SQUARE FEET STUDIO - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Senior Project Manager
Blake is a partner and licensed architect who has been with Square Feet Studio since 2011. Blake earned his master's from Georgia Tech in 2009, where he won first prize in an international student design competition. He was also a finalist for the Masters Prize competition for his thesis on the relationship between architecture and photography. When not practicing architecture, he pursues his other passion, photography. His multi-year project documenting the renovation of Ponce City Market was published in June 2018. Blake earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from Birmingham-Southern College, where he was also a member of their Division I baseball team. Blake and his wife Tessa love to travel to far flung destinations, and enjoy spoiling their dogs.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Senior Project Manager
Emily Mastropiero is a partner and licensed architect. Since joining SFS in 2017 she has designed restaurants, coffee shops, bars, spas, hotels, and amenity spaces for both multi-family and office clients. As partner, she leads the hospitality and retail market sectors while continuing to work with clients as a senior project manager. In addition to her project-related responsibilities, she contributes to the firm's growth by mentoring the design professionals on her team. Emily received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2014 and ever since has been a proud Atlanta resident. She has volunteered with AIA Georgia and the Young Architect's Forum with a focus on empowering women in the design community. Emily believes that the best design solutions are discovered in the found conditions of each project, whether it be an adaptive reuse site or working closely with a chef in developing their latest venture.
John is the founding principal of Square Feet Studio and an architect with over 20 years of experience designing new uses for old buildings. He has been an adjunct faculty member at his alma mater, Georgia Tech, as well as Southern Polytechnic State University. His commitment to the profession is highlighted by his years of volunteer work with the American Institute of Architects, serving as the Atlanta chapter President in 2012. His work has been recognized for design excellence by the Atlanta Urban Design Commission, Urban Land Institute, International Interior Design Association and the AIA. John's an avid baseball fan, and enjoys camping, hiking and kayaking. If he weren't an architect, he'd be a park ranger.
Kate grew up in the suburbs north of Atlanta and always knew in her heart she would eventually settle down in this verdant, charming city. She received her Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University. Shortly after, she moved back to Atlanta where she rejoined the SFS team after interning with us the previous summer. Her experience also includes internships at Atlanta firms Lord Aeck Sargent and Lightroom, as well as King + King Architects in Syracuse. Kate's approach to design is both pragmatic and cognizant of the human experience - she is keen to make a positive impact on her community. Outside of work, you can find her staying active at the climbing gym or on the Beltline, trying a new restaurant or brewery, and soaking up some sun outdoors while daydreaming about adopting a dog one day soon.
Maggie, a Nashville native, graduated from The University of the South (Sewanee) with a degree in International and Global Studies. Her myriad experiences and interests range from teaching students in Monte Verde, Costa Rica to managing SoulCycle Studios in Manhattan and the Hamptons, to interior design and conceptual development for numerous projects here in Atlanta. She has worked in Washington and New York as an event coordinator and client services professional for an international firm, and locally as Director of Operations for an eclectic design shop and service. Maggie moved to Atlanta in 2016 from NYC and quickly fell in love with the city. With her husband and daughter, she lives in a bungalow in a historic westside neighborhood, and they spend their weekends at the farmers' market, hiking, antiquing, and exploring the city.
Manuela graduated in 2022 with her BFA in Interior Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, she has had a diverse life full of experiences and change, but with one constant: her love for design. The science and psychology that hides within the process is what keeps Manuela's creativity going. She sees design as a powerful good that reacts, connects, and affects human altruism. She has always been fascinated by the inner connection between humanity and its surroundings, a key spark that has flourished into her passion for interior design and architecture. When not at the studio, Manuela can be found at her new place in Buckhead, trying out local restaurants, or hiking up the closest mountain.
Rachel is a licensed interior designer who received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design from the University of Georgia. As an Atlanta native, Rachel enjoys how good design can positively influence the community around her. She has over a decade of experience designing workplace interiors across metro Atlanta area from her time at tvsdesign and Nelson. Most recently, she received IIDA Georgia's Best of the Best Award for a law firm's new offices that included a reimagined reception area and an energetic work cafe. When she's not dreaming of new ideas for projects, Rachel can be found in the yoga studio, experiencing local cuisine with her husband Dane, and scouring markets for the perfect find for their home in Kirkwood.
Job Titles:
- Architect
- Partner
- Senior Project Manager
Sean is a licensed architect who was born and raised in Houston, Texas and received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Auburn University. He participated in a study abroad program in Rome and completed his thesis, designing and building a two-bedroom ‘20K Home' for a family in need, at Auburn's Rural Studio in Newbern, AL. From there, he moved to New York City where he worked at MNA (Michael Neumann Architecture), designing retail and hospitality environments across the country, and at Resolution: 4 Architecture, designing custom, high-end, modular homes throughout the Northeast. His cumulative experiences and interests have led him to value architecture that is rooted in its place, truthful in its use of materials, and thoughtfully resolved down to the smallest details. When not in service of architecture, Sean enjoys mixing cocktails, making excessive travel itineraries, and watching Auburn football in the fall.
Vicki was raised in the greater Atlanta area and graduated from Georgia Southern University with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing. Upon graduation, she headed north to work for Anthropologie as a Visual Manager where she traveled throughout Connecticut, New York, and much of New England, creating the visual environment for various store locations. Vicki has also worked as a freelance artist, graphic designer, and interior stylist for clients large and small. She has a passion for all things creative and loves learning new skills.
Vivian and her husband John founded Square Feet Studio in 2001, with the desire to seamlessly combine interior design and architecture in one distinctive practice. As a registered interior designer with a background in architecture, her work strives to honor the relationship between interior design and the larger context of a building's history and urban environment. Vivian received a Master of Architecture from Georgia Tech and a bachelor's degree in Art History and French from Vanderbilt University. A skilled list maker and confirmed luddite, she enjoys guiding clients through the design process with determination, passion, and humor.
Zak grew up cheering for Georgia Tech alongside his dad, who was an alumnus, and set his sights on the school for himself. When the time came, he focused his studies on architecture, earning his bachelor's degree from Tech in 2012. Since graduation, Zak has developed a wide range of design experience spanning the disciplines of architecture, interior design, and branding, having worked most recently with ASD|SKY. He enjoys approaching projects from a variety of viewpoints and working at differing scales from large mixed-use developments to more intimate interior spaces. Outside of work, you will likely find Zak hunting burritos and spending time with his wife Lindsey and their 3-year-old daughter, River.