Reflecting continued growth and a commitment to developing leadership skills among senior designers, nationally renowned architecture, art and advisory firm Svigals + Partners has announced the elevation of six staff members to the position of Associate. According to the firm’s partners, the decision represents the latest step in an evolution in the Svigals + Partners’ structure, one that will foster the firm’s ability to deliver superior client service and design innovation into the future.

Promoted in December 2019, new Associates include architects Katelyn Chapin, AIA, Jeremy Jamilkowski, AIA, Brian Stancavage, AIA, and Omarys Vasquez, AIA, LEED AP, as well as interior designer Katherine Berger, NCIDQ, IIDA, WELL AP, and project designer Joseph Rufrano, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP. They join project designer Alana Konefal, Assoc. AIA, who was elevated to Associate in 2018.

“This decision by the partners and principals to elevate key team members to the Associate level is a recognition of their critical contributions to our success and continued growth,” says Jay Brotman, AIA, managing partner. “But it’s also more than that: By identifying and investing in the next generation of firm leadership, we are re-committing ourselves to the Svigals + Partners vision of a world of prosperous, compassionate communities into the next generation.”

The newly named Associates represent both the core principles of the firm as well as the diverse range of talent, education, experience and skills the team brings to bear on each project.

Katelyn Chapin is the 2020-21 Community Director for the prestigious AIA-National Young Architects Forum, and received Emerging Architect honors in 2014 from AIA-CT. With a B.S. and a Masters’ of Architecture from Roger Williams University, her invaluable contributions to strategic planning, programming, and design unfolds creative opportunities in each of her K-12, higher education, and corporate projects. Chapin was a key team member for the Sandy Hook School project working directly with the client community, and is currently the project architect on the Bergami Center for Science, Technology and Innovation at the University of New Haven.

Jeremy Jamilkowski minored in sculpture while earning his B.Arch. from Roger Williams University, making him an ideal collaborator for a firm known for architecturally integrated art. Additionally, he is an adept Architect who creates thoughtful design solutions while ensuring his projects run smoothly and deliver on promised value to the client. His portfolio of recent work includes the Bergami Center for Science, Technology and Innovation at the University of New Haven, as well as the Health & Human Services building for Southern Connecticut State University. Jamilkowski is also passionate about mentorship, and was recently nominated for national Outstanding Mentor honors by the Connecticut affiliate of ACE.

Brian Stancavage brings a thorough understanding of building information technology (BIM) to the table, as well as a passion for diving into the details. He holds a B.S. and a Masters’ of Architecture, both from the University of Hartford. Just ten years since completing his graduate work, Stancavage’s portfolio boasts design contributions to six K-12 schools, as well as the recently completed Yale Child Study Center, an innovative clinical and research facility for children’s behavioral health. Svigals + Partners’ recently promoted Associates (from left): Joseph Rufrano, Brian Stancavage, Omarys Vasquez, Jeremy Jamilkowski, Katherine Berger, Katelyn Chapin.

Omarys Vasquez facilitates coordination and communication among collaborators and project stakeholders, with client intent as the driver. A graduate of the Pratt Institute (B.Arch.), her innovative design work has most recently helped to produce the recent UConn Health Center renovation, the Strategic Business Office for Yale-New Haven Health, and Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut. Devoted to mentorship and peer support, Vasquez is also a member of the AIA-CT Women in Architecture Committee and a founding member of the soon-to-be-formed Connecticut chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects. (NOMA)

Katherine Berger’s work spans across several market sectors as a lead interior designer and project manager. A WELL-accredited professional and a Bachelor of Fine Arts recipient from Suffolk University, Berger’s focus for each project is on the occupants, designing spaces that will enhance user’s experience and well-being, all while integrating the interior design with the overall project goals. Recent projects for the firm include corporate offices for Technolutions and Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, and the new simulation lab and classroom space for Yale School of Nursing.

Joseph Rufrano is a LEED-accredited professional earning his B.Arch. from the New York Institute of Technology. He brings more than two decades of experience to his work, primarily in the design of laboratory and research science spaces, including renovations, infrastructure upgrades and animal habitat facilities. Rufrano’s leadership in construction administration and meticulous design and construction documents on projects such as UCONN’s Beach Hall renovation and multiple Yale aquatics renovations have made him an indispensable team member.