupants. Logan is an avid sports fan who enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding, and a good dirty martini.

In the seventh grade, Maddie Perry decided that she would be an interior designer and she has never wavered from that vision. A South Carolina native, she earned a BS in interior design from Auburn University and then moved to the West Coast to explore hospitality design with a San Francisco firm.  After spending years immersing herself in the complex design mechanisms and logistics of large hotels she moved to New York to pursue more residential projects, and a desire to focus on smaller scales and details. Maddie’s technical background provides a strong foundation for her creative work, which now includes luxury residences and boutique hospitality amenity spaces. Her favorite part of her job is working with a multidisciplinary team and diverse consultants, as well as the meaningful relationships and highly customized residential designs that emerge from direct collaboration with clients.

Designer Marcus Miller comes to Workshop/APD with nearly a decade of experience in New York City’s design world. Originally from a small town in western New York, Marcus chose design as a way to build and beautify the world in their own vision. With a background in virtually every sector – from commercial to institutional, hospitality to healthcare – Marcus roots all their work in craft and creativity. Outside of the studio, they’re building community at design industry events or coaching the Ramblers, New York’s LGBTQ soccer club.

As an architectural designer at Workshop/APD, Mariah Langlois supports a range of projects through research, analysis, and conceptual development. A graduate of Lehigh University’s undergraduate architecture program, she also holds a Master of Architecture from Yale University, where hands-on design/build experiences shaped her appreciation for collaboration, craft, and the realities of building.

Prior to joining Workshop/APD, Mariah gained experience in both professional and academic studio settings, including work at a boutique New York–based practice and a role focused on research-driven and exhibition design. Mariah approaches architecture as an act of listening and translation, focused on creating work that is specific to each client and context. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, stained glass, furniture design, painting, and spending time outdoors – interests that reflect her love of making and material exploration.

As Workshop/APD’s Office Manager, Mary-Brett blends structure and spontaneity to keep the firm’s operations running smoothly. Originally from a small town outside Orlando, she moved to New York at 18 to attend NYU, earning a BA in Art History, German, and Comparative Literature, and an MA in Museum Studies. Previous roles span galleries, museums, and design firms, including five years at Ralph Appelbaum Associates, where she rose from Executive Assistant to Director of People Operations. Mary-Brett joined Workshop/APD in 2023 and quickly found her stride in studio operations, vendor management, and cultural programming. She’s passionate about creating environments that support creativity and connection, whether refining internal processes, coordinating logistics, or greeting clients with warmth and ease. A lifelong collector, she lives in an eclectic, maximalist home filled with warm tones and meaningful objects, treating her space as a personal museum of memory and design.

Matt Berman believes passionately in the transformative power of good design. A founding principal at New York City design + architecture firm Workshop/APD, Berman considers the built environment a player and protagonist in its inhabitants’ lives, with the ability to create a mood and catalyze more meaningful interactions and experiences.

Since the firm’s inception in 1999, he has encouraged clients to demand more of their spaces, creating modern hotels, restaurants, high-end homes, luxury residential developments and institutional projects that engage the senses and invite inquiry at every scale.  Today, he leads Workshop/APD’s growing hospitality practice, setting the scene for an ever-changing cast of characters with spaces that are interactive, engaging and intrinsically tied to their locations.

Matt’s passion for perfectly imperfect materials and finishes worked by hand, machine or mother nature imbues his work with a timeless, tactile quality.  He is known for pursuing technological advances in construction, fabrication and materials to solve complex design challenges in groundbreaking projects such as Building 92 in Brooklyn’s Navy Yard, which uniquely meshes raw, industrial beauty with sustainable technologies.

In grade 8, May Lee Birks was voted most likely to be an architect – a consensus delivered by her classmates, who saw her obsession with miniatures of homes as more than a hobby. Years later, May Lee would go on to complete her B.Sc in Architecture at McGill University and her Master of Architecture at Cornell, where she was awarded the AIA Henry Adams medal and the Eschweiler Prize for distinction in design studio. After internships at the New York offices of SOM and COOKFOX, she relocated to the city full time upon graduating and later joined the team at Workshop/APD. To May Lee, successful design is often subtle to perceive: flawless details, intuitive finishes, and a thoughtful manipulation of light.

Originally from Maine, Senior Designer Megan Doughty brings over a decade of experience in architecture  to Workshop/APD. She earned her BA in Sociology and Communications from Tufts University before pivoting to design, completing her AAS in Interior Design at Parsons School of Design. Megan began her career in private residential architecture, later expanding into retail and hospitality, with notable work at Dutch East Design and Longchamp USA. She’s led projects across the country from concept through construction, with a portfolio spanning luxury hotels, restaurants, homes, and multi-family developments.

Megan joined Workshop/APD in 2025, drawn to the firm’s collaborative culture and the opportunity to work on projects that blend storytelling, craft, and scale. Her current work includes a new hotel in Charleston and a residential development in Midtown Manhattan, where she focuses on interior detailing, circulation, and guest experience. She finds inspiration in travel, people, and the layered architecture of cities like New York, where history and modern life coexist in every block. Outside the studio, Megan enjoys musical theater, and crafting—from ceramics to knitting.

Raised on a family farm in Minnesota, Michael Hanslick was immersed in the rhythms of making and problem‑solving, an upbringing that continues to inform his thoughtful, tailored approach to architecture as a Senior Project manager at Workshop/APD. He began his academic career studying mathematics and art history at Carleton College, where he became interested in how buildings, objects, and artworks tell stories about the people, culture, and time that produced them. This dual interest led him to architecture after attending a summer program at Harvard, where he discovered a discipline that merged conceptual thinking with spatial, aesthetic, and experiential interests. He went on to earn a Master of Architecture from Columbia University.

Michael’s extensive professional experience spans residential projects from the Midwest, to New York, to Korea, and includes more than a decade running his own residential practice designing homes that balance material richness, spatial clarity, and a strong sense of place. At Workshop/APD, he oversees projects from concept through execution, combining detailed hands‑on design involvement with rigorous project management. He is particularly interested in how architecture is experienced—how light, proportion, materiality, and context shape the way a home feels over time. Outside the studio, Michael enjoys spending time with his family, following Timberwolves basketball, staying active, reading, and visiting museums.

Principal Michael Luft-Weissberg brings broad architectural knowledge, technical rigor, and a deeply collaborative approach to complex projects at Workshop/APD. Since joining in 2015, he has led work across North America, including ground-up homes, comprehensive renovations, boutique hospitality projects, and coastal projects shaped by evolving climate and regulatory considerations. An expert generalist, Michael is adept at navigating the interdependent decisions required to move projects from concept through construction, transforming complex conditions into clear, executable solutions. 

Drawn to tectonic expression, honest materials, craft, and detail that reveal a building’s character, Michael approaches architecture as both a design discipline and a process of continuous resolution and refinement. He believes design continues through construction, when collaboration with skilled craftspeople and trades brings a project fully into focus. Equally attentive to the larger vision and the finely crafted components that support it, he views technical requirements, building science, and code compliance not as constraints, but as opportunities to make a project more intelligent, beautiful, and enduring. 

A steady, optimistic leader, Michael builds partnerships around shared goals and mutual respect. A trusted collaborator with clients, architects, designers, consultants, contractors, boards, and agencies alike, he guides teams through challenging entitlement, environmental, historic, and regulatory processes. He values collective effort, and believes the best outcomes emerge when specialized perspectives operate as a cohesive whole. His leadership style is grounded in teaching through doing, helping motivated teams build the judgment and confidence to do their best work. This commitment to learning extends across the practice and profession. In addition to leading Workshop/APD’s mentorship program, he focuses on improving the tools and operational practices that help teams deliver exceptional work, including the integration of sustainable approaches in both projects and office operations. Michael holds a BFA in fine art and design from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Master of Architecture from the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of New York. He is a Registered Architect in more than 10 states, and an active member of both the AIA and NCARB.  A father, pilot, and musician, he lives and continues to learn through the same curiosity, focus, and capacity for complex problem solving that inform his work. 

Basically born to the industry, Naba Lang’s interest in the AEC space seemed preordained. Born to an architectural engineer and a construction manager in  Columbia, Maryland, Naba earned her associates degree in communications from Howard Community College. Drawn to administrative work, Naba started a role as a legal assistant at an immigration law firm, eventually graduating to paralegal before pivoting back to project management. After a few years in environmental hazard abatement, Naba sought a role that supported designers, bringing her to Workshop/APD. A creative problem solver with a knack for project leadership, Naba brings curiosity and purpose to the role of studio coordinator. In her free time, she enjoys woodworking and attending live concerts of all kinds.

Director of Human Resources Natalia Torres brings more than a decade of experience building and optimizing HR functions at hospitality, technology, and AEC professional services firms. A native of Ecuador, Natalia earned a psychology degree at SUNY Geneseo before starting her career in HR. In her first role at Neighborhood Projects Hospitality, she established the company’s HR department and guided its expansion to six locations and more than 350 employees. Since then she has broadened her expertise at SA Hospitality Group and SOCOTEC, supporting multi-state operations, leading acquisitions integrations, and managing HR functions for more than 1,000 employees. At Workshop/APD, Natalia oversees all aspects of human resources, including recruitment, onboarding, compliance, employee relations, performance management, and professional development. Known for her hands-on, people-first approach, she is passionate about creating high-performing teams and cultivating an environment where employees feel empowered, supported, and engaged. She lives in Queens with her daughter and her dog.  She enjoys biking, rollerblading, and exploring city parks.

Natalie Samay’s love for interior design began early — she spent her childhood sketching floor plans on an iPad, rearranging furniture, and imagining how small changes might transform the feeling of a room. A recent graduate of Indiana University’s Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture and Interior Design with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, she brings both a strong design foundation and a thoughtful, people-first sensibility to her work. Before joining Workshop/APD as a Junior Designer, Natalie gained hands-on experience at a small residential firm on the New Jersey shore, where she helped to develop beach house projects from concept through detailing. Natalie’s own “simply eclectic” aesthetic is clean and calm, with an emphasis on found pieces, muted color, and spaces that feel cozy, happy, and lived-in. Outside the studio, she can be found on long walks, trying new coffee shops, cooking, and spending time at the beach.

Designer Naz Ertugrul’s creative journey bridges cultures, disciplines, and design typologies. Originally from Istanbul, she earned a BFA in Interior Design from Parsons and a Master’s in Exhibition & Experience Design from FIT, where she discovered a passion for materials and spatial storytelling.

At Workshop/APD, she helps to guide both early design development and final-stage documentation on residential projects. Passionate about bold ideas and brainstorming, she thrives in the concept phase and is inspired by color, materiality, and experiential storytelling. Outside of the studio, Naz enjoys exploring New York’s museums, creative spaces, and weekend escapes to nature.

Nelson Fontanez brings a hands-on, systems-first approach to technology at Workshop/APD, where he is tasked with keeping the firm’s tools and processes running smoothly and moving forward. Nelson’s previous experience as a construction project manager provides him with context to match his technical expertise, making him invaluable to the team and its consultants.  Following certificate studies at PC Age Tech Technical Institute, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Cloud Computing from Western Governors University, leading to a role as an IT Manager within a top architecture firm. At Workshop/APD, Nelson is focused on centralizing and advancing IT systems and environments that support the many ways the Workshop/APD team works; online, in the studio and on site, to improve reliability and access. In addition to providing crucial IT support, he also partners with the firm’s technical studio to evaluate emerging AI tools and streamline implementation. Outside of work, Nelson is an avid sports fan and gamer, and a retro electronics enthusiast who loves to revive classic consoles.

Nicole Ficano’s sophisticated aesthetic vision – honed at top design firms on both coasts – is matched by an equal dedication to process. The result is a uniquely seamless experience for both her clients and team, resulting in stunning interiors executed to perfection. As principal, Nicole leads Workshop/APD’s interior design practice, collaborating across disciplines to bring complex projects to life at every scale. Nicole’s layered, luxurious designs are grounded in functionality and defined by a relentless pursuit of new techniques, forms, and materials. Ranging from modern urban homes to elegant single-family residences, her work effortlessly blends new, custom-designed, and found furnishings, gallery pieces, natural textures, and sculptural lighting.

The relationship between interior designer and client is especially intimate, and Nicole takes her role as an advisor and confidant seriously, thoughtfully reflecting and translating her clients’ needs and desires for the built environment. Each space is beautifully customized to the way clients truly live and executed with particular sensitivity to the client experience, as well as their budgets and timelines.

This highly tailored approach is also evident in her leadership at Workshop/APD, where she is passionate about mentorship and professional development, fine-tuning team members’ roles to best suit their individual talents and interests. With the unique perspective gained through regular collaboration with the firm’s architecture, product, and operations studios, she has also worked to streamline operations, improve workflow, and adapt business strategies for a wide range of personalities and project needs, with an eye towards strategic growth. A graduate of Cazenovia College in New York, Nicole holds a BA in fine arts with a focus in interior design. An avid equestrian who rides and competes in her free time, she also enjoys spending time on the water, cooking, and baking.

After several summers interning with the firm, Nihar Varadappagari joined Workshop/APD full time as a designer focused on residential projects. During grade school, Nihar’s family hired an architect for their home, whom he watched dutifully, deciding that he’d one day become one himself. From his high school thesis on the Louvre in Abu Dhabi to his first internship in experiential design, Nihar focused on bringing all his schoolwork and hobbies back to design. While completing a Bachelor of Architecture at Syracuse University, he spent semesters in New York and Florence, absorbing inspiration from the two cities’ rich architectural landscapes. Born in Mumbai and raised in Dubai, Nihar brings a global perspective to his work.

An architectural industry veteran, Olivia brings more than 15 years of experience to her role at Workshop/APD. She coordinates even the finest of details, developing drawings and managing communications with consultants and clients. Olivia oversees projects from beginning to end, tackling every challenge with curiosity and excitement and avidly pursuing beautifully and impeccably realized design. At Workshop/APD, she also applies her years of experience in high-end residential and development work to hospitality projects, finding inspiration through collaboration with clients and team members, as well as her projects’ diverse locations. Olivia holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Southern California.

Orit Theuer has a unique talent for craft and creative ideation. Her explorations began with textiles, sewing, and drawing, before evolving into the digital realm with 3D modeling and rendering as she began to study architecture. She finds deep satisfaction in visual outputs, and how they play into the spaces she designs – the more customized and detailed, the better. A native of Austria, Orit received both Bachelor and Master of Architecture degrees from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, also participating in exchange programs in Copenhagen and Jerusalem. Before moving to New York, she also worked in Beijing as a landscape architect. She finds inspiration comes through a sort of gradual osmosis by exposing herself to new ideas, people and places, closely studying space, and constantly exploring new angles.

As a Marketing Coordinator at Workshop/APD, Pamela Lahoz brings a research-driven, creatively grounded approach to telling the firm’s stories. A lifelong New Yorker raised in Manhattan, Pamela’s interest in creativity traces back to childhood when, in a home video, she declared she wanted to be an artist “because I like to color.” She studied business and fashion at New York College of Technology, where a textile course sparked a lasting curiosity about sustainability and the value of sourcing with intention – principles she carries into her work today. Prior to joining Workshop/APD, Pamela gained PR experience in a top NYC firm, supporting efforts across multiple brands and managing fast-paced press logistics and sample trafficking. Outside the office, she channels her creativity into passion projects—from concept campaign work to building an interactive “Virtual Girl” website—along with scrapbooking, thrifting, and long walks in Central Park.

Self-starter Rhayanne Faggi has been in love with the energy and creativity that permeates New York City ever since her first stint in the Big Apple as a Brazilian exchange student. She began to pursue a career in accounting immediately following high school, working for a number of tech companies while completing a B.S. in Accounting from Methodist University of São Paulo. At Workshop/APD, she works alongside our interiors team to manage billing and reconcile expenses – a complex and crucial role that allows her to aid in the creative process.

Part of Workshop/APD’s Minneapolis team, Ryan is responsible for design, planning and coordination for luxury residences and multi-family developments across the US. Inspired by beauty in architecture and nature and guided by a love of collaboration, Ryan produces creative, modern spaces to fit clients’ unique needs. With an affinity for interiors and exceptional millwork, finishes and details, he is dedicated to establishing and implementing innovative computational techniques through parametric design. As a member of Dunwoody College of Technology’s second graduating class, Ryan also helped to shape the Minneapolis, MN school’s Bachelor of Architecture and Design curriculum.

Project Manager Salvatore Asaro brings more than a decade of architectural experience to his role at Workshop/APD, where he acts as a hub for the many parties involved in a complex design and building process. After earning a B.S. in Architecture and a Master of Architecture from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, MI, he explored a range of building typologies including large retail development, corporate workplace, higher education, and single-family residential projects, learning to optimize best practices while staying true to the overarching design narrative. Having moved to New York in part for its architecture, Salvatore spends weekends exploring the city, seeking inspiration and trying new restaurants.

Bringing nearly a decade of experience to the Workshop/APD team, Sam enjoys developing designs from conceptual and schematic design, to construction coordination and completion. He searches for opportunities to reflect and reset outdoors, finding the balanced perspective to create beautifully efficient and environmentally conscious properties. An avid surfer, Sam translates a passion for the ocean into properties with a holistic coastal narrative. A graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, Sam holds a BFA in architecture and a Master of Architecture.

In a world of seemingly unlimited options, how can a designer make each element feel like it belongs in a space? For interior designer Sarah Evans, each project begins with this guiding question. Sarah earned a BFA in interior design at the University of Georgia before returning to her native Atlanta to begin her career in boutique hospitality and residential design at Summerour Architects. She later pivoted to commercial work at Niles Bolton, working on a wide range of projects from airplane hangars to student housing. At Workshop/APD, she brings this broad experience and an ability to weave and integrate a design narrative into her projects, exploring a sense of place and play at the intersection of typologies.

As a furniture designer at Workshop/APD, Sarem Khan develops custom furnishings and collections that bridge artistic expression and technical precision. With nearly two decades of experience across furniture, product, and industrial design, Sarem brings a thoughtful approach shaped by concept development, manufacturing expertise, and a passion for creating objects that enrich everyday life.

Raised between Karachi, Dubai, and Canada, Sarem draws inspiration from the diverse landscapes and cultures that have shaped his perspective—from the deserts of the Middle East to the prairies of Alberta. After earning a degree in Industrial Design from the University of Alberta, he built a career designing furniture and products for commercial and residential clients across North America.

Prior to joining Workshop/APD, Sarem spent nearly a decade at Article, where he helped develop furniture collections that contributed to the company’s growth as a leading retailer. Earlier in his career, he worked within an architecture and interior design practice developing furniture lines and later applied his design skills to visual communication initiatives for a maternal health organization in Pakistan. In his current role, Sarem is inspired by the opportunity to create highly customized pieces that respond to a project’s unique character. He believes the most successful designs balance beauty, function, and craftsmanship while offering a sense of surprise and delight. Outside the studio, Sarem enjoys painting, photography, hiking, and playing guitar.

Sheryl Peng’s path to graphic design and branding began with hands-on academic and freelance work, including collaborative projects with Harvard Innovation Lab during – and after  – her time at Boston University. As a consultant, her branding projects for emerging startups included developing brand identities and visual systems for early-stage teams, shaping her interest in branding as both a strategic and creative discipline. Sheryl approaches design as a practical tool- creating clear, accessible, and purpose-driven visual work that helps organizations communicate effectively. Alongside this pragmatic focus, she maintains a strong interest in exploratory and research-driven creative practice, informed by her academic thesis work and curiosity around ecological design and design for design’s sake. This balance between rigor and experimentation continues to influence her perspective as a designer. At Workshop/APD, Sheryl works across internal and client-facing brand initiatives, contributing to the evolution of the firm’s visual identity while supporting a wide range of branding and marketing efforts. On the weekend, she enjoys line dancing, skiing, hiking, and tackling puzzles of all kinds.

As a Principal at Workshop/APD, Stephan Thimme helps shape the systems, standards, and collaborative processes that underpin the firm’s work across architecture, interiors, and planning. For more than two decades, he has played a central role in Workshop/APD’s evolution, helping guide its growth from a small studio to an internationally recognized multidisciplinary practice. Stephan is responsible for the overall quality and consistency of the 100+ person team’s technical output, overseeing initiatives that span documentation, digital modeling, visualization, and emerging technologies, supporting the firm’s increasingly sophisticated and complex projects. He views the architect’s work fundamentally as an act of communication, ensuring that exciting design concepts are translated into clear, cohesive, and reliable information that can be effectively realized by clients, consultants, contractors, and project teams alike.

In his time at Workshop/APD, Stephan has seen hundreds of projects to completion. The expertise from these stories provides him with the clear understanding of the processes that make a successful project. Known for his thoughtful and measured approach, Stephan serves as both a mentor and facilitator within the practice. He is committed to fostering an environment where knowledge is shared openly, standards remain exceptionally high, and individuals are empowered with the tools and resources needed to do their best work. He believes successful projects are built not only throughout design excellence, but through trust, clarity, and a commitment to continuous learning. Throughout his tenure, Stephan has also been instrumental in developing the tools and frameworks that support firm operations. From creating some of Workshop/APD’s earliest project management systems to implementing firmwide support platforms and advancing AI-driven workflows, he has consistently championed innovation in service of stronger collaboration and better project outcomes.

Originally from Germany, Stephan holds a degree in architecture from RWTH Aachen, one of the country’s leading technical schools. He relocated to New York following his studies and early professional experience in Germany, having previously completed internships in NYC that inspired the move. Outside the studio, Stephan enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, continuing the never-ending restoration of their 120-year-old Staten Island home, listening to jazz, and following soccer.

Originally from Saratoga Springs, New York, Senior Designer Stephanie Yaeger brings six years of experience in high-end residential architecture to Workshop/APD. She earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in architecture from Roger Williams University before joining a New York-based firm, where she focused on luxury homes around Saratoga Lake and Lake George. Stephanie’s interest in architecture began in high school, where a design-focused class sparked her passion for the field. Her experience also includes work on modern residences in Austin, Texas, where she was involved in every phase of the design process—from initial proposals to construction documents.

Stephanie joined Workshop/APD in 2025, drawn to the firm’s modern aesthetic and eager to expand her practice in high-end residential design at a larger scale. Her work allows her to explore new locations including Nantucket, overseeing construction documentation and coordination, while also mentoring junior team members. Outside of the studio, she enjoys golfing, cooking, and exploring New York’s restaurant scenes. A former college field hockey player, she’s always up for a game—and hopes to one day have enough time to finally get a dog.

A competitive kayak polo player, Tarika – also known as Pin – brings equal drive and determination to her design work. At Workshop/APD, Pin is dedicated to creating and developing interior architecture concepts and environments to fit clients’ needs, while meeting complex regulatory standards. A fan of ground-up construction, she enjoys being involved in all aspects of a project, aligning each piece of a complex puzzle and nurturing a design from inception to its realization. Not one to shy away from a challenge, she is inspired by hardworking colleagues, tackles experiences that push her to grow, and thrives on the ability to explore and discover through her design process. A graduate of The Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, Pin holds a BFA in architecture and a Master of Architecture.

Design Manager Tyler Wolcott’s work spanning high-end residential and luxury hospitality environments focuses on creating spaces that feel intuitive, enduring, and deeply comfortable. Trained as an architect, his spatially driven approach prioritizes the user’s experience within the built environment before thoughtfully applying visual elements to create one-of-a-kind interiors. Tyler favors timeless design that supports daily life and shared experience, avoiding trend-driven gestures in favor of unique detailing and an approachable-yet-elevated aesthetic. Whether shaping a private home or a hospitality setting, he is passionate about the ways thoughtful design can move people through space, catalyze connections, and create emotion.

Tyler’s expertise is born from years at leading design firms including Meyer Davis, Rockwell Group, and Pembrooke & Ives. His diverse experience allows him to move fluidly between typologies, often translating lessons between hospitality and residential work – and most recently luxury branded residential projects – to create cohesive, refined environments. As a design manager, Tyler leads teams with a collaborative, mentorship‑driven approach, encouraging exploration while guiding projects with conceptual clarity and an editor’s eye. A graduate of Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Architecture and a minor in theater design, he is passionate about travel, fitness, and spending time outdoors.

As an Assistant Project Manager at Workshop/APD, Vanessa Haertig brings an analytical and creative perspective to the interior design team. A graduate of Binghamton University with a degree in economics, Vanessa began her career in finance and startup operations, developing a strong foundation in project management, communication, and problem-solving. Though her path first took her through operational roles, design had always been a constant interest, shaped by a creative family, childhood floorplans, and curiosity about how spaces come together. After time spent traveling through Spain and Germany, where she found inspiration in architecture, landscape, and the work of Antoni Gaudí, Vanessa became certain that her next step was in the design world. Outside of work, she enjoys drawing furniture, creating mood boards, painting, hiking, and playing tennis.

Victoria Wilson’s interest in architecture began early, shaped by time spent with her father on site visits, where she observed firsthand how buildings come together and how spaces take shape. A particularly formative experience came when he asked for her help in redesigning his house – an exciting and challenging opportunity that allowed her to push Nantucket’s typical building boundaries while incorporating her own approach. These experiences sparked a lasting curiosity about construction, design, and the relationship between people and the built environment. Victoria earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with minors in Building and Construction Technology and Art History, before completing her Master of Architecture at Pratt Institute. In her role at Workshop/APD, Victoria brings a thoughtful eye to circulation, and atmosphere. Outside of the studio, she enjoys cooking, exploring museums throughout New York City, discovering new books, and taking long walks with her boxer, Echo.

A 17-year Workshop/APD veteran, Zach has been integral in shaping the firm’s identity from its earliest days. In 2012 he moved from New York City to Minneapolis, Minnesota, establishing our firm’s Great Lakes Region office and building a centralized team to more efficiently service clients in the Midwest and on the west coast. Today, he leads high-end residential and multi-family development projects across the US, overseeing design, day-to-day client relations, and project realization in close collaboration with the entire Workshop/APD team.

As a high school student in Sumner, Iowa, Zach discovered a love of art and geometry, leading to a five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree at the Iowa State University, followed by a Master of Architecture from Columbia University – selected for its position as a digital fabrication leader. There, he focused on architectural theory, honing 3D software skills and developing a lifelong interest in groundbreaking building technologies. He has been with Workshop/APD since graduation, cutting his teeth on high-end residential projects – where he became known for jaw-dropping kitchen designs – and focusing on developing the overarching client experience and journey. A decisive, technical designer, Zach enjoys owning the process from start to finish to ensure that the design intent is perfectly executed. He is passionate about collaborating with partners that will push the boundaries of fabrication and material to create a unique and impactful moment within a space and blurring the line between minimalist architecture and art.

As an Architectural Designer at Workshop/APD, Zhi Mankin contributes to residential and hospitality projects across North America. Prior to joining the firm, he worked at a boutique architecture and custom metal fabrication studio, gaining hands-on experience in single-family residential, restaurant, commercial design and construction.

Passionate about materiality and detail, he gravitates toward public-facing spaces like hotels and restaurants, where thoughtful design can bring people together and be enjoyed by a wider community. A California native from the East Bay, Zhi earned his Bachelor of Architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, including a year in Florence, Italy. Outside the studio, he enjoys woodworking, photography, music, and hiking.