Julia’s educational planning & design experience has earned her the designation as an Accredited Learning Environment Planner (ALEP). She brings unparalleled experience in crafting sensitive and inclusive programming discussions that have addressed 21st century learning & teaching models, STEM school needs, the neighborhood school model, magnet and charter school curriculums, and school redistricting and consolidation.

Through the transformative experience of designing the rebuild of the Sandy Hook School, she has written and spoken both nationally and internationally on the innovative ways school design can promote academic achievement, socio-emotional well-being, and a safe environment through biophilic design and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles.

How were you drawn to the field of architecture and design?

I have had an interest in how people inhabit structures from a very early age. At about 10 years old I drew up plans for a 3-story house for an imagined family of 14 kids (probably inspired by the 1968 movie “Yours, Mine and Ours”). Then, as the only girl in a 9th grade woodshop class, I relished designing and constructing a solid wood Parson’s table. However, without encouragement I didn’t pursue architecture in college. Instead, a major in Theatre Arts expanded my design repertoire to sets, costumes, and lighting. I returned to the University of Minnesota seven years later to pursue a Master of Architecture, and my thesis on Sacred Space and Place explored the idea that architecture can awaken and fulfill our human longing for spiritual connections with the landscape.

How does your interest and training in Landscape Design, Public Art, and Feng Shui factor into your design approach?

This background gives me an eye for assessing the entire built environment, approaching the landscape and the building’s interior and exterior as one canvas for creating place and meaning. I pursue collaboration with landscape architects, artists, and interior designers to ground the expression of the building in the geographic and social ecology of place. As a Feng Shui practitioner, I pay attention to the flow of space, the flow of color, and how vantage points within spaces create a sense of relaxation and calm.

Is there a unifying design principle that weaves through the many diverse projects in your portfolio, from a home renovation to university facilities?

I pay particular attention to shaping the scale, proportion and layout of spaces to promote comfort and well-being, and to maximize the functionality of small spaces. This comes from my tenure working in residential home design: first, working for the firm founded by Dale Mulfinger (author: The Cabin) and Sarah Susanka (author: The Not So Big House) and second, running my own design firm. This approach has application in every project, of every size, because all clients are constrained by a budget and the need to leverage space efficiently while expressing their mission and goals.