Shawn T. Brennan, AIA

Shawn Brennan is a registered architect in HOK’s Atlanta studio with more than 15 years of experience spanning transportation, science and technology, government, higher education, and residential sectors. He excels in construction detailing and project oversight from concept through post-occupancy. Shawn is known for his hands-on approach, technical expertise, and ability to solve complex design challenges. His passion lies in delivering high-quality architecture through thoughtful execution and strong collaboration with clients and project teams.

Alex Hassell has over a decade of experience across science and technology, healthcare, government, K–12, higher education, and civic projects at HOK’s Atlanta office. He combines a strong technical foundation with a passion for high design, building lasting relationships with clients and colleagues. Alex is committed to delivering thoughtful, high-quality architectural solutions and fostering a collaborative environment. His work reflects a dedication to excellence and a deep understanding of diverse project needs and contexts.

Matt Breidenthal directs HOK’s Engineering practice, leading award-winning projects recognized for design excellence, creativity, and sustainable performance. A licensed PE/SE in most U.S. states, Matt has delivered billions of dollars in construction across global markets. He is known for innovative, interdisciplinary solutions and technical leadership. Matt serves on HOK’s Board of Directors, Design Board, and Marketing Board, and oversees the firm’s research program, shaping engineering strategy and driving excellence from concept through construction.

Mark Chiu leads Thornton Tomasetti’s Façade Engineering Practice in Chicago and has more than 17 years of experience in design of all types of exterior envelope systems, with a focus on sustainable design. He has in-depth knowledge and a specialization in building science, with certifications and credentials in the area of LEED design, NFRC simulations, and Building Enclosure Commissioning. His project work reflects this area of expertise as it involves attention to thermal analysis, high-performance and climate-specific design, and testing/analysis of the building envelope systems. He has collaborated on several notable national and international projects involving complex geometries, intricate detailing, challenging performance goals and material uses, as well as reuse of existing structures for re-clad/over-clad envelope design solutions.

Pat Layton is the Strategic Advisor to Clemson’s Wood Utilization + Design Institute and a retired professor of forestry. She previously served for 12 years as the Institute’s founding director. She spent the first 14 of her 26 years at Clemson as Director of the School of Agricultural, Forest, and Environmental Sciences and chairing the Forest Resources and Forestry and Natural Resources departments.

Before joining Clemson University, she held various positions with the American Forest & Paper Association, Scott Paper Company, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Owens-Illinois. She served on the Board of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative for the last six years.

Pat is a native of South Carolina and has forestry degrees from Clemson University, Texas A&M University, and the University of Florida.

Katherine Lynch is a Principal with TCC’s Atlanta office. In this role, Katherine is responsible for sourcing, shaping and executing TCC’s office and life sciences development and investment in Atlanta, Tennessee, and Alabama. Katherine oversees the firm’s development projects from start to finish, beginning with site acquisition, underwriting, design supervision and capitalization through marketing and leasing, overall asset management and disposition. Projects that Katherine has worked on include Twelve24, a speculative 345,000-square-foot Class AA Office Tower in Dunwoody, GA that was completed in March 2020. Insight Global leased 99% of the project, which was sold in June 2021. Katherine is the TCC lead for Science Square, a $1B mixed-use life sciences district that will include multiple phases of purpose-built R&D labs ground-leased from Georgia Tech. A 17-year veteran of the commercial real estate industry, Katherine previously served as First Vice President for CBRE Atlanta, specializing in the marketing and leasing of office buildings for institutional owners. During her tenure, she completed more than 475 transactions in excess of five million square feet, representing $875 million in total lease volume. In 2009, Lynch was the recipient of the William H. McAdam Memorial Award for being the nation’s highest producing first-year salesperson throughout the Company. Prior to CBRE, she served as Development Associate at Pope & Land Enterprises where she worked on a variety of development activities.

AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Mark is technical at heart. As soon as he discovered that things could come apart, he became fascinated with how to put them back together. Today, his professional portfolio is composed of a wide range of academic-science buildings—projects that span various Science & Technology program types for higher education, federal, and private developers, integrating the complex technical needs of research facilities with human-centered spaces. He attributes his success to his curiosity, humility, and rigor, as well as his ability to absorb the pressure of high-stakes environments. Also a mentor at his core, he is committed to supporting the next generation of technical leadership in the studio. 

Mark learned to lead projects with confidence from his own mentor, Dan Watch, with whom he also learned to set ambitious goals. In almost two decades with the studio’s Science & Technology practice, he has only ever known one objective: to deliver the best science buildings in the world. To get there, he encourages every team to be fearless in meeting a client’s needs and vision, but also to be prepared. When a client’s needs change, the team will need to recalibrate quickly. Confidence comes not from knowing every answer, but from knowing his teams are ready to solve those challenges as they arise.  

And then there is the why. Mark makes sure to keep the purpose of every project in clear view, because knowing the why brings forward the most intelligent solutions for mission-driven spaces. 

AIA, LEED AP BD+C

The son of a military family, Bruce learned to be open and adaptable to new environments and cultures at an early age—and was aided through these transitions by an omnipresent sketchbook. Hours spent painting and drawing in his high school art room led to a fulfilling study at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s architecture studio.

Bruce has devoted his career to designing spaces that inspire change, transform lives, and make the world a better place. Throughout his career, Bruce has collaborated with some of the world’s most prestigious corporations, as well as small and emerging non-profit clients.

He believes design’s greatest gift is its transformative effect on future generations, and is passionate about advancing Atlanta’s design community. To that end, he serves on the Executive Advisory Board of the College of Design and is the Chairman of the Board of Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA).

Laura Cullen, PE

Laura is passionate about educating others on the benefits of building with wood. Prior to joining WoodWorks, she worked as a structural designer for seven years. Her previous structural design experience focused primarily on mixed-use and multi-family structures, as well as K-12 schools. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Berry College. Laura is based in the Atlanta area, where she is a member of CREW Atlanta, a business network for the commercial real estate market, and a 2018 graduate of Leadership CREW.

Platt Boyd, AIA, LEED AP

Platt is the Founder and CEO of Branch Technology who practiced as an award winningarchitect for 15 years prior to leaving a partnership twelve years ago to found Branch.His fascination with natural beauty and amazing structures led to the initiation of a newtechnology using freeform 3D printing combined with conventional materials to roboticallyprefabricate architectural assemblies with resource stewardship and unprecedenteddesign freedom. The Cellular Fabrication (C-FAB™) method takes its cues from provenmethods observed in nature, where material use is minimized, but form is free to becomealmost anything.

Branch has evolved from an idea to a global leader in construction scale 3D printing,having produced the largest 3D printed pavilions in the world in 2016, the largest 3Dprinted spans in 2018, and the first 3D printed GFRC facade in 2021. They havereceived awards ranging from NASA, Inc, Dezeen, and the publishers of ArchitectMagazine to the State of Tennessee where they are located. They are working with theNational Science Foundation, Air Force, Department of Energy, NASA and corporatepartners to further develop the technology producing composite walls for commercialfacades. They have past and ongoing projects with Apple, Disney, Altar’d State,Lululemon, Snap, Foster+Partners, Oppenheim, and ShoP,

With over a decade of experience in construction operations & preconstruction, Henry has worked on pursuits/projects ranging from $1M to $500M in size and across a range of markets. Before construction Henry worked in pharmaceutical lab settings, but was driven by his passion for woodworking to focus his career on wood & timber construction. With his life science background, Henry brings a measured and analytical approach to preconstruction & operations with a goal of ensuring project risks are understood as early as possible and planned for.

Dionne Darling has been with The A|N Media Group for over six years. As VP of Brand Partnerships and Associate Publisher, she manages A|N’s Texas headquarters and handles accounts in the West, Southwest and Europe territories. Dionne has over 28 years of direct B2B sales, management and business development experience.

Mike Augustine has over 20 years of experience in the architectural glazing industry. As the Director of Architectural Promotion at SAFTI FIRST, he brings his extensive knowledge and expertise of fire rated glazing systems and fenestration in general when working closely with architects, specifiers, glazing contractors and code officials. Mike is a dynamic presenter and speaker who has been delivering the company’s AIA-registered presentation to various architecture firms, AIA local chapters, CSI local chapters, and at other architectural and glazing industry events.

Doug will be celebrating 28 years in the Architectural Construction Product Sales business. During his career, he has been able to support Architects, General Contractors, and Owners in selecting the best materials for their projects. He has also been privileged to speak at the National AIA Conference on Rain Screen Cladding systems.
Doug also worked with a premier metal cladding installer in Atlanta for several years. During that time, he gained a tremendous understanding of how to install and fabricate various cladding systems. This experience has allowed him to understand the complete bidding process from a subcontractor’s perspective. This knowledge has been an asset when helping the Architectural Community select the perfect cladding for their projects.
Doug resides in Carrollton, Georgia, with his wife Beverly and daughter Abi. He and his family enjoy traveling, playing golf together and fishing.

Chris Gall is Business Development Manager at Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope (OBE), North America’s leading vertically integrated manufacturer, fabricator and distributor of architectural hardware, glass and glazing systems. He is a technical product professional dedicated to working directly with architects from ideation to completion of projects using traditional and design-assist project delivery.

Chris has over 35 years of experience in the design, testing and product development for exterior facades. This includes product development in the General Services Administration (GSA) and Department of Defense (DoD) with a focus on new product and field testing, and product cross-over to meet many different applications. Chris also has extensive experience in Hurricane Impact Products, Security Glazing, ASTM/FPA & TAS, Building Forensics, and LEED Compliance and Documentation.

Prior to OBE, Chris spent decades in the building products industry, and began his career at U.S. Aluminum, an OBE subsidiary business brand, where he spent nearly 15 years.

Jim has worked within the Building Products Industry his entire career since graduating from Merrimack College in 1985. He has been with YKK AP since 2019 working as the New England Architectural Sales Representative. He finds this part of his career to be the most challenging and interesting. Helping today’s Architectural Professionals to solve complex Façade problems and design issues to be very satisfying work.

Simon has extensive experience leading complex projects of varying scales and types in the US and internationally. He contributes a passion for design leadership, combined with a deep knowledge of construction technologies, project delivery, and sustainable building practices gleaned from a twenty-year career. Simon is a licensed architect in the states of New York, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and is a Certified Passive House Consultant. He is currently part-time faculty at Parsons School of Design. Simon was Project Director at Leeser Architecture for ten years, leading notable projects including Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, New York City, a tri-climatic biosphere in Abu Dhabi, and many interiors.