Emerging Firms
This two-day workshop and talk series is designed to be a networking and skill-building program for Emerging Firms who want to lead a cultural revolution in the building industry.
Workshop & Talk Series
The program will be held in person on January 24 & 31, 2025 at BWAF’s offices. Participating firms will hear from leaders and founding principals of exciting firms including: Marta Sanders of Architecture Outfit, Miriam Peterson of Peterson Rich Office, and Dungjai Pungauthaikan of Once–Future Office. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to gain key advice from experts during Legal and Media FAQ sessions with Anazette Ray of Zetlin & De Chiara LLP and Tami Hausman of Hausman LLC.
Speakers
Marta Sanders
Principal, Architecture Outfit
Marta brings insights and expertise from over 30 years of professional practice. With focus on arts, education, and public space projects, she has led numerous multi-faceted teams through inclusive design and construction efforts to successful completion. She embraces the challenge of “discovering the project” through a collaborative and dynamic programming and conceptual design process and, having worked primarily in dense urban contexts, knows how to maximize opportunities within the constraints of older buildings and complex city sites. Since joining in 2015, Marta has led AO’s team to create new facilities for Rioult Dance, Theatre Row, Pace University’s Actors Studio Drama School, Brooklyn Workforce Innovations, and the International Cinematographers Guild. She also completed Turnstyle, an award-winning public space in the NYC transit system.
Legal FAQ
Anazette Ray
Principal, Zetlin & De Chiara LLP
Anazette brings a wealth of experience representing architects and engineers in a wide variety of litigation matters. Prior to joining Zetlin & De Chiara, Anazette worked at a boutique litigation firm where she handled all aspects of complex construction litigation on the trial court and appellate levels in representing architects and engineers in the defense of professional malpractice and general litigation matters. She established a successful record of defending her clients in numerous forums, including state and federal court, mediation, arbitrations, and hearings. Representative claims that Anazette has handled include: condominium defect cases, critical path delay claims, errors and omissions claims, and contract disputes. She was featured in both the New York Real Estate Journal’s 2020 and Best Lawyers Ones to Watch lists and selected by the Women Builders Council as one of WBC’s 2023 Outstanding Women.
Miriam Peterson
Partner, Peterson Rich Office
Miriam majored in Economics at Cornell University and her advanced undergraduate research focused on issues related to urban economics and more specifically the factors impacting depressed areas within the urban cores that were left behind after white flight and urban renewal. As an M.Arch at Yale University School of Architecture, her design and seminar work focused on investigating how public investments in infrastructure can facilitate the creation of public spaces and environmentally responsible development. Upon graduation she was awarded the William Edward Parsons Memorial Medal for the student showing the most promise in urban design. Miriam is currently Adjunct Faculty at the Yale School of Architecture.
Dungjai Pungauthaikan
Founding Principal and Creative Director, Once–Future Office
Dungjai is a big picture systems-thinker who loves connecting design, people, and the built environment. She sees potential in all things and brings unmatched creative vision to the studio. As a first-generation Thai-Chinese American and native Californian (LBC!), she leads Once-Future Office’s teams and projects with warmth and patience while getting shit done. Dungjai is an award winning designer whose work has been recognized by the Art Directors Club, Type Directors Club, Print Regional Design Annual, the Society of Publication Designers, and the Van Alen Institute. With her hands-on approach, she has led multi-channel campaigns for NYC, branding and wayfinding for world-class buildings and museums, identity systems for leading practices within the architecture and design industry, and exhibitions for renowned cultural institutions. Dungjai was previously the Art Director at Metropolis magazine where she led the art department staff in all aspects of the magazine’s publication and subsidiary brands.
Media FAQ
Tami Hausman
Founder and President, Hausman LLC
For over 20 years, Tami Hausman has been an expert advisor to top firms who seek out her experience and insights. Her international roster of clients includes architects, engineers, construction firms, expeditors, interiors firms, real estate developers, project management firms, construction cost consultants, artists, and non-profit organizations. Using her wide network of contacts in the media, Tami positions her clients’ knowledge and expertise to best advantage and opens doors to targeted audiences that strengthen their position in the marketplace. In addition to her experience in marketing and public relations, Tami is an architectural historian who frequently writes and lectures about trends and topics in architecture and urban planning.