BOSTON – June 2, 2022 – Margulies Perruzzi (MP), one of New England’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms, announced today that it has promoted Caitlin Greenwood, AIA, IIDA and Jenna Meyers, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP to partner. The move is the continuation of extensive long-term planning for the firm’s growth and expands MP’s leadership and management team in all practice areas.
“Both Caitlin and Jenna have distinguished themselves as leaders through their project work as well as through their efforts to build awareness of the important work we do here at Margulies Perruzzi,” said Dan Perruzzi, AIA, LEED AP, principal, and senior partner at Margulies Perruzzi. “Their promotions to partner are a public acknowledgment of how important Caitlin and Jenna are to the continued growth of Margulies Perruzzi.”
Caitlin Greenwood, AIA, IIDA
As an architect and project manager, Caitlin brings extensive design experience to the MP team through all phases of design and construction. Caitlin has been with the firm for over 10 years, and is a member of the Workplace, Real Estate, and Science studios, spanning both architecture and interiors. Currently her focus is partnering with MP’s science team members to continue to grow and strengthen the studio. She particularly enjoys working closely with science & technology clients to create a design that is both functional and truly unique to them. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Master of Architecture from Roger Williams University.
Jenna Meyers, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP
As a senior interior designer, Jenna brings 15 years of extensive design experience to the Margulies Perruzzi team, contributing her strengths in design development, programming, project management, and coordination. As a Workplace studio leader, she specializes in working closely with clients to create custom-designed spaces, reflecting their unique brand, mission, and culture. She has worked on projects for clients such as Fresenius, United Way, and Zipcar. Jenna has been influential in helping develop several workplace strategy reports for the firm. The most recent report focuses on Embracing the Hybrid Workspace. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Interior Design from Buffalo State College.
Jess Hamilton is a project manager with Margulies Perruzzi in Boston. Lab Manager recently spoke with Jess about his career, experience, and personal interests.
Q: How did you get started in your career? Did you major in your field in college, get an internship, switch careers mid-stream, etc.?
A: I majored in Architectural Engineering Technology at Wentworth Institute of Technology. While a student, I completed a co-op to receive real world experience, which led to a 13-year employment at a firm that focused on workplace and real estate repositioning. Once I had solid experience established, I decided I wanted a bigger challenge and switched to a focus on the life sciences field by moving to a firm that did exclusively that. While there for four years, I got to work on a variety of lab spaces, mostly for tenants, as well as a repositioning project. I learned a ton about this exciting and quickly growing market sector. I recently joined Margulies Perruzzi to help contribute to our growing life sciences practice.
Q: What is a typical day at work like for you?
A: There is no such thing as a typical day in architecture which is why I enjoy it so much. A few examples of what I do during the workday include having project calls, reviewing drawings, helping to create fit plans, or even getting to enjoy our office’s roof deck on nice days. I can also be out on site for existing conditions surveys or walking spaces under construction to review progress. At least once a week, I enjoy lunches with former coworkers to stay in touch and discuss industry trends or I meet with potential clients.
Q: What lab projects are you working on at the moment?
A: I am currently working on two lab projects at Margulies Perruzzi. One is a conversion of a three-story, 90-year-old brick and beam former ice cream factory into a lab and office building in Boston. It’s been challenging to uncover the existing conditions of the building as well as to figure out how to reconfigure the spaces for lab use from office use. Not too far away from that building, I am also working on a project to create a four-story, ground-up lab and office building. The goal of this building is to reflect the surrounding brick and beam buildings while also introducing some modern elements such as curtain walls. We are also looking to use CLT (cross laminated timber) as the floor decks, which has not been done for lab buildings in the Boston area yet. This will look great when it’s complete and be more sustainable than concrete and steel, while still achieving the same vibration and acoustical properties as would steel and concrete.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in the next few years in this new position?
A: I want to help Margulies Perruzzi continue to grow in the life science market sector. There are so many exciting projects underway in the Boston area right now that we are seeing new opportunities on a weekly basis. We are continuing to build our portfolio of experience with multiple ground-up and office-to-lab conversion projects as well as various tenant improvement projects in construction that we are excited to see completed soon. It’s been very rewarding to contribute to the companies working to solve many of the current challenges to cure diseases and disorders to improve people’s lives.
Q: If you won a million-dollar lottery tomorrow, what would you do with your winnings?
A: I would spend half on investing in real estate and look to spend the rest on an investment into the Boston Public Schools. Both my daughter and son are enrolled there. There are so many needs throughout the school system so the money could be used to make a difference for some of Boston’s kids.
BOSTON – May 10, 2022 – The Boston office of Cresa, the world’s largest commercial real estate firm exclusively representing space occupiers, and Margulies Perruzzi (MP), one of New England’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms, congratulate Rich Bettina, senior director of leasing for Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMC) on being named the Real Estate Executive for the Americas by CoreNet New England. Rich was honored at the CoreNet New England Awards of Excellence gala on May 5, 2022 at the Westin Copley Place.
The End User Leadership Award is designed to recognize a North America CoreNet Global New England member who provides leadership to the success of the corporate real estate industry and of their department, team, and company. Rich was nominated by Marc Margulies, FAIA, LEED AP, principal at Margulies Perruzzi, and Tim Myllykangas, managing principal at Cresa.
“I have worked closely with Rich since he joined FMC as the Director of Transaction Management – Lease Renewals for North America in 2018. It is truly impressive what he has done in such a short time,” said Tim. “Rich has a unique skill set not seen in most corporate real estate executives. Beyond basic real estate strategy and portfolio management, he has a strong knowledge and understanding of how to navigate successfully through the many management layers in a very complex and large organization. He quickly maps out the landscape of top stakeholders, builds relationships at key levels, and comes up with a plan to improve strategy, process, and measurable results for the company.”
Richard A. Bettina is an experienced professional with over 30 years of director-level management experience in North America, Latin America, and Asia Pacific for companies such as FMC, Dell/EMC, Teradyne, and IBM. Rich has demonstrated expertise in corporate real estate across all aspects of portfolio management including site expansions and consolidations, lease transactions, project management, and facilities services.
“Just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, FMC was in the early stages of the complete transformation of its 2.6 million SF of non-clinical workspace under Rich’s direction,” said Marc. “Recognizing the enormous opportunity presented by dozens of lease expirations and underutilized sites across the US, Rich assembled a team to investigate consolidation efficiencies that would simultaneously improve collaboration and flexibility. Pivoting rapidly in response to COVID, Rich redirected his team to build leadership and staff consensus around a fully unassigned, highly remote workplace, dubbed the “Future of Work” at FMC.”
Fresenius is the world’s largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney failure. As senior director of leasing for North America, Rich is responsible for over 3,000 clinic and office sites and for internal and external teams negotiating 500 lease transactions annually. His internal and external teams manage new lease and site search activities, lease renewals, site consolidations, and all aspects of dispositions throughout North America. Rich works directly with all company executives including eight General Managers and 40 Regional Vice Presidents with ~ 30 million SF across 3,500 locations.
“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to receive this award which was only achievable by teaming up our Fresenius employees with hand-picked industry partners as part of our “Corporate Core team”. This core team was developed prior to the pandemic and was initially focused on utilization metrics for portfolio optimization,” said Rich. “The arrival of COVID-19 and its effects on the workplace enabled this team to shift priorities and accelerate its efforts toward Future of Work modelling led by our director of corporate facilities and construction, Scott Silva. This team’s motivation caused it to excel on all fronts, ensuring our real estate and facilities teams were well positioned to meet the needs of our employees and our company.”
Rich received a Bachelor of Science from Northeastern University and an MBA in Strategic Business Management from Pace University. An active member of CoreNet New England, Rich has served on the Board of Directors and as a Real Advantage committee member and liaison to the board. Outside of the office he is active with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass./MetroWest.
The following project team members worked with MP and Cresa on the Fresenius projects:
Fort Point PM (Cumming)
iOffice
NV5
OfficeWorks
PES Associates
VergeSense
Aerial Genomics
BOSTON – April 4, 2022 – Margulies Perruzzi (MP), one of New England’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms, announced today the promotions of Tim Bailey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C; Derek D’Amico, AIA, LEED AP; Cynthia Gibson Murphy, AIA; Paul McIntire, AIA; and Nathan Turner, AIA, LEED AP to associate principal within the firm.
“Since our founding 34 years ago, the firm has grown in both size and capabilities. We work with clients in the Workplace, Real Estate, Healthcare, and Science markets and design projects of varying sizes, stages of development, and complexity,” said Dan Perruzzi, AIA, LEED AP, principal, and senior partner at Margulies Perruzzi. “We are proud to celebrate our continued growth as we take the next steps toward the future. We have elevated five very deserving professionals to associate principal. All have demonstrated the qualities necessary to not only run the firm, but to also lead it by continuing to grow and develop our capabilities.”
Tim is an award-winning architect whose leadership plays a critical role in the design of real estate and workplace projects across the firm. An advocate for high-performance office and life science buildings, repositioning, creative office space, experiential design, brand awareness and sustainable development, Tim leads large and integrated projects, providing expertise on the design of the building and the interiors. His work bridges the shared interest of both building owner and user, achieving both parties’ project goals. His project experience and service to his local city planning board allows him to bring first-hand knowledge of the public approval process to each development project. As an adjunct professor of architecture, Tim teaches aspiring architects about the profession in a way to give back to the profession that has been his life-long desire.
Derek is responsible for daily interaction with clients and daily supervision of large design projects. Derek has more than 25 years of experience and specializes in solving design and technical problems to keep projects on schedule and budget. He provides design services for all phases of a project from schematic design to construction administration for large corporate and life science clients.
As an architect and project manager with over 20 years of experience, Cyndy is known for her attention to detail on every project. Her personal project portfolio spans all four of the firm’s design studios and encompasses projects of all scales. Her passion for quality, service, and teamwork is noted on every project. She has also designed and specified lighting on multiple large-scale projects, producing well-lit spaces with energy consumption below code requirements. Cyndy has been a regular mentor to junior staff and shares her love for the industry both by teaching graduate architecture classes at Roger Williams University (RWU) and supporting staff development at MP.
Paul has more than 30 years of architectural experience working on commercial, office, institutional, and multi-family projects. As a senior architect, Paul is responsible for leading teams in developing the design direction of projects, from the early conceptual stages through construction documentation. Paul is facile in utilizing multiple visualization techniques, such as 3D model building, realistic renderings, virtual reality, rendering videos, and post-production. Paul believes that creating clear rendering visualizations is analogous to making a promise. The more an architect is versed in the multiple facets of the building process, the more genuine and feasible that promise becomes. As a self-described ‘compulsively curious’ person, Paul’s architectural design development is influenced from his background in art, music, and sculpture.
With over 20 years of experience, Nate has been involved with the planning, design, and construction of projects ranging in complexity across multiple sectors. His experience within the Real Estate Development, Workplace, Science, and Healthcare studios at Margulies Perruzzi has contributed to award-winning projects centered on client needs. He takes great pride in capturing a project’s essence from its initial conceptualization and implementing a workable design solution. He is known for his ability to strategize and communicate with others while leading teams through all stages of a project. During the summer months, Nate is the office softball coach for the firm’s team, and he has been playing and coaching for 20+ years, winning two championships along the way.
Starting out in the construction business, who or what empowered you? My high school architecture teacher always encouraged girls to consider a career as an architect. Starting my freshman year I learned hand sketching, how things are put together, and how architecture helps you understand the world around you. In college, the faculty was wonderful. They pushed me to sit in the front of the room and to be just as competitive as my male classmates. My first job out of college was with Margulies Perruzzi (MP). I started as an intern and after less than a month, they offered me a full-time job. MP is a very supportive community.
What tips or advice would you offer to other women who are considering entering the construction industry? Step outside of your comfort zone. How? By believing in yourself and having confidence in what you are doing. I make sure I am knowledgeable about a topic and have the research to back it up so I can bring something thoughtful to the discussion. Learn how to take feedback. No one is perfect at everything and we can all learn new things. Share your ideas and your process. It’s a collaborative industry and no one stands alone. The best work is going to come from a team and we all bring a different perspective to the design process.
When you’re not busy, what is your go to book or podcast to help you unwind? The pandemic has definitely brought reading back into my life. I’m currently reading everything by the author Kristin Hannah. I finished up The Nightingale, a fictional story about two sisters in WWII France as well as The Four Winds, a story about the Great Depression in the Great Plains. I learn a lot from the podcast Armchair Expert. Hosted by Dax Shepard, they interview celebrities, journalists, and academics and it “celebrates the messiness of being human.”
What tips or advice would you offer to other women who are considering entering the construction industry? Always be prepared, do your research, and have fun. When women know their worth and show confidence on a jobsite, nothing can stop them.
Starting out in the construction business, who or what empowered you? I am lucky that I attended a university, Colorado State University, that had Construction Management as a major. This allowed the Interior Design major to be integrated, so from the beginning we were taking construction classes in addition to interior design courses. The university always treated us the way interior designers should be treated, as intellectuals. Many times, in the field, we are looked down upon, as if we can only select finishes or fabrics. We are required to know so much more than that: building systems, codes, construction standards, contract administration, design application, professional practice, and project coordination.
From a young age, Jenna Meyers, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP knew she wanted to do something creative and took every art class offered at her high school. During her senior year, she took an interior design course and fell in love with the subject, going on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design.
Ten years ago, Jenna moved to Boston and joined New England architectural and interior design firm, Margulies Perruzzi (MP). As a senior interior designer, Jenna brings 15 years of extensive design experience to the MP team, contributing her strengths in design development, programming, project management, and coordination. As a workplace studio leader, she specializes in working closely with clients to create custom-designed spaces, reflecting their unique brand, mission, and culture.
Recently promoted to senior associate, Jenna heads up the workplace studio at MP and helps develop the firm’s workplace strategies. MP’s most recent report, Volume 5 Workplace Strategy Report: Embracing the Hybrid Workspace, affirms the logic of transitioning from a traditional to hybrid model. A survey of 8,600 people across multiple business sectors revealed that 44% of workers plan on being in the office three days a week, and 25% plan on two days. Only 9% responded that they would return to a pre-pandemic office presence.
Jenna says she enjoys mentoring designers at MP and believes we fail if we don’t teach the next generation. Her advice to anyone interested in a career in interior design is “Enjoy the process, learn how to listen, and make yourself valuable.”
Janet Morra, a principal and partner at Margulies Perruzzi, an architectural design firm, said much more will be required to make buildings “healthy and safe,” now that it appears a post-pandemic return to work may be possible, perhaps by this coming fall. “All the things we’ve been talking about over the past year have to be acted on,” Morra said of health-and-safety planning for office buildings. “And the time to act is now.”
“No one really knows how much space will be needed,” said Margulies Perruzzi’s Morra. “It’s anyone’s guess. This is all new. There’s going to be a lot of experimentation.” As the workplace dust settles, Morra said she expects office-building owners, as well as corporate tenants, to start measuring and touting the health-and-safety standards of individual facilities, possibly using the relatively new “WELL Health-Safety Rating” system, similar to the well-known LEED rating system that measures the sustainability levels of facilities. “I think it’s going to gain traction,” Morra said of the WELL Health-Safety Rating system. “Many employers are definitely looking for ways to get employees back into buildings. This may be one of the ways.”
Caitlin Greenwood, AIA, IIDA has always been surrounded by strong women and has been inspired by many since launching her career as an architect. Tapping into this support system, whether it be family, colleagues, friends, industry partners, or even competitors, has resulted in a network of women who encourage each other to drive their careers forward.
Caitlin’s advice for young females interested in design and construction is, “There will be times that you are the only female in the room; use that to inspire you and push you further…”
