We are pleased to announce four key leadership promotions. Michael Brown, AIA, William Price, RLA, Kristin Purdy, AIA, and Keith Sylvester have been promoted to Senior Associates. Senior Associates support all aspects of client service and project management.
Michael Brown, AIA, CDT, LEED AP BD+C, manages design and construction for many of the firm’s municipal and commercial projects, including the Monroe County Public Safety Building, Evergreen Health in Buffalo, and three major renovation projects for Lifetime Assistance. As a certified NYS Code Enforcement Officer, Mike also provides expert reviews and assessments on code-related issues. He earned a master’s in architecture, master’s in business administration and bachelor’s in architecture from the University of Buffalo.
“Mike is known and respected throughout SWBR for his technical and management abilities, his knowledge of building codes and standards, his even demeanor, and his teaching and mentoring,” said Principal Randal Sickler, AIA,
William Price, RLA, Landscape Architect and Urban Planner, helps lead the firm’s landscape architecture and urban site design projects and leads many business development and proposal writing efforts. He has an extensive portfolio of design and entitlements for waterfront and historic preservation projects. Bill recently led the interdisciplinary team that won the Governor’s Buffalo Skyway Competition to re-imagine the Route 5 corridor along Buffalo’s waterfront. Outside of SWBR, he serves as the chairman of the Town of Brighton Planning Board and is a board member of the Community Design Center of Rochester. He received a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and a bachelor’s in environmental design from the University of Massachusetts.
“Bill’s expertise as a landscape architect and urban planner, as well as his business development skills, have helped our landscape group prosper and positively impact our clients,” said Don Naetzker, RLA, Landscape Architecture Manager.
Kristin Purdy, AIA, CSI, LEED AP BD+C, Project Architect and member of SWBR’s Board of Directors, started as an intern and joined the firm full time in 2007. As part of the firm’s education studio focused on higher education, Kristin works with the design team and clients to develop a project’s program and design solution, overseeing projects from programming through construction administration. As SWBR’s Sustainable Design Manager, she works to maintain the firm’s ongoing commitment to the environment by integrating sustainable best practices into design projects as well as SWBR’s office culture. She graduated from the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture.
“Kristin is a skilled and incredibly organized project manager with the ability to apply her skills to many different project types, from a beautiful performance hall, to research laboratories, or even sports facilities. Our clients love working with her, she’s the ultimate team player,” said SWBR Principal Steven Fernaays, AIA.
Keith Sylvester, Chief Information Officer, has been with SWBR for over 20 years and manages all IT systems for the firm. Keith is the lead Information Technology (IT) decision maker and is responsible for strategy, design, implementation, utilization of technology, and data security. He also oversees the firm’s Technology Department, which utilizes virtual and augmented reality, 3D modeling, Revit, and drone technologies to better assist the design process.
“Keith does so much more than keep our systems running and safe. He keeps our firm at the forefront of new technology, helping us enhance our client services and design better performing, more sustainable buildings,” said Tom Gears, AIA, SWBR President.