Meet Alaina, a licensed architect, sustainability leader, and inspired educator. As one of the firm's "boomerangs", Alaina rejoins Huntsman after spending the past year exploring Southeast Asia and other design interests.
Q: What motivates you, and how do you motivate others?
AL: I am highly motivated being part of an energized team, one that values the contributions of each individual as a collective whole. Knowing that I can be a part of making something more beautiful, efficient, environmentally sensitive and human experience-oriented fuels me to bring my A-game. It's exciting and humbling to be part of an industry that turns ideas into three-dimensional experiences.
Q: What are some of your current projects, and what interests you about them?
AL: The repositioning of the 301 Howard Street lobby is particularly interesting for me because I spent years space planning in this building that has a challenging entry - an example of the Post-Modern Brutalism of the 1980s. The opportunity to transform the arrival experience, at a site soon to be reinvigorated by the new Transbay Terminal, is really exciting. The project poses intriguing challenges at the intersection of architecture and interior design.
We are also in design development for the Argonaut office at the former Avalon Ballroom. It will be a modern, open office housed in an early 1900s structure, once a Bill Graham concert venue. It’s fantastic because the clients value the history of the space and are interested in creating a uniquely juxtaposed modern aesthetic, which will honor the building’s colorful past. Plus, there’s rumor the space houses the spirit of Janis Joplin – who knows what construction administration might bring.
Q: What skillsets do you feel sets you apart?
AL: A skillset I bring is the eagerness to be part of transforming our industry into one which is more environmentally harmonious. It’s our responsibility to strive to create healthy, vibrant spaces, which are increasingly less harmful, and perhaps beneficial to the environment. But only when you know better, can you do better.
Education is the key to addressing the environmental and human issues impacting our industry. I enjoy learning how to better accept the responsibility of our profession and enjoy even more sharing information with my colleagues, particularly in creative and memorable ways.
Q: What is an example of a time that you were successful against the odds or particularly unique challenges?
AL: The FBI Regional Office was designed over a four-day all-hands charrette. This 75,000 square foot office met the requirements of LEED Gold certification and included a new elevator, intensive security features, gym, and many other programmatically cryptic spaces. It was a unique opportunity to work closely with the user groups, engineers, and contractors on a fascinating and tightly constrained project. The lessons I learned in those four days!
Q: Describe some of your most important career accomplishments.
AL: I really enjoyed developing a long-standing relationship with our Keker & Van Nest client through a series of tenant improvements spanning over three years in the handsome historic Jackson Square buildings. The highlight was the addition of the conference center, lobby, and reception, which brought new life to the ground floor of a turn-of-the-century paper mill.
Q: What is one project or assignment that you feel most proud of?
AL: The production of the Regionalism and Upcycle events at Huntsman is the type of work I take the most pride in and also that which brings me the greatest rewards. I am invigorated by the exchange of progressive environmental and human-centric ideas, particularly with real world applications. I strive to be part of making the sustainability message a positive, dynamic, and energized one.
Q: What are some of your goals here at Huntsman?
AL: I'd like to organize more events and develop resources to enhance the Hunstman designer’s sustainability tool box.
Contact Alaina:
aladner@huntsmanag.com
415.394.1212
AL: I am highly motivated being part of an energized team, one that values the contributions of each individual as a collective whole. Knowing that I can be a part of making something more beautiful, efficient, environmentally sensitive and human experience-oriented fuels me to bring my A-game. It's exciting and humbling to be part of an industry that turns ideas into three-dimensional experiences.
Q: What are some of your current projects, and what interests you about them?
AL: The repositioning of the 301 Howard Street lobby is particularly interesting for me because I spent years space planning in this building that has a challenging entry - an example of the Post-Modern Brutalism of the 1980s. The opportunity to transform the arrival experience, at a site soon to be reinvigorated by the new Transbay Terminal, is really exciting. The project poses intriguing challenges at the intersection of architecture and interior design.
We are also in design development for the Argonaut office at the former Avalon Ballroom. It will be a modern, open office housed in an early 1900s structure, once a Bill Graham concert venue. It’s fantastic because the clients value the history of the space and are interested in creating a uniquely juxtaposed modern aesthetic, which will honor the building’s colorful past. Plus, there’s rumor the space houses the spirit of Janis Joplin – who knows what construction administration might bring.
Q: What skillsets do you feel sets you apart?
AL: A skillset I bring is the eagerness to be part of transforming our industry into one which is more environmentally harmonious. It’s our responsibility to strive to create healthy, vibrant spaces, which are increasingly less harmful, and perhaps beneficial to the environment. But only when you know better, can you do better.
Education is the key to addressing the environmental and human issues impacting our industry. I enjoy learning how to better accept the responsibility of our profession and enjoy even more sharing information with my colleagues, particularly in creative and memorable ways.
Q: What is an example of a time that you were successful against the odds or particularly unique challenges?
AL: The FBI Regional Office was designed over a four-day all-hands charrette. This 75,000 square foot office met the requirements of LEED Gold certification and included a new elevator, intensive security features, gym, and many other programmatically cryptic spaces. It was a unique opportunity to work closely with the user groups, engineers, and contractors on a fascinating and tightly constrained project. The lessons I learned in those four days!
Q: Describe some of your most important career accomplishments.
AL: I really enjoyed developing a long-standing relationship with our Keker & Van Nest client through a series of tenant improvements spanning over three years in the handsome historic Jackson Square buildings. The highlight was the addition of the conference center, lobby, and reception, which brought new life to the ground floor of a turn-of-the-century paper mill.
Q: What is one project or assignment that you feel most proud of?
AL: The production of the Regionalism and Upcycle events at Huntsman is the type of work I take the most pride in and also that which brings me the greatest rewards. I am invigorated by the exchange of progressive environmental and human-centric ideas, particularly with real world applications. I strive to be part of making the sustainability message a positive, dynamic, and energized one.
Q: What are some of your goals here at Huntsman?
AL: I'd like to organize more events and develop resources to enhance the Hunstman designer’s sustainability tool box.
Contact Alaina:
aladner@huntsmanag.com
415.394.1212
RSS Feed