UC Berkeley Case Study: Redefining Historic People’s Park

How This Transformative Project Addresses the Student and Affordable Housing Crisis While Preserving the Site's Legacy and Cultural Significance

• 

  Wendy Hillis

  Wendy has served as Assistant Vice Chancellor at Campus Architect at UC Berkeley since 2019. In this role, she provides strategic and long-range planning for the programming, design, and development of campus properties, including buildings, infrastructure, and landscape projects. This includes oversight of $3 billion dollars of active design and construction projects. Under her leadership, and through the work of Sasaki/Page, the 2021 UC Berkeley Campus Master Plan, received a 2022 SCUP Merit Award for campus planning. A California native, Wendy was the Campus Architect at Tulane University from 2016-2019. She completed her undergraduate education at UCLA, holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Virginia. She was the 2007 recipient of the AIA’s Richard Morris Hunt Prize.

  UC, Berkeley

  Assistant Vice Chancellor and Campus Architect

  Wendy Hillis

  Assistant Vice Chancellor and Campus Architect

  UC, Berkeley

• 

  Gregg Novicoff

  Gregg Novicoff, AIA, LEED AP, is a Principal with Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects. He works closely with his clients to produce creative and thoughtful solutions — buildings that perform a vital role in leading the way to an environmentally and socially sustainable future. His diverse body of work includes cultural, educational, residential, and civic projects in both new construction and the adaptive reuse of existing and historic structures. Since joining the firm in 2005, Gregg has been instrumental in many of the firm’s most important projects including the award-winning Ed Roberts Campus, an 85,000-square-foot international center for the Independent Living and Disabled Rights movement in Berkeley, California, which integrates advanced sustainable and universal design strategies within a transit-oriented development. He also worked on the Edwin M. Lee Apartments in San Francisco, which is the first building in the city to combine supportive housing for both unhoused veterans and low-income families. Ed Lee is a 2022 AIA COTE award-winning project, showcasing alternative energy generation and connections to nearby public transportation. Gregg is currently working on the UC Berkeley People’s Park Student Housing project, and Stanford University’s Department of African and African American Studies. Other notable projects include Family House San Francisco, the Commonwealth Club, and Stanford University’s MLK Institute. He is a current board member and treasurer with the AIA San Francisco, and a member of both the United States Green Building Council and the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition. He is a registered architect in California and received his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and English from the University California, Berkeley and a Master’s Degree in Architecture from Harvard University. University.

  LMS Architects

  Principal

  Gregg Novicoff

  Principal

  LMS Architects

• Moderator

  Bora Altunay

  Producer

  Bisnow

Enhancing the Student Experience: Building with the Next Generation in Mind

Exploring Design Trends, Amenities, Sustainability, Wellness, and Community Impact

• 

  Lucas Griffith

  Experienced Planning Director with a demonstrated history of working in higher education. Skilled in spatial planning, urban design, community engagement. Passionate about the public realm. Now serving as a compassionate leader with a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Societal Safety and Risk Management focused in City Planning and Urban Development from University of Stavanger (UiS), Norway. Works on strategic initiatives to guide operations and stewardship of campus landscape and roads through the uncertainty of climate change and emergent transportation technologies.

  UC, Davis

  Executive Director, Campus Planning

  Lucas Griffith

  Executive Director, Campus Planning

  UC, Davis

• 

  Samuel Jones

  Associate Vice President, Campus Life

  California State University, Sacramento

• 

  Sandy Mendler

  Principal

  Gensler

• 

  Mahalakshmi Balachandran

  Maha received her Bachelor of Architecture from the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, India. With her previous experiences as an Architectural Designer, she learned to appreciate the visual connection between architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture through residential and community masterplans. Working with McCullough for more than 10 years as a project manager, she has experience in designing and managing a range of projects, including multi-family, mixed-use housing, education, retail, and corporate campuses. Having lived in India, Finland, Canada, and the U.S., she brings a unique perspective to her role. Her design approach is rooted in the principle “every landscape has a purpose.” She oversees the project design, documentation, implementation, and supports the firm with her business development efforts in the Northern California region. Maha is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) International Northern California Chapter, Urban Land Institute San Francisco Chapter, and Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) San Francisco chapter. A little-known fact about Maha is that she enjoys painting and working the landscape through her line art. Additionally, she has been reading and writing poetry for over a decade.

  McCullough Landscape Architecture

  Senior Associate

  Mahalakshmi Balachandran

  Senior Associate

  McCullough Landscape Architecture

• 

  Sam Wolfgram

  As an Associate Principal at Lionakis, Sam Wolfgram has over 20 years of design experience and has dedicated most of his career to designing educational environments. For each project, he promotes a collaborative design process that embraces diverse viewpoints to create facilities that help everyone meet their goals. Sam passionately believes that making informed decisions based on research-driven project variables (cost, programmatic, technical, and environmental) creates technically sound, timeless architecture. He fully embraces both digital and analogue design tools throughout the design process to clearly articulate information and ideas, and to create a comfortable stage for stakeholder contribution.

  Lionakis

  Associate Principal

  Sam Wolfgram

  Associate Principal

  Lionakis

• 

  Mark Donahue

  As Design Director, Mark brings over 35 years of experience in architecture, leading the charge on a broad spectrum of project typologies ranging from small multi-family residential projects to large-scale, mixed-use developments. Among his notable projects, Mark was Design Director for The Jasper – a 39-story high rise; Truckee Artist Lofts – a 77-unit modular, affordable housing project; and Electric Lofts – a micro-unit, co-living, urban-infill apartment building.

  Lowney Architecture

  Principal

  Moderator

  Mark Donahue

  Principal

  Lowney Architecture

Addressing Demand and Affordability: Development and Delivery Strategies

Strategies to Drive Down Costs, Accelerate Timelines, and Leverage Innovative Construction and Design Methods to Improve Speed and Quality

• 

  Sally Oerth

  With over 20 years of work experience, I am a seasoned and passionate public sector leader in the field of real estate negotiation, economic development, and affordable housing. I have a proven track record of delivering significant and impactful projects that improve the lives of thousands of residents and businesses in San Francisco. As the former Executive Director of the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure (OCII), I led a multi-disciplinary and diverse organization with a mission to create vibrant and inclusive neighborhoods through public-private partnerships. In my most recent role, I managed all aspects of OCII operations and finances, overseeing a portfolio of complex agreements that encompass 22,000 housing units, over 13 million sf of commercial space, nearly 375 acres of parks, and millions of dollars in equal opportunity contracting and workforce programs. I directed the management of OCII’s annual budget, debt issuance, and spending plans totaling over $500 million, leveraging my advanced expertise in budget planning, project accounting and fiscal management. I also advocated for OCII’s interests with skilled diplomacy and devised key legislative strategies at City, State and Federal levels. I used my strong project management, analytical, and business process improvement skills to transform organizational operations and delivery of affordable housing and economic development projects, especially during the challenging times of the State dissolution of Redevelopment Agencies and the COVID-19 pandemic.

  UCSF Real Estate

  Assistant Vice Chancellor, Housing

  Sally Oerth

  Assistant Vice Chancellor, Housing

  UCSF Real Estate

• 

  Riaz Taplin

  Riaz Taplin has been thinking about workforce housing for most of his professional life. Growing up in a real estate family, Riaz detoured early in his career from the family business to develop his own style by founding a design/build firm and developing over 50 ultra-luxury residences in the Bay Area. Completing his last project just before the great recession, Riaz refocused his vision to workforce housing in Oakland. Over the next decade, Riaz built a portfolio of over 1,300 units in the workforce housing category. In the process, Riaz consistently worked to innovate market-rate approaches to workforce housing, also known as naturally-occurring affordable housing. In successive projects and ventures, Riaz explored co-living, adaptive reuse micro-units, student housing, and traditional ground-up construction – all of which led to the firm’s custom workforce housing solution – the ABD Studio. Today, Riaz leads Riaz Capital, a vertically integrated workforce housing developer and institutional-grade sponsor with a core team of over fifty professionals managing a portfolio of over 1,300 units, and with over 1,000 residences in the pipeline. Riaz is a board member of the Oakland Promise, the urban planning think tank SPUR, and co-chair of the American India Foundation SF Bay Area board. He earned a B.A. in Economic History from the London School of Economics.

  Riaz Capital

  CEO and Founder

  Riaz Taplin

  CEO and Founder

  Riaz Capital

• 

  Pramod Sanoor

  With over 20 years of experience, Pramod Sanoor specializes in designing student, affordable, and market-rate housing. He has collaborated with public and private institutions, non-profits, and developers, including UC Merced, UC Berkeley, San Francisco State University, The Presidio Trust, Alexandria Life Science, Eden Housing, and BRIDGE Housing among others. Currently, Pramod is leading the design of Promise Student Housing for UC Merced, a 488-bed mass timber Design-Build project slated for completion in Fall 2026. In addition to his project work, he serves as an Architectural Advisory Board Member for the Architecture Dept at San Francisco State University. Pramod is committed to creating enduring spaces that positively transform communities and the environment. He believes that thoughtful, purposeful design has the power to shape behaviors, support ecosystems, foster connections, and promote social well-being across generations. He champions innovation, curiosity, environmental stewardship, and social equity to meet today’s needs while enriching the built environment for the future. An Associate Principal and a leader in sustainability, Pramod has been integral in researching and implementing strategies to reduce operational and embodied carbon, incorporating Red List-free and healthy materials, and exploring alternative construction methods such as mass timber, prefab, and volumetric modular systems. He also spearheads BAR’s Annual SEED Week (Sustainability, Education & Environmental Design), a week-long program of educational sessions and events held in conjunction with Earth Day. Pramod holds a Master of Architecture from Texas A&M University. He is married and has a three-year-old daughter. He enjoys traveling with his family to explore different cultures, with recent adventures in Central and South America. He is a philatelist, enjoys hiking in the Bay Area and the Sierras, and spending time with his family and dog.

  BAR Architects & Interiors

  Associate Principal

  Pramod Sanoor

  Associate Principal

  BAR Architects & Interiors

• 

  Anders Carpenter

  Higher Education Practice Leader

  Perkins&Will

• 

  Andrew Nolan

  Andrew Nolan is a Project Executive with nearly two decades of industry experience. His portfolio includes student housing projects for University of California campuses in San Francisco and Berkeley. Andrew has collaborated closely with the State Fire Marshal and Campus Building Officials to ensure successful delivery of these buildings, enabling on-time student move-ins for fall semesters.

  Build Group

  Project Executive

  Andrew Nolan

  Project Executive

  Build Group

• 

  Denzil D'Sa

  Denzil is the Preconstruction Director for McCarthy’s Northern Pacific Region, based in the Bay Area. With over a decade at McCarthy, he has played a key role in leading the design phase for numerous higher education, commercial, and science & technology projects. Specializing in design-build projects, Denzil excels at fostering cohesive teams and leveraging his deep estimating expertise to drive project success. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Denzil holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering. His passion for learning and exploration fuels his approach to every project, ensuring innovative solutions and seamless collaboration.

  McCarthy

  Preconstruction Director

  Denzil D'Sa

  Preconstruction Director

  McCarthy

• 

  Doug Chesshire

  I am a Senior Field Organizer for the Nor Cal Carpenters Union, proudly covering the Southbay region, which includes San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Benito, Monterey, and Santa Cruz Counties. As a second-generation carpenter with 26 and a half years in the Union, my journey in this field has taken me from an Apprentice to Journeyman. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of building custom homes on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula, working in iconic locations such as Pebble Beach, Carmel, Carmel Valley, and the surrounding areas. These experiences have not only honed my skills but also instilled in me a profound appreciation for craftsmanship and quality. In 2017, I transitioned to a new role as an organizer with the Nor Cal Carpenters Union. Over the past eight years, I have taken on various responsibilities, all aimed at advancing workers' rights and protections on the jobsite. My mission has been to lift the floor for development, ensuring that those who wish to enter the construction industry have access to jobs that provide for them and their families. This role has been incredibly fulfilling, allowing me to make a tangible difference in the lives of workers and their communities. I am passionate about advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and opportunities for professional growth.

  Nor Cal Carpenters Union

  Senior Field Organizer

  Moderator

  Doug Chesshire

  Senior Field Organizer

  Nor Cal Carpenters Union

Power of Partnerships: Building a Bridge to Better Student Housing

Advancing the Development of Student Housing through Cross-Sector Collaboration and P3s

• 

  Raoul Amescua

  Senior Vice President-Development, Student Living with The Michaels Organization (Michaels), leading the company’s public-private partnerships with higher education institutions in California, by bringing nearly 20 years of real estate development and finance experience including the development of large-scale housing and dining facilities that utilized public-private partnership (P3) delivery models. In addition to delivering P3 real estatement development projects on-campus, Raoul is the company's leader for off-campus student housing development in California.

  The Michael's Organization

  SVP of Development & Public-Private Partnerships

  Raoul Amescua

  SVP of Development & Public-Private Partnerships

  The Michael's Organization

• 

  Gabriel Gardner

  I cover all new ground up development for entire region Northern California through Northern Nevada. I have launched our first Birchway and LTD branded (missing middle) projects in California for Greystar. 2004 and 2008 Olympian, and Olympic Gold Medalist

  Greystar

  Senior Director, Development

  Gabriel Gardner

  Senior Director, Development

  Greystar

• 

  Stephen Siri

  I am the Co-Managing Principal at The Martin Group of Companies, a family-owned firm specializing in mixed-use, multifamily, and student housing projects. The Martin Group has acquired, developed and managed properties exceeding 24 million square feet and growing. I oversee acquisitions, entitlements, financing, design, construction, and asset management working with our talented team. I am passionate about creating sustainable and innovative developments that enhance the quality of life for our residents and improving the communities we serve.

  The Martin Group

  Co-Managing Principal

  Stephen Siri

  Co-Managing Principal

  The Martin Group

• 

  Amy Coburn

  Amy Coburn serves as Associate Principal and Academic Director at Page's San Francisco office, leveraging her expertise in university architecture and higher education development. With leadership experience at the University of New Mexico, Forest City Enterprises, Pulte Group, and Catellus Development, she brings a unique perspective that balances innovation with contextual design. As University Architect at UNM, she managed projects across six campuses, developing multiple academic and residential product types while expanding housing by 2,000 beds. Amy now brings this comprehensive experience back to San Francisco, enhancing Page's capabilities while rebuilding professional connections.

  Page

  Associate Principal

  Amy Coburn

  Associate Principal

  Page

• 

  Dylan Rogers

  Dylan Rogers, a Project Director at Sundt Construction, brings almost 20 years of experience delivering complex education and student housing projects. Most recently, he led the preconstruction efforts for the $200 million Cal Poly Humboldt student housing development, a transformative project supporting the university’s transition to a polytechnic. Dylan graduated from Penn State in 2006 with a degree in business administration and management and began his career with Sundt the same year. Over the course of his career, he has served as a project engineer, superintendent, project manager, and preconstruction project manager, giving him a well-rounded perspective on every phase of project delivery.

  Sundt Construction

  Project Director

  Dylan Rogers

  Project Director

  Sundt Construction

• 

  Vincent Polhemus

  Vincent Polhemus is Senior Business Development Manager at Clark Pacific, a leading design- manufacturer-builder of prefabricated building systems. Vincent’s experience in prefabricated building systems spans 20 years in Southern California and includes unitized curtainwalls, window walls, aluminum panels systems, architectural precast concrete, thin-shell concrete and GFRC. Starting as a project manager for a glazing contractor, Vincent moved to Preconstruction in 2016, and has worked on award winning projects throughout California, including the California New Natural Resources Building in Sacramento, 510 S Vermont in Los Angeles and One Westside in Los Angeles.

  Clark Pacific

  Associate Director of Preconstruction, Facades

  Vincent Polhemus

  Associate Director of Preconstruction, Facades

  Clark Pacific

• 

  Jeff Bacurin

  Mr. Bacurin has over 20 years of professional experience in architectural design and programming including experience in renovation and new design of Student Housing, Senior Living communities and Higher Education Campuses. He is skilled in working with the in-house team and clients to confirm and interpret the users’ programmatic needs and explore sustainable design alternatives using 3D modeling software. Jeff is a skilled communicator of design intent and works with the users to explore design alternatives in interactive design charrettes/workshops.

  HPI Architecture

  Design Director

  Moderator

  Jeff Bacurin

  Design Director

  HPI Architecture

Remarks from the Podium

• 

  David Eisman

  As Chargie’s Vice President of Business Development, David is responsible for driving growth of the company’s EV charging network through the leadership and mentorship of a national sales team. He also oversees long-term partnerships with some of the largest multifamily and commercial real estate developers in the country. David brings nearly 20 years of experience in operations and management. Before joining Chargie, David led business development efforts at PCS Energy, the largest installer of commercial solar systems in Los Angeles. He also served as a founding partner of Nexcut, a leading provider of document destruction and recycling services. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University.

  Chargie

  VP

  David Eisman

  VP

  Chargie