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Alumni Associations
Columbia GSAPP Alumni Association
MISSION STATEMENT:
The Columbia GSAPP Alumni Association serves as a vital link between GSAPP alumni, the University, professional practice organizations, and current students. The GSAPP Alumni Association’s mission is:
The Columbia GSAPP Alumni Association serves as a vital link between GSAPP alumni, the University, professional practice organizations, and current students. The GSAPP Alumni Association’s mission is:
- To foster and facilitate cross collaboration between alumni of GSAPP’s various programs
- To provide support and guidance to GSAPP in order to promote its image and standing within the academic and professional communities
- To serve as an important fundraising vehicle to support GSAPP
Vice President, Global Real Estate, JPMorgan Chase
Sharon's career has spanned across banking, real-estate and architecture. She currently manages JPMorgan Chase's real estate portfolio in Manhattan and in addition to her 8 years in architecture, where she participated in the design of 4 Times Square (among other projects), she has worked extensively in technology design and use in Investment Banking. Sharon holds a Master’s degree in architecture from Columbia University, an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from Harvard University, and is a registered architect.
NAOMI HERSSON-RINGSKOG
Executive Director, No Longer Empty
No Longer Empty repurposes empty storefronts into temporary public art exhibitions with accompanying programing and Naomi spearheads the organization's community and real estate strategies to use art as a tool for community building and revitalization. At Columbia University she mastered in Urban Planning where she focused on urban green sustainability, specifically green roofs, and was awarded the William Kinne Fellowship. In addition to serving on Columbia University's Alumni Association, Naomi is also active on the Coro New York program.
PIERPAOLO MARTIRADONNA
Founder, Sinfonia Group
Pierpaolo, a native-born Italian, has vast experience in architecture, project management, construction administration and client representation over the past ten years in New York. His past projects include One Madison Park and the award winning Oval Amenities for Stuyvesant Town. Pierpaolo is currently an adjunct professor at the Parsons School of Design where he teaches interior design studio.
JOSEPH PETERS
Currently, Mr. Peters is responsible for managing horizontal and vertical development projects at Universal Paragon Corp. His portfolio consists of master planned projects of 14M sq ft across 700 acres. His competencies draw from extensive experience in financial underwriting, urban planning, brownfield redevelopment, concept development, market analysis, and construction management. Joe’s list of completed projects include transit-oriented, adaptive re-use, public open space, and sustainable buildings. An active member of the Urban Land Institute, Mr. Peters holds a Masters of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University and resides in San Francisco, CA.
GUSTAVO BERENBLUM, AIA
Principal, Berenblum Busch Architecture
Gustavo Berenblum is a Principal at Berenblum Busch Architecture, a design firm based in Miami focusing on high-quality architecture. Mr. Berenblum is a graduate from Columbia University and a nationally recognized architect leader in his field, with more than 20 years of experience in education, port, corporate, hospitality and residential projects worldwide. He has won numerous awards and his projects published extensively.
HEIDI BLAU
Partner, FXFOWLE
Heidi Blau focuses her architectural passion on making cultural icons relevant. Through transformations of space and counterpoints of contemporary design, she creates new learning communities for students of all ages.
LORI APFEL CARDELI, AIA, NCARB
Architect at Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS LLP
Mrs. Cardeli recently relocated to Maryland from New York and has experience in sustainable learning environments, high-end homes, and multi-family residential projects. She received a B.S. in Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis (2004) and an M.Arch from Columbia University, GSAPP (2007), where she serves as an inaugural member of the GSAPP Alumni Association Board and Co-Chair of its Alumni/Student + Careers Committee. As an active member of the AIA, she is a two-time presenter at National Convention and a participant in YAF Summit20.
JONIE FU
Director of Urban Design, AECOM New York
Since graduating GSAPP, Jonie has been practicing architecture with a focus in urban design. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.
Architect; President, Fundación de la Memoria Urbana
Hannia studied Architecture at the FAU Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas and Urban Design at GSAPP Columbia University in New York City. A writer, curator and architecture and city critic, she is also the founder and Vice president of the Venezuelan Chapter of Docomomo. She has worked as Curator of Gio Ponti's Villa Planchart for many years, and is author of the books The ITALIAS of Caracas (2012), El Cerrito: Gio Ponti's masterpiece in Caracas (2009) and Gego, Architect (2007).
Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff, Asset Management, New York City Economic Development Corporation
Tiffany Lau works on asset repositioning, leasing, development, and portfolio monetization projects for the City of New York. Tiffany earned a B.A. in Urban Design and Architecture from New York University, and a M.Sc. in Real Estate Development at Columbia University and is the current Executive Chair of the Urban Land Institute – Young Leaders Group. She also sits on the ULI New York Management Committee, as well as the ULI Women's Leadership Initiative Steering Committee.
Partner, Beyer Blinder Belle
Elizabeth (Liz) Leber, M.Arch ’95, is a Partner at Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners. Her particular expertise is adaptive reuse and planning projects for educational and institutional clients.
Partner, Mitchell/Giurgola Architects, LLP
Carol Loewenson, a partner at Mitchell/Giurgola Arhitects, LLP, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Barnard College and a Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University. Her expertise ranges from highly technical buildings to the complexities of renovations to the intricacies of work in both the private and public sector. Ms. Loewenson's interests include the urban environment, historic preservation, and the development of new structures within both of these contexts.
Professor of Architecture and Urban Design
Adjunct Professor of Landscape Architecture
Adjunct Professor of Social Work
Director of the Center for Environment Education and Design Studies
The University of Washington
With five academic degrees, Sharon has been a professional musician, an artist, and a practicing architect; she is now an architecture educator but works with students in many different disciplines. The author of numerous scholarly and popular publications, including The Paradox of Urban Space (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011), Sharon's interwoven teaching, research, and service seeks to engage students, faculty, and disenfranchised communities in a collaborative transformation of the socio-spatial environment.
Chief Architect, Cloud Communications Software, Columbia GSAPP
Partner, Therrien-Barley
Trained initially as a computer engineer, and later as an architect, Troy has worked as a creative technologist for Bruce Mau Design, as a research assistant in a human-computer interaction laboratory, and as an architect in New York, Paris and London. He is currently Chief Architect, Cloud Communication Software at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, where he received his MArch degree, earning the American Institute of Architects medal, the Goodman scholarship from the Temple Hoyne Buell Center, and the Kinne traveling prize. Also a graduate of the Architectural Association with an MA in Histories and Theories of architecture supported by the J.B.C. Watkins Prize awarded by the Canadian Council for the Arts, as a critic he has been published in Hunch, Volume, San Rocco and other journals, has contributed to books, curated exhibitions at MoMA/P.S.1, the Canadian Centre for Architecture and elsewhere, and lectured publicly at Columbia University. Troy holds a BASc. in computer engineering from the University of British Columbia, where he was an Academic All-Canadian football player and a National Science and Engineering Research Council Scholarship recipient for computational mathematics. He currently sits on the board of the Columbia University GSAPP Alumni Association.
Principal, Stephen Yablon Architect PLLC
Stephen Yablon is founder of Stephen Yablon Architect, a New York City based firm known for contemporary architecture attuned to identity and place. The firm has been extensively recognized for a wide range of projects for institutional, public, and private clients including Columbia University, the City of New York, SONY, and NYU Langone Medical Center.
Principal, RTKL Shanghai
Hisham is an accomplished and well-rounded design professional. He worked at several renowned international design practices leading projects in the US, Asia and the Middle East. Currently Hisham is based in Shanghai, where he is responsible for building and leading RTKL's workplace architecture and interiors practice in Asia. Hisham is a board director of AIA Middle East chapter, and is on the Executive Committee for AIA Shanghai.
Director of Urban Design, AECOM New York
Since graduating GSAPP, Jonie has been practicing architecture with a focus in urban design. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.
HANNIA GÓMEZ
Architect; President, Fundación de la Memoria Urbana
Hannia studied Architecture at the FAU Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas and Urban Design at GSAPP Columbia University in New York City. A writer, curator and architecture and city critic, she is also the founder and Vice president of the Venezuelan Chapter of Docomomo. She has worked as Curator of Gio Ponti's Villa Planchart for many years, and is author of the books The ITALIAS of Caracas (2012), El Cerrito: Gio Ponti's masterpiece in Caracas (2009) and Gego, Architect (2007).
TIFFANY LAU
Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff, Asset Management, New York City Economic Development Corporation
Tiffany Lau works on asset repositioning, leasing, development, and portfolio monetization projects for the City of New York. Tiffany earned a B.A. in Urban Design and Architecture from New York University, and a M.Sc. in Real Estate Development at Columbia University and is the current Executive Chair of the Urban Land Institute – Young Leaders Group. She also sits on the ULI New York Management Committee, as well as the ULI Women's Leadership Initiative Steering Committee.
ELIZABETH LEBER
Partner, Beyer Blinder Belle
Elizabeth (Liz) Leber, M.Arch ’95, is a Partner at Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners. Her particular expertise is adaptive reuse and planning projects for educational and institutional clients.
CAROL LOEWENSON, AIA
Partner, Mitchell/Giurgola Architects, LLP
Carol Loewenson, a partner at Mitchell/Giurgola Arhitects, LLP, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Barnard College and a Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University. Her expertise ranges from highly technical buildings to the complexities of renovations to the intricacies of work in both the private and public sector. Ms. Loewenson's interests include the urban environment, historic preservation, and the development of new structures within both of these contexts.
DR. SHARON E. SUTTON, FAIA
Professor of Architecture and Urban Design
Adjunct Professor of Landscape Architecture
Adjunct Professor of Social Work
Director of the Center for Environment Education and Design Studies
The University of Washington
With five academic degrees, Sharon has been a professional musician, an artist, and a practicing architect; she is now an architecture educator but works with students in many different disciplines. The author of numerous scholarly and popular publications, including The Paradox of Urban Space (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011), Sharon's interwoven teaching, research, and service seeks to engage students, faculty, and disenfranchised communities in a collaborative transformation of the socio-spatial environment.
TROY CONRAD THERRIEN
Chief Architect, Cloud Communications Software, Columbia GSAPP
Partner, Therrien-Barley
Trained initially as a computer engineer, and later as an architect, Troy has worked as a creative technologist for Bruce Mau Design, as a research assistant in a human-computer interaction laboratory, and as an architect in New York, Paris and London. He is currently Chief Architect, Cloud Communication Software at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, where he received his MArch degree, earning the American Institute of Architects medal, the Goodman scholarship from the Temple Hoyne Buell Center, and the Kinne traveling prize. Also a graduate of the Architectural Association with an MA in Histories and Theories of architecture supported by the J.B.C. Watkins Prize awarded by the Canadian Council for the Arts, as a critic he has been published in Hunch, Volume, San Rocco and other journals, has contributed to books, curated exhibitions at MoMA/P.S.1, the Canadian Centre for Architecture and elsewhere, and lectured publicly at Columbia University. Troy holds a BASc. in computer engineering from the University of British Columbia, where he was an Academic All-Canadian football player and a National Science and Engineering Research Council Scholarship recipient for computational mathematics. He currently sits on the board of the Columbia University GSAPP Alumni Association.
STEPHEN YABLON, AIA, LEED AP
Principal, Stephen Yablon Architect PLLC
Stephen Yablon is founder of Stephen Yablon Architect, a New York City based firm known for contemporary architecture attuned to identity and place. The firm has been extensively recognized for a wide range of projects for institutional, public, and private clients including Columbia University, the City of New York, SONY, and NYU Langone Medical Center.
HISHAM YOUSSEF, AIA M Arch 89
Principal, RTKL Shanghai
Hisham is an accomplished and well-rounded design professional. He worked at several renowned international design practices leading projects in the US, Asia and the Middle East. Currently Hisham is based in Shanghai, where he is responsible for building and leading RTKL's workplace architecture and interiors practice in Asia. Hisham is a board director of AIA Middle East chapter, and is on the Executive Committee for AIA Shanghai.
Columbia MS.RED Alumni Council
MISSION STATEMENT:
The Columbia RED Alumni Association, under the umbrella of the Columbia GSAPP Alumni Association, serves as a vital link between the Real Estate Development Program alumni, real estate professionals and organizations, current students, and the alumni of other GSAPP programs. The Association has a three-part mission:
The Columbia RED Alumni Association, under the umbrella of the Columbia GSAPP Alumni Association, serves as a vital link between the Real Estate Development Program alumni, real estate professionals and organizations, current students, and the alumni of other GSAPP programs. The Association has a three-part mission:
- To provide a forum in which alumni and affiliates can network and interact for business, social, employment and educational opportunities.
- To provide support and guidance to the Masters in Real Estate Development Program in order to promote its image and standing within the academic and business communities.
- To serve as an important fundraising vehicle to support the Masters in Real Estate Development Program.
ERIK J. HOEKSTRA
Principal, Crombury Properties
Erik is an independent real estate developer and investor based in Burlington, Vermont. The majority of his projects involve multifamily rentals, but he has a wide variety of experience including office, industrial, retail, residential condominiums, and hotels.
ADAM C. AASEN
Principal, Asilomar Co. LLC
Adam C. Aasen is a Principal in a California-based real estate private equity firm that targets value-add and opportunistic commercial and residential investment and development opportunities throughout the United States.
DEBBIE BHATT
The Hudson Companies, Senior Project Manager
Debbie Bhatt has been working in real estate development and consulting since 2001. Prior to joining The Hudson Companies, Debbie was a Project Manager at Forest City Ratner Companies and a consultant at HR&A Advisors, and a Project Manager at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation at Development. She completed her undergraduate studies at Brown University.
JOSE CRUZ
Senior Managing Director, HFF, LP (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler)
Mr. Cruz is a Senior Managing Director in the New Jersey office of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler) with over 21 years of experience in commercial real estate. He specializes in investment sales in New Jersey, New York State and Connecticut. Over the course of his career, Mr. Cruz has been involved in over $18.4 billion of office, industrial, retail, multi-housing and land sales.
JIM GILLESPIE
Managing Director, Centerline Capital Group
Mr. Gillespie is responsible for leading the production efforts and expansion of Centerline’s affordable housing debt platform. Mr. Gillespie has more than 17 years of experience in the development, acquisition and finance of multifamily housing.
MONIKA MAJEWSKA
Senior Project Manager, Advance Realty
Monika Majewska, who joined Advance Realty in 2004, is Senior Project Manager for the Development Divison. In this role, she is responsible for financial analysis and underwriting of the Company’s commercial, residential and mixed-use development projects. Additionally she manages budgeting, forecasting and project cash flows, as well as coordinating land entitlements for the New Jersey Region’s development projects.
JEN MILBURN
Project Manager, Hudson Pacific Properties
Jen Milburn is a Project Manager at Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. based in Hollywood California. HPP is a publicly traded commercial REIT focused on creative and entertainment real estate, as well as Class A office. Jen oversees all tenant fit-out and capital improvement projects in the Souther California portfolio.