For more than two decades, 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, 80-person team with offices in New York City, Minneapolis, and Greenwich, CT, and teams in Nantucket, Palm Beach, 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 Phoenix to Miami and Houston; Hotels including AutoCamp and Martha’s Vineyard’s Kelley House, 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.

With commissions in locales as diverse as New York City and the Bahamas, Sun Valley, Aspen, and Big Sky, Boston, Palm Beach, California, London and Miami, Andrew is adept at understanding and designing places that are relevant to – and seamlessly integrated within- the local landscape. His spaces are timelessly modern, functional, and marked by a focus on extraordinary materials and techniques. He is fascinated with the craft of making and can often be found on job sites with fabricators, tradespeople and artisans, perfecting a project’s details, furnishings and fittings.

Andrew is dedicated to supporting local and educational initiatives, serving as a board member for Suffield Academy and the Artists Association of Nantucket, and ardently supporting Swim Across America. A resident of Irvington, NY, Nantucket, MA, and Palm Beach, FL, he enjoys sailing, outdoor sports and travel with his wife Emily and children, Grace and William. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Lehigh University and a Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan. He has served as a visiting professor at Pratt Institute and as a visiting critic at the New York Institute of Technology, Columbia University, Lehigh University, Parsons School of Design and the University of Michigan.  He co-authored Workshop/APD Homes: Architecture, Interiors and the Spaces Between (Rizzoli, Fall ’22) along with co-founder Matt Berman and author Marc Kristal.

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.

A formative stint at ANY Magazine made Matt acutely aware of the implications of design at every scale, propelling him from architectural journalism to a career in architecture and design.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lehigh University and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University, and has served as a visiting professor at Pratt Institute.  Along with Bernard Tschumi he co-edited Index Architecture (MIT Press, 2003), and hosted the original television series What the Window Washer Saw, about the world’s most iconic skyscrapers. Matt resides in Brooklyn, NY and Asbury Park, NJ with his husband, Jim, and their son Owen and bulldog, Watson.

For three generations, Workshop/APD principal architect Thomas Zoli’s family has helped to shape the Northeast’s architecture and infrastructure. Born to the building trades, he spent his early years on job sites learning to operate every piece of heavy machinery possible while honing an eye for building architecture and construction. Today, he is known for the development of strategic solutions for commissions of every type and scale, and his design work and project management reflect an incisiveness, practicality and institutional knowledge that is critical to project delivery.

Thomas’ considerable experience in architecture and construction- including nearly three decades of work in New York City architecture – result in designs that are as functional as they are memorable, resonating beyond transient notions of beauty. Since joining Workshop/APD as Director of Architecture in 2011, he has overseen all of the firm’s architectural output, bringing a technical mastery of space, light, technology and design to projects including major residential developments The Printing House, 88 & 90 Lexington Avenue and 111 Leroy Street; luxury estates in Nantucket, the Hamptons and Miami; numerous high-end apartments, townhouses, and commercial renovations in New York City; and hospitality and social living projects nationwide.

He has worked on a wide range of project typologies, from modern residences and luxury residential developments to large-scale institutional projects including the design and renovation of Newark Airport for Continental and JFK Airport terminal 4 for Delta during his time at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.  At Gluckman Tang, his projects included the Whitney Breuer Museum renovation and addition, concept and master planning for the Guggenheim Hudson Yards, museums and galleries including The Picasso Museum in Malaga, The Tang Museum, The Parrish Museum, Gagosian Galleries, Yvon Lambert, projects for Jenny Holzer, Chuck Close and François Pinault, Second Stage Theater, the Robin Hood Foundation, Syracuse University Architecture School, and Helmut Lang’s NY and Tokyo retail flagships and studios. At Gluck+, he was the Construction Manager and architect onsite for a ground-up design/build of a modern gatehouse with two guesthouses and recreation facility in the Lake George Region.

Thomas earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Lehigh University and a Master of Architecture from Syracuse University, where he received the James Britton Memorial Award for the school’s top thesis project.  He is dedicated to fostering young talent, championing professional development and mentoring Workshop/APD’s architectural staff and, as a visiting professor at the New York Institute of Technology, teaching digital design and 3D visualization.  An outdoor enthusiast, he resides in New York City and Lake George, NY with his wife Carol, daughters Paloma and Malena, and dog Pixie. He is a registered architect in NY, CT, CO, FL, GA, MA, MT, NJ, PA, TX, UT, and VT.

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.

Andrew views the built environment as a communication tool capable of evoking emotions and meaningful human interaction. It is an ethos that drew him to hospitality and retail design early in his career and has guided his later work including luxury residences, multi-family developments and products. As associate principal, he leads a multidisciplinary team of architects, interior designers and product designers working collaboratively across project verticals at every scale. Dedicated to creating a holistic experience, his creative process is guided by the development of a fully-realized conceptual narrative which creates a lens through which all design decisions are filtered, resulting in a unified creative direction from architecture and interiors to furnishings. As a leader, Andrew is known for fostering seamless collaboration, drawing on each team member’s unique skills and experience and pushing the boundaries of design at Workshop/APD to inspire the best outcome. He is passionate about space planning, determining the project’s energy in the initial plan sketch, then realizing that energy through massing, elevation studies and finally color, texture and materiality.

Inspired by his grandfather, an artist, Andrew began drawing lessons at a young age. A summer studying graphic design at Otis College of Art & Design in Los Angeles catalyzed his love of design, leading to a Bachelors of Fine Art in Interior Design from Columbus College of Art and Design, in Columbus, OH as well as a Master of Architecture from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, MI.  An internship at LBrands in Columbus led to a full-time role in the retail giant’s NY headquarters, designing stores for multiple brands in the US and abroad. Prior to joining Workshop/APD in 2017, he worked at Yabu Pushelberg designing high-end multifamily projects and luxury hotels in the US, Middle East and Asia.

Brook 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.  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.  A 14-year veteran of 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.

Halfway through a Bachelor of Science in architectural engineering at the University of Kansas, Tyler discovered a passion for architectural design as well. It was an ah-ha moment that led him to pursue a second BS in architecture, completing the two demanding five-year programs concurrently.  Drawn to Workshop/APD in its earliest days by the opportunity to work on a project from its inception through to completion, he is known for a unique ability to draw upon his background in architecture and engineering to skillfully manage every aspect of a ground-up project. Tyler’s interest in – and technical mastery of – architectural design and visualization tools have been a driving force in pinnacle Workshop/APD residential projects including 111 Leroy Street, instantly-recognizable NYC apartments in NYC’s Printing House and on Central Park West, as well as an iconic renovation of an 1800s Aspen, CO miner’s cabin. He also contributed to Workshop/APD’s winning entry in Brad Pitt’s 2006 Global Green sustainable design competition. Today, Tyler’s primary focus is on ground-up construction, from schematic design to design development and construction administration. In each of his projects he relishes the opportunity to evolve traditional exterior details in compelling, modern ways. For nearly four years Tyler has been dedicated to the reinvention of a 1920s Tudor residence on the Greenwich, CT waterfront, deconstructing and reimagining the classic home’s aesthetics, functionality and efficiency in a modern way. Tyler is certified in passive design, and enjoys connecting with nature. A recent transplant to New York’s Hudson Valley, he spends his free time outdoors, kayaking, hiking and climbing in the surrounding area.

Since joining Workshop/APD in 2015, Michael Luft-Weissberg has advanced through the firm’s ranks to the role of Managing Director and Senior Associate, overseeing the day-to-day coordination of a large number of projects.  Michael works directly with Designers, consultants, contractors and our amazing clients bringing a breadth of experience and knowledge to the execution of our work. He is passionate about ground-up construction and inspired by the search for technical beauty and clever design solutions. This focus informs his work on difficult projects in regions with unique design and regulatory restrictions. Michael is passionate about teaching and learning, and has developed courses on design and Building Information Modeling (Revit) at the graduate level, and he constantly seeks opportunities to educate himself and the Workshop team. He holds a BFA in fine art and design from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a Master of Architecture from The Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of New York.

In nearly 20 years at Workshop/APD, Stephan has seen hundreds of projects through from pre-design to successful completion, with a focus on highly-customized luxury homes. He believes that the secret to his long career at Workshop/APD is the ever-evolving nature of the firm and our field, noting that he “never had to change jobs because thankfully, my job keeps changing.” Stephan has always relished participating in the maturing of each project from a quick sketch to a very complex and highly refined finished home, and the many collaborative interactions with clients, teammates, consultants and contractors to make that happen. As managing director and a senior associate he leads a skilled group of architects and designers who benefit from his experience in high-end construction. Stephan encourages a mature, exploratory approach, and believes that a healthy level of playfulness in design – while still adhering to the core idea of each project and of course the highest standards of quality – results in extraordinary work.

Stephan attended a 7-year architectural program at Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule in Aachen, Germany, a school known for fostering technical mastery and attention to detail. He learned the NYC design and construction landscape at Michael Schmitt Architect, PC, and continued to hone skills in drawings and specifications, bidding and contractor negotiations and construction administration with Workshop/APD. Today he is essential in the development of organizational systems that enable our multidisciplinary teams to work collaboratively across verticals, and helps to lead mentorship and educational initiatives.

As a project manager at Workshop/APD, Colin facilitates the complete design and construction process, managing consultants, team members and clients and ensuring the pristine execution of each project. Colin got an early start in construction at age 14 and has been an essential member of the Workshop/APD team since 2015. With a deep understanding of building systems and strong technical skills, Colin unifies design across scales to create functional and beautiful architecture. Colin holds a BFA from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master of Architecture from Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and serves as an adjunct professor at the City College of New York, teaching Revit software to graduate students.

Erik, a Senior Project Manager in our Minneapolis office, is especially drawn to architecture as a collaboration. He finds inspiration through in-depth conversations about a building’s design and construction, the people who occupy it, and the community that surrounds and benefits from it as a whole. Over the course of nearly two decades at top firms in Minneapolis and St. Paul he has worked across a wide range of typologies and scales, from public sector and higher education projects to multi-family developments, casinos, corporate offices, healthcare facilities, high-end residences, and even a castle, each offering countless opportunities for ideation, education, and growth. Erik is committed to exceptional design and quality and relishes the opportunity to build upon an extraordinary portfolio of past work at Workshop/APD. The father of three and an accomplished amateur photographer who has been featured by National Geographic and a number of books on Minnesota photography, Erik holds a Bachelor of architecture from Iowa State University.

Since joining Workshop/APD in 2014, Irem has proven indispensable to the project management team. With an affinity for ground-up, residential architecture, Irem understands how a home can affect an entire community and sees facade design as a chance to create a unique environment and experience for all to enjoy. She is inspired by creative and thoughtful solutions and small but impactful details, finding innovation through design freedom and motivation in her team’s ability to collaborate and ensure the meeting of impeccable standards. A graduate of Izmir University of Economics in Turkey and Pratt Institute in New York, Irem holds a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Science in Architecture.

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.

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.

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.

Nicole Ficano’s sophisticated aesthetic and technical skill, honed over years at best-in-class firms on both coasts, make her an invaluable member of the Workshop/APD team and a strong leader for our interior design group. Taking care and time to deeply understand clients’ lives and needs, Nicole transforms detailed classic homes and blank spaces alike, creating beautifully layered, comfortable, high-end residences. Nicole’s engaging designs – giving equal weight to form and function – are as practical as they are compelling, thoughtfully integrating architecture with furnishings, lighting, fabric, and fittings in collaboration with a project’s architectural team. She credits this collaborative dynamic and an ongoing search for groundbreaking techniques and materials as essential components in creating exceptional interiors for homes of every kind. Nicole’s modern, fresh urban designs and elegant single family residences express a fascination with the sweeping city views, rolling lawns, leafy woods, and sandy coastlines where her projects lie, bringing the outdoors into her projects in compelling new ways to delight the senses.  A graduate of Cazenovia College in New York, Nicole holds a BA in fine arts with a focus in interior design.

An Alabama native, Tyler began her diverse design career in Washington D.C., overseeing and approving architectural standards for embassies as a State Department intern. From there, she transitioned to residential design in a boutique D.C. firm, working on classical homes but dreaming of trying her hand at commercial interiors. A role at a larger firm working on federal and corporate projects convinced her that commercial design was not her passion, but also helped to crystallize an understanding of her unique talent for logistics and project management. Tyler made her way to New York City, and into a freelance role where she honed her skills building and managing the logistical framework that is integral to the execution of every successful design project. Tyler came to Workshop/APD as a purchasing agent in 2017, but quickly took on the responsibilities of an accounts manager, then rising to her current role as project manager for the interiors team. Structured, organized and analytical, Tyler works hand in hand with Nicole Ficano to manage staffing and workflow, also streamlining efforts between design and architectural teams, serving as an advocate for the interiors group and ensuring the creative and financial health of each project. A hyper-efficient problem solver known for clear, concise communication and sterling client relationships, Tyler also leads best-in-class concierge services for complex projects including a private oceanfront resort in The Bahamas. She holds a BA in Interior Design from the University of Alabama.

Abeer Jazza considers her childhood home in Iraq a considerable influence in her architectural career. From the presence of familiar date palms in the central courtyard to a notable lack of skyscrapers , her concept of home is deeply rooted in the lives built therein. Now, Abeer prefers to focus on the elements that give a place a unique character when designing. Since earning her Bachelor of Architecture from Thomas Jefferson University, she has worked on a range of typologies, from commercial and retail to residential developments and residences. Previously at KPF, Abeer coordinated construction efforts to elevate a massive NYCHA housing complex located in a floodplain. At Workshop/APD, her focus lies primarily on single-family residences, where she can apply her passion for people, place, and purpose to one-of-a-kind homes.

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.

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 Forzano’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.

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.

Before returning to school for architecture, Anna Karnitz completed a bachelor’s degree in social work with a minor in biology at Luther College. After graduating, she worked as a unit coordinator in a Minneapolis emergency room, where a careless renovation and newly built wall made her job virtually impossible. This design challenge ignited her interest in practical design, and she went on to explore architectural technology at Minneapolis College. From there, Anna worked at a large firm drafting for commercial projects before joining the team at Workshop/APD. As BIM Technician, her goal is to continue streamlining processes for our development projects – and she’s already getting to work giving our team the tools to succeed.

A natural-born artist, Becca Kim has always been passionate about eye-catching design. As Brand Designer at Workshop/APD, she brings her creative skillset to a range of client and internal projects. With past roles in creative agencies and tech startups, she has gained experience with graphic design, creative direction, social media, photography, and styling. Becca’s collaborative approach to branding is all about bringing a visual identity to life across various mediums, translating a story and mission into assets that work seamlessly together. Rebecca has an Associates in Communication Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Workshop Collection 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 fulfilment. Outside of supporting designers, Ben spends his leisure time spectating his husband’s triathlons, working on his home in Catskill, NY, and 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.

Language is a common thread that runs through project manager Ben Sachs’ career trajectory and work. Ben, a Nashville native, first fell in love with architecture and urban design while studying Latin and the classics during a high school year abroad in a small, medieval Italian town. The experience moved him to study architecture at Yale University, earning both a Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in architecture and a Master of Architecture. Within the industry he has explored a range of roles – from marketing and new business to architectural design – for a who’s-who of iconic firms, working on highly recognizable projects worldwide. For Ben, every firm and project is an opportunity to learn and speak a new design language, a challenge he enjoys immensely. His career has taken him all over the world, from roles in London, New York and Los Angeles to projects in Miami, Malta, Mexico and more. From super-tall skyscrapers to luxury single family homes and cultural venues, Ben appreciates architecture’s potential to surprise people, and is particularly interested in geometry and the places where form and materials meet. In addition to mastering Italian and Spanish, Ben designs puzzles and co-founded the minimalist Waves Puzzle company.

Bjorn was born in the Philippines, and grew up in Toronto, where he discovered and cultivated a passion for creativity and design. Moving to New York and having lived such a nomadic lifestyle since childhood, the idea of home and spaces of shared connection resonates with him. His approach revolves around the storytelling process, whether working on a hospitality or a residential project. He aims to balance the scenography of space with the choreography of life, going beyond what things look like, and designing around the lived experience. He earned his degree at the Ontario College of Art and Design, and continues to be a student of life, always curious about the world around him.

Since he was a small child, Bryan Kam has had a mind for design possibilities. Bryan’s interest in residential design blossomed while exploring the different ways he and his family could live in his hometown of Taipei, Taiwan. He later moved to New York to attend Pratt Institute, earning a Bachelor of Architecture before eventually settling in Los Angeles to begin his career. Today, Bryan’s passion lies in maximizing a space’s potential through carefully executed layouts and an emphasis on details. He loves New York City’s density, and finds inspiration in the constant exposed to new ideas.

Chris Bach brings 15 years of design experience to his role as Project Manager in Workshop/APD’s Minneapolis, Minnesota office. Since obtaining his Master of Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Chris worked on government projects in Washington, DC and as a graphic designer in New York City before returning to the mid-west where he focused on modern residential projects. His style infuses warmth into modern designs, taking a holistic approach to the clients’ needs. Before becoming an architect, Chris received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language & Literature from George Washington University and spent several years as a teacher, teaching English and Spanish in the US and Brazil. Outside of the firm, Chris spends his time renovating his 1908 home.

Christian Oanda grew up around video games and animated films during his childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, resulting in an interest in animation and video game environment design that 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.

Clara Guerrier’s diverse experience across public relations, television production and administration is invaluable in her role as studio coordinator at Workshop/APD. She enjoys being involved in all a project’s details, and thrives working in a fast-paced, creative environment where each day offers unique challenges and opportunities to learn. A collaborative, team player, Clara works with architects, product and interior designers to seamlessly realize their designs across residential and hospitality projects. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from City College of New York and speaks French fluently.

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 holds a bachelor of science in engineering from The George Washington University and a Masters of Architecture from Boston Architectural College.

Dara Jin, previously a two-time Workshop/APD intern, joined the firm full time after earning her Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University in 2022. Embodying a passion for people-centric design, Dara’s senior thesis project focused on community-building in the Cyrildene neighborhood – a Chinese enclave in Johannesburg, South Africa, earning Best Creative Thesis and the James A. Britton Memorial Award awards for her work. As a designer at Workshop/APD, Dara enjoys seeing the impact that the built environment has on inhabitants and the ability to directly impact that space with her ideas. Dara’s design leans toward the elegant and simple, infused with quiet moves that make a big impact.

The idea of a building’s legacy – and the ability to create something enduring and impactful – compelled designer David Lin to study architecture. After earning a Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute, David returned to his native Taiwan to work at an interior design firm, contributing to hospitality projects across Asia. Through every step of the design process David is energized as projects come to life, through every step of the design process, from elevations to modeling to the final result. A frequent traveler, he values hospitality experiences that represent the city at large, from their design language and motifs to larger cultural references.

As a member of our interior design team, 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.

Raised on a farm in the Free State Province of South Africa, Dirk moved across the world to pursue an education and career in design. Now an interior architect on Workshop/APD’s hospitality team, he explores an endless variety of materials, colors and textures to build material palettes, concepts and design narratives. Dirk’s fully-realized interior spaces bring hospitality design’s bold, artful guest experiences to life. He is Inspired by beautiful architecture and the creative, subtle moments that combine to create a striking space, and can be found exploring hidden, unique NYC places to spark new interpretations of familiar ideas. Dirk received a BA in marketing from South Africa’s Central University of Technology, Free State and an MFA from the New York School of Interior Design.

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.

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.

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.

Irina has worked as an architectural designer on Workshop/APD’s luxury residential and Nantucket coastal projects since 2017, perfecting every detail of a home from the outside in. Spending time traveling has always inspired her and helped her to develop a broad global sensibility and a keen understanding of the many ways different people live. Invigorated by the design process, she enjoys working closely with clients to uncover their diverse needs and conditions. She particularly enjoys the reward of seeing a project through to completion. Irina holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY.

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.

Jenny Lee grew up in Busan, South Korea, in a family of scientists with artistic tendencies. She came to the United States as a student, studying biology at SUNY Stonybrook. After several years working in a lab, Jenny decided to follow her long-held ambition of an architectural career that would combine her technical and creative capabilities. She began her Master of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania in 2018, and set off for internships designing in Tokyo, Berlin, and Seoul. Since then, Jenny has engaged in all types of architectural projects in the Hamptons and NYC, from single-family residential to master planning, commercial projects and exhibitions. Always curious, Jenny enjoys working with her team to solve complex design problems from new perspectives.

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.

A Boston native, Jocelyne Correia arrived in New York City for college and has called the city her home ever since. As an interior designer, she seeks inspiration in the world around her, filing away ideas from beautiful spaces and quotidian experiences alike. Jocelyne studied advertising and marketing at Pace University, originally working in the ad world before pivoting to the fashion industry. Over time, she made the transition to high-end residential design, realizing that interior design was the perfect intersection of her talents. Her diverse experiences provides her with perspective on the importance of strong client relationships, and allows her to understand and interpret clients’ vision for the project.

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.

For over a decade, John Grinstead has overseen day-to-day project details from conception through client move-in as a senior project manager. He has dedicated much of his time at Workshop/APD to key historical renovation projects, which allow him to delve deeply into design development and creative problem solving within this complex discipline. The first member of Workshop/APD’s Colorado outpost, he has also been instrumental in expanding the firm’s practice in the mountain region and beyond, not only building upon its regional capabilities but ensuring that our team remains on the cutting edge of sustainable design. John deftly manages a growing team, collaborating to ensure that the design intent is perfectly realized, down to the smallest detail.  He is constantly inspired by his two children, and nature’s colors, forms and function, and sees architecture as an opportunity to achieve a legacy through the highest form of art. A graduate of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, John holds a Bachelor of Architecture.

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.

Julia Turner’s attention to detail is no surprise given her upbringing among the exquisite architecture of her native Russia. In her early years in the cities of Ufa and St. Petersburgh she aspired to be a fashion designer, though an issue of Vogue Living sparked an idea that she might apply her signature style and precision to the art of interiors. Julia moved to the U.S. after earning a BA in Interior Design and began working on residential and commercial spaces in Charlotte, NC. A move to New York City in 2018 offered her the opportunity to expand her expertise within healthcare and hospitality. At Workshop/APD, Julia has returned to residential work, a longtime passion, and recently worked on a yacht, which has proven to be especially inspiring. Julia enjoys thoughtfully planning and applying her vision to each space, and bringing her classic, fresh style to a wide variety of projects.

A lifelong explorer raised between Hong Kong and Taiwan, Karen’s design work benefits from her extensive travels. She applies broad experience and a global perspective to create unique interiors across hospitality, residential development, retail and commercial projects. At Workshop/APD, she is responsible for modeling, designing, planning, rendering and 3D visualization, collaborating with a team of architects to create holistic designs that seamlessly merge architecture and interiors. She incorporates both Eastern and Western elements in her work, also finding a balance between aesthetics and functionality by finding a shared vision with clients, taking beauty, budget and practical use into consideration equally. A graduate of the University of Kansas with a Bachelors degree in Interior Design, Karen lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two daughters. 

Karianna Larson developed an affinity for architecture at a young age, combining her interests in math and art to arrive at a perfect outlet for creative problem-solving. Her career began in Minneapolis, working on historic preservation projects before joining a larger firm to take on institutional architecture. At Workshop/APD, her focus lies primarily on luxury single-family residences across the U.S., finding inspiration through her passion for people, place, and purpose. Karianna earned a BFA in architecture with a minor in construction from South Dakota State University. From there she went on to receive her Master of Architecture from the University of Minnesota where her role as a student has transitioned into an adjunct faculty member, spending her evenings instructing a first-year course on Design Fundamentals.

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.

Hailing from Jamaica, Queens, Kelly Bonilla grew up a dancer, doing “a little bit of everything” – ballet, tap, modern, salsa and more. As office manager at Workshop/APD, Kelly deftly handles an impressive range of crucial tasks, including calendar management, office care, and coordinating with our contractors, serving as a liaison for whatever the office needs. From studying English-Spanish translation at Hunter College, to working in the service industry, to event planning and now workplace management, Kelly’s path to WAPD has always been in the service of others. In juggling the needs of our growing firm, she enjoys that every day is different and exciting in its own way.

Project manager Kelsey Odom’s path took a sharp turn as an aspiring doctor and undergraduate student at UT Austin. Feeling a lack of creativity in the medical field, Kelsey was inspired by her first visit to UT’s school of architecture and soon pivoted to pursue a degree in design. After obtaining a Bachelor of Architecture she began a career in high-end residential and hospitality design, eventually managing marquee projects including Armani’s flagship store & restaurant while at COOKFOX. Kelsey doesn’t shy away from discomfort, from professional design explorations to personal time, when she can be found tending to an apiary or climbing mountains.

Kendall Coleman has been interested in interior design since her high school days in East Hampton, NY, where she worked in retail selling home décor. Taking on small projects for friends and family and going all out in her college dorm room at George Washington University, she later seized every opportunity to gain design experience. While earning a BA in Liberal Arts, she studied interiors, architecture, and art history in pursuit of a well-rounded design education. Kendall is passionate about coastal homes, a product of her Hamptons upbringing and extensive work in Nantucket and Palm Beach, but she looks forward to bringing her modern, transitional style to projects far and wide.

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.

From urban design to government projects, from collaborating with transit engineers to clients at Workshop/APD, Krista Wiryomartono is a veritable Swiss army knife of architectural design. Growing up in Toronto, she was fascinated with architecture from an early age, and while earning an undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto and a Master of Architecture at Columbia University, she became focused on work with an environmental and sustainable scope. A true asset to our ever-evolving practice, Krista came to Workshop/APD seeking a more holistic approach, along with a desire to explore new project typologies and locations through the full design/build process. Her simple, clean and natural style is influenced by Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics, and a desire to create feelings of comfort and ease with her designs.

Kristin Firine grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, not far from the brutalist buildings that initially inspired her. Kristin’s interest in the design field was apparent from an early age, and she eventually went on to earn a BA in Interior Design from the University of New Haven. With a focus on residential design, she moved to New York to begin her career as a project manager and designer at a boutique firm. Kristin joined Workshop/APD as a senior interior designer to hone her skills within a larger team, collaborating to fulfill client needs. She is energized by her teammates’ momentum and enjoys exploring diverse perspectives among talented designers.

Leah Bordenga’s previous experience in production prepared her for her role as assistant project manager at Workshop/APD. On set, she developed expertise in pre-production logistics, creating her own sweet spot at the intersection of creative and business. Leah has always enjoyed applying her talents behind the scenes, especially in artistic environments. She is excited to expand her architectural and design knowledge as assistant project manager at Workshop/APD, helping our interior designers realize their creative visions by coordinating installs, creating schedules, managing logistics and overseeing project backends with ultimate efficiency. Leah seeks out nature when she needs to recharge, spending all her summer weekends at the beach.

Lili Whitelaw is passionate about helping others thrive, and determining the conditions for each team member’s optimal performance. A New Jersey native, Lili earned a degree in Hospitality & Management at Ole Miss, spending her first post-graduation year working in Vail, CO, as an event planner at one of the region’s top wedding planning firms. In this role, Lili was able to develop her considerable organizational skills while designing unique, out-of-the-box events that embodied her clients’ dreams. Back on the East Coast, she earned both a real estate license and a personal training certification, wielding both in part time roles as a sales associate and trainer. As HR Coordinator, she is charged with complex coordination and is dedicated to helping the Workshop/APD team work smarter. Lili enjoys spending time with her cat, Chicken Nugget, and is pursuing a Master of Health Promotion at American University.

Though she was born in Hong Kong, Lin Siu considers herself a native New Yorker. Lin was raised in Queens and attended the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn before joining Workshop/APD as a designer. A lover of fine detailing and clean lines, she has a passion for the intricacies and unique qualities of a home. She is similarly inspired by the detailed work of others, closely studying designs to learn and grow from unique techniques and concepts. A ceramicist in her free time, Lin enjoys hand-crafting models and working with physical surfaces.

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.

Mario Alulema, Workshop/APD’s first dedicated BIM Manager, leverages design technology solutions for the built environment to ensure that the firm’s work is always looking to the future. After earning a Bachelor of Technology in Architecture at City Tech in Brooklyn, New York, Mario combined his three passions – architecture, design technology, and implementing knowledge transfer methods – into a BIM specialization where he could do all three. In his day-to-day work Mario establishes standards to align all project types to a specific process for the firm, streamlining the architects’ daily tasks, as well as looking for opportunities for automation. Mario serves as a point person for all internal studios, bringing expertise gleaned from pioneers in his field to the WAPD team.

Designer Matthew Nuzum works on a range of residential and hospitality projects at Workshop/APD, carrying inspiration from his childhood in Trinidad & Tobago and a connection to nature and island living into his work. He recalls a family trip to Barbados, where at the age of 10 a beautiful colonial estate sparked a desire to create something magnificent. His studies commenced a few years later, gathering as much architectural knowledge as possible through his education at Florida International University in Miami, where he earned a 5-year Master’s degree in Architecture.

Senior interior designer Max Berger began his creative career in visual arts. Describing himself as “sculpturally motivated”, Max earned a BFA in Studio Art from the University of Michigan, with minors in business and engineering. Exploring forms and materials in detail became a medium for Max to form a better understanding of himself, and the opportunity to do so through furniture design had immediate appeal. He began working on restaurants and hotels at AvroKo in his native San Francisco, overseeing the design and production of bars, banquettes, chandeliers and more. Max came to New York to deepen his residential design experience while expanding his scope of work at Champalimaud, before a few years of independent practice. From his layered background, Max gained the skills to get into the minds of clients to provide the luxury and lifestyle they seek. Still a prolific artist, he pours himself into a multitude of small projects from painting to sewing to leatherwork.

Maxwell Chen approaches design as he approaches cooking – always with his whole self, always creating with comfort in mind. With a Bachelor of Interior Design and dual Masters Degrees in Architecture and Real Estate Development, Maxwell looks at the world of single-family residential holistically, bearing in mind the elements of people and place, function and aesthetics. In any project, Maxwell’s aim is to bring something special, authentic, and natural to a space. With design experience in his native Taipei and adopted home, New York, Maxwell finds that there is limitless inspiration to be found in cities around the world.

Maxwell Janowski was raised in Oak Park, Illinois, a Chicago suburb that has produced creative icons including Frank Lloyd Wright and Ernest Hemingway. Inevitably drawn to the arts, Maxwell went on to earn a BFA in Digital Art & Design from Pace University. From there, he held roles in event design, TV set design, furniture design, and eventually interior design. Gaining residential experience at small firms in New York, he realized that the project management aspect of his work satisfied him most. Maxwell is passionate about the ability of planning and logistics to bring designs that exceed client expectations to fruition. Continuously drawn to the sublime, Maxwell spends much of his time in nature, kayaking, hiking and camping.

IT Manager Michael Donisi still recalls his first computer. In the decades since, he served 15 years in the Marine Corp and launched a successful career in information technology. Before returning to his native New York, Michael spent 12 years in IT at an Ohio architecture firm with a focus on sports venues and institutional design. At Workshop/APD, Michael is hard at work troubleshooting tech-related issues for our growing team, with a goal of streamlining systems and software across our teams and offices. An active billiards player, you can find Michael running pool tournaments each week at local venues.

Senior Designer Nick LoCicero comes to Workshop/APD with a robust background in hospitality, corporate, retail, and entertainment design. After studying visual arts at LaGuardia High School, his uncle, an architect, recommended that he take a studio class at City College to learn more about the trade. Soon, he was off to the University of Buffalo to earn a Bachelor of Architecture, spending summers at Stonehill Taylor as an intern, and then completing his Master of Architecture at Syracuse University. Over the past several years, Nick has seen projects come together from beginning to end, and deeply enjoys the collaborative process.

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.

Senior Designer Peter Kitchen hails from Toronto, Canada, but his path to Workshop/APD includes stops living and working in Amsterdam, London, Rome, and Vienna. With a lifelong interest in craft and problem solving, it was no surprise that Peter found his way into architecture, earning a bachelors at University of Waterloo and masters degree at University of Toronto. His background in heritage and adaptive reuse projects makes him an asset to our team across all verticals, though he looks forward to taking his clean, minimal, and timeless aesthetic to a variety of residential projects.

In her role as an interior designer at Workshop/APD, Rachel helps to create design concepts, strategize spatial planning, and specify furniture and décor for residential, hospitality and development projects, collaborating with clients and teammates to achieve well-rounded, elegant, cohesive design. With a keen eye for a project’s many moving pieces, Rachel enjoys analyzing designs, discovering how different goals and styles unite to achieve a harmonious final product, and creating shared spaces to serve and engage diverse audiences. Always learning, she finds insight through discussions where thoughts and ideas flourish. Rachel holds a BFA in interior design from Pratt Institute in New York

Rodrigo applies nearly a decade of architectural experience to the successful execution of concept and design at Workshop/APD. Born and raised in Guatemala City, Rodrigo speaks five languages and brings vast international perspective to his projects. A consummate student of architectural history, he believes the past can inspire future innovation and is motivated by the desire to improve the world one space at a time. Rodrigo holds a BA and Master of Architecture from Columbia University in New York.

Ruoxi applies her considerable product design expertise to the creation of unique custom pieces for high-end residential, hospitality and development clients, as well as furnishings, kitchen & bath fittings and fixtures, rugs, hardware, lighting and accessories collections in collaboration with best-in-class licensing partners. Guided by a desire to create products with depth – and better living environments that connect to our memories and emotions – she shapes artistic, sculptural and organically-inspired concepts that elevate the union of function and modern aesthetic. A graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology and Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, Ruoxi holds a BS in industrial design and an MS in furniture design. Her work has been featured in top publications including Wallpaper, Design Milk and Metropolis.

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.

Salma Kattass grew up surrounded by diverse architecture – from pre-colonial and Islamic to art nouveau and brutalist – in her home of Casablanca, Morocco. She noticed how every neighborhood had its own distinct style, a testament to the power of design to suggest movement through space and time. Salma became mesmerized by these buildings, and chose to pursue a Bachelors of Architecture from the National School of Architecture in Morocco. From there, Salma came to New York to earn a Masters of Science in Architecture, focusing on computational technologies and fabrication. Salma enjoys working with clients to specify every detail of a home.

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.

For Sarah Tien, architecture is a creative form of empathy – a space for creating a relationship with an occupant through the design of a physical space. Her experience, which ranges from hospitality, cultural, and experiential projects to commercial and industrial spaces, has allowed her to leave a footprint in many people’s lives through design. Though she is a San Jose, California, native, much of her experience is in New York City, a place that has long been a source of inspiration for Sarah for its layered architectural history. Sarah received her Bachelor of Architecture with a concentration in building technology from Cornell University.

Sean Lee brings a decade of architecture experience to our residential and hospitality practice, with a unique blend of technical expertise, creative thinking, and a compassionate approach to design. At Workshop/APD, Sean’s work includes ground-up luxury homes and hotels, overseeing design coordination with a special emphasis on balancing aesthetics and practicality. Sean enjoys working on all project types and scales, leveraging his ability to create spaces with a holistic approach that responds to the needs of inhabitants. A native of Seoul, Korea, Sean earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Rhode Island School of Design before moving to New York in 2013 to work on residential, hospitality, and commercial projects. He is an avid golfer and loves to spend time with his wife and his cat, Eggbean.

For Shraddha Balasubramaniam, interior design is about evoking a sensory experience. A longtime performing artist of traditional Indian music and dance, Shraddha is keen on outward expressions of feeling, which she has further translated into a career in design. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication at the University of Madras in her native Chennai, India, Shraddha began a career as a graphic designer before pivoting to interiors in 2008. Later, she came to New York City to pursue an MFA in Interior Design from NYSID, graduating in 2015 and jumping into practice at ODA. Following roles at Yabu Pushelberg and later Studio Munge in Toronto, she returned to New York to join the Workshop/APD team. A thoughtful storyteller, Shraddha understands how to get to the core of human needs and desires, curating spaces that enable clients to connect with themselves.

Staff Accountant Sitav Nabi enjoys making a big impact through small, detailed tasks. A lifelong numbers person, Sitav earned her BS in Finance & Accounting from Rutgers University. Through her college years, she found a niche working as an in-house bookkeeper for a nearby architectural startup. Though she gained valuable experience through a foray into public accounting, Sitav knew she preferred the design industry. At Workshop/APD, she plays an invaluable role in managing our financial health, keeping our books clean and developing standard operating procedures as the firm and workload continue to grow. In her spare time, Sitav can be found exploring new restaurants across New York City.

New York native Soojin Hahn is passionate about human connections. From her role as a licensed esthetician to her HR experience at big-name organizations like Amazon and Aesop, Soojin has tapped into her desire to set people up for success, to be an active listener, and to keenly observe her surroundings. With a dual degree in education and psychology from Smith College, she has the background and tools to help our team thrive as HR Manager. Soojin cares for the Workshop/APD staff throughout the employment lifecycle, advising on benefits, recruiting, and administrative SOPs. She’s an avid film lover, usually spending her weekends working through the Criterion catalog.

Hailing from a family of builders, Business Development Coordinator Sydney Slater grew up watching high rises being topped out and cultivating an appreciation for the architecture, design, construction and art. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Rollins College and a Master’s in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Sydney’s studies sparked a sociological interest in the ways that humans relate to spaces and environments, insight that she believes can help to bridge the worlds of art and architecture arts from the onset of the design and planning process. She has since applied her specialization in Decorative Arts & Design to roles at Carpenters Workshop Gallery in New York and Harmony Domes in Denver, Colorado, where she most recently oversaw sales, marketing, and business development. From new regions, to new industries, to the fine art world, Sydney is looking forward to helping bring Workshop/APD into new and previously uncharted territory.

Tala Caskey joined Workshop/APD to bring her supply chain experience to a design-related role as an Accounts Manager. Originally from a suburb of Bangkok, Thailand, Tala moved to the U.S. to study Supply Chain Management and International Business at Penn State University at Behrend. Since graduating, she has lived and worked around the US, from Orlando to New Orleans to San Diego, gaining meaningful experience in the business world. In her previous role at a design firm in San Diego, Tala oversaw projects from start to finish, ensuring perfection down to the smallest detail. She is inspired by working with creative people, and gains satisfaction in seeing projects come to life. At Workshop/APD, her roles include creating purchase orders, crafting client proposals and supporting the design team with budgeting, deftly handling logistics to ensure that the design process run smoothly. Tala enjoys seeing the skyline from Gantry Park and searching for the city’s best Thai food spots.

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.

Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, Tommy Harris first came to Workshop/APD’s New York office in 2017 as a BIM Specialist. After heading back west during the pandemic, Tommy stayed with the firm remotely for a while before finding a role locally. Returning in 2023 as a Senior Designer, Tommy will work remotely from Phoenix, taking on a range of different projects that capitalize on his unique skillset and geographic location.  With a background and a love for design and wood-working, he is often inspired by team collaboration and the way different perspectives and methods work together towards a single goal. A graduate of the University of Colorado in Boulder, he holds a BA in environmental design, with an emphasis in architecture. Tommy spends his free time with his wife and his daughter, Gemma, and working on myriad projects around the house.