TORCH Mentorship Program

Managing Partner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

As an architect and Managing Partner in SOM’s New York office, Laura Ettelman oversees the design and planning of a diverse range of projects across the globe. Her work ranges from large-scale master plans to unique institutional project types. Among the projects in her portfolio are some of the world’s largest aviation and transportation hubs, new hospitals and research centers for healthcare and science, and campus master planning and design for both higher education and the civic and government sectors. With more than 35 years of experience, Ettelman is an expert at leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver technically complex construction, phasing, and operational requirements. Her technical and construction expertise, coupled with her effective communication skills, benefit every aspect of project delivery, including cost and schedule management. She guides large teams of architects, engineers, consultants, and clients to deliver successful projects on time.

In addition to leading projects across North America, Ettelman has led SOM’s global practice in India since 2007—managing the design, planning, and construction of airports, residential buildings, and mixed-use commercial projects.

Ettelman balances her project work with shared responsibility to lead the NY/DC offices. She is also a member of SOM’s Executive Committee, a committee of three partners focused on the business side of architecture and the long-term strategic vision for the continued growth and development of SOM through the ever-changing landscape of the AEC industry. Ettelman is also an active participant on the firm’s Talent, Equity, Diversity & Development committee, working alongside others to guide SOM’s efforts to create an ever more equitable workplace environment.

Architect, Architecture Research Office

Megan Christian is a project designer based in New York City. Her primary interest relates to projects rooted in powerful cultural, academic, or historical significance, which includes civic and institutional work of various scales. Inspired during her multidisciplinary roles as a campus planning intern, library assistant, and conservation assistant, she is committed to stewardship and thoughtful delivery in the profession by means of leveraging an early commitment to planning practices, contextual research, and project organization. Christian has worked with the offices of Nakamura Terada Architects in San Diego and with Architecture Research Office in Brooklyn. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Texas Tech University with a minor in Civil Engineering, and a Master of Architecture from University of Michigan.

Principal and Practice Area Leader, Perkins Eastman

Eric Fang started his career working at smaller architecture firms in San Francisco before shifting to SOM’s Planning and Urban Design Studio, and then moving to New York in 2000 where he joined Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn, which subsequently merged with Perkins Eastman. Fang currently leads Perkins Eastman’s Planning and Urban Design practice where he leads multi-disciplinary transit-oriented-development, downtown redevelopment, large-scale waterfront, resiliency and facilities master planning projects for municipalities, state agencies, and developers, as well as selective architecture projects. Fang’s experience includes several years as director of urban planning and design at Street-Works a development consultancy, and he recently started PE Strategies, Perkins Eastman’s consulting arm. Fang has tried to model his career on what Donald Schon called “the Reflective Practitioner,” writing widely on climate adaptation, sustainable development, the place of institutions in the City, and he has taught at Rutgers Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and currently at NYU School of Arts and Science.

Founder, IAC Studio

Vicente Gewehr is a Brazilian architect and design manager with extensive international experience in large scale projects, BIM implementation and project coordination. He won an 18-month scholarship at Technische Universität München (TUM) and has since contributed to projects across the U.S., Europe, Australia, Bali and South America.

Currently leading IAC Studio, Gewehr specializes in bridging Brazilian talent with U.S. architecture firms, focusing on high-end residential and multifamily developments. His portfolio includes notable projects like Bergen in Brooklyn, houses in the Hamptons, the Hoch der Isar residential complex in Munich, and the award-winning mixed-use development “die Macherei,” in collaboration with HWKN (New York) and OSA (Germany).

With over 4.8 million square feet of built work, Gewehr’s passion lies in the technical precision of construction documentation, particularly in façade design, prefabrication, insulation, and dry construction systems. He is a registered architect in Brazil and an AIA International Associate.

Principal Emeritus, Omniplan

D. Michael (Mike) Hellinghausen, FAIA, earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master of Science in Architecture from MIT. Mike began his career in his hometown of Midland, Texas, becoming a licensed architect in 1983. After graduate school, he served two years as a staff architect for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, managing projects on the Lubbock and Amarillo campuses. For 6 years at Centerbrook Architects, in Essex, Connecticut, he served as project architect for projects at Lawrence University and Dartmouth College.

Hellinghausen joined OMNIPLAN Architects in Dallas in 1995, initially as project architect and project manager, and then as senior project manager for institutional and office building projects. He assumed the role of Principal and COO in 1999, managing the operational and financial aspects of the firm, while developing sound business practices and enhancing staff performance. He has now served as COO for 30 years, and has begun transitioning out of the firm, remaining in an advisory capacity for 2025.

Over the past decade, Hellinghausen filled many leadership roles at the Texas Society of Architects (TxA), including on the Finance Committee, as Treasurer, and as President-Elect.  Hellinghausen was the 2019 President of the TxA. He was elevated to Fellow  in the AIA in 2022.

Hellinghausen is a frequent presenter on financial management for design firms, and has written blog posts on the topic at From Blueprints to Greenbacks. He has presented continuing education workshops at the AIA national convention and the Texas Society of Architects annual convention.  Since 2013, Hellinghausen has presented lectures to professional practice classes at the university level, including at his alma mater, Notre Dame.  Hellinghausen has also mentored younger and emerging professionals for decades, coaching and advising them on their professional journey.

He and his wife Linda recently moved to the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Hellinghausen is an avid cook, cyclist and reader.

Project Manager, Robert P. Madison Int.

Maya Madison is a third-generation architect and project manager at Robert P. Madison International Inc., a legacy architecture firm founded by her great uncle. Based in New York City, Maya is leading efforts to expand the firm’s presence while honoring its community-driven mission. She brings over a decade of experience working on complex, large-scale projects, including healthcare, commercial, and transportation work, and has a strong interest in affordable housing, sustainable design, and architectural business development.

Madison holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University and is currently enrolled in Columbia University’s CU Grow program for minority and women owned architecture, engineering, and construction firms. She has served on the nycoba|NOMA board and multiple NCARB committees, demonstrating her commitment to advancing the profession and mentoring others. Madison is passionate about equity in the built environment and strives to build a career that bridges high-quality design, social impact, and entrepreneurial leadership.

Associate Principal, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Neil Katz is an architect who focuses on “computational design” (a design process which emphasizes geometry, a logical process, informed decisions through analysis data). Although, broadly considered, computers are not required in this definition, computational tools have become critical to this process. At Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, he applies this process on projects of many types, at various scales, and even at various phases of design. SOM is an interdisciplinary firm of architects, engineers, planners, and other designers; projects are designed in a highly-collaborative environment.

Leading a computational design team in SOM’s New York office, he and his group work with project teams to define and implement computational design strategies—including geometric modeling of complex forms; various types of analysis (geometric, environmental, zoning and other codes); creating tools, usually through scripting or coding; and various research activities (project-specific, or general).

In addition to applying these strategies and tools on project, Katz encourages others in the firm to apply these techniques on their own, and often teaches computational tools in the office. He has also lectured, published articles and book chapters about this, and teaches classes in Computational Design at City College and other schools.

Founder, Silbermayr Architecture

Lisa Silbermayr is an architect, Certified Passive House Designer, and LEED Green Associate with more than fifteen years of experience across Europe and the U.S. Her portfolio spans workplace, healthcare, and higher education projects, and her work has earned recognition through international awards, competitions, and exhibitions.

Originally from Austria, Silbermayr built her career on a foundation of rigorous sustainability. She integrates environmental performance, technical excellence, and bold design thinking into every phase of her projects, driven by a deep belief that great architecture enables people to thrive. Her approach is research-driven, pragmatic, and visionary.

Beyond her individual work, Silbermayr is a passionate advocate for early collaboration and mentorship within the profession. She is committed to empowering emerging professionals and building inclusive, high-performing teams that drive the industry forward.

Principal, Andrea Lamberti Architecture

Andrea Lamberti, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, is an architect based in New York City experienced in research, educational, cultural, performing arts, residential, healthcare and mixed-use projects.

While a partner at Rafael Viñoly Architects, Andrea oversaw institutional and cultural facilities that have been recognized for advances in sustainable design, and for transforming and welcoming communities. Projects she led at the firm include the LEED Platinum-certified Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and the Van Andel Institute for Medical Education and Research in Michigan.

At the firm Andrea she also led planning and design for cultural, campus and healthcare facilities including a new performing arts center for McLean, Virginia; the Southampton Hospital Association’s New Facility; and the New York University Abu Dhabi Campus Master Plan.

At Viñoly, Andrea represented the firm through exploring partnerships and public speaking across the United States and overseas; she also directed marketing and new business efforts for the firm. Prior to Viñoly, Andrea worked for two years in the architectural firm of Norihiko Dan & Associates in Tokyo, Japan.

In addition to her practice, Andrea collaborates within professional associations and educational institutions to supports colleagues as well as students and recent graduates of architectural degree programs. She has served on the AIA New York board, including as president in 2022 with the theme “Just Practice.” Currently, she is Vice President for Programs within the MIT Architecture Alumni board; director within the AIA New York State board; and a member of the Stony Brook University Department of Civil Engineering Advisory Board.

Junior Architect, Union Street Studio Architects

Brianna Bartelt’s architectural work investigates the relationship between sustainability, stewardship, and narrative. She is a Certified Passive House Designer and authors the newsletter Building Songs which explores the relationship between songwriting and the built environment. Bartelt received her Master of Architecture degree from the University of Michigan, Taubman College and her Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies from Boston University. Bartelt is interested in designing from the scale of objects to the scale of auditoriums while always considering maintenance, care, and end of life as core design considerations.

Design Director, Gensler

From her early life in Taiwan and Paraguay to her professional practice in Italy, China, and the U.S., Vivian Lee’s work is influenced by a boundless collection of cultures, histories, and consciousness. Enriched by her experience of living and practicing in different countries, her architecture is efficient and poetic, technologically advanced, environmentally conscious, and engagingly humanistic.

With an extensive background leading award-winning projects of all types and scales, Vivian Lee brings over 30 years of passion for the design industry to Gensler, NY. Driven by a belief that good design can and should inspire, she encourages the team to balance creative vision with practical solutions to deliver value to the client and end user. Vivian’s diverse portfolio includes innovative projects for commercial offices, hotels, airports, universities, schools, workplaces, and residential sectors.  Her design contribution to the built environment and leadership in architecture led to Lee’s elevation to the distinguished American Institute of Architects College of Fellows in 2020.

She served on the AIA New York Board of Directors and is committed to mentoring the next generation of designers. The AIA has recognized her for her extraordinary dedication to promoting, advancing, and elevating the role of women in architecture as the co-chair of the Women in Architecture Committee.

Project Architect, Moody Nolan

Nika Mo, AIA, PMP, LEED GA, is a Project Architect at Moody Nolan. Mo is an experienced project architect with seven years of leading commercial and healthcare projects worldwide. Her expertise covers real estate development, from master plans to commercial repositioning and healthcare facilities. Skilled in project management, design, and delivery, Mo excels in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, offering a strategic, solution-driven approach while prioritizing human-centered design.

Mo is dedicated to mentorship and supporting emerging designers and promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration. With experience in firms ranging from boutique studios to global corporations, she offers a unique perspective on the evolving architectural landscape and design’s impact.

Partner, Lopergolo + Bartling Architects

Lopergolo is a licensed architect with three decades of experience and is co-founder and partner at Lopergolo + Bartling Architects. Lopergolo recently completed her 29-year tenure as partner at Selldorf Architect. She has worked on major projects including large-scale new construction and cultural facilities. Lopergolo was Partner-in-Charge for the expansion and enhancement of The Frick Collection in New York City. She has significant experience with ground-up construction having served as Partner-in-Charge on large-scale projects such as the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Luma Arles, the Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility in Brooklyn, Swiss Institute and 200 Eleventh Avenue, a 19-story residential condominium. Lopergolo has also completed several galleries for David Zwirner, Hauser & Wirth and Barbara Gladstone, as well as numerous exhibition designs for Corning Museum of Glass among others.

Lopergolo is a Fellow of The American Institute of Architects. She received a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University, and has studied and worked in England, Italy, and Japan.

She is currently Chair of Open House New York and President of the Advisory Board of Syracuse University School of Architecture. She is a visiting Professor at Pratt Graduate Architecture and Urban Design School.

Environmental Designer, Atelier Ten

Sarah George, AIA, NOMA, is a LEED Accredited Professional and licensed architect with over 10 years of experience in the building industry, completing civic, commercial, K-12, healthcare, hospitality, lab, and higher education projects. She holds a B.A. in Architecture and minors in Sustainable Design and City & Regional Planning from UC Berkeley, a public university, and has worked as an architect, MEP designer and sustainability consultant in New York and California. At Atelier Ten in New York, George works as a sustainability consultant for large public and private institutions, integrating environmental and social sustainability into her projects. George leads project teams to design and construct LEED, WELL, and Fitwel certified buildings for healthy building occupants, connected to a healthy planet. Because she values connection and mentorship, George incorporates mentoring and teaching in her role as a project manager, guest lecturer, NOMA member, and ACE mentor.

Partner, Yoshihara McKee Architect 

Sandra McKee is a principal of Yoshihara McKee Architects, with her partner Hiroki Yoshihara. Their projects range in type and size from small residential works to large-scale urban intervention proposals that explore differences and similarities in perception, materiality, and space between Western and Eastern cultures. Their design is developed with unique forms, respecting mathematical folding rules using architectural materials.

Before starting the firm, McKee was a project director at Rafael Viñoly Architects, where she relocated to Japan to work on the Tokyo International Forum. She also led the project teams of the Philadelphia Kimmel Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Her firm’s work includes public and private projects, not-for-profit institutions, the City of New York, and private residences in Japan. Their work has been recognized with awards from the national, state, and New York City AIA.

McKee has been an adjunct professor at City College, Fordham, and Columbia University, and continues to participate in student reviews. The firm has lectured, published, and exhibited internationally. She is the Chair of Manhattan Community Board 6. She is a bicycling advocate and is also active in her community as the CEO of the Alliance for Kips Bay.

Designer, Margaret Sullivan Studio 

Marie Rudnicki is an architectural designer based in New York City, drawn to work that blends art, architecture, and community service. Originally a painter with a love for math, Rudnicki pursued architecture to combine creativity with problem-solving. She earned her BA in Architecture from Columbia University and a BSc in Architecture and Urban Planning from Warsaw University of Technology, where she deepened her skills in digital fabrication and contemporary design technologies. Her experience spans residential, light commercial, and urban-focused projects, always with a hands-on approach that celebrates making. Rudnicki is committed to using design as a tool for empowerment, believing that great design listens to and uplifts communities. She sees her role not as prescribing solutions, but as collaborating with people to co-create them. Curious, thoughtful, and driven, Rudnicki is dedicated to expanding her skills to better serve the public through thoughtful, responsive design.

Partner, Messana O’Rorke 

Brian Messana, FAIA, is cofounder of Messana O’Rorke, which he established with Toby O’Rorke in 1996. Messana received his bachelor’s degree in architecture from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and his Master of Architecture from Columbia University. He is currently an adjunct professor at New York Institute of Technology’s School of Architecture and Design. He has also taught architecture courses at Columbia University, Pratt Institute, University of Texas at Austin and University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He is on the Board of the Society of American Registered Architects, Board of Trustees of Les Ecoles D’art Americaines de Fontainebleau, and is an Interiors Committee member of AIANY. Along with the AIANY, Messana is a member of the Architectural League of New York and Open House New York.

Messana O’Rorke utilizes a rigorously thoughtful selection of materials orchestrated in a distilled architectural language to emphasize the metaphysical qualities of space. In their architecture and interior design, they identify and conceive the essential components and harness light, scale, and meticulous detail to evoke emotion, enhance experiences, and create a distinct and memorable sense of place. The firm’s award-winning projects range from private residences, multi-family developments, retail and hospitality destinations to art galleries and installations.

Principal, things meet architecture studio 

Matt Scarlett received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Carnegie Mellon University and his Master of Architecture degree from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. He is a licensed architect in the state of New York and a certified Passive House consultant. Scarlett brings over a decade of experience working in New York City on large technically complex projects at firms such as Foster and Partners and TenBerke (formally Deborah Berke and Partners), to his newest endeavor which will be to open his own architecture and design studio in 2025.

Principal, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill 

Derek A.R. Moore, FAIA, PhD, is currently Design Principal and Airports Practice Leader at SOM, where he has worked since 1998. At SOM, Moore has led large airport and rail transportation projects in Europe, the Middle East, India and other parts of Asia, as well as across the US. Before going to architecture school (Columbia), Moore earned advanced degrees in the history of art and architecture (Institute of Fine Arts, NYU) and spent three years in Italy as a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome. He taught courses and seminars on Renaissance architecture, architecture theory, and urban history at Columbia as an adjunct professor for ten years while working as an architect. Moore has published on a wide range of subjects, from the Sacri Monti of Northern Italy to the future of airport terminal planning and design. Movement and change over time are themes that run through his practice and scholarly interests. He continues to be inspired by the opportunities large infrastructure and transportation projects offer for long-span spaces, the integration of user experience and technology, and for shaping places that speak to a sense of place.

Founder, Firm A 

Philip Poon is an architect, artist, and writer whose work engages the complex dynamics of a changing Manhattan Chinatown and the relationship of Asian-American identity within it. Informed by his background as a Chinese-American from New York City, his work as a registered architect, and his engagement with art and activist movements in Chinatown, his projects materialize issues at the intersection of space, race, and class. He had a solo exhibition at the Pearl River Mart Gallery and has exhibited at La MaMa Galleria, WSA, Citygroup, and On Canal. His critical writing has been published in Untapped, Urban Omnibus, Other Almanac, and Best! Letters from Asian Americans in the Arts, and his work has appeared in Art in America, ArtAsiaPacific, Chicago Review of Books, The Architect’s Newspaper, South China Morning Post, Sing Tao Daily, World Journal, Deem, and more.

Founding Principal, REX

Joshua Ramus is founding principal of REX, an internationally acclaimed architecture and design firm based in New York City. Believing architecture should actively empower its users and communities—not simply be a representational art—Joshua’s work advances building paradigms and promotes the agency of architecture. Over his 29-year career, he has led the design of projects celebrated worldwide, such as the Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center in New York, The Lindemann Performing Arts Center at Brown University, the AT&T Performing Arts Center Dee & Charles Wyly Theatre in Dallas, the Seattle Central Library, and the Guggenheim-Hermitage Museum in Las Vegas.

Joshua was the first American recipient of the international Marcus Prize. He has also been credited as one of: the “5 greatest architects under 50” by HuffPost; the world’s most influential young architects by Wallpaper*; the twenty most influential players in design by Fast Company; “The 20 Essential Young Architects” by ICON magazine; and the “Best and Brightest” by Esquire. Ramus’s projects consistently receive the profession’s top accolades, including two AIA National Honor Awards, Time magazine’s Building of the Year, and the International Design Awards Building of the Year. In 2024, Fast Company named REX on its World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies list.

Elevated to AIA Fellowship in 2017, Sigal is actively involved in Urban Land Institute, Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat, REBNY, New York Building Congress, and SPUR in San Francisco. He is deeply involved with Publicolor, a program that empowers high school students through arts-based programs. Within KPF, he oversees A.C.E. Mentorship, and the firm’s in-house education program.

A graduate of Penn State, he was honored in 2022 as an Alumni Fellow and in 2016 with its College of Arts and Architecture Alumni Award. He has served as a frequent lecturer, guest critic, and mentor.

Senior Interior Designer & Project Manager, Margaret Sullivan Studio 

Nicola Cortese is a NYC-based architectural designer (architecture licensure: ARBV), educator and co-founder of design research collective, SENS & Caliper Journal. Her interest lies in architecture and design’s potential to function more broadly as an interdisciplinary tool that can facilitate research and produce shared knowledge. She explores this approach throughout her work on public projects across the U.S. and by questioning the intersection of spatial design practices, participatory design, and other means of communication such as publishing, writing and curating.

Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Cortese holds a Master of Architecture from RMIT University, where she was the recipient of the Anne Butler Memorial Prize and is an alumni of SVA’s Design Research, Writing, and Criticism Residency. She has practiced architecture at numerous firms in Melbourne and Tokyo and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at RMIT University and The University of Melbourne.  

Managing Principal, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates 

Lloyd Sigal is a Managing Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) with more than 37  years of experience.  He plays a key role in managing the 650 person firm and has led some of its most challenging projects to numerous global awards, including two National AIA Honor Awards.

Sigal’s management approach fuses design with engineering and construction, emphasizing collaboration to develop creative, integrated solutions. This is epitomized by mega-projects like Hudson Yards, Mohegan Sun, Baruch College’s Vertical Campus, Port Authority Bus Terminal,  Terminal 5 at Changi Airport in Singapore and a series of projects that use architectural “surgery” to reposition outdated buildings, including Centra Metropark in New Jersey, 390 Madison Avenue, One Madison Avenue, 660 Fifth Avenue and the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.  He also oversees KPF’s West Coast work, KPF’s San Francisco office and helps to lead KPF’s Singapore office.

Elevated to AIA Fellowship in 2017, Sigal is actively involved in Urban Land Institute, Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat, REBNY,  NY Building Congress and SPUR in San Francisco.  He is deeply involved with Publicolor, a program that empowers high school students through arts-based programs. Within KPF, he oversees A.C.E. Mentorship, and the firm’s in-house education program.

A graduate of Penn State, he was honored in 2022 as an Alumni Fellow and in 2016 with its College of Arts and Architecture Alumni Award. He has served as a frequent lecturer, guest critic, and mentor.

Senior Designer, Meier Partners 

Tsun Yi (Anthony) Lam is a registered architect in New York State and a Senior Designer at Meier Partners. Lam has held design roles on both domestic and international projects and was instrumental in the winning entry for a retail design competition in South Korea, as well as in several other residential, hospitality and commercial projects.

Prior to joining Meier Partners, Lam gained international experience at Diller Scofidio + Renfro, OMA (Hong Kong), Buro Ole Scheeren (Beijing) and in Tokyo, working on projects of various scales and typologies.

A Hong Kong Native, Lam earned a Master of Architecture from Princeton University and a BA in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. His personal work is recognized by the Architecture MasterPrize (Student) and awarded Third Place at the ASA International Design Competition in 2018.

Outside of office, Lam enjoys playing water polo, swimming and basketball. He also enjoys traveling and exploring cities on foot.

Principal and Co-Global Education Practice Area Leader, Gensler 

Mark Thaler directs Gensler’s global Education Practice Area and is one of Gensler’s experts in the design of learning environments and student spaces, with projects spanning the academic spectrum, from K-12 through higher education, both nationally and internationally.

Thaler is one of the founders and leaders of Gensler’s firmwide education research initiative, and helps to create and implement inquiries that benefit institutions and inform designs. Thaler has presented his research and design at education conferences such as the Association for Learning Environments, the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, SCUP, No Name Conference, STEMTech and SXSWEdu, and has completed a two-year study that maps current usage and forecasts the future state of the academic library.

Thaler sits on the Board of Directors of Schools That Can, a national non-profit dedicated to improving public education. He has also served as a critic at the School of Architecture at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and lecturer at the New York School of Interior Design.

Thaler’s projects have received numerous awards. The Hajjar STEM Center received an award of merit from the AIA Committee on Architecture for Education, and a citation from AIA New York State. The D’Angelo Center at St. John’s University was a multiple award-winner, receiving an Award of Honor from the Society of American Registered Architects, a Queens Chamber of Commerce Building Award, and a Brick Institute Award.

Thaler received a Master of Architecture from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University. He is a Registered Architect in NY.

Architect, di Domenico + Partners 

Chenyang “Jane” Yu, AIA, LEED AP is a designer at di Domenico + Partners. Yu received her Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, along with a certificate in Real Estate and Design. She was the recipient of Dales Travel Fellowship and was selected for the Future 100 by Metropolis Magazine. Prior to pursuing architecture, she studied business and earned a dual degree in Management Science (B.S) and International Business (B.A) from UC San Diego.

She previously worked at 3XN where she engaged in sustainable designs, and the Polyhedral Structures Lab at UPenn where she explored structural designs through parametric scripting. Her professional experience includes educational, residential, commercial, transit and civic projects. With her background in business, she developed a special interest in adaptive reuse to transform missed opportunities to positive economic impact for the community.

Principal, Architecture Research Office 

Kim Yao, FAIA, is Principal of Architecture Research Office (ARO), a New York City firm united by their collaborative process, commitment to accountable action, and social and environmental responsibility. ARO’s diverse body of work has earned the firm over a hundred design awards including the 2020 National AIA Architecture Firm Award. She is a lecturer at MIT and has taught at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, the School of Constructed Environments, Parsons the New School for Design, and Barnard College (2001–2011). She has lectured throughout the United States and abroad. Yao has been awarded the AIA New York (AIANY) Medal of Honor and the Beverly Willis Foundation Mentorship Award. She was President of AIANY in 2020 and serves on the Board of the Center for Architecture. She holds an undergraduate degree in architecture from Columbia College: Columbia University and a Master of Architecture from Princeton University.

Principal, 000

Jedidiah Lau is the founder of 000, an architectural practice based in Manhattan. The studio’s current work includes projects with a local artist and a non-profit, several private residences, as well as speculative proposals for a developer.

Prior to practicing independently in 2023, Lau was an Associate at Diller Scofidio + Renfro in New York City, and a project leader at OMA / Rem Koolhaas in Rotterdam and Hong Kong. He has written about New York’s ultra-luxury towers in PLAT, pixel buildings in the New York Review of Architecture, and building cheaply in Rumor. Lau has been a guest critic at Princeton, Yale, Cornell, Columbia, and U Michigan, among others, and holds an M. Arch from Princeton University, where he was awarded the Suzanne Kolarik Underwood Prize.

Design Principal in Charge, Zambrano Architectural Design 

A first-generation immigrant from Manta, Ecuador, Willy Zambrano leads his own award-winning studio in Freeport, LI, for the past 20 years. For over a decade, he has served for the American Institute of Architects as a leader at the local, state, and national levels. He is the 2015-2016 AIA Queens President, the 2017-2018 AIA NYS Vice-President of Knowledge, the 2019-2021 AIA Strategic Council NY Region Representative and recently the 2024 New York State Chapter President. He was elevated to the College of Fellows of the AIA Class of 2022.

One of Zambrano’s greatest attributes as a leader is his working style of consensus, assuring all participants have ownership in and value the outcome. For the three years serving on the Strategic Council, he worked tirelessly to find ways to support AIA members, especially for small-sized firms, to arm/equip, innovate and be transformed into the digital challenges that laid ahead and the impact that AI would have on practice.

Willy, stepped into his role as the New York State Chapter President in 2024, as the first Latino president of the state component overseeing 9,700+ members, with much optimism to help continue to restructure AIA NYS’ governance and bring local chapters in unison towards one AIA NYS voice and belonging.

BIM & Computational Designer, Buro Happold 

Mojdeh Kasraie is a licensed Architect in the state of New York and has over 10 years of experience in architecture and interior design. Her experience spans across various project typologies and scales, from commercial renovations in Silicon Valley, to affordable housing in San Francisco and high-end hospitality projects abroad. Kasraie is a firm believer in the impact of well-designed spaces at all scales, starting from spaces within our homes to neighborhoods and cities. She is also passionate about integrating advanced technological solutions to streamline workflows. Her dynamic background and extensive knowledge in the ever-evolving AEC technologies, enables her to solve design challenges with creativity and care.