2016 Nominating Committee
Ballot Candidate Profiles Yuri Birchwood‐Fuentes, AIA is an architect with the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC). As a native New Yorker, he sees Architecture as a powerful means to contribute to the improvement of both the physical and social environment for New Yorkers and global citizens as a whole. Yuri has been a public architect for over 9 years working for the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and currently for the DDC. Yuri works closely with Design Excellence architects, many of whom are AIA members, to develop highly effective public buildings for client agencies and all New Yorkers. He also manages in‐house projects for client agencies from inception to substantial completion. Yuri has participated on the design and construction of several public buildings including DSNY’s Manhattan Districts 1‐2‐5 Garage and Salt Shed, various Universal Pre‐Kindergarten sites, and multiple library renovations for Queens Libraries, Brooklyn Libraries, and New York Public Library. Yuri has a deep commitment to public service and The City of New York. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from the Cooper Union and his Masters of Architecture from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Megan Sterling Chusid, AIA, is currently responsible for the administration of all owned and leased properties, space utilization, capital planning and project management for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and Museum. Megan works closely with the Guggenheim's Library & Archives department on research around the Frank Lloyd Wright building's historical architectural drawings and is part of the team working on the Guggenheim Helsinki Design Competition. Prior to joining the Guggenheim, Megan oversaw daily operations of a boutique construction Management firm and practiced as an architect with a focus on high rise residential and mixed use developments in and around NYC. Megan has served as Co‐chair of the Emerging New York Architects Committee‐AIA NY Chapter from 2007‐2009, served on the Board of Directors of the AIA NY Chapter (2010‐2012) and on the Young Leadership Council of the Central Park Conservancy. Megan grew up attending the United Nations International School in NYC and received her Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University School of Architecture. Mark L. Gardner, AIA, NOMA is a principal at Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects (J/GA). J/GA has won numerous design awards, including a 2015 AIANY Design Award for the Toro ishi ku Tokyo Building and a 2014 National AIA Design Honor – Interiors for the Marc Jacobs Showroom. He is co‐chair of the Programs Council of the Van Alen Institute. Mark has taught at PennDesign and Parsons The New School for Design. He is a former President of NYCOBA, the New York Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), and serves as Co‐Chair of the AIANY Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Mark received a B.S. from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a M.Arch from the University of Pennsylvania School of Design. Frances Huppert, FAIA is a Vice‐President at the United Nations Development Corporation, currently working on the development of a new office building for the United Nations designed by Maki & Associates and FXFowle Architects. Prior to joining UNDC, Frances was Associate Vice‐President for Capital Projects at Columbia University where she oversaw the design, construction and renovation of various capital projects. Frances previously served as Senior Vice‐President of the Design and Construction Department at Empire State Development Corporation where she was recognized for her role in supporting design excellence on major public development projects including; the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Moynihan Station Redevelopment, and Queens West Development. Frances is a Registered Architect, holds a B Arch from Pratt Institute and a Master in Urban Planning from City College, is a recipient of the Chapter’s Public Architect Award and participated in the “Future Now 2014” summit as a mentor. Frances is currently a member of the 2015 AIA Fellows Committee. Nicole Hollant‐Denis, AIA Principal and co‐owner of Aarris Atepa Architects, LLC is an award winning designer practicing as a licensed architect in New York City. In her 20 + years of practice, Ms. Hollant‐Denis has orchestrated the completion of a variety of developments and building types. She has received recognition for large transportation, commercial, educational, residential and museum design. Noteworthy designs include Met Life 5 Avenue and 16 Street offices in, NY, Beautification of the Van Wyck Expressway, and the African Burial Ground National Monument, NY, NY. Throughout the development of her career Ms. Hollant‐
Denis has always maintained a strong commitment and delivery to struggling communities. She has given her architectural expertise to Habitat for Humanity and the United Way on past occasions. Her works have been featured in the major news outlets including the New York Times, Oculus, the Japan Times, 1010 WINS, and major television news stations. Gordon Kipping, AIA has been living and working in New York City since 1995. He has worked for the offices of Philip Johnson, Greg Lynn, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and Davis Brody Bond. He has been a Visiting Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture at Columbia University, a position he has held since 2000. Since 1999, Kipping has been principal of G TECTS, focusing on research and projects for a number of institutions, corporations, government agencies and private individuals. (Bios continue on reverse side) Page 1 of 2 2016 Nominating Committee
Ballot Candidate Profiles Juan Carlos Matiz, AIA, LEED AP established Matiz Architecture & Design in 2002. Since then he leads a team that is interdisciplinary, energetic and focused. The practice operates in a range of scales and typologies, from single‐family residences and to large‐scale university facilities and landmark renovation projects. Selected clients include New York University, Pratt Institute, The Santa Fe Opera, The Boys and Girls Club and several innovative startups and co‐working spaces such as Etsy, Ok Cupid and the Urban Future Lab. Prior to founding MAD in 2002, experience at Polshek Partnership (now Ennead) was fundamental in generating his interest in the design of educational and cultural facilities. Juan has been a member of the AIA since 2000 and was a Design Studio professor at Pratt Institute from 2006‐2009. A graduate of Pratt Institute in 1994, he is licensed in NY, NJ and NM. He enjoys nurturing the collaborative environment that the firm’s studio offers and is also an avid hand‐sketcher. George H. Miller, FAIA is the managing partner of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. He has served the Chapter as Treasurer, Vice‐President and was President in 2003. He has also served on both the State and National AIA Board of Directors and was the National President of the AIA in 2010. He served on the local AIA Foundation Board and was the President of the National Architects Foundation. He has received numerous awards including the AIA NY Chapter President’s Award in 2007, and the AIA NYS Kideney Gold Medal in 20111. He is currently a member of the AIA Fellows Advisory committee. Brian Pape, AIA, LEED AP specializes in Green Design and Historic Preservation and has been a pioneer in green design strategies and champion of honoring the heritage of our older built environment. Pape has a reputation for innovation and cutting edge designs for homes and offices. He is considered an expert in accessibility codes, sustainability and LEED, live green roofs, historic preservation and real estate transactions. Pape’s qualifications include a strong educational background and broad experiences. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from University of Illinois in Champaign‐Urbana, which he supplemented with jobs in construction, travel‐study trips abroad, and a continued professional education in CAD, business principals, marketing, innovative energy savings, ecological sustainable design, urban planning, New Urbanism, form‐based zoning, and Dale Carnegie training. He is an accredited LEED professional nationally in building design and construction, and is a licensed real estate agent in New York. Michael Samuelian, AIA is a Vice President with the Related Companies, where his work focuses on the design of large‐scale public private development projects. Michael is responsible for the urban planning, architectural design, and public approvals of the Hudson Yards Project. Prior to joining Related, Michael was the Director of Lower Manhattan Special Projects at the New York City Department of City Planning, helping the city's efforts to redevelop downtown post‐9/11. He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cooper Union and his Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University. Michael is also currently an Associate Professor at Cooper Union in the School of Architecture. He is a registered architect in New York State, a member of the Board of Directors of Open House New York, on the board of directors for the Governors Island Alliance and a member of the New York State Board for Architecture. Robert Schubert, Assoc. AIA has been Senior Vice President of Construction for Boston Properties in the New York Region since 1997. His notable projects include 5 Times Square, Times Square Tower, and Redevelopment at 90 Church Street. He is currently managing Construction of Dock 72 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Previously, he was Director of Project Management at Cushman & Wakefield and an Associate Partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. He received his Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Salvadori Center and ACE Mentor Program, and is a member of the New York Building Congress. He served on the AIA New York Chapter Board of Directors from 2013‐2015. Lee Solomon, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, AVS is a member of the PA KC and is a Deputy Director at NYCHA. Previously held public sector posts include NYC OMB, DASNY and the NYC SCA managing scoping, design and construction administration. Lee also worked in the Private Sector and ran her own MWBE design firm. Concurrently, she served as an Adjunct Faculty at FIT, SVA, NJ City University and the NYC College of Technology. Lee is certified in LEED AP BD+C and AVS, and also a member of CMAA. Lee earned a Master of Architecture degree from VPI & SU and a BA from Washington University. Kim Yao, AIA, is a Principal at Architecture Research Office, a 25‐person firm based in New York City. She holds an undergraduate degree in architecture from Columbia College: Columbia University and a Master of Architecture from Princeton University. She was Adjunct Assistant Professor of Architecture from 2001‐2011 at Barnard College: Columbia University and has also taught at the School of Constructed Environments, Parsons, the New School for Design. She has lectured in the United States and abroad. For the New York City chapter of the AIA, she has served on the Nominating, Oculus, and Design Awards Committees, and currently serves on the Honors Committee. Page 2 of 2