STUDIOMLA ARCHITECTS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Junior Architectural Designer, Marketing Associate, and Office Coordinator
Alice Carrasquillo is a Junior Architectural Designer, Marketing Associate, and Office Coordinator. She has educational experience in Architectural design, educational fabrication and research on developing innovative solutions utilizing reusable materials and plumbing construction knowledge both on the field as well as a plumbing coordinator. She is especially interested in trauma-informed design and is passionate about the psychological impacts of the built environment and how architecture influences and impacts human behavior, especially at-risk populations.
Outside of work, Alice enjoys cooking home cooked meals, cherishes her time with her two children, spending time outdoors, watching documentaries and designing sympathy floral arrangements.
Job Titles:
- State University, Associate Degree in Liberal Arts, 2017
Job Titles:
- Interior & Landscape Designer
Bryan Ueda is our Interior & Landscape Designer. His 3D modeling and rendering skills have been extremely useful in developing adaptive reuse scenarios for complex existing buildings and allowing clients to quickly visualize spatial possibilities and alternate functional layouts. Bryan has experience in a wide variety of project roles from working on feasibility studies and helping clients evaluate their existing facilities to developing creative design solutions and managing the construction administration process.
Derin is an Architectural Designer. She has six years of experience in early education, office, and residential projects, from preliminary design through construction administration. She strives to design modern, light-filled spaces that evoke emotions. Derin brings her perspective and an eye for detail to solve clients' design challenges.
Derin is based in Charlottesville, VA. Outside of work, she focuses on dog nutrition and training and loves to spend time with her pit mix, Bella. She enjoys traveling and eating good food.
Job Titles:
- Education Innovation Center
- Education Innovation Center / American Eagle Outfitters Childcare Development Center
Education
Boston Architectural College, Post-Graduate Studies in Architecture
Southern Methodist University, Master of Liberal Studies
University of North Texas, Bachelor of Science in Education
Job Titles:
- Senior Landscape Architect
- Senior Project Manager, RLA, CPSI
As the Senior Landscape Architect, Joanne Hiromura is responsible for the full range of landscape architecture services in the firm. Her focus is on the design of outdoor environments for children in school, childcare facilities, and park settings. The landscape department also takes on broader planning projects at campus and neighborhood scales.
Before joining studioMLA Architects, she was responsible for park and playground designs across the country, including several years managing her firm specializing in outdoor play spaces and custom play equipment design. Joanne's broad portfolio of design work includes outdoor play and recreation spaces in dynamic urban settings. She has a special interest in natural play areas. Joanne's extensive experience with the complex design, regulatory, and construction processes inherent in creating children's play spaces results in highly successful projects executed with a sense of innovation, sensitivity, and creativity.
Education
University of Oregon, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, 1980
Karen Shirley is the Senior Project Manager. She has over 17 years of experience in the specialized design of child care and early childhood education facilities throughout the United States and Canada. Her extensive experience with the complex and ever-changing design requirements, new technologies, and space needs of early education is an important asset to all of the projects that she oversees. With a background in education and architecture, she is exceptionally well equipped to work with our clients to ensure that the buildings and environments that we design are fully aligned with each school's curriculum needs.
Karen is often responsible for the overall management, coordination, and quality control of a large design team of architects and engineers in different parts of the country. Through careful tracking, communication, and proactive involvement, she works to ensure that client needs, schedules, and budgets are monitored and met. She is also an expert in the various child care and education regulations that can vary markedly from state to state, ensuring that safety, security, and operational needs are all brought together in great spaces for children. She has spoken at and conducted design workshops for the Massachusetts Children's Investment Fund (CIF) and the National Coalition of Campus Child Care Centers (NCCCC) and has contributed her design skills to the "Bright Spaces" program, creating play spaces for homeless children.
Karen is based in Georgetown, KY. She spends much of her free time walking her dog "Brady," a handsome yellow lab. She also enjoys long bike rides with husband Ken, movies, live theater, and of course Red Sox baseball and NE Patriot games!
Job Titles:
- Designer
- Architectural Designer
Kylee Besecker is an Architectural Designer. She has 10 years of experience in multiple project types from design through construction, including child care, religious buildings, medical offices, and student dormitories. Specializing in spatial layout based on the client's programmatic needs, Kylee enjoys problem-solving the challenges presented in the design of technical architectural details, where she pays close attention to detail and quality of work. She loves working with her clients to ensure that the built project not only meets their needs but exceeds expectations.
Kylee is based in Washington, D.C.. In her free time, she likes exploring new art exhibits in the city, reading on her rooftop, and enjoying live music.
Education
Rensselear Polytechnic Institute, Bachelor of Architecture, 2013
Liz Hall is an Architect. She brings extensive experience designing for educational spaces, corporate and nonprofit offices, healthcare, data centers, and residential uses. She has developed a specialty in complex renovation and interior fit-out projects. She delivers high-quality work and takes a thoughtful approach to every challenge. She loves the human side of architecture and interacting with her clients to help them visualize their projects.
Outside of work, Liz loves pottery, crafting, yoga, and going to rock concerts.
As the founding principal of studioMLA Architects, Mike has been involved in all of the firm's projects and is responsible for the overall direction of the firm as well as the ongoing management of the design teams. Mike's direct project involvement and oversight of quality control ensures a consistently high level of design work and client experience. Having completed numerous educational and community buildings, including renovations, new construction and adaptive reuse, Mike has a deep understanding of community projects that cater to children and young adults.
In addition to his leadership role at the firm, he is on the board of several non-profit organizations and writes, speaks, and gives workshops on sustainability, adaptive reuse, and the design of children's educational and play environments. As one of the country's leading architects in the design of buildings and outdoor spaces for children, Mike has served as an advisor to the American Academy of Pediatrics, taught the Institute on Childcare Design at the Harvard Graduate School of Design for seven years, and has been instrumental in organizing the World Forum "OnDesign" conferences at UC Berkeley and in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Outside of work, Mike enjoys traveling, hiking, rowing, good food, and trying to keep up with his very active family.
Job Titles:
- Business Manager and Benefits Administrator
Murielle Vautrin manages all business functions including accounting, payroll, and benefits. Murielle has been instrumental in putting in place a portfolio of benefits that recognizes the essential value of our employees and contributes to enhancing the quality of the work environment and the close-knit culture at studioMLA Architects. She is always interested in looking for ways to make the company a more employee/family-friendly workplace and for opportunities for studioMLA Architects to play an active part in support of the larger community.
Outside of work, Murielle loves spending time with her three boys, hiking with family and friends, traveling, and discovering new places and people. She also spends time pursuing historical research, gardening, and reading.
Education
Brandeis University, Ph.D. in American History
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Master's in French Literature
Job Titles:
- Designer
- Architectural & Landscape Designer, CPSI
Naomi Heller is a Landscape Designer. She is especially interested in designing spaces and objects that provide children the freedom to think, act, and play in creative ways. Naomi has a deep understanding of design and how people, especially children, interact with the built space. This, along with her advanced 3D modeling and computer visualization skills, enables her to find unique and creative solutions to the design puzzle. Naomi's previous experience includes developing a master plan and design concept for an 11-acre sculpture park, a custom playground design, and large-scale retail and housing projects. Her Masters's Thesis project involved the design and construction of a creativity-promoting play structure at the Tobin Montessori School in Cambridge, MA.
Naomi was born in Russia and grew up in Newton, MA. She has spent extended periods living and working in Israel and currently resides in Melrose, MA. Outside of work, Naomi spends her time backpacking, rock climbing, and exploring the world with her husband Noah, and their two children.
Samantha Espinoza is the Marketing Manager. She oversees content creation, community outreach, and the preparation of marketing materials at studioMLA Architects. With a Master's in Arts Administration, she has a deep passion for the arts. Currently, she is interested in how art affects at-risk populations.
Samantha is based in Clarksville, TN. Outside of work, she cherishes her time with her cat, Eevee, and sending time with her family. She also enjoys traveling to new places to broaden her perspective on life.
Education
Boston University, Master Degree in Arts Administration, 2024
Austin Peay State University, Bachelor Degree Art and Communication Arts, 2019
Austin Peay State University, Associate Degree in Liberal Arts, 2017
Toni Marcoux is an Architect. She has experience designing educational spaces for diverse user groups. She develops a deep understanding of project requirements and client needs, and she creates solutions both practical and elegant. She brings strong technical and graphic precision to her projects with close attention to detail and quality control. Her extensive working knowledge in 2D and 3D computer programs aids Toni with design, visualization, and client presentation skills. Through work with at-risk populations, she has developed an interest and expansion in trauma-informed design.