SB Architects, an internationally renowned architecture firm, is pleased to announce the expansion of its senior leadership team with the appointments of a number of staff to the position of Vice President, including Keith Houchin, Harris Christiaansen, Mickey Mazerac, Thomas Gay, Lucienne Walpole, Marcelo Balzano, and Miguel Campo. Fueled by their people-first approach, SB Architects has continued their ground-breaking work designing hospitality, residential and mixed-use projects across the globe. The firm recently marked its 60th anniversary and is confident that the recently expanded leadership team will continue to break new ground in architecture and design.
The firm’s senior promotions include the following:
Keith Houchin has been promoted to Vice President. He recently worked on projects including The Pendry Park City Residences, Utah; AMARA Hotel, Cyprus; and the Grand Hyatt Limassol, Cyprus.
“Keith is a key contributor to design leadership at SB Architects,” said Mark Sopp, Senior Vice President and Principal. “He has a keen understanding of hospitality and residential design, from establishing a project vision to delivery through all phases of documentation. He brings a high level of skill, organization, and clarity of communication to projects that is essential to successful design collaborations. We appreciate his stewardship of design and mentorship of younger staff that demonstrates his commitment to excellence.”
Harris Christiaansen has been promoted to Vice President. His recent project work includes The St. Regis Quivira, Los Cabos.
“Harris has been leading the design of high-profile hospitality projects both domestically and internationally throughout his tenure at SB Architects,” said Mark Sopp, Senior Vice President and Principal. “His passion for planning and design of destination resorts is reflected in his tireless work ethic, creativity, and mentorship of staff. He’s also a key contributor to business development strategies in Asia and the Middle East. Harris’ easy-going and approachable personality is emblematic of his craft; bringing amazing resort destinations to life for the world to enjoy!”
Mickey Mazerac has been promoted to Vice President. His recent project work includes Portola Valley House, California and the Omni PGA Golf Resort, Texas.
“Mickey has been an amazing contributor at SB Architects, leading two fronts; design and project delivery,” raved Bruce Wright, Senior Vice President and Principal. “He’s been a leader in the early phases of design and has the unique skills of working that design through the technical execution of a project. Mickey has also been a huge contributor to our team as a design mentor and our firms’ culture, with his knowledge of wine, fine dining, and golf.”
Thomas Gay has been promoted to Vice President. His recent project work includes The St. Regis Resort Longboat Key, Florida; and the Omni PGA Golf Resort, Texas.
“Tom has been an integral part of the SB Architects’ team across both the Miami and San Francisco offices throughout the years,” said Pinar Harris, Vice President and Principal. “He’s dedicated to the practice and brings valuable insight into the successful execution of our firm’s high-profile, complex projects. Tom’s an excellent collaborator as well as a mentor to many of the younger staff.”
Lucienne Walpole has been promoted to Vice President. Her recent work includes a senior living development in Florida, and a variety of projects within the Baha Mar development, Bahamas.
“I have had the privilege of mentoring Lucienne since she joined SB Architects in 2007 and have very much enjoyed watching her grow into the well-rounded architect and SB ambassador that she is today,” proclaimed Jorey ‘Shosh’ Friedman, Vice President and Principal. “She is smart, compassionate, and a true team player. We are grateful for all of her contributions to our firm over the years, both professional and cultural, and look forward to many more collaborations and project successes in the years to come.”
Marcelo Balzano has been promoted to Vice President. His recent project work includes: FATVillage, Florida and Palermo Mixed-Use, Colombia.
“Since the moment Marcelo joined SB Architects, he has brought a pleasant and welcome calm to the office,” explained Jorey ‘Shosh’ Friedman, Vice President and Principal. “His kind demeanor coupled with creativity, resourcefulness, and great attention to detail, make him a valued team member and an exceptional cultural fit. He is trusted and respected by everyone he encounters, and we consider ourselves very fortunate to have him as part of our SB Family.”
Miguel Campo has been promoted to Vice President. His recent project work includes: FATVillage, Florida; and 100 Las Olas, Florida.
“Miguel has had the unique opportunity to work within both of SB’s design offices in both San Francisco and Miami,” said David Rychlowski, Vice President and Associate Principal. “Given his background with multi-family housing, Miguel instantly became a leader within with firm’s mixed-use and multi-family focused studios. His ability to plan, program, and model projects, with a forward-thinking eye, has been instrumental in SB’s ability to win projects all over the world. Miguel’s tireless effort to better himself and those around him stretches beyond his project related responsibilities. His initiatives to educate our team on programming, multi-family trends, and modeling software are elevating the practice to new heights.”
These recent promotions come alongside the advancement of Pinar Harris to Vice President and Principal. With over 15 years of experience at SB Architects, Harris brings a well-rounded perspective that has been instrumental to the firm’s growth in the mixed-use and multi-family markets. Harris is a prominent member of the design team, working on a series of high-profile projects in Florida. Currently, she is leading the design for the St. Regis Longboat Key, a brand-new hotel and residential mixed-use project in Florida. As Principal, Pinar will remain focused on continuing to deliver high-quality projects from concept to completion, whilst working alongside the Principal group to effectively manage the firm during its exciting period of growth.
Since its beginnings in custom residential in 1960, SB Architects has prioritized staying true to the site and creating a strong sense of place that resonates with visitors, guests and residents on an emotional level. As it continues strategic expansion and its portfolio reflects even greater geographic diversity, the firm will leverage its entrepreneurial spirit and architectural craft to thoughtfully connect people to each other and to iconic experiences of a signature place.
