Alvaro Ribeiro, AIA – Senior Architect
What does it take to succeed in your specific industry? To succeed in the world of architecture, good communication and good partnerships are key. A thoughtful project team includes the general contractor, architects, engineers, and owner’s representatives, and, of course, a good client. This team is only as strong as its weakest link. Each of these roles needs the other to be balanced to be truly successful. When any one of these entities exudes more influence than the other, a project will fall far short of what it truly could be if everyone pulled together.
What led you to your current profession? I’ve always believed that our physical environment curates our experiences and that people react, whether subconsciously, consciously, or both, to the built environment around them. Their behavior is deeply influenced by it in ways not fully understood. Architects, builders, and developers are challenged with creating our world and doing so in a responsible, meaningful way. This responsibility is very intriguing and fun to be a part of as an architect.
What are the top 3 items on your bucket list?
- Heli-snowboard in deep powder backcountry Montana
- Scuba diving along the Great Barrier Reef
- Watching the Portuguese national football team win the World Cup during my lifetime
What are you doing when you aren’t working? Coaching two successful youth soccer teams and raising a young family.
Caitlin Greenwood, AIA – Project Manager, Partner
What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of? I was recently promoted to partner at Margulies Perruzzi. I have been with the firm for over 10 years and within that time I have held several roles. Most recently, my focus has been on partnering with our science team members to continue to grow and strengthen the studio. As an architect and project manager, I enjoy working closely with our science clients to create a design that is both functional and truly unique to them. For this next chapter, I am excited to join the other partners to help continue to lead the firm’s growth.
What does it take to succeed in your specific industry? Succeeding is about making a positive impact on the field you are in, and the people who surround you. Being a successful architect is about making each client feel something exciting, unique, important, or significant about their building or space. Everyone I work with is different, so finding that niche for each of them can often be the most intriguing part of design. If I can help be the liaison in creating that feeling, then I have done my job well.
What are the top 3 items on your bucket list?
- Visit all 7 continents
- Heliski
- Have my name on a building
What are you doing when you aren’t working? Traveling, skiing, golfing – listed from skill level of best to worst
Jess Hamilton – Project Manager
What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of? I am finishing construction documents for a project to create a four-story, ground up lab and office building in Somerville. The goal of this building is to reflect the surrounding brick and beam buildings while introducing some modern elements such as curtain walls. We are targeting LEED Platinum certification. We are looking to use CLT (cross laminated timber) for the upper floor slabs for the first time in the Boston area. 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 steel and concrete.
What does it take to succeed in your specific industry? To succeed in the architecture industry, you need to collaborate with your project teams. I prioritize not only taking time to mentor junior staff, but also to ask questions myself to more senior staff in order to work more efficiently. It’s also important to collaborate with partners involved in disciplines outside of your firm. For instance, I find it helpful to talk to the members of the construction team to learn different ways to construct elements and details, as well as more cost effective and practical ways to achieve design details.
What led you to your current profession? I majored in architectural engineering technology at Wentworth Institute of Technology and 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. I moved to a firm focused exclusively on life science projects. During my four years there, 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 science practice.
What are the top 3 items on your bucket list?
- Backpacking in Europe for a summer
- Trip to Hawaii
- Win the lottery
What are you doing when you aren’t working? Working on renovating my 1823 house or at the beach in the warmer months.
See Alvaro, Caitlin, and Jess featured in NEREJ’s ‘Ones to Watch’.