Adan Aspericueta
Designer
Adan Aspericueta
Designer
A proud Bay Area native, Adan was born and raised in San Jose. The time he spent growing up watching his father—a longtime construction worker—build and maintain their family home inspired Adan to pursue a career that involved shaping the built environment.
Adan graduated from the University of San Francisco, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture & Community Design with minors in Architectural Engineering & Latin American Studies.
His prior professional experience includes a range of multi-family residential, mixed-use development, affordable housing, and airport tenant improvement projects.
Outside the office, Adan’s hobbies include shooting black-and-white photography on his 35 mm camera, traveling, and playing basketball.
Alex Croft
Designer
Alex Croft
Designer
A native of the Bay Area, Alex is interested in both the region’s rich history and its future as San Francisco continues to grow and evolve. She brings to WDA a collaborative attitude and an eagerness to learn from more experienced design professionals.
Previously, she worked at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, where she developed her familiarity with the world of contemporary and modern art. She gravitated to architecture because she’s most fulfilled by work with potential for cultural impact and endurance beyond her immediate involvement.
Alex recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from UC Berkeley, where she also minored in Art History. She studied abroad in Florence, Italy, taking classes taught on-site in art and architectural history at the Florence University of the Arts. The historic sites she’s studied in her travels have both enhanced her design education and inspired her own projects. In her spare time, Alex enjoys reading, spin classes, visiting San Francisco’s museums, and spending time with friends
Anastasia Bespalova
Project Manager
Anastasia Bespalova
Project Manager
In her work, Anastasia strives for clean simplicity and a strong connection to the project’s site. Whether coordinating layers of project requirements or resolving small details, she aspires to deliver the highest quality in everything she does.
Anastasia began her journey in architecture in Moscow, Russia, where she received her bachelor’s degree.
For a decade, she worked at Dumican Mosey Architects and Mark English Architects, honing her experience in designing high-end single-family residences and navigating the projects through San Francisco Planning and Building Departments.
Anastasia spends her time outside the office enjoying the outdoors with her husband and son, practicing yoga and capoeira, and creating whimsical felted wool sculptures.
Andres Johnson
Project Manager
Andres Johnson
Project Manager
Andres Johnson started his architectural career in Valparaiso, Chile, working on multi-family residential projects in the coastal resort of Vina del Mar. To build on this initial professional experience, he left Chile to pursue a Master of Architecture at Tulane University.
Andres spent eight years in New Orleans as part of the design community helping the city rebuild from the devastation following Hurricane Katrina. While there, he developed an expertise in commercial architecture, designing several administrative buildings.
After frequent travels to the West Coast, Andres relocated to Seattle to apply his skills to large-scale corporate campuses. He managed several projects and earned a Washington architectural license before moving to San Francisco to join WDA. As a WDA Project Manager, Andres is excited to contribute his design ideas and commercial expertise to our growing firm.
When not at work, Andres seeks to satisfy his curiosity by exploring new realms—including visual art, music, and travel.
Ariane Lebrilla
Job Captain
Ariane Lebrilla
Job Captain
Ariane is a Los Angeles native who graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a Bachelor of Architecture. After graduating from college, Ariane has worked on large-scale corporate, civic, and education projects—from tenant improvement to repositioning projects to ground-up office buildings in Orange County. Ariane is passionate about solving problems through design that balances form, function, and performance.
When not studying for the AREs, Ariane spends as much time as possible traveling to new cities, exploring museums, and being a foodie. In her spare time, Ariane loves to watch sports and enjoys cooking as a means to unwind.
Although Ariane looks forward to enjoying the Bay Area lifestyle by working and living in San Francisco, she will continue to root for her Los Angeles teams. Go Lakers!
Brenna Daugherty
Office/Marketing Assistant
Brenna Daugherty
Office/Marketing Assistant
Brenna brings both an artistic and administrative background to her position as the Administrative/Marketing Assistant at WDA.
She uses attention to detail and organizational skills to help keep the office running smoothly, and employs her creativity within marketing initiatives—from executing social media campaigns to helping with event planning and graphic design-related projects.
Brenna, a Sonoma County native, received her Bachelor of Arts in Art Practice with a focus on painting from UC Berkeley. In addition to prior administrative and marketing experience working at the City of Santa Rosa and SF Media Co., she spent a year as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. Now, she enjoys combining her organizational and communication skills with her arts training within the driven, creative environment at WDA.
She spends much of her free time drawing, painting, and exploring her colorful neighborhood, North Beach.
Chris Telles
Associate, Project Manager
Chris Telles
Associate, Project Manager
Chris brings strong problem solving and management skills to WDA’s retail, restaurant, and commercial practices. He works closely with our Principals and Project Managers to efficiently execute the design intent. From an early age, Chris has been fascinated by building and the process of design; he’s continually developing his creativity through a combination of experimentation and observation.
Although born in the Bay Area, Chris primarily grew up in Phoenix before heading south to Tucson to earn his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Arizona.
Having spent most of his life in the dry desert, Chris is anxious to explore his new home. He enjoys being adventurous–hiking, traveling, playing sports, and looks forward to trying Bay Area activities not available in Arizona, such as sailing or surfing. Other interests include golfing, cooking, and cheering on his Arizona Wildcats.
Clair Ryu
Designer
Clair Ryu
Designer
A Bay Area native, Clair completed her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California. Raised in a household that values the art of handcrafting, she is very passionate about creating a sense of place and one’s identity within it.
During her time at USC, Clair studied abroad in Italy and learned to see how design, from objects to space making, is a lived-in experience. Her studies in Italy influenced her views on the role of architecture and design in our everyday lives.
Outside of work, Clair enjoys knitting and exploring cities on foot.
David K. Plotkin
Principal - Commercial
David K. Plotkin
Principal - Commercial
David brings to WDA his expertise in sustainable, forward-thinking architecture. As a leader in our commercial practice area, David adeptly formulates responsible modern design solutions. He thrives on negotiating challenges arising from codes, budgets, or environments, and prefers to practice conservation by blending old and new in existing buildings.
Most recently, David founded and operated his own Tucson, Arizona firm, where he concentrated on envisioning and implementing commercial and residential projects built with environmentally responsible practices.
A California and Arizona Registered Architect and a LEED Accredited Professional, David has been practicing and researching sustainable architecture since earning his Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Cincinnati. He has previously served as a Board Member for the U. S. Green Building Council, Southern Arizona Branch. His passion for sustainable design comes from a sense of personal responsibility which he believes should be inherent in contemporary architecture. David’s family shares his enthusiasm for the environment, and together they enjoy exploring the Bay Area’s inspiring natural landscapes.
Dillon Parker
Associate, Senior Project Architect
Dillon Parker
Associate, Senior Project Architect
In his over 17 years of professional experience, Dillon’s keenest interests have been the thoughtful development of design detailing and the intense collaborative coordination of building systems with engineers, general contractors, and other associated design professionals. He’s been party to all phases of design and construction in a variety of sectors, including Commercial TI, Resort Hospitality, Multi-Family Residential, and Skilled Nursing Facilities.
Prior to joining WDA, Dillon managed, designed, and detailed a variety of projects for Bull Stockwell Allen, including snow country projects in Vermont, Colorado and California, hotel projects on the California coast and central valley, and health care projects in Massachusetts, Georgia, Virginia, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Earlier in his career he designed, detailed, and observed construction of projects while at ADD Inc.
A California licensed Architect since 2009, Dillon received his Master of Architecture from University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and his Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University, participating as an undergraduate in Columbia University’s “Shape of Two Cities – New York / Paris” Architecture program. Outside of the office Dillon is an avid road cyclist who typically logs five to eight thousand miles per year on his bike, and has completed dozens of century touring rides.
Dustin Foster
Project Manager
Dustin Foster
Project Manager
Dustin has cultivated a passion for the built environment through a variety of experiences. A summer as a teenager on a job site provided his introduction to construction. Later, an extended visit exploring the architecture of Spain and Italy became the springboard for his academic pursuits.
Dustin received his BA in Architecture with a focus in structural engineering and urban studies from UC Berkeley. While pursuing his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Oregon, Dustin focused on sustainable design and urban planning and spent the summer between semesters developing valuable building experience by working in construction.
A native Californian, Dustin returned home to the Bay Area and spent several years working for Backen Gillam Kroeger Architects on luxury estates.
Dustin believes in sharing his professional experience to better his community and inspire the next generation. In the fall of 2017 he completed a 10-week residency with Youth in Arts San Rafael’s Architects in Schools program. Dustin taught 4th graders design thinking as a method to approach the challenges of climate change, and demonstrated how to organize and present the culminating project—the students’ proposed redesign of their campus in response to sea level rise.
When he’s not practicing architecture or teaching, Dustin spends time with friends and family at the beach, mountains or skatepark in pursuit of adventure and laughter.
Eunice Lin
Project Manager
Eunice Lin
Project Manager
Eunice brings a strong interest in creating meaningful architecture strongly tied to its site. This perspective stems from her love of learning about the San Francisco Bay Area’s history and cultures and her deep appreciation of its beauty. She is a Bay Area native and has spent most of her life here. Her design interests are supported by her careful attention to detail and coordination, and being a natural born problem solver.
She has a long background in residential projects and has worked on a variety of projects throughout the SF bay area, from Carmel to San Francisco to the Napa/Sonoma Wine country regions. Prior to joining WDA, she worked at BAR Architects and Backen Gillam Kroeger Architects honing her skills on large estate and winery projects.
Eunice received her BA degree in Architecture from University of California, Berkeley, and a Masters in Architecture from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While at MIT, she pursued her interests in studying the connections between architecture, history and culture with summer studies at the L’Ecole des Beaux Arts program at Fontainebleau, and classes focused on travel to case studies in Italy, Egypt, and Costa Rica. She is a licensed architect in the state of California, and a LEED-accredited professional.
Outside of the office, Eunice enjoys hiking, skiing, photography, and travel. Together with her husband she can also be found exploring the area’s amazing restaurant scene and the Bay Area’s many trails with their adorable dog.
Farhaan Khan
Designer
Farhaan Khan
Designer
Farhaan Khan was raised in San Jose, California and considers himself a Bay Area native. From childhood he spent most of his time engaged in hands-on art and engineering projects, which paved the path for his future endeavors in architecture.
A graduate of the University of Arizona, Farhaan earned a Bachelor of Architecture in May 2018. As part of his degree he participated in a low-income housing design-build project where he actively learned about all stages of building, from concept to fruition. Working so closely on this meaningful project helped Farhaan cultivate a deeper understanding of what architecture is and can be.
After graduation, Farhaan further enhanced his studies of architecture and design by traveling to France, Italy, and Spain. The buildings he visited in person deepened his understanding of time, place, and an individual’s personal experience within architecture.
Farhaan is a self-motivated individual with experience working collaboratively in a professional environment. He is skilled at communicating and developing ideas from start to finish. At WDA, he hopes to develop a thorough knowledge of the architectural process from beginning to end. He is an excellent team player with a strong, but flexible, work ethic.
In his free time, Farhaan likes to surf, weight lift, and work with his hands.
Garrett Wehan
Job Captain
Garrett Wehan
Job Captain
Garrett’s childhood love of Legos drew him to explore the possibilities of the world of architecture and design from an early age. A native of Southern California, he graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2012 with a Bachelor of Architecture. After college, Garrett refined his professional skills at McClean Design in Orange County, where he worked on high-end custom modern residences.
At WDA, Garrett’s focus includes harmonizing the relationship between indoor and outside and designing architectural solutions that highlight the amazing California climate. He loves the world of residential architecture and the satisfaction that can be gained by working collaboratively with clients to help them build their dream homes.
Outside the office, Garrett’s life tends to revolve around rooting for his favorite sports teams. If he isn’t watching one of them, he’s most likely out on the golf course or the soccer field trying to hone those skills. After living in southern California his whole life, he is looking forward to exploring all that the San Francisco Bay Area has to offer.
Giorgia Sala White
Project Manager
Glorimar Irizarry Delgado
Job Captain
Glorimar Irizarry Delgado
Job Captain
For Glorimar Irizarry Delgado, architecture is both an art and a science; it is the balanced integration of sensible imagery with a systematic and structured understanding of the physical and natural world.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Glorimar received a Bachelor of Architecture from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. During her architectural studies, coursework abroad in Chile and Spain furthered her delight in the richness of learning from different cultures. Before she was called to a career in architecture, Glorimar also earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with studies in film. She now approaches her design work with an eye towards ways of integrating biology and architecture.
Glorimar is also passionate about the possibilities for outdoor cinema as a means of building community in cities. In Puerto Rico, she founded and ran a non-profit, Cine Urbano, which promoted the use of urban public space in while educating about the art of film.
Glorimar was drawn to WDA’s aesthetic of innovative, yet down to earth, design, and its culture of participating in its surrounding community and fostering a team-oriented work environment. An eager learner new to the city of San Francisco, she looks forward to discovering everything about the Bay Area. A student of the world, Glorimar enjoys traveling and exploring other cultures. Her hobbies include: dancing, yoga, painting and going to museums.
Gustavo Bermudez
Job Captain
Gustavo Bermudez
Job Captain
Gustavo Bermudez earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Born in the historical city of Guanajuato, Mexico, and later raised in California, he credits his bi-cultural upbringing as the source for his keen interest in respectfully fusing innovative design with historical architecture. While earning his degree, Gustavo worked on designing and building several diverse, innovative projects ranging from portable emergency shelters to light fixtures fabricated from recycled water bottles. Gustavo was a recipient of the “Best in Show” award for his thesis “Emerging Gridiron”, which focused on providing an architectural solution to the socio-economic impact of sport arenas in disuse and dilapidation.
After graduation, Gustavo began his professional career with Square Three Design Studios in Palo Alto, working on several multimillion-dollar single family homes throughout the Silicon Valley. In 2013 he joined San Francisco’s Y.A.
Gustavo was attracted to WDA’s diverse portfolio of projects and the positive core values that the office employs, such as participating in charitable events and giving back to the community through design. In his spare time, in addition to pursing his professional licensure, Gustavo also enjoys playing soccer, cooking, co-designing and fabricating furniture with his wife, and traveling to tournaments across North America as a competitive Pokémon player while sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm as a mentor/coach to local children who want to learn to play the Pokémon card game.
Haruka Enokido
Intern
Haruka Enokido
Intern
Haruka was born in England, and during moves with her family between cities in the U.S. and Japan, she experienced ways spaces can help create a sense of identity and a sense of belonging.
She is currently studying architecture at UC Berkeley and will earn a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture in May 2020. Her studies at UC Berkeley have encouraged her to see architecture as a tool for social change.
When she witnessed the trauma in Sendai following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Haruka began to understand the potential for living spaces to regenerate a community. Since then she’s participated in a program focused on post-earthquake regeneration efforts in Ecuador, where she explored how temporary housing could be better designed and built for support following natural disasters. Seeing the connection between architecture and regeneration has inspired Haruka’s larger goal: to create spaces that bring people together and engender a sense of belonging, community, and meaningful social interaction.
Jim Westover
Partner & Principal - Residential
Jim Westover
Partner & Principal - Residential
As a Partner and Principal, Jim provides direct oversight of all of WDA’s residential projects, preparing a strategy to achieve each of our client’s unique goals, and personally manages select high-end residential projects. He meets weekly with the firm’s project managers to review milestones, discuss technical issues and provide quality control for completed drawings.
With a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley, Jim is a California state licensed architect, a LEED accredited professional, and has over 30 years of experience in architecture and interiors.
Prior to joining WDA, Jim had his own practice focusing on residential projects, preceded by 17 years as an associate and senior project manager at FME Architecture + Design in San Francisco, where he managed a variety of projects including corporate campuses, churches, schools, gymnasiums and private residences. For seven years, he served as the pro bono Project Architect for the renovation of San Francisco’s Lincoln Park Steps.
Jonathan Tsurui
Associate Principal - Retail
Jonathan Tsurui
Associate Principal - Retail
Jonathan works closely with William Duff to manage the retail practice. Jonathan’s project experience ranges from concept and original one-off designs to well-established brands, where strict standards must be followed.
Jonathan completed his Bachelor of Architecture with a Minor in Sustainable Environments from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. His interests include golf, foosball, and maintaining his humidor.
Karen Kwong
Project Architect
Karen Kwong
Project Architect
A San Francisco native, Karen has over 20+ years of experience working on high-end, custom residential projects in the Bay Area. After working with millworkers at a local mill shop for nearly 3 years, she also has a deep appreciation for and unique experience in the craft of woodworking.
For Karen, participating in the creative process on a daily basis is a career blessing, and finds being part of a supportive team environment and learning something new daily to be the most rewarding.
She is a proud graduate of San Francisco public schools and the University of California, Berkeley. And while she enjoys all sports, she counts the days until football season begins to cheer on her local team – go Niners! A nature lover and hiker, she often escapes the city, civilization and technology with the occasional outdoor excursion. If she isn’t spinning her Big Band or Jazz records from a bygone era, you might find her with a good book beneath a shady tree.
Katerina Leung
Designer
Katerina Leung
Designer
Katerina, grew up in the South Bay and moved to San Francisco for its vibrant city life. Her professional experience designing large-scale high-end commercial projects helped refine her skills involving precision and close coordination. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Time spent getting to know people—whether catching up at coffee shops or trying out new restaurants—has fueled Katerina’s desire to design and shape environments in which relationships are built. During her free time you can find her exploring the city, traveling, making music on the piano, or designing cards.
Maryam Nassajian
Designer
Maryam Nassajian
Designer
Maryam’s passion for architecture originated from her love of fine art. Born and raised in an Iranian city filled with ancient Persian art and architecture, her surroundings inspired her to pursue Persian miniature painting from an early age.
Prior to college, she decided to utilize her talents in architecture—a creative industry that directly impacts people’s lives. With a bachelor’s degree from American University in Dubai and a Master of Architecture from California College of the Arts, she continues to view art as a fundamental component of her work.
Before joining WDA, Maryam worked in a firm specializing in single family housing. Working on numerous intimate small scale projects, she developed the skills to thoroughly comprehend clients’ desires and expectations, and creatively respond to them through design.
Given her artist’s eye, Maryam was intrigued by the way WDA expresses forms through natural materials to blur the boundaries between architecture and art.
When not at work, Maryam is exploring the golden trails of Grand Canyon or the turquoise glacial lakes of Montana, or lost in California redwood forests. She’s most inspired in the wilderness, where nature remains intact.
Ming Michelle Chen
Designer
Ming Michelle Chen
Designer
Born in China and raised outside of New York City, Michelle moved to the sunnier coast for university. She graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Architecture and a minor in Sustainable Environments, and found her passion for designing spaces with surprising and unexpected experiences, that make people smile.
Before WDA, Michelle worked at a smaller firm where she was exposed to the entire life cycle of architecture, from project conception to development and construction.
Michelle enjoys the creative process in all its forms, including photography, bookbinding, jewelry making, and bread baking. She also spends her time wandering around the city, eating pastries, practicing yoga or kickboxing.
Neil Ginty
Project Architect
Neil Ginty
Project Architect
Neil completed his architectural studies at the Dublin School of Architecture and brings a strong background in residential and mixed-use sectors from his work in Chicago, the UK, and back home in Ireland.
Neil finds that his organization and communications skills have proven valuable assets in his career to-date.
An avid Gaelic football and rugby fan, Neil reconnects with home by watching early morning matches in Ireland on the weekends. His teams’ frequent near-misses mean he has become accustomed to spending the remainders of his weekends reflecting on how those games went, and lifting his spirits by going for a run or exploring the beauty of Northern California.
Paige Patterson Duff
Writer
Paige Patterson Duff
Writer
Paige Patterson Duff, our Staff Writer, supports WDA’s marketing and business development efforts.
With degrees in art history, law, and fiction writing, Paige has years of practice finding and crafting words to express visual, conceptual, or emotional experience.
In addition to her work for WDA, Paige is finishing a collection of short stories set in Atlanta, where she was born and raised. When not writing she spends her time volunteering for her children’s elementary school PTO as a longtime executive board director. She also enjoys reading, hand building ceramics, running, hiking, and getting outside to explore the inspiring array of parks, staircases, and ocean views in and around San Francisco.
Parvathy Nair
Job Captain
Parvathy Nair
Job Captain
Parvathy contributes her strong visualization skills and passion for design to the team at WDA. As a Job Captain, she believes that it is her responsibility to create thoughtfully designed spaces that fit their environment while enhancing social interaction.
With a Bachelor of Architecture and minor in Architectural Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Parvathy is drawn to the interdisciplinary nature of architecture.
Outside of architecture and design, Parvathy pursues life drawing and enjoys discovering new music at live shows and concerts in San Francisco.
Paul Heemin Lee
Job Captain
Paul Heemin Lee
Job Captain
Paul, an energetic yet focused team player, always has a “Can Do” attitude. He first became interested in architecture when playing with Lego’s as a kid, and realized he could create real buildings someday. With a bachelors in architecture from California College of the Arts, Paul turned his dreams into a reality. His architectural interests include creating innovative and elegant spaces, while tackling the world’s problems.
After graduating from CCA, he focused on retail architecture at MBH Architecture and McCall Design Group, working directly with clients including Levi’s, Men’s Warehouse and Seaside Luxe. After working in retail architecture, he made a leap into civic architecture with SIM Architects Inc.
Outside of architecture, Paul is a camper and fisher, who loves to catch and cook his own food. He strives to continuously learn new things about his passions, ranging from fitness and rock climbing to writing program code. A sponge for knowledge, his creativity is inspired and further expanded by traveling and exploring new places, and attending music festivals and art shows.
Phoebe Lam
Associate, Director of Operations & Project Manager
Phoebe Lam
Associate, Director of Operations & Project Manager
Phoebe excels at managing complex projects with large numbers of consultants and multiple decision makers. She currently works on projects in all of our practice areas, with a focus on single-family residential and commercial work.
Drawing on experience creating conceptual designs and site plans for 1,000,000 sq. ft. outdoor retail centers, as well as multi-building and multi-block programs and parking layouts, Phoebe also enjoys more intimate, small scale tenant improvements and homes.
In her work, Phoebe seeks a balance between forward-thinking design and a respect for the past; between the principles of modern architecture, and an aesthetic that embraces warmth and texture. She continually looks for new ways to apply sustainable principles and methods in all of her projects.
Phoebe received her BA in Architecture from UC Berkeley. Previously she worked as a job captain with Field Paoli in San Francisco, managing teams on large outdoor retail centers and civic projects.
Sarah Mergy
Business Development & Interior Design Manager
Sarah Mergy
Business Development & Interior Design Manager
As Business Development and Interior Design Manager, Sarah Mergy is excited to bring to WDA her passion for finding solutions and connecting people with design. She believes that good design should be accessible to everyone, bring delight, and elevate our daily lives. Sarah also takes a deep interest in architectural and demographic trends that drive client decision making, and how design innovations resonate with users.
Like all WDA team members, Sarah is a creative at heart.
Sarah considers herself lucky to live in San Francisco’s Miraloma Park, where she shares a home with her husband and their Boston terrier Mabel. When not at WDA, you can find her running the urban trails and observing our diverse 7 x 7 for the next nugget of inspiration.
Scott Hunter
Designer
Scott Hunter
Designer
Scott was born in Paris, and thanks to his parents’ careers, he visited many countries as a child before his family settled in California. Scott knew he wanted to pursue architecture from an early age. Whether working with Legos in elementary school or building computers as he got older, Scott has always been intrigued by the ways component parts can inspire joy and excitement when thoughtfully and harmoniously assembled.
Scott received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona in May 2018.
Scott’s problem-solving acumen, attention to detail, and open-mindedness have helped him expand his skill set as a designer. He welcomes all challenges as a chance for positive growth, and he’s very happy to be working at WDA.
In his free time, Scott enjoys drawing, hiking, discussing ideas over coffee, watching movies, and gaming.
Taylor Dempsey
Designer
Taylor Dempsey
Designer
Taylor was born in Los Angeles and split her childhood between northern and southern California. She was drawn to residential design and construction from an early age as she observed her parents – a longtime realtor and a general contractor – buying, refurbishing and selling homes. Taylor’s love of buildings has only grown over the years, as she’s been able to connect with various roles within the housing industry. Her proficiency in math and interest in art also helped convince her that architecture was the right path.
Taylor earned a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture with a minor in Environmental Studies from the University of San Francisco.
To Taylor, architecture is an enigmatic and powerful amalgamation of many disciplines – it is as much about science as ethics, as much about art as mathematics. She believes architects can change our world for the better if we build with humanity, compassion, and a sense of duty to implement sustainable solutions that stem from a deep understanding of and respect for our environment.
When not at work, Taylor’s hobbies include shooting photography with her Nikon d3300, visiting new museums, traveling, or spending time with her friends and family.
Wendy Osaki
Associate, Marketing & Office Manager
Wendy Osaki
Associate, Marketing & Office Manager
Wendy brings her experience in graphic design and hospitality marketing to her role as Marketing & Office Manager at WDA. Her work touches on everything from creating a welcoming environment for clients, colleagues and employees, to the design and production of innovative marketing solutions.
Wendy received her BS in Environmental Design with an emphasis in Visual Communication and Graphic Design at UC Davis.
She added marketing to her skill set in her most recent position as Marketing Manager for Hilton San Francisco Financial District. In addition to marketing, Wendy was the hotel’s community service champion and a founding member of their sustainability team. In her free time, Wendy can be found on a jet plane, watching movies or taking a historic home tour.
William S. Duff, Jr.
Founder & Managing Principal
William S. Duff, Jr.
Founder & Managing Principal
William S. Duff, Jr. founded WDA in 1998. He has established an innovative practice with diverse clients and commissions, and is nationally recognized for creating responsible, sustainable architecture. His work is known for its elegant simplicity both in plan and detail, and for sophisticated use of materials, light, and warmth to create innovative modern spaces.
Underlying William’s strategic vision for WDA is the belief that architecture can shape environments and improve communities. A former Eagle Scout, he believes that personal service strengthens ties to the neighborhoods and communities where he lives and works.
William has substantial experience in retail, residential, and commercial architecture, and under his leadership, WDA continues to grow and excel in each of these areas. He has designed flagship stores, retail concept designs, roll-out stores, single and multi-family homes, restaurants, and office spaces.
Before founding WDA, William was an Associate at Kanner Architects in Los Angeles, where he managed the firm’s retail practice. His experience extends to mixed-use, commercial, academic and laboratory buildings, urban master planning, and health-care design. William received his Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and his Master in Construction Management from Colorado State University.
In addition to NCARB and LEED certifications, William holds architecture licenses in five states (CA, CO, AZ, OR, WI). He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the U.S. Green Building Council, and has served on the Marina Del Rey Design Control Board. He is the past President of the Board of Directors of Young Audiences of Northern California and the past President of the Board of Directors of Napa’s diRosa Center for Contemporary Art.