(New Haven, CT, January 7, 2020) The Connecticut Architecture Foundation announces the appointment of new officers and members of its Board of Directors for 2020. The Foundation was established in 1978 by the Connecticut Society of Architects (now the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Connecticut) as an independent 501c3 organization to raise and distribute funds to raise public awareness of, and expectations for, architecture and the built environment. Over the last forty (plus) years more than $500,000 in scholarships have been awarded to recipients. It is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of architects and allied professionals.
Taking the helm as the 2020 Officers:
Stephanie Degen-Monroe, AIA, David Thompson Architects, New Haven, President
Stephanie, has practiced as an architect in Connecticut, New Mexico and California. Her experience has involved large scale civic work as well as small institutional projects. A licensed architect in Connecticut, Ms. Degen-Monroe has worked as Project Architect for public schools in Meriden, Bridgeport and Norwich and has taught at the University of Hartford. She serves as Senior Associate working on projects at the Yale School of Medicine and Yale University. She has served as President of the Board of the Essex Library Association and is a Past President of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
Robert E. Swain, Jr., AIA LEED AP, Amenta Emma Architects, Hartford, Vice President
Robert serves as Principal-in-Charge for the firm’s Academic Studio and Principal for the firm’s major Civic work. With experience on major academic and student life buildings for multiple private and public campuses throughout the region, Robert’s primary focus is on the programming, planning and architectural development of higher education and secondary school projects. Internally, Robert serves as Principal-in-Charge of Finance and Operations. Robert has both lectured and participated in national and regional academic conferences for the Society of College and University Planning, NACUBO and APPA. He has served as a Teaching Assistant and a regular guest architectural juror.
Nancy B. Clayton, AIA LEED GA, Pickard Chilton, New Haven, Secretary
Ms. Clayton, who joined Pickard Chilton in 2002, has more than 30 years of design experience on a broad range of corporate, academic, and cultural projects. She has served as Design Director for several significant corporate high rise and campus projects including the 1,100,000-square-foot Northwestern Mutual Headquarters and Commons in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is currently Pickard Chilton’s Associate-in-charge of the Barack H. Obama Magnet University School, a New Haven Public School opening this month on the campus of SCSU, designed in conjunction with JCJ Architecture. In 2017, Ms. Clayton was the recipient of the Professional Women in Construction Connecticut Chapter’s “Woman of Achievement” award. It is given annually to a strong role model with at least 15 years of experience in the industry, one who has demonstrably achieved excellence in her field and is dedicated to the advancement of women in the AEC field.
John P. Franzen, FAIA, J. P. Franzen Associates Architects, P.C., Fairfield, Treasurer
Jack Franzen brings over 30 years of professional expertise. A graduate of Cornell University with a BArch and MArch, Franzen taught the first-year design studio and intro summer session after an internship with the New York State Historic Trust. He then joined Victor Christ Janer Associates in New Canaan before starting his own firm. As principal at J.P. Franzen Associates, he practices in Residential, Commercial and Institutional Architecture as well as Historic Preservation. He was awarded an Upjohn Fellowship in 2000, became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2001, and serves on design juries throughout the country in addition to community and regional boards and commissions.
Joining the 2020 Board of Directors are Angela Cahill, AIA, and Ilona Prosol, P.E.
Angela Cahill, AIA, QA+M Architects, Farmington
Angela Cahill has a distinguished 20-year career in architecture, and has worked on dozens of large, complex projects. For many years, Angela served as an Adjunct Professor and is currently a Visiting Critic of Architectural Design at the University of Hartford. In addition, she has personally mentored dozens of students and has served on the ACE Mentoring Program’s Advisory Board where she participated in the scholarship program amongst others. In 2017, Governor Dannel Malloy appointed Angela to the State of Connecticut Architectural Licensing Board.
Ilona Prosol, P.E., LEED BD+C, BVH Integrated Services, P.C, Bloomfield
Ilona Prosol, a Vice President, serves as a team leader at BVH Integrated Services. With 28 years of experience at BVH, her portfolio includes higher education buildings, museums, hospitality projects, schools, courthouses. Focusing on sustainability, recent notable projects include John G. Olver Design Building at University of Massachusetts Amherst and Sandy Hook Elementary School. Ilona holds LEED AP BD+C certification and Professional Engineering licenses in the States of Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York and serves as a member on the CTGBC Board.
Lauren Braren, AIA, JCJ Architecture, Tanya Cutolo, AIA, LEED AP, S/L/A/M Collaborative & Construction Services , Michael J. Crosbie, FAIA, University of Hartford, George Fellner, AIA, Fellner Architects, LLC, Robert Golde, FASLA, Towers|Golde LLC, Glenn R. Gollenberg, AIA, S/L/A/M Collaborative & Construction Services, Elizabeth (Tina) Greco, AIA, Perkins Eastman, Thomas M. Haskell, AIA, University of Connecticut, George E. McGoldrick, AIA, George E. McGoldrick, AIA, LLC, Peter J. Newman, Associate AIA, Newman Architects. Arthur L. Sanders, AIA, Hoffmann Architects, and Kermit D. Thompson, FAIA, DAS, State of Connecticut will continue to fulfill their term as Directors of the Board. Jay M. Brotman, AIA, Svigals + Partners, remains on the board as Past President.
About Connecticut Architecture Foundation:
The Connecticut Architecture Foundation is committed to enhancing and promoting the quality of the state’s built-environment. The Foundation encourages public understanding and community involvement in the design and building processes which create our physical surroundings. It also supports the profession of architecture and allied arts and services. To accomplish these goals, the Foundation sponsors scholarships, publications, exhibitions and other activities, which contribute to an awareness of our architectural heritage and the direction of our future development.
Please visit the Connecticut Architecture Foundation at www.cafct.org