Corporate People

Architecture Firm Expands Offices

Boston – SGA, a Boston and New York City-based national award-winning architecture, interior design, planning, branded environments and virtual design and construction practice, announced that it has expanded its Boston and New York City offices and has hired eight architects and interior designers.

In addition, veteran architect Joe Mamayek, AIA, LEED AP joined the firm as architectural principal in late 2020 to focus on SGA’s expanding Life Science facilities design and planning group.

Al Spagnolo

SGA’s new batch of hires include Tony Morra, AIA, LEED AP, senior project manager; Marty McCammon, project manager; Irene Huang, LEED AP BD+C, project architect; Chris Patneau, AIA, NCARB, project architect; Margaret Okonkwo, job captain; Grant Griffith, NCARB, CPHC, MCPPO, job captain; Rebecca Vooys, interior designer; and Jillian Ahern, junior designer.

“It has always been a key mission at SGA to attract the best talent in the industry. The new additions to our growing team allow us to maintain our exceptional service level across the life sciences, academic, urban and mixed-use markets,” said Al Spagnolo, AIA, NCARB, president and founding partner at SGA.

Morra, who has 35 years of experience in architecture, develops solutions and options that lead to successful completions and improve sustainability. Another important component of his role is mentoring. Before joining SGA, Morra served as senior project manager at Tsoi Kobus Design, where he oversaw a number of healthcare and life science commissions.

Throughout his 16-year career, McCammon has specialized in life science. McCammon focuses on translating conceptual designs into successful facilities and collaborating with engineers to ensure that the architecture blends harmoniously with a building’s infrastructure and systems.

Huang has been in the field of architecture for more than 30 years. She focuses on addressing challenges of complex building types, logistics, phasing, and master-planning. In her role at SGA, which she joined in November 2020, Huang works on a variety of large-scale commissions across several industries, including life sciences.

Patneau combines a strong technical background in architecture with expertise in life sciences and lab planning. Over the course of his 14-year career, he has designed a wide range of R&D facilities for universities, developers, and pharmaceutical companies. In his new role, he focuses on core and shell commissions along with lab fit-outs, drawing on his previous experience at FLAD Architects in San Francisco and at HOK in San Francisco and New York City.

Okonkwo’s experience across a variety of sectors is ideal for her role at SGA, which she joined last month. As job captain, she works on a wide range of projects, all at different stages, for clients in several industries. Her job includes contributing to feasibility studies, coordinating drawings with consultants, and planning tenant fit-outs.

Griffith plays a critical role in setting objectives and helping teams meet them. On a daily basis, he collaborates with project architects and project managers to assess progress on commissions, develop strategies, and identify deliverables. He also devotes time to production, providing drawings, floor plans, and site plans. A Certified Passive House Consultant, Griffith is a strong advocate of energy efficiency.

Vooys specializes in corporate interiors and lab design. Her role at SGA encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including design development, test-fitting, construction documentation, and selection of finishes.

Ahern assists in all stages of the design process, from conceptual planning to construction administration at SGA. Her responsibilities include research, drawings, and specification of finishes, lighting, and furniture, all of which support successful project outcomes. The variety of her day-to-day tasks allows her to pursue her many professional passions: urbanism, adaptive reuse, brick detailing, and sustainability, to name a few.