Graham Banks

Partner

Pelli Clarke & Partners

Graham Banks, AIA was originally drawn to architecture because it is a practice simultaneously rooted in artistic and scientific disciplines. Graham’s recent work includes South Station multi-phase air rights development in Boston, ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, FMC Tower in Philadelphia, and One West End in New York. He is currently working on Texas Tower, which will redefine the concept of live, work, play in Houston. Graham holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from University of Illinois and a Master of Architecture from Yale University.

Shu Talun

Associate Principal

RDH

As a Senior Façade Consultant, Shu Talun brings her passion for the mechanics and science within facade systems to the RDH Boston team. With a Master of Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design, and over 11 years of experience, Shu is uniquely adept at helping clients achieve their aesthetic and building performance goals. She has managed multi-disciplinary design teams on projects ranging between $30m -$50m.

As an architectural design professional with training in manufacturing, Shu has a passion for engaging across different work cultures to solve complex challenges. She is experienced in the management of the design process through collaboration with architects, general contractors, façade consultants and property developers. Her experience in manufacturing allows her to provide architects with a balanced approach to achieving architectural distinction and cost aware optimization.

Alejandra Menchaca

Founding Principal

AIRLIT studio

Alejandra Menchaca, PhD, LEED AP, WELL AP

Alejandra is a Principal at AIRLIT studio, an environmental consultancy with a design-centric approach rooted in technical excellence. Alejandra combines expertise in mechanical engineering and building science to give clients a clear understanding of the impact design strategies and innovative solutions have on long-term building performance. Alejandra’s expertise includes passive design, visual and thermal comfort assessment, and indoor air quality. She also has extensive experience in policy development, having contributed in updating ASHRAE standards, developing zero net carbon policies with the city of Boston, and developing compliance workflows for the MA stretch code. She holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, and has lectured at MIT and the Harvard GSD.

Paul Ormond

Engineer

Dept of Energy Resources at Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Paul is an expert on building decarbonization working at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, the state energy office, helping Massachusetts achieve its legal net-zero decarbonization mandates. In this role, Paul works with Massachusetts cities, towns, planners, developers, architects, and utilities to improve new and retrofitted buildings with a particular focus on building thermal performance. Recently, Paul co-led the team that updated Massachusetts building code to include a Passivehouse mandate for new multi-family residential buildings as well as thermal energy demand limits, air infiltration requirements, and thermal bridge mitigation requirements, for most commercial buildings, well above the current requirements of American model energy codes. Paul also teaches building decarbonization at Harvard University Extension School.  Paul is a Massachusetts licensed Professional Engineer and a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (BS, Civil Engineering) and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (MS, Civil Engineering).

Felipe Francisco

Technical Design Lead

Studio NYL

Felipe Francisco, AIA is an Architect, Builder, and Fabricator with experience ranging from large-scale commercial and institution projects, medium scale Passive House residential projects, and small scale digital fabrication projects. At Studio NYL Felipe’s role is that of Technical Design Lead for the Boston Office. As part of the facades division, he works with architects, building teams, and contractors to provide expertise on challenging facade systems.

As a charter member and co-chair of the Boston Society of Architect’s MakeTank Knowledge Community, he has played a lead role in many of the committee’s efforts in the greater Boston area. This includes advocacy for STEM education and the development of a digitally fabricated model of the City of Boston for display at the Boston Society of Architects. His work has been exhibited at Architecture Boston Expo, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, and World Maker Faire in NYC, and published in Architect’s Newspaper and Architecture Boston Magazine. In his spare time, he is a gravel cyclist, bike-packer, and backpacker.

Jean C. Daly

Principal

Kendall/Heaton Associates

Jean C. Daly, AIA, LEED AP

Jean Daly joined Kendall/Heaton Associates in 2006, and returned in 2014 after working several years with firms in San Francisco, Philadelphia and New York. Her extensive experience working with corporate, financial and institutional clients is a significant asset to the firm.

Jean’s projects at Kendall/Heaton includes the South Station Air Rights Project and the ConocoPhillips Woodcreek Master Plan Project.

Jean enjoys the collaborative aspects of her work, working with design and engineering consultants to resolve the technical requirements of the project in harmony with the designer’s aesthetic intent.

Jean is a registered architect in the state of Texas, a LEED Accredited Professional, and is a member of the American Institute of Architects.

Adam McCarthy

Principal

McNamara • Salvia Structural Engineers.

A member of the McNamara • Salvia team in Boston for over 20 years, Mr. McCarthy possesses a detailed approach to structural design and project management. Adam is well-rounded in all aspects of complex structural systems, as well as respected throughout the industry for his experience and strong collaborative skills. In his spare time, he shares his expertise as a structural advisor to architectural thesis candidates at the Boston Architectural College.

Brian Vaz

Product Consultant, Sustainable Facade Solutions

Mitrex

Brian Vaz is a leading advocate for sustainable facade technologies, serving as a Product Consultant at Mitrex – Integrated Solar Technology, where he specializes in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and energy-generating cladding systems.

With a deep understanding of building science, energy efficiency, and materials innovation, Brian works directly with architects, engineers, and developers to bring solar facades from concept to execution. His role focuses on harmonizing aesthetic design with energy performance, helping project teams navigate the technical and regulatory challenges of integrating photovoltaics directly into the building envelope.

At Mitrex, Brian has contributed to pioneering retrofit and new-build projects across North America, including the transformation of The SunRise building in Alberta — a showcase for how solar-integrated façades can reduce operational carbon while enhancing design flexibility.

An advocate for net-zero and high-performance building design, Brian brings a practical, solutions-driven mindset to the push for decarbonizing the built environment. He is guided by the belief that “limits, like fears, are often just an illusion” — a philosophy that fuels his work to make clean, visually striking facades the new standard in sustainable architecture.

Diana Darling

CEO & Creative Director

The Architect’s Newspaper

Darling is CEO, creative director, and co-founder of The Architect’s Newspaper, celebrating its 20th year. The A|N media company consists of print and digital publications covering architecture and design news, as well as the Facades+ and TECH+ conferences. As A|N’s publisher, Darling won the AIA National Collaboration Award, Grassroots Preservation Award, and ASLA NY’s President’s Award. She began her publishing career as director of print production for The Gap’s European markets. She holds a BS from The University of Texas at Austin.

Patrick Kenny

Associate Principal

Thornton Tomasetti

Patrick Kenny is an Associate Principal in Thornton Tomasetti’s Boston office. He has been a practicing structural engineer for over 15 years, designing steel, concrete, and timber structures for the life science, aviation, higher education, and residential sectors. He specializes in projects with geometrically
complex massing, specialized end-user requirements and carbon footprint reduction goals. Patrick is also a leader of Thornton Tomasetti’s embodied carbon reduction efforts and sits on the Massachusetts Embodied Carbon Intergovernmental Coordinating Council.

Gavin MacPherson

General SuperIntendent

Suffolk