SmithGroup Elevates 23 to Principal

SmithGroup, one of the world’s preeminent integrated design firms, has promoted 23 to principal.

Jame Anderson, AIA

As a member of the Cultural studio at the Washington, D.C. office, Jame Anderson has over 25 years of experience in museums and galleries, specializing in the intersection of exhibition design and architecture. Current work includes the Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Site / Devil’s Half Acre Project interpretive site development in Richmond, Virginia. Anderson earned a Bachelor of Arts in studio art and art history from Wake Forest University, followed by a Master of Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design. She is an active member of the American Alliance of Museums and the American Institute of Architects Northern Virginia chapter. A native of Virginia, Anderson resides in Arlington.

Oscar Cobb, Jr., PE, LEED AP BD+C

Oscar Cobb, Jr., is a senior mechanical engineer at the Detroit office who works on projects in a variety of markets, such as workplace, science and technology, healthcare and higher education. Recent work includes alterations to the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, including the new 40,000-square-foot visitor center and the 17,000-square-foot administration building; and the new one-million-square-foot Robley Rex VA Medical Center, underway in Louisville, Kentucky. Cobb regularly volunteers with various local organizations and schools to bring awareness of the industry. He is serving as president of the American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers Detroit chapter, and is an affiliate member of the Engineering Society of Detroit. Cobb earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Lawrence Technological University. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, he now resides in Detroit.

Luigi Coletta, AIA

With over 20 years of experience, Luigi Coletta is a sought after lead architectural designer at the Detroit office. He has worked on several complex, multidisciplinary projects, engaging high-profile clients such as the University of Michigan and First Automotive Works. Serving as lead architectural designer, notable work includes the Detroit Medical Center Sinai-Grace Hospital Expansion; the national award-winning new 1,000,000-square-foot Robley Rex VA Replacement Medical Center for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Louisville, Kentucky; and the new 120,000-square-foot Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business in Detroit, slated to open spring 2018. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects Detroit chapter, and earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Detroit Mercy. Coletta is a resident of Royal Oak, Michigan.

Dennis Daisey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

A skilled project manager and interior designer at the Washington, D.C., office, Dennis Daisey is passionate about creating custom design solutions that encourage engagement, inspire collaboration, and support organizations’ missions and visions. He has worked on projects in the public and private sectors for well-known clients such as Google, MGM, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. Department of State. Notable work includes the new six-story, 200,000-square-foot Biopharmaceutical Innovation Building on the University of Delaware’s STAR Campus in Newark, Delaware; the U.S. Embassy in Rabat, Morocco; and the award-winning 160,000-square-foot headquarters for Noblis, Inc., in Reston, Virginia. Daisey is a member of the American Institute of Architects Washington, D.C. chapter. He graduated from the Syracuse University School of Architecture with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. Originally from Bridgeville, Delaware, Daisey resides in Washington, D.C.

Timothy Gregg, AIA, ACHA

Timothy Gregg joined SmithGroup in 2017 as a senior healthcare planner. With over 30 years of experience, Gregg’s expertise lies in master planning, programming and state-of-the-art medical technologies. His expansive portfolio includes work for top healthcare clients in the Chicago area, such as Loyola University Medical Center, Rush University Medical Center, Alexian Brothers Medical Center and University of Chicago Hospitals. He is currently principal-in-charge and planner for Northwestern Medicine’s Operating Room Modernization and Video Integration renovation in Chicago, slated for completion spring 2018. Gregg is a member of the American Institute of Architects Chicago chapter, and American College of Healthcare Architects. Gregg graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in architectural studies followed by a Master of Architecture degree. An Illinois native, he currently resides in Chicago.

Patricia Halaby, AIA, LEED AP

As a skilled architect at the Washington, D.C. office, Patricia Halaby specializes in leading multifaceted projects, specifically within the healthcare, hospitality and higher education markets. She is driven by the design process, and enjoys collaborating with teams and clients to create transformative spaces that have a positive impact. Recent work includes the new five-story, 180,000-square-foot School of Nursing for the University of North Carolina Greensboro, expected to open fall 2020 and the state-of-the-art 3,000 seat theater at MGM National Harbor Resort, Maryland. Halaby is a member of the American Institute of Architects Washington, D.C. chapter. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in architecture, followed by a Master of Architecture degree. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Halaby currently resides in Arlington, Virginia.

Laura Holman, AIA, LEED AP

As an experienced project architect at the Chicago office, Laura Holman works on a wide-range of highly complex projects, specifically in the higher education and science and technology markets. She serves as an architectural discipline leader, and is at point for guiding the growth and development of the architectural staff at the Chicago office. Notable work includes the award-winning Electrical and Computer Engineering Building at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and the renovation and expansion of the 340,000-square-foot Jacobs Center at Northwestern University. Holman is a member of the American Institute of Architects Chicago chapter. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, followed by dual master’s degrees in architecture and urban planning. An Illinois native, she currently resides in Chicago.

Elisa Jue, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Elisa Jue is a senior architectural designer at the San Francisco office. With an expertise in exterior design, Jue has the ability to work on a variety of project types, from hospitals to retail to mixed-use development. Jue is serving as a senior designer on the 910,000-square-foot Candlestick Point District, San Francisco; and project designer on the 13-story, 998,000-square-foot California Pacific Medical Center at the Van Ness and Geary campus, San Francisco. Jue is a member of the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco chapter. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in architecture with a minor in city planning from the University of California, Berkeley, followed by a Master of Architecture from Yale University. Born in Hong Kong, Jue now resides in San Francisco.

Amanda Key, IIDA, NCIDQ

As a lead interior designer at the Detroit office, Amanda Key has worked on several award-winning projects throughout the U.S. With an expertise in the interior design of university and campus life facilities, she is inspired by the ability to impact human experiences through the design of space. She has served as lead interior designer on the recently completed two-story Valley Dining Center at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo; and the new visitor center and administration building for Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Key is an active member of the International Interior Design Association’s Michigan chapter, and graduated cum laude from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Interior Design. A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Key now resides in Farmington, Michigan.

Oliver Kiley, PLA

Oliver Kiley is a sought after landscape architect at the Ann Arbor office. He specializes in the intersection of community planning and urban design, specifically how public streets and trails can be used to strengthen quality of life, better connecting people to their community and environment. Serving as project manager, notable work includes The Treeline - Allen Creek Urban Trail, a new transformative trail system in the City of Ann Arbor; and the Cuyahoga Greenways Regional Trail Plan, a project to develop a network of urban trails throughout Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Kiley graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Natural Resources, followed by a Master of Landscape Architecture. He is a resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Todd Kohli, PLA, ASLA

As a design leader at the San Francisco office, Todd Kohli has over 20 years of experience specializing in landscape architecture, urban design and campus planning services. He is currently serving as project manager and lead landscape architect on the new Sunnyvale Civic Center Modernization master plan and the recently approved South San Francisco Civic Center. Kohli is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association, and the Society for College and University Planning. He is also active with Urban Land Institute San Francisco, and serves as a member of its Board of Advisors. Kohli earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from The Pennsylvania State University. He is a resident of San Francisco.

Bryon Lewinski

As the corporate controller located at the Detroit office, Bryon Lewinski is dedicated to the attainment of the firm’s overall financial stability and growth. In his role, Lewinski is responsible for being adept at understanding the firm’s accounting policies, procedures and financial activities, as well as leading firm-wide rollouts and annual audits. Most recently, Lewinski significantly contributed to SmithGroup’s smooth and successful acquisition of TRO, a healthcare design firm in Boston. Lewinski graduated from Tri-State University (now Trine University) with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and accounting. He is a resident of Waterford, Michigan.

Chee Keong Lin, AIA, ACHA, EDAC, LEED AP BD+C

Chee Keong Lin is a lead medical planner in the Health studio at the San Francisco office. He has led a wide-range of complex healthcare projects including adult and pediatric hospitals, medical office buildings and specialty centers. Lin is serving as principal-in-charge for Adventist Health, Sonora Regional Medical Center’s new outpatient pavilion in Sonora, California; and leading the feasibility study for a new Hadron Center in Palo Alto, California for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System. Additionally, Lin led medical planning efforts for the Highland Hospital Acute Tower replacement development completed for Alameda County in Oakland, California. Lin is a member of the American Institute of Architects San Francisco chapter, and the American College of Healthcare Architects. He earned a Bachelor of Science in design and a Master of Science in construction from Arizona State University, followed by a Master in Architecture from Harvard University. Lin is a resident of Piedmont, California.

Maria Martinico, CID, IIDA, LEED AP

As the Workplace studio leader at the Los Angeles office, Maria Martinico possesses nearly 30 years of experience in the planning, design, implementation and management of a range of commercial project types. Her career includes work for many notable organizations, such as Disney, Toyota, Edwards LifeSciences, Broadcom, Experian, Nationstar, John Deere, and Mission Federal Credit Union, among others. Martinico is an active member of the International Interior Design Association, the U.S. Green Building Council, and CoreNet Global, where she serves on its Board of Directors. She earned a Bachelor of Science in interior design from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and graduated from Chapman University with a Master’s of Business Administration. Martinico is a resident of Los Angeles.

Francisco Owens, AIA

As a senior designer at the Los Angeles office, Francisco Owens is known for his meticulous attention to detail and technical expertise. He is frequently sought after to work on large-scale, multifaceted Science & Technology and Higher Education projects, and is instrumental in growing the firm’s project portfolio in the Southern California market. He is currently serving as lead designer on the new $200 million, 150,000-square-foot Caltech Chen Neuroscience Research Building; and a senior designer on the new $150 million, 179,000-square-foot Multidisciplinary Research Building at the University of California, Riverside, slated to open fall 2018. Owens is a member of the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles chapter, and earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Kent State University. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, he now resides in Los Angeles.

Ionel Petrus, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C

Ionel Petrus is a mechanical engineer at the Washington, D.C. office whose expertise lies in the design of complex HVAC systems for hospital operating rooms. He is currently serving as lead mechanical engineer on the new 40,000-square-foot medical office building for Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States in Alexandria, Virginia, set to open in 2019. He is a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning, American Society for Healthcare Engineering, and Association of Energy Engineers. He earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University Politehnica of Bucharest, Romania, followed by a Master of Science in engineering and technology management from George Washington University. Born in Romania, Petrus now lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.  

Tom Philippi, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

An award-winning designer at the Dallas office, Philippi has over 30 years of experience working on mixed-use, corporate, hospitality, retail, healthcare and master planning projects in the U.S. and abroad. In his role, he works to build new strategic business relationships for the office’s emerging Workplace studio, and collaborates with its Higher Education and Health studios to identify new business opportunities in both the corporate and public sectors. Philippi is currently serving as design principal on Independent Bank Group’s new six-story, 165,000-square-foot headquarters in McKinney, Texas. The new development, which broke ground on January 17, is set to be McKinney’s tallest building. Philippi is a member of the American Institute of Architects Dallas chapter, and the Urban Land Institute’s North Texas Hotel Development Council. He received a Bachelor of Architecture degree at the University of Cincinnati. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Philippi currently resides in McKinney, Texas.

Brett Roberts, RA

Brett Roberts is a skilled technical architect at the San Francisco office. With over 30 years of experience, Roberts can translate intricate design concepts into intelligent works of contemporary architecture. He is currently serving as a technical design lead on the University of California, San Francisco’s new 340,000-square-foot Center for Vision Neuroscience and Academic Tower, and the building enclosure on the new Joan and Sanford I. Weill Neurosciences Building; as well as the new three-story, 145,500-square-foot Silicon Valley office building at 211 N. Mathilda Avenue for Spear Street Capital, Sunnyvale, California. Roberts earned a Bachelor of Arts in marine biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, followed by a Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Roberts resides in San Francisco.

Rosa Sheng, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Hired in 2017 to support the San Francisco office’s growing Higher Education studio, Rosa Sheng has nearly 20 years of experience in the planning, design and construction of large, complex projects. In a short time, she has bolstered SmithGroup’s design expertise and expanded the quality and depth of the firm’s design services in the Norther California Higher Education and Workplace markets, which includes work with the University of California, San Francisco and Davis as well as several Bay Area corporate clients. Additionally, she has utilized her industry expertise to lead, develop and implement various firm-wide equity initiatives at SmithGroup. An active member of the American Institute of Architects San Francisco chapter, Sheng is the 2018 president and founding chair of Equity by Design, a national movement for equitable practice in architecture. Sheng earned a Bachelor of Architecture Cum Laude from Syracuse University. She resides in the Bay Area.

Josh Vacca, AIA, LEED AP

A project architect at the Washington, D.C. office, Josh Vacca has over 10 years of experience focusing on higher education facilities with healthcare, science, laboratory and STEM components. He is passionate about creating design solutions on campuses that improve the student experience. Vacca is serving as a project architect on the $53 million, 66,575-square-foot Indiana University Memorial Stadium Excellence Academy, Bloomington, Indiana, scheduled to be completed in summer 2018; and the 110,500-square-foot Old Dominion University New Chemistry Building, Norfolk, Virginia. Vacca is a member of the American Institute of Architects Washington, D.C. chapter, and graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Roger Williams University. Originally from Harleysville, Pennsylvania, Vacca now resides in Arlington, Virginia.

Dave Whitman

Dave Whitman joined SmithGroup in 2017 as the corporate communications director located at the Detroit office. He brings over 25 years of experience managing integrated branding and communications activities for major global, national and regional brands in both agency and corporate environments. In his current role, he is responsible for leading the strategic communications plan for the firm, which includes serving as the project lead for the development of the firm’s new website that will launch in spring 2018. Whitman graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in communications and political science from the University of Michigan. He is a resident of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Johnny Wong, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Johnny Wong is a skilled technical project lead at the San Francisco office. He specializes in large-scale higher education, research and technology facilities, leading and managing multidisciplinary teams from design through construction. Most notably, Wong is serving as project manager on California Pacific Medical Center’s new seven-story, 120-bed replacement hospital at the Mission Bernal Campus, scheduled to open August 2018. Other notable work includes the award-winning Energy Biosciences Building and Sutardja Dai Hall at the University of California, Berkeley. He is an active member of the American Institute of Architects San Francisco chapter, participating in the Practice committee. Wong received a Bachelor of Architecture degree followed by a Master of Architecture from the University of Wisconsin. Born in Hong Kong, he now resides in San Francisco.

Xin Zong, PE, LEED AP

As a senior structural engineer at the Detroit office, Xin Zong frequently works on some of the firm’s largest, most complex projects, delivering high-quality and innovative results for well-known clients throughout the U.S. Zong is currently serving as project structural engineer on the new 300,000-square-foot Biological Science Building at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; and the Henry M. Goldman School of Dentistry expansion and renovation at Boston University. She is an active member of the American Institute of Steel Construction and the Structural Engineers Association of Michigan. Zong earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from North China University of Technology, followed by a Master of Science in structural engineering from Northern Jiaotong University and a Master of Science in materials engineering from the University of Michigan. She is a resident of Canton, Michigan.

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