SPEAKERS

RACHEL MODICA Associate / Buro Happold

Rachel Modica is an associate project manager at Buro Happold. She’s been with the firm for more than ten years and began her career as a plumbing and fire protection engineer. Modica has a bachelors of science in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University.

RYAN ORNBERG Associate Principal / Krueck Sexton Partners

Ryan is a conceptual thinker and excels in visualizing a project from early site approach and massing to performance driven design tectonics. As a project leader, he enjoys collaborating with his clients and design partners to solve complex challenges in ways that promote design excellence. Ryan joined KSP after completing his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Michigan. He also holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design with an emphasis in architecture from the University of Colorado.

HARSHAD PILLAI Director / Fogarty Finger

Harshad brings a broad range of design and execution skills with over two decades of experience. Prior to joining Fogarty Finger, Harshad worked on a variety of multifamily and institutional projects in the United States and Asia, notably on a 240,000-square-foot faculty housing facility for Columbia University and a 60,000-square-foot community facility in New Canaan, Connecticut. He has worked closely with design principals to help maintain conceptual integrity by coordinating structure, proprietary glazing, and mechanical systems on complex projects.

CHRIS O’HARA Founding Principal / Studio NYL

O’Hara is facade director for the Skins Group, a division of Studio NYL, established to provide full service facade design specializing in thermal modeling, moisture/condensation analysis, and in-depth detailing. Although Studio NYL is recognized for its work with cutting-edge glass and glazing, their team also specializes in digitally fabricated metal skins, GFRC, reinforced polymers, stone, ultra high performance concrete, terra cotta, and traditional precast. O’Hara is currently working on multiple projects in the Boston area.

BRADFORD J. PRESTBO Director-Boston / Studio NYL

Bradford J. Prestbo, FAIA, is advancing the profession through his practice, advocacy, and educational efforts in the use of cutting-edge design technologies, high-performance design, and the incorporation of maker culture into the design process as Director of Operations at Placetailor, a development / design / build practice. Bradford is the current chair of the AIA’s Technology in Architectural Practice Knowledge Community, and founded the Boston Society of Architect’s MakeTANK Knowledge Community.

RYAN RADEMACHER Director / MG McGrath

Ryan Rademache, AIA currently serves as the director of business development at MG McGrath, with over 20 years of experience in the architecture, design, and construction industry. Having worked as an architect and now overseeing preconstruction activities for a leading national facade contractor, he has experience executing work from the planning and programming phases to final construction and project closeout. Ryan is a licensed architect and has a Master of Architecture Degree from Parsons School of Design. Ryan specializes in complex and highperformance facades, digital fabrication, sustainability, project management, project estimating, and strategic operations planning.

Mario Romero

Computational Designer / Perkins&Will

Mario Romero is a computational designer and digital practice manager at Perkins&Will. His work primarily deals in the melding of technology and architecture including: robotics, Digital/physical interface design, Digital fabrication (in specific, 3D printing), Modular building automation & intelligence. Mario previously worked at AS+GG in Chicago and holds a BArch from University of Illinois Chicago.

Benjamin Sachwald

Senior Vice President and Director of Acoustics, Noise, and Vibration / AKRF

Benjamin Sachwald is a mechanical engineer specializing in architectural, environmental, and musical acoustics. He has extensive experience working with the New York City Noise Control Code, contributing to and working with the New York City Department of Buildings Code and New York City Environmental Quality Review Manual, and complying with New York City E-Designation requirements for noise mitigation. Benjamin has lectured about noise and acoustics at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.