BA Elevates Five to Principal
Bernheimer Architecture PLLC and Founding Principal Andrew Bernheimer are pleased to announce the promotion of several key members of firm management to Principal, in recognition of their important contributions to the growth and evolution of the practice and their standing within the profession. While the promotions recognize long-term leadership at BA, the firm would simultaneously like to acknowledge the ongoing and important work of the BA Union and its members and our ongoing commitment to growth and equity in the workplace.
Those elevated to Principal are:
Mariam Alshamali, who has been at BA since 2015. Mariam has, in an unconventionally short period of time, proven to be a leader in the studio (serving on BA Management’s Bargaining Committee) and a mature presence on many complicated projects. Mariam has designed and directed a number of affordable housing buildings from design through completion, including the 173 unit development at 448 Chester Street, Marcus Garvey Village (in Brownsville, Brooklyn) and the Spring Creek Senior Housing (also in Brooklyn).
Mariam is a graduate of the Master of Architecture Program at Parsons School of Design and a Bachelors of Environmental Design from Dalhousie University.
Meredith Kole, Associate AIA, who has been at BA since 2013. Meredith is the leader of our studio’s private residential, market-rate, interior, and commercial projects, having shepherded projects such as the Atlantic Beach Residence in Long Island, 100 Barrow Street (in Manhattan), the Provost II and III interiors (in Jersey City), and BA’s many stores for Malin and Goetz, from design through construction. The longest-serving designer at BA, Meredith’s work provides attention to detail through a sense of warmth, tactility, and spatial connection. She has, over her decade of time at BA, dedicated herself to the material integrity and beauty of our projects.
Meredith has an M.Arch from Harvard Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Design from the University of Florida.
Thom Medek, AIA, who has been at BA since 2014 and has led efforts for BA’s affordable housing designs for Caesura (in Downtown Brooklyn), Spring Creek Senior Housing (also in Brooklyn), OneFlushing (in Queens), amongst other projects. Thom is active with the Architecture Lobby and is deeply attentive to the role of labor within the architectural profession and has been serving on BA management’s Bargaining Committee. Thom is committed to justice for all adversely affected by the housing crisis, by systemic racism, and is teaching at UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design this Fall.
Thom, who is now based in Oakland, CA, has an M.Arch from Yale University and a B.S. from Catholic University
Tessie Nam, an original member of BA and has been with the studio since its inception in 2011, leads efforts related to the studio environment and supports a culture of curiosity, listening and patience. Her dedication to the health and humanity of all of the members of BA’s studio has been critical and inspiring. Tessie serves on the BA Management Bargaining Committee.
Tessie lives in Brooklyn with her kids and dog, bokki. She previously worked with Della Valle Bernheimer and has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan.
Will Sheridan, AIA, who has been at BA since 2017, and who has served as the project lead for 1490 Southern Boulevard senior affordable housing (in the Bronx), Beach Green Dunes 3 affordable housing (in Queens), and the Arverne East Master Plan (also in Queens), amongst others. Will’s capacity for understanding complex projects, for working with deep empathy and precision in the interest of architectural and urbanistic excellence, is boundless. Will serves on the BA Management Bargaining Committee.
Will has an M.Arch from Yale University and a B.A. from Williams College and is a member of the Citygroup Architects Collective.