Weber Thompson Announces Seven Promotions
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Weber Thompson has promoted seven staff members to new leadership positions in the firm. Brittany Porter AIA, CPHC, LEED GA and John Stout AIA, LEED AP BD+C have been promoted to Senior Associate. Laurie Wilson AIA, Tanya Kataria LEED AP, Erik Schultz AIA, Sam Castro RA, and Leslie Riibe have been promoted to Associate.
Senior Associate Brittany Porter joined WT’s Workplace Design Studio in 2018, bringing a wealth of highly sustainable experience, including managing the design and construction of one of Washington State’s first multifamily Passive House buildings. She is a frequent speaker on sustainable design principles, a certified Passive House consultant, and a past Board Member for Passive House Northwest. Brittany is the Young Architects Regional Director for the AIA Northwest & Pacific Region, acting as liaison to the Committee on the Environment. Currently, she is working on Northlake Commons, a mass timber, lab-ready building pursuing LEED Gold certification.
Senior Associate John Stout is a core member of Weber Thompson’s high rise design studio. He brings a passion for high rise design, advancement and technology to his skyline changing design work on projects such as Nexus, The Ivey and the Ayer. John’s design philosophy revolves around a central desire to design every space to be exceptional, welcoming and somewhere he would want to live. John serves on the board for the CTBUH and is highly active in mentoring programs at the University of Washington Department of Architecture.
Associate architect Laurie Wilson is a Senior Project Manager in Weber Thompson’s Affordable Housing Team, working to deliver mixed-use projects such as the Opportunity Center at Othello Square and the SCIDpda North Lot project on the historic Pacific Medical Center campus. Laurie is one of the first African-American women architects licensed in Washington State and is a passionate advocate for creative placemaking that benefit and honor the communities she serves. She was a founder of the “Cities for All Project,” and has supported organizations including Africatown Community Land Trust, King Street Station Arts, The Black Farmer’s Collective, as well as numerous planning and design boards.
Associate Tanya Kataria is a passionate advocate for design that affects real change. As a designer in WT’s affordable housing team, she is able to bring this passion to bear on her projects. She is a member of the Citizen’s Housing Commission in the City of Edmonds, working on public policy that promote diverse, affordable housing options. More recently, she was admitted to AIA National Next To Lead program, a pilot leadership program that removes barriers to AIA Leadership positions for ethnically diverse women.
Associate Sam Castro is Weber Thompson’s BIM Manager and a licensed Architect. Focused on fostering clear communication, efficient production, and effective management. Sam supports people, projects, and process development for WT’s multi-disciplinary digital design practice. He Leads WT’s Revit User Group and is engaged in local and wide ranging BIM roundtables. Sam also consults on WT’s IT/technology initiatives, bringing a strategic and risk management lens to all decision making.
Associate Erik Schultz is a Project Architect in Weber Thompson’s Workplaces Studio leading a mass timber, lab ready high rise through documentation. He is an innovative yet pragmatic problem solver and is dedicated to client care. Outside of his projects Erik is a vital member of WT’s Revit group, presenting to the office, developing content, and providing overall consulting and BIM office Hours to the office. He is also a staunch advocate for Scrum and has presented to the office this alternative method for project delivery.
Associate Leslie Riibe is a Senior Graphic Designer at Weber Thompson, a vital member of WT’s might marketing team. She is the designer and gatekeeper of Weber Thompson’s brand assets and consults with project team on building signage. Leslie has contributed to environmental graphics for a number of WT projects include Ascent, Marlowe, Watershed, and Northlake Commons. Leslie is an active member of her Toastmasters group and frequently contributes her design talents to non-profits, including the Seattle Architecture Foundation, Passive House Northwest and the AIA Diversity Roundtable. A lifelong learner, in 2016, Leslie added a certificate in User-Centered Design from the University of Washington to her educational experience.
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About Weber Thompson
About Weber Thompson Seattle-based Weber Thompson is a full service, West coast design firm specializing in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and community/urban design. This award-winning company has a staff of design and construction professionals, housed in the celebrated Watershed, a deep green commercial office building in Fremont. Since 1988, Weber Thompson has developed a diverse practice with projects that include high-rises, high-density urban infill, residential, commercial office, hospitality, and affordable housing projects. Weber Thompson seeks effective results through a thoughtful and collaborative design process. For more information go to www.weberthompson.com or contact Weber Thompson at (206) 344-5700 or info@weberthompson.com.
AIA: American Institute of Architects
AIGA: American Institute of Graphic Arts
ASLA: American Society of Landscape Architects
BIM: Building Information Modeling
LEED AP: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional
PLA: Professional Landscape Architect
RA: Registered Architect
SAF: Seattle Architecture Foundation
SEGD: Society for Experiential Graphic Design
WASafe: Washington State Safety Assessment Facility Evaluators