Staff
John Lawless, AIA
Principal
As the senior Principal of TBG Architects + Planners, John has been a team leader on a wide variety of projects involving specialized formats, group design dynamics, civic involvement and critical agency coordination. He has gained broad and effective experience in facilitating the exploration and examination of broad-reaching vision statements, design goals, comprehensive planning issues and evaluating and helping groups develop truly creative and innovative solutions to challenging problems.
JF Alberson, AIA
Principal
JF is one of TBG's principal resources for innovative and creative design. He actively facilitates and engages user groups in the design process and provides careful follow-through throughout a project. He has been a vital player in all facets of TBG's scope of project design services, including educational, commercial, retail, medical, site design and transportation applications.
JF brings his thoughtful attention to detail and creativity to all phases of a project, from conceptualization to construction administration. Working closely with each client, he strives to balance quality design aesthetics, practical construction principles and budget responsibility in all of his projects.
Darrell L. Smith, FAIA, NCARB
Principal (Retired)
As former President of TBG Architects + Planners and firm member for 50 years, Darrell Smith brings knowledge and experience in business and architecture to the office in an advisory capacity. He is also the Past President of NCARB, served on the board of NAAB and is a member of the AIA College of Fellows.
An avid traveler, Darrell spends much of his time with his wife Lois, enjoying the beauty of the world.
Kristen G. Taylor, CSBA
Planner/Senior Project Manager
As a Planner and Architectural Senior Project Manager at TBG Architects + Planners, Kristen brings a valuable and unique set of skills to the firm. She has over 22 years of broad educational and professional experience in the field of architecture and planning. As a team leader her expertise in sustainability and green building, strategic and land use planning, public process, needs assessments, market analysis, affordable housing, master and site planning, as well as her design, production and management of projects of various sizes both nationally and internationally is highly valued.
Using her creative problem-solving and effective project management skills, Kristen successfully and collaboratively navigates the complexities of planning and development, which has earned her respect from her peers and public jurisdictions, and great praise from our clients. Kristen also shares her passion and knowledge of sustainable building as the Lead Instructor for the local Sustainable Building Advisor course provided through Lane Community College.
Tina M. Ely, AIA, LEED AP
Architect
Tina specializes in healthcare design. Her experience includes the planning, programming, design and construction administration of projects ranging in scope from interior renovations and tenant improvements to stand-alone clinics, greenfield and replacement hospitals.
Tina keeps abreast of developments in healthcare architecture by attending local and national conferences and by following specialized publications. She enjoys sharing her knowledge on the subject with colleagues and clients alike.
Janet E. Smoot, AIA, LEED AP
Architect
As the newest member of TBG's team, Janet brings over 18 years of experience in architecture, from schematic design through construction administration. Healthcare projects, including senior living facilities and specialty centers, have kept her busy much of her career. We look forward to seeing her expertise flourish here at TBG.
Matt Matthews, AIA
Project Manager/Designer
Since joining the firm in 2005, Matt has managed major projects in the medical and retail realm, including complex expansion and retrofit integration of projects with historic challenges, high-tech medical/laboratory work, as well as further upgrading of the UO Recreation Center. Previously Matt was a Facilities Project Manager for Washington State University.
Matt's coordination, attention to detail and project management skills combined with architectural reality knowledge and thoughtful analysis has helped him in a variety of tasks, including working directly with clients during the schematic design phase of higher education, medical, and retail projects, performing preliminary budget and schedule analysis during the project design development stage and collaborating with engineers, project architects, contractors and regulatory personnel.
Quince A. Sterry, Assoc. AIA
Project Manager/Designer
Raised deep in the Oregon backwoods with no electricity until the age of 11, Quince learned at a very young age to be creative with the materials at hand. At the age of 14 he started spending summers working in residential construction, taking him to projects from Oregon to Hawaii and eventually culminating in a contractor's license in Oregon at 23. During his building experience he recognized the burning desire to design as well and decided to hit the books again in architecture.
A member of the TBG team since 2000, he has been a project manager/designer on many high-profile projects. His varied background allows him to solve challenging problems, in addition to offer real-world experience in detailing and designing for constructability.
Jesse McMillen, Assoc. AIA
Project Manager/Designer
As the son of a successful residential architect in Sun Valley, Idaho, Jesse literally was raised in the field of architecture. After graduating from the University of Idaho, he gained valuable retail design experience with larger architectural firms in metropolitan areas of Seattle and Portland before his arrival at TBG. Since that time, he has successfully managed a wide range of projects from their early stages of design through their final construction completion. With his eager attention to detail and his determination to find the best solutions to all challenges, Jesse prides himself on providing the highest levels of service and cooperation to every project.
Andika A. Murandi, Assoc. AIA
Project Manager/Designer
Andika offers 9 years of experience in schematic design, design development, construction documents, construction field observations, project coordination and execution and construction administration.
With very limited client explanation of project goals he is required to invent, develop and graphically depict imaginative, yet realistic design concepts for architectural projects in highly compressed time schedules at presentation quality. His skills, architectural knowledge and acute grasp of marketability concepts have made him a valuable member of our team.
Benjamin T. Rippe, Assoc. AIA
Project Manager/Designer
Ben offers 6 years of experience in schematic design, design development, construction documents, construction field observations, project coordination, execution and construction administration on a wide range of projects.
Ben's attention to detail and project management skills combined with a strong design background allow him to approach a variety of tasks and apply creative problem-solving as an integral part of the design and construction process. He has also enjoyed a part-time tenure teaching design at the University of Oregon's School of Architecture as an adjunct faculty member.
Nicole CE. Lawless
Business Manager
Nicole's experience with architecture began with working in the University of Oregon Architecture and Allied Arts Library 21 years ago while attending the School of Music to study voice. When she started at TBG as the receptionist 14 years ago, managing construction contract administration and grooming promotional materials were her primary tasks. Over time her duties increased to handling the bookkeeping and office management.
As TBG's Business Manager, Nicole oversees the financial aspects of the business as well as general operations, cheerfully taking care of anything the staff might need.
Janell Chiara
Construction Administration Manager
Janell's career began 12 years ago working for John Hyland Const., Inc., then for Balzhiser & Hubbard Engineers in office administration. We were grateful when she came to TBG 7 years ago already equipped with a variety of experience in our industry.
In addition to being the first to greet visitors with a smile, Janell also manages and coordinates the administrative side of construction administration, working closely with project managers and contractors to increase efficiency during construction.
