STUDIO S SQUARED ARCHITECTURE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Project Manager: Architecture
Originally from Denver, Alessandra developed an early admiration for architecture and design through her involvement in creative arts. Through drawing, pottery, graphic design, and photography, she directed her education towards becoming an architect. After earning her B.A. and M.Arch from the University of Kansas in 2020, Alessandra began her career at S-Squared and relocated to the Bay Area, where she has family connections and childhood memories.
At KU, Alessandra participated in a unique design/build program called ‘Studio 804' which challenged her abilities both physically and technically. She and the other students spent a full year building a single-family home in Lawrence, Kansas. They completed the work through all project phases, from schematic design to the construction and installation of finished materials. This unique experience influenced Alessandra to pursue her dream of creating unique spaces that balance form and function.
In her spare time, Alessandra enjoys tending to her collection of house plants, as well as staying active and fit with kickboxing and outdoor activities. These include skiing, sailing, and exploring all that California has to offer. While she believes these hobbies help promote a positive and healthy mindset, they also fuel her creativity and design in support of providing sustainable lifestyles.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Project Manager: Architecture
Born in Monterey, CA and raised in Cairo, Egypt, Ali pursued a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering in Cairo before returning to the Bay Area in 2020. He undertook an internship at S-Squared, subsequently advancing to the role of Architectural Designer while earning a Master of Architecture and a Master of Science in Digital and Material Technologies from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. Upon completing his graduate studies, Ali rejoined S-Squared in the Bay Area, now serving as an Architecture Project Manager. Throughout his academic career, Ali actively participated in international architecture competitions, achieving accolades including honorable mentions and finalist positions.
Ali advocates for architecture that elevates the human experience, recognizing that people spend most of their time within buildings. He is dedicated to exploring innovative technologies, integrating computational design and digital fabrication to enhance design process efficiency.
Outside of his professional life, Ali is an avid Formula 1 fan and enjoys drawing, painting, and hiking, embracing these activities as sources of inspiration and relaxation.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Project Manager: Interiors ( Furniture / Decor )
Arany was raised in the central coast of Santa Barbara, California. Her interest in design and architecture developed from immersing herself in her city's rich historical architecture and the beauty of its nature. As her interest grew, she began her studies at Santa Barbara City College, completing an interior design program where she had the privilege of learning both architecture and design. Eager to keep exploring design, Arany moved to the Bay Area, where she received a BFA in Interior Design from San Jose State University. She started at S-Squared as an intern design assistant, becoming an employee in 2022.
Arany finds inspiration through her personal interest in music, art, nature and her personal experience growing up in two diverse cultures. She believes collaboration is key to creating harmonious spaces for people and the environment. In her spare time, she enjoys going on walks to the beach with her chocolate lab, exploring hiking trails, trying new restaurants, attending concerts, and spending time with her family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Project Manager: Architecture
Born in the city of Tehran, Iran, Ardalan grew up surrounded by the rich heritage of Persian architecture and was inspired by his father's work as an architect. Ardalan began his own architectural journey at Yazd Architectural University in Iran, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a master of Urban Planning.
His passion for architecture led him to the Bay Area in 2016, where he immersed himself in both architectural and construction roles. In 2020, Ardalan joined the S-Squared team. In addition to his academic and professional achievements, Ardalan has pursued continuous growth and development in his career. He has obtained multiple ICC certificates and earned his California general contractor license, all while working towards his architecture license.
Ardalan believes architecture shapes our daily lives-and that embracing innovation can enhance humanity's well-being and convenience. Outside of work, he finds comfort and inspiration in creative pursuits such as painting and playing guitar, as well as exploring new features in different architectural software.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Partner
- CEO of S - Squared
Eugene is the CEO of S-Squared, and one of its two co-founders (Ms. Karen Smith). A lifelong Bay Area resident and graduate of both Cal and Stanford, he has a deep love of the cultural and architectural diversity unique to this area. Eugene grew up as the son of a Japanese gardener and grandson of a walnut farmer, learning at an early age to appreciate the relationship between man and nature, and the value of a hard day's work.
Eugene now delights in nurturing the careers of his younger team members nearly as much as he enjoys designing buildings for clients. He leads the team in making connections between building users and the environment, using natural resources wisely, and helping build a sense of community. He is a longstanding member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a LEED Accredited Professional, and former consulting architect on the City of San Carlos Residential Design Review Committee. Eugene also served for six years on the San Jose Arts Commission as Chair of its Public Art Committee.
Eugene has lived in San Francisco since 2007 with his wife and their three children in various contemporary houses of the firm's design. In his spare time, Eugene enjoys playing pickup basketball, cheering on the Warriors, Giants, and Niners, and trying to keep up with his kids' sporting pursuits.
A Bay Area native, Gloria had a passion for architecture starting at a young age. Although she graduated from San José State University with a BS in Nutritional Science, her excitement for architecture simply would not fade. She decided to change career paths and redirect her focus back to architecture by joining the S-Squared team in 2019.
Learning predominantly through work experience, she ultimately hopes to someday transform her knowledge and passion into an architectural license. Gloria gravitates towards architecture that blends elements of nature and the surrounding environment into modern design. Her constant curiosity for knowledge allows for continuous creativity and change when it comes to her work.
Outside of architecture, Gloria takes delight in traveling, gardening, rock climbing, trying new restaurants and food, and spending time with family and friends.
Greg has spent a great deal of his 45 years as a landscape architect doing some rather peculiar things. He enjoys walking through nurseries breathing in the fragrance of newly introduced plants, visualizing combinations of flower and foliage colors and textures, and maybe purchasing a few new specimens for a home garden trial. He also strolls through public spaces or local residences muttering botanical names, or wondering why their plants are growing better than his own at home.
A contributor to S-Squared since 2005, Greg is truly passionate about plants. Which are drought-tolerant or native? Which are low maintenance? Which are appropriate for our area? Greg uses his experience and expertise to always find the right plant for the right place.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Project Manager: Architecture
Originally from the Chicago area, Isabeau moved to the Bay Area to work for S-Squared in 2018, upon graduation from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Architecture and a minor in Sustainable Environments. Isabeau has always had a passion for traveling and immersing herself in different cultures. While studying at Cal Poly, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy and Australia, providing her with a deeper insight into the interconnectivity of architecture and society. In addition to traveling, Isabeau had the pleasure of working on several humanitarian and non-profit projects while at Cal Poly.
Isabeau decided to pursue architecture because of her love of design and her desire to bring beauty into the world. As a strong proponent of sustainable design, she is drawn to architecture that blurs the line between the natural and the built environment. Through this harmony, architecture becomes an extension of nature, augmenting the beauty of its surroundings. She became a California Licensed Architect in 2023.
Isabeau enjoys a variety of forms of creative expression, including photography, art, graphic design, and furniture design. In addition to these creative outlets, Isabeau enjoys activities that immerse her in nature, such as hiking, running, scuba diving, and the occasional sky diving trip.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager: Interiors
Originally from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Jackie earned her Bachelor's Degree in Architecture at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Upon graduating, Jackie moved to Southern California to work in the architectural field before transitioning into interior design. Her knowledge of architecture and fabrication helped Jackie bring a unique perspective to interiors, and allowed her to contribute to the design of retail stores, creative offices, commercial spaces, experiential pop-ups, and custom furniture pieces. Seeking a return to residential projects, Jackie joined the Interior Design team at S-Squared in 2022.
Jackie believes that a design is most successful through collaboration with the client and fellow team members. She loves diving into the emotional and visual design process of playing with texture, dimensions, and scale. Her aim is to create spaces that evoke a sense of drama and feel like an extension of the people living in them.
In her free time, Jackie enjoys traveling, playing guitar, and tending to her many houseplants. During weekends she spends as much time outdoors as possible, whether camping, hiking with her dog, scuba diving, or playing a round of golf with friends.
Job Titles:
- Design Director
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Partner
- Member of the S - Squared
Jose has been a valued member of the S-Squared team since 2013 and became a partner in 2020. Jose was born and raised in Spain, where he later graduated from a prestigious architectural academy located in both Spain and Italy. Jose has always felt passion for design and a strong interest in America and its architecture.
Jose takes great pleasure in designing buildings of all styles and sizes. His upbringing in Europe brings a native understanding of the different styles of traditional architecture to S-Squared. He is also fluent in the rigorous and refined language of contemporary architecture, and enjoys exploring the large spectrum of "transitional" homes that lie somewhere between strictly traditional and contemporary. Jose constantly seeks the moment of inspiration when long hours of iterative design study create a result that in hindsight seems effortless and wholly appropriate. He especially loves helping clients to transform their personal vision into a great work of architecture.
Jose loves exploring California and cities across the United States with his wife and daughter, and making regular visits to Spain to spend quality time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Project Manager: Architecture
Born in a small town in northeast Italy, Margherita began her academic journey at IUAV University of Venice, where she laid the foundations for her architectural studies, continuing with a master's degree in interior design at Politecnico di Milano. She studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, and later in Sao Paulo, Brazil. These experiences enriched her academic background, leading her to discover new approaches to design and enhancing her adaptability and language skills.
After completing her studies, Margherita worked at an architectural studio in Milan. Seeking new experiences, she moved to California and started exploring the particularities of the cities, buildings, and landscape. She eventually moved to San Jose and started to work for S-Squared in 2022, learning to design buildings of all styles and sizes.
Margherita strongly believes that architects should enrich their intercultural background by traveling, discovering new cities, and experiencing new landscapes to understand the complexity and exuberance of architectural language. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, camping and going to the beach, experiencing new foods and restaurants with her husband, and relaxing by watching movies with her cats.
Mariana grew up in Tijuana and earned her architectural degree from the Instituto Tecnológico De Tijuana (ITT). She moved to California and held various jobs before getting hired for what many of us think might be the coolest job ever: a LEGO Master Model Builder for Legoland Theme Parks. She later worked in Alaska, where she began focusing more and more on interior residential design, and then moved back to California, where she worked for interior design firms as both an employee and as a freelancer, before joining the S-Squared team in 2023.
As a trained architect who specializes in interior design, Mariana is a strong believer in S-Squared's integrated approach to design. She enjoys bouncing ideas off her talented coworkers, visiting showrooms with clients, and learning something new with every project.
Outside of work, Mariana enjoys exploring the Bay Area and Central Coast, going to movies, theatrical shows, and dance performances, and hanging out with her Husky dog, Java.
Sierra graduated from Washington State's Bellevue College with her BAA in Interior Design. Many of her professors were not only practicing interior designers, but also practicing architects who imparted on her the importance of collaboration between the two professions. Sierra believes in blurring the lines between Architecture and Interior Design, integrating exterior elements inside, and collaborating closely with her clients.
A Carmel Valley native, Sierra began working in Interior Design directly out of high school and joined S-Squared in 2018. Through her various positions in the field, she has come to especially enjoy developing client relationships. She believes design is an intimate process and sets out to learn how each client will interact with the built environment, providing an atmosphere where clients feel comfortable and heard. The results are beautifully tailored interiors that feel like home.
In her down time, Sierra loves spending time in local antique and thrift stores, experimenting in the kitchen, and staying active with her two dogs, her husband, and their daughter.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Project Manager: Architecture ( Construction )
Spenser has been working in the Architecture & Engineering industry since 1989. He has a degree in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley.
An S-Squared contributor since 2012, Spenser is responsible for all as-built documentation for renovation projects, developing high-quality plan sets for construction and permit approval, coordinating with engineers and other design consultants, and working with builders during construction.
In his free time, Spenser enjoys riding his Harley Davidson on secluded roads along the coast, and spending time with his family.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Project Manager: Architecture