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Melissa has a passion for leading teams that turn data and analysis into insights for design and planning.

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She builds on her years of practice as an Architect and Urban Designer towards the generation of creative and implementable master plan concepts, thoughtful stakeholder engagement, and rigorous data analysis. Melissa leads her teams towards design excellence in all visual representations and champions the use of web-based, interactive project deliverables. She practices at all scales of design and analytics, from higher education to civic to healthcare and more.

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Download a Resume or CV below, or click the buttons below for more information.

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EDUCATION, INFO, SKILLS
RESEARCH, EXPERIENCE
AWARDS, PUBLICATIONS, CONFERENCES
PROJECTS

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EDUCATION

 

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF DESIGN, HARVARD UNIVERSITY

  • Master of Architecture in Urban Design with Distinction, 2013

  • Student Forum Alumni Relations Co-Chair, 2011 - 2013

  • Student Advisory Council MAUD Class Representative, 2011 - 2013

 

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UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE,

COLLEGE OF ARCH & DESIGN

  • Bachelor of Architecture, Minor in Studio Art, Magna Cum Laude, 2005

  • Tau Sigma Delta Architectural Honor Fraternity President, 2003; Member 2003 - 2005

 

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BOSTON ARCHITECTURAL COLLEGE

  • Certificate in Design Education, 2015

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INFO

 

LICENSES

Registered Architect, TN
LEED Green Associate

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BOARDS & VOLUNTEER WORK

City of Seattle Design Review Board, East District Co-chair, 2018 - Current

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TECHNICAL SKILLS

 

VISUAL COMMUNICATION

Adobe Creative Suite, AfterEffects

 

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AEC

AutoCAD, Rhino, Grasshopper

 

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ANALYTICS & COMMUNICATION

ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, GeoPlanner, Business Analyst, PowerBI (DAX & M), MS Office Suite

 

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WEB/Coding

Wix Corvid (Javascript based)

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WORK EXPERIENCE

 

NBBJ, Seattle

Architect, Urban Designer, Spatial Analyst, Project Manager

Senior Associate and Digital Team Leader, 2013 - Current

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Important Projects

  • Bunker Hill CC Master Plan & Space Analytics, Charlestown Campus (Boston), 2014/2020, Spatial Analyst 

  • UCDavis ACC Ambulatory Care Center Programming, Sacramento Campus, 2019, Project Manager, Digital Team Leader

  • Wilburton Commercial Area Plan, Bellevue (Washington), 2016, Urban Designer, Digital Team Leader

  • Emerson Hospital Feasibility & Location Analysis, Concord (Massachusetts), 2015,
    Spatial Analyst

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DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLIC SPACE, New York City

Program Associate, 2012 - 2013

 

Important Publications

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CIVIC DESIGN CENTER, Nashville

Design Fellow, 2010 - 2012

 

Important Publications

  • Nashville/Davidson County Public Art: Location Study & Typology Recommendations

 

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MADE, Brooklyn

Designer, 2007 - 2009

 

Important Projects and Publications

  • Madison Square Park Apartment, Manhattan, New York, Residential, 2008 - 2009

  • “The Main Event” Elle Decor Magazine, June 2010

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inFORM studio, Detroit

Designer, 2005 - 2007

 

Important Projects and Awards

  • Traverwood Branch Library, Ann Arbor, MI, Institutional, 2006 - 2008

  • AIA Michigan Award for Innovative Design, 2009​

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TEACHING EXPERIENCE

 

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF DESIGN,

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

  • Comprehensive Planning Studio II, Teaching Fellow to Prof. Alex Krieger, Spring 2015

  • Career Discovery Program Urban Design Studio, Instructor, Summer 2013

  • Designing the American City: Civic Aspirations and Urban Form, Teaching Fellow to Prof. Alex Krieger, Spring 2013

  • Rethinking Manhattan’s Grid: Score for Designing the Future, Teaching Assistant to Prof. Joan Busquets, Spring 2012

  • Elements of Urban Design Studio, Teaching Assistant to Prof. Rob Lane, Fall 2012

 

 

BOSTON ARCHITECTURAL COLLEGE

  • Visual Communication, Online Instructor, 2018 - Current

  • Visual Thinking, Lead Faculty, 2014 - 2016

  • “MAKINGSPACE” Advanced Comprehensive Studio, Instructor, Spring 2013

 

 

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE,

COLLEGE OF ARCH & DESIGN

  • A New Music Building for the University of Tennessee Undergraduate Architecture Studio, Adjunct Lecturer, Fall 2010

  • Digital Fabrication in Architecture, Teaching Assistant to Prof. Edgar Stach and Prof. Jeff Wilkinson, Spring 2005 

  • Computer Applications in Architecture, Teaching Assistant to Prof. Charles Debelius, Fall 2003 & 2004

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INVITED JURIES

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BOSTON ARCHITECTURAL COLLEGE

  • Advanced Comprehensive Studio, Prof. Aviva Rubin, Fall 2012

  • Advanced Comprehensive Studio, Prof. Dan Weissman and Prof. Aviva Rubin, Spring 2012

 

 

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE,

COLLEGE OF ARCH & DESIGN

  • Second Year Architecture Studio, Prof. Marleen K. Davis, University of Tennessee, Spring 2011

  • Advanced Presentation Design, Prof. Diane Fox, University of Tennessee, Spring 2011

  • Hnedak Bobo Group Design Competition, University of Tennessee, Fall 2010

  • Second Year Architecture Studio, Prof. Christina Geros, University of Tennessee, Spring 2009

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RESEARCH

 

RIDING THE RAILS

A Platform for Speculation on American Urbanization in the Age of High Speed Rail

 

In most of America, trains are nostalgic: a sepia-toned tourism rather than an efficient means of conveyance. Despite this quaint vision of trains, modern high-speed rail has been embraced around globe. This transportation mode has dramatic—and idiosyncratic—implications for the built environment. Using travel as a lens of inquiry, Riding the Rails explores the physical implications of the railroad in the past, present and future at several scales of intervention and in a variety of cultural contexts. Drawing from first-hand train passage throughout Europe, Asia, and America, the resulting body of research establishes a platform from which to speculate on new models of American urbanization in the age of high-speed rail.

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www.ridingtherails.org

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AWARDS

 

  • NBBJ Merit Award for Innovation, 2017

  • ESRI Geodesign Conference Lightening Talk Award, 2016

  • NBBJ Artist of Change, 2014

  • Druker Traveling Fellowship, Harvard Graduate School of Design, 2013

  • Alpha Rho Chi Bronze Medal for Leadership, Service, and Merit, 2005

  • SOM Traveling Fellowship Nominee, 2005

  • Tau Sigma Delta Bronze Medal Finalist, 2005

  • Faculty Letter of Excellence for Thesis Project, 2005

  • University of Tennessee Bicentennial Scholar, 2000 - 2005

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PUBLICATIONS

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NBBX

  • Put A Lid On It!: Freeway Lids Can Right the Wrongs of Urban Renewal — If We Keep these Five Principles in Mind. 2016

  • #Engagement Is More Than A Hashtag: What Planners Should Know about Using Technology for Public Engagement. 2016

  • What Can Pedagogy Teach Us About Practice? Why Design Studio is the Ideal Model for the Classrooms of Tomorrow. 2014

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Other

  • “[Re] Working: Brooklyn’s Urban/Industrial Waterfront”

  • Elements of Urban Design Studio Publication, November 2012

  • MAKING MIDTOWN: A New Vision for a 21st Century Garment District in NYC with the Design Trust for Public Space, October 2012

  • FIVE BOROUGH FARM: Seeding The Future Of Urban Agriculture In NYC with the Design Trust for Public Space, July 2012

  • “On The Right Track” Nashville Lifestyles, July 2011 

  • “HOMEGROWN” Nashville Arts Magazine, July 2011

  • “Southern Comfort” Nashville Scene, July 2011

  • “The Southern Design Concern” Modern Atlanta, May 2011

  • “Rocking Forward” Wilson Living Magazine, March/April 2011

  • “Made in the South Awards” Garden & Gun Magazine, December 2010

  • Nashville/Davidson County Public Art: Location Study & Typology Recommendations

  • with the Nashville Civic Design Center, December 2010

  • “Heart and Holler” Murfreesboro Magazine, October 2010

  • “The Main Event” Elle Decor Magazine, June 2010

  • “A New Ornament” 306090, Volume 10: Decoration, September 2006

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CONFERENCES

 

Society for Colleges and University Planning (SCUP)

 

 

Healthcare Design (HCD)

 

 

Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)

 

 

American Planning Association (APA)

  • 2016 National Conference Panel Discussion Moderator: Civic Engagement and Technology

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PROJECTS


SPATIAL ANALYTICS

  • Bunker Hill Space Planning & Utilization Study
    Boston, MA / Spatial Analyst

  • University of Puget Sound Space Planning & Utilization Study
    Tacoma, WA / Spatial Analyst


HEALTHCARE

  • UC Davis Health System Research Master Plan
    Sacramento, CA / Urban Designer

  • UC Davis Health System ACC Programming
    Sacramento, CA / Project Manager 

  • UC Davis Health Replacement Bed Tower Programming
    Sacramento, CA / Location Analyst

  • Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge Street Project
    Boston, MA / Urban Designer

  • UC Davis Health System Ambulatory Clinic Master Plan
    Sacramento, CA / Architect / Computational Designer

  • Jefferson University and Hospitals Master Plan
    Philadelphia, PA / Urban Designer / Data Analyst

  • PeaceHealth 20-Year Master Facilities Plan Various
    WA, OR, AK / Planner

  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, New Clinical Building Master Plan
    Boston, MA / Urban Designer

  • Valley Medical Center Master Plan
    Renton, WA / Planner

  • Grady Health System Center for Advanced Surgical Services
    Atlanta, GA Architect / Computational Designer

  • Swedish Health System Space Analytics and Visualization
    Seattle, WA / Computational Designer

  • Emerson Hospital, Urgent Care, Primary Care, LAB/X-Ray Feasibility and Location Analysis
    Concord, MA / Urban Planner

 

CIVIC/URBAN

  • Wilburton Commercial Area Plan 
    Bellevue, WA / Urban Designer / Scenario Modeler 

  • Port of Vancouver Waterfront Conceptual Development Plan (Phase II)
    Vancouver, WA / Urban Designer

  • Portsmouth Master Plan
    Portsmouth, MA / Urban Designer

  • Beijing Sha River Waterfront Conceptual Urban Design
    Beijing, China / Urban Designer

  • Fuyang City Zhongsha Island Urban Design Competition
    Fuyang, Anhui, China / Urban Designer

  • Nanjing Hexi Fish Mouth Park
    Nanjing, Jiangsu, China / Urban Designer


HIGHER EDUCATION

  • Bunker Hill Community College, Master Plan Update
    Boston, MA / Urban Planner / Programmer

  • Quinsigamond Community College, Master Plan Update
    Boston, MA / Urban Planner / Programmer


RESIDENTIAL

  • Flat Iron Loft
    New York, NY / Project Manager

  • West 8th Street Roof Garden
    New York, NY / Designer

  • Traverwood Library
    Ann Arbor, MI / Designer

  • Prudential Source One Headquarters
    Murrells Inlet, SC / Designer

  • Peninsula Esmeralda
    Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic / Designer

  • Corner House Condominium
    Northville, MI / Designer

  • Hudson House Condominium
    Royal Oak, MI / Designer

  • Berridge Place Affordable Housing
    Flint, MI / Designer

  • Uptown Flats Workforce Housing
    Nashville, TN / Designer

  • Cummins Station Community Garden
    Nashville, TN / Designer

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