Expert Details
Architecture
ID: 735802
California, USA
I have served as an expert witness twice, supporting Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). For LAUSD, I provided expert witness technical support, review and creation of documents in claim support, statement of opinion, deposition for 2 days, trial testimony for 2 days. For SFUSD, I provided expert witness technical support and deposition for 1 day.
Expert is a highly experienced architect with over 22 years of experience in design and project management. Her experience is working with team members to develop conceptual architectural designs that are based in reality in order to meet project budgets and the clients’ goals. Her strength lies in this ability to listen and understand client concerns and help bring the project into focus.
Expert is a LEED Accredited Professional and long-time sustainable design advocate. She makes it a priority to incorporate appropriate sustainability strategies in each project. Expert will be responsible for overall design team coordination and monitoring day-to-day activities of the design team and work closely with the District and selected contractor to meet the established schedule milestones.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1999 | Degree: Masters Degree | Subject: Architecture | Institution: University of California - Berkeley |
| Year: 1994 | Degree: Bachelor of Science | Subject: Architecture | Institution: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2017 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Principal | Department: Architecture |
Responsibilities:I am a licensed architect and bring a swiss army knife skillset in educational planning, design, construction, project management and firm leadership experience with over 24 years of professional architectural practice and expertise, specializing in California K-12 projects.I specialize in providing innovative, sustainably responsible, high performance and integrated educational environments that both elevate and enhance user engagement and experience while maximizing efficiency. I am enthusiastic and passionate in providing collaborative client service and solutions, execution, leadership and expert mentoring, high performance educational architecture, design excellence, collaboration, creating and maintaining valuable client relationships, and securing and servicing successful projects. As the offspring of a Contractor/Inspector father and a crafty/professional volunteer mother, a childhood surrounded by tools, drawings, handmade objects and social responsibility instilled a keen interest in design, building and an understanding of the necessary interplay of community, poetry and precision in the built environment. I frequently present on high performance and human-health centered building design including the Coalition for Adequate School Housing, The National Science Teachers Association STEM Forum and Expo, Green Schools Summit, GreenBuild, AutoDesk University – Mumbai, India Employer is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse. Our promise is to elevate the human experience through design. This promise inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients; local communities; and our planet. Employer is 100% employee-owned and fully supports the initiatives and goals of the 2030 Challenge, and is an initial signatory to the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2010 to 2017 | Employer: gkkworks | Title: Associate Principal | Sr. Project Architect & Project Manager | Director of Sustainable Design | Department: Architecture |
Responsibilities:Associate Principal | Director of Sustainable Design, Sr. Project Architect/ Manager with over 22 years of professional experience in all phases of project delivery, office leadership and mentoring role in high performance educational architecture, design excellence, collaboration, creating and maintaining valuable client relationships. BD and Marketing skills & passion for building, nurturing and maintaining positive client relationships and project outcomes. Passionate about firm health: internal and external relationships, both client and firm-wide budgets and finances.Technical expertise in Construction Documents and Construction Administration through project closeout and DSA Certification. Expertise in high performance educational architecture and office leader/mentor of the gkkPledge which is aligned with the AIA 2030 Challenge; Criteria for CHPS, LEED, Savings By Design and industry early adopter. Presentation of gkkworks TAP (Technology in Practice) workflow & tools at Autodesk University AU-Mumbai 2015. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2006 to 2010 | Employer: Levy Design Partners | Title: Senior Associate | Sr. Project Architect and Project Manager | Department: Architecture |
Responsibilities:Project Architect and Senior Project Manager including all phases of design, drawings and construction administration for SFUSD Abraham Lincoln High School which included 5 phases of construction from 2006 to 2010 totaling $35m. Phases included a new 27,000 sf, 2-story, 18 classroom building certified as CHPS-Designed, Modernization of 115,000 sq feet interior space and 11 acre site renovations including 2 site elevators and extensive site modifications to achieve accessibility, New Track and Field. Various projects for the San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA). |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2005 to 2006 | Employer: Andy Levine Architects | Title: Senior Project Architect and Project Manager | Department: Architecture |
Responsibilities:Project Manager, Designer including all phases of design, feasibility studies and existing conditions assessments, construction documents and specifications, construction administration including agency approvals and variances; residential and commercial, new construction, additions and renovations. Projects include historic renovation of the midcentury modernist architect Jack Hillmer's Wright Residence in Inverness, CA. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2000 to 2003 | Employer: Gelfand Partners Architects | Title: Senior Project Architect and Project Manager | Department: Architecture |
Responsibilities:Project Manager, Designer including all phases of design, feasibility studies and existing conditions assessments, construction documents and specifications, construction administration including agency approvals and variances; educational and residential new construction, additions and renovations.Projects include: Schools: SFUSD Mission High School and other SFUSD and TUSD projects. Low Income Housing for the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation Oxnard Library Head Start Programs in Northern California |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1995 to 1997 | Employer: Ottolini and Booth Architects | Title: Job Captain to Project Manager | Department: Architecture |
Responsibilities:From drafter to Project Manager; drafting and design work of all phases of projects from beginning to closeout. Job tasks included teaching skills to staff, preparation of construction documents, construction bidding and administration, site surveys, organization and maintenance of computer network and office AutoCad standards and development of presentation materials. Office building renovations, tenant improvement and commercial. |
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International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 2015 to 2015 | Country / Region: India | Summary: Speaking engagement sharing Technical Presentation at Autodesk University in Mumbai, India |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| American Institute of Architects |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| Licensed Architect - CA License Certified Construction Documents Technologist (CDT) by the Construction Specifiers Institute (CSI) Designated Design-Build Professional Certification by the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Certified Building Performance Analyst (BPA) by Autodesk LEED Accredited Professional by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| Principal, 2017 Associate Principal, gkkworks, 2015 Director of Sustainable Design, gkkworks, 2015 |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| 2012-2014 and then again as Expert Witness in 2018-2019, Hired by school district's general council, working on claims support for a project I served as Construction Administrator from 2010 to 2012 that was going into litigation. Technical support, review and input on drawings and construction documents, construction documentation, statement of opinions, deposition for 2 days and trial testimony for 2 days. 2015, hired to support a claim to support School District, working with attorney in technical support review of construction documents and constructibility for a project that I served as Project Architect and Construction Adminstrator in 2008/2009. Technical support and deposition for 1 day. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| Ongoing Continuing Education on a daily basis related to: Codes and Regulations, Technical and Material, Constructibility, Specifications, Detailing |