We’ve got some new faces on the board this year as well as some familiar ones. Our board this year has a mix of backgrounds, practice areas and interests and we wanted to take a few minutes to share some fun facts about ourselves with you!
President
Full Name: Allison Emma (Beer) McKenzie
Current Employer: SHP
Architecture Degree(s) Attained from (College/University):
BS Arch and Master of Architecture from University of Cincinnati
Favorite Studio Project from Your College Years:
Greenhills Public Library
Favorite Type of Building to Design:
I like the challenge of a messy renovation and the principle of reusing a building rather than starting from scratch. The projects I find most personally rewarding are typically educational in nature, because they have such a big community impact.
Favorite Building in Cincinnati:
Union Terminal – not just for the beautify of the building but also for my childhood memories of it as the museum center.
Favorite Architectural Style or Movement:
Modernism
Current Favorite Architect:
Le Corbusier
Random Fun Fact you want the membership to know:
My husband and I love watching live music, and we know a couple bands that we’ll often travel long distances to see.
Vice President
Full Name: Cynthia Williams
Current Employer: Cynthia Williams Architect
Architecture Degree(s) Attained From (College/University):
Master of Architecture from Harvard University
Favorite Studio Project from Your College Years:
a Church
Favorite Type of Building to Design:
Residential
Favorite Building in Cincinnati:
I have two at the moment: Hannaford’s City Hall, and Mark Dejong’s Swing House. The Swing House is a renovation of a very old three story row house in Camp Washington where the floors have been removed and a giant swing installed. It is a work of art and architecture and is a hidden gem in our city. Everyone should treat themselves to experience it during the limited times when it is open to the public.
Favorite Architectural Style or Movement:
I like them all!
Current Favorite Architect:
Too many to choose!
Random Fun Fact you want the membership to know:
I once fell about 30′ over the side of a cliff while hiking at the Red River Gorge, was carried out on a stretcher, sustained multiple injuries that required surgery, and have fully recovered. OR I can recite the names of all the US Presidents in chronological order.
Treasurer
Full Name: Jeffrey C. Raser
Current Employer: CUDA Studio
Architecture Degree(s) Attained from (College/University):
University of Cincinnati
Favorite Studio Project from Your College Years:
Adaptive Reuse of warehouse structure on Beekman Street South Fairmont
Favorite Type of Building to Design:
A neighborhood “main street” mixed-use building (although distilleries are fun too)
Favorite Building in Cincinnati:
The Times Star Building (800 Broadway)
Favorite Architectural Style or Movement:
Walkable Urbanism
Current Favorite Architect:
James Corner Field Operations
Random Fun Fact you want the membership to know:
In their lifetime, the average person will walk a distance that equals circling the Earth about five times.
Secretary
Full Name: Angela Mazzi
Current Employer: GBBN
Architecture Degree(s) Attained From (College/University):
Carnegie Mellon
Favorite Studio Project from Your College Years:
AIDS continuum of care housing in Boston
Favorite Type of Building to Design:
Healthcare
Favorite Building in Cincinnati:
Cincinnati Shakespeare
Favorite Architectural Style or Movement:
Techno Critical
Current Favorite Architect:
Marlon Blackwell Architects
Random Fun Fact you want the membership to know:
I am a certified feng shui practitioner
AIA Ohio Rep
Full Name: Michael R. Mauch, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
Current Employer: RWA Architects, Inc.
Architecture Degree(s) Attained From (College/University):
BArch from the University of Cincinnati
Favorite Studio Project from Your College Years:
Thesis
Favorite Type of Building to Design:
House
Favorite Building in Cincinnati:
I can’t pick just one.
Favorite Architectural Style or Movement:
I like them all.
Current Favorite Architect:
Anyone at RWA.
Random Fun Fact you want the membership to know:
I don’t watch any sports on TV.
Director
Full Name: Andreas Lange
Current Employer: PWWG
Architecture Degree Attained From (College/University): University of Cincinnati
Favorite Studio Project from Your College Years:
The Surreal Museum:
An Intervention for the Cincinnati Art Museum
Favorite Type of Building to Design:
Mixed-use and Historic
Favorite Building in Cincinnati:
Music Hall
Favorite Architectural Style or Movement:
Historic Renovations
Current Favorite Architect:
Sergison Bates
Random Fun Fact you want the membership to know:
I played one year of college baseball.
Director
Full Name: John Jaskiewicz Jr.
Current Employer: MSA Design
Architecture Degree Attained From (College/University):
BS Architectural Engineering Technology – U of Cincinnati | M.Arch – Virginia Tech
Favorite Studio Project from Your College Years:
My thesis – a Palliative Care Center in Iceland
Favorite Type of Building to Design:
My dream project? Something on Mars…any building type.
Favorite Building in Cincinnati:
It’s a tie – The CAC and the Cincinnati Observatory
Favorite Architectural Style or Movement:
Atomic Design
Current Favorite Architect:
Bjarke Ingels and I.M. Pei
Random Fun Fact you want the membership to know:
I’m a space/science nerd who loves to scavenge thrift stores for mid-century furniture/furnishings (it’s the thrill of the hunt).
Director
Full Name: Krutarth Jain
Current Employer: Champlin Architecture
Architecture Degree(s) Attained From (College/University):
CEPT, India and DAAP, University of Cincinnati
Favorite Studio Project from Your College Years:
Urban Design Studio OTR
Favorite Type of Building to Design:
Healing Spaces of all shapes and sizes (Healthcare Buildings)
Favorite Building in Cincinnati:
Union Terminal
Favorite Architectural Style or Movement:
Modern
Current Favorite Architect:
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (Less is more)
Random Fun Fact you want the membership to know:
I never played Lacrosse but I enjoy coaching and spending time on field with my daughters
Associate Director
Full Name: Paul Karalambo
Current Employer: KARALAMBO Design+Planning Studio
Architecture Degree(s) Attained From (College/University):
Lawrence Technological University and University of Cincinnati
Favorite Studio Project from Your College Years:
I don’t really remember the details of the project, but I remember the team. It was a collaborative architecture project with two close friends at Lawrence Technological University. It was a great project where everyone felt like their ideas were in the final design.
Favorite Type of Building to Design:
Mixed-use projects. It is a great challenge to think about how parking, retail, restaurant, and apartments can all live together in one building.
Favorite Building in Cincinnati:
Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza
Favorite Architectural Style or Movement:
Deconstructivism
Current Favorite Architect:
Rem Koolhaas
Random Fun Fact you want the membership to know:
I have come to love mixing work and family. My kids have traveled on business trips with me and come into the office while I work. My kids talk often about those trips and days in the office as being so much fun. I am usually asked ‘When can I came into the office again?’ every month by my daughter.
