Leadership

David Nagahiro, AIA, LEED AP
Senior Principal
Vickie Alani, AIA
Senior Principal
Lois Goodell, IIDA
Senior Principal, Director of Interior Design
Alfred Wojciechowski, AIA, LEED AP
Senior Principal
Phil Casey, AIA, LEED AP
Senior Principal
Kishore Varanasi, AICP
Senior Principal, Director of Urban Design
Ariel Brain, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
Principal
Chris Matthews, ASLA
Director of Landscape
Devanshi Purohit, AICP
Principal
Henry Celli, AIA, LEED AP, CPHC
Principal
Kate Finn, SPHR
Principal, Director of Human Resources
Kent Southard
Principal, Chief Financial Officer
Maureen O'Brien, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C
Principal
Mitchell Bush, AIA
Principal
Nirva Fereshetian
Principal, Chief Information Officer
Robin Fitzgerald-Green, AIA
Principal
Sae Kim, AIA
Principal
Talitha Fabricius
Principal, Middle East Regional Director
Adam Cuomo
Associate Principal
Anelise Bateson, International Associate AIA, MCPPO
Associate Principal
Aditya Deshmukh, AIA, LEED GA
Associate Principal
Adrian LeBuffe, MCPPO, LEED AP
Associate Principal
Dan Gelormini, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Associate Principal
Dave Ferris, AIA, LEED AP
Associate Principal
Eileen Casciari, RA
Associate Principal
Elizabeth Bradley, LEED AP
Associate Principal
Emil Gosselin, LEED AP
Associate Principal
Hee Park, RA, NCARB
Associate Principal
Henry Weinberg, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Associate Principal
Jan Abercrombie
Associate Principal
Jim Burke, AIA, LEED AP
Associate Principal
Joe Pucci, AIA
Associate Principal
Laura Rushfeldt, AIA, LEED AP
Associate Principal
Liam O’Sullivan
Associate Principal
Lonnie Ash, RA
Associate Principal
Michael Liporto, AIA
Associate Principal
Rob Hagan, AIA, LEED AP
Associate Principal
Steve Cockcroft
Associate Principal
Tarica Leskiw, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP
Associate Principal
Tyler Lombardi
Associate Principal
Richard Bertman, FAIA Member Emeritus, LEED AP
Co-Founder (retired)
Charles Tseckares, FAIA Member Emeritus
Co-Founder (retired)
David Nagahiro, AIA, LEED AP
Senior Principal

David Nagahiro, Principal and President of CBT, is the driving force and inspiration behind CBT’s vision, design ethos and advancement of practice into the next generation. He leads the firm’s most ground-breaking projects, often resulting in the revitalization of undeveloped and underutilized urban sites which create places and buildings that enrich urban and community life.

David is intimately involved in all aspects of design and is recognized for his tireless pursuit of innovation in professional practice, his insistence on design excellence, and his passion for building strong, sustainable, and resilient places and communities. His passion for the profession is matched by his commitment to the advancement of individuals around him, which makes him an extraordinary agent of change both through his projects and his collaboration with others.

A stalwart supporter of the civic fabric of the community, David serves on the Board of Artists for Humanity, the Board of the Boston Preservation Alliance, and the Editorial Board of Architecture Boston. He is an active collaborator in HubWeek, Boston’s annual innovation festival, and is a leader in pushing the limits of innovation in art, science, and technology.

David holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Washington State University and attended the Architectural Studies Program at the AA / Architectural Association School of Architecture, London. He has been the recipient of the National AIA Young Architects Award, and is a past Rotch Traveling Scholar.

 

 

Vickie Alani, AIA
Senior Principal

Vickie Alani is a Principal at CBT with 30 years of experience in architecture and interior design for projects nationally and internationally. An expert in multi-family residential and hospitality design, Vickie approaches her work with the fluidity and interconnectivity with which people live today. Regarded internationally for her forward-thinking approach and lifestyle expertise, Vickie is a frequent contributor to the larger discourse on changing residential trends and how to design for an evolving culture. She is a prominent voice in the industry, and has been featured internationally at conferences and in interviews for her industry-leading insight. Augmenting Vickie’s work is her passion for mentorship, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and for elevating Women in Design both at CBT and in the greater design community. She received her Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design.
 

Lois Goodell, IIDA
Senior Principal, Director of Interior Design

Lois Goodell is a recognized leader and visionary in the interior design and planning of a variety of workplace, higher education, retail, and mixed-use spaces. As CBT’s Director of Interior Design at CBT, Lois plays an active leadership role in design, management, and development of the firm's interiors work. She has the ability to design and create environments that are perfectly attuned to the vision, mission, and values of her clients.  Her award-winning work is interdisciplinary, and fosters a closer connection between education and workplace interiors for high tech, institutional, financial, legal, non-profit and large corporate clients, both national and international.

Alfred Wojciechowski, AIA, LEED AP
Senior Principal

Alfred Wojciechowski is a Senior Principal at CBT with over 35 years of experience in multi-family residential projects and urban high-rises, as well as single family homes, academic, science, hospitality, civic, and retail design. At all scales, his work incorporates holistic thinking between site, exterior, interior, and environmental considerations. He is involved with projects and clients locally and nationally in locations across Florida, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC. Alfred is a member of the AIA Large Firm Roundtable, AIA Dean’s Forum, the Boston Society of Architects, a Board Member of Boston’s Back Bay Association and is a LEED-accredited professional. Born in Poland and raised in Canada, Alfred joined CBT in 1985. He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Manitoba, and a Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon.

Phil Casey, AIA, LEED AP
Senior Principal

Phil Casey is a Principal at CBT with over 20 years of professional experience leading a wide range of projects spanning large-scale multi-family residential and commercial mixed-use developments, and future-forward life science and laboratory projects. Most recently, these have included several urban and ex-urban life science master plans and buildings in and around Boston; the award-winning, LEED-Platinum 121 Seaport; multiple high-rise residential buildings, and Boston's first LEED-Platinum skyscraper ― the award-winning Atlantic Wharf.  Phil leads many of the firm’s most complex mixed-use projects that have recently reshaped urban skylines thanks to their distinctive, sustainable, complex design solutions. Phil is an active supporter of the United Way and the Citizen’s School, and holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University.

Kishore Varanasi, AICP
Senior Principal, Director of Urban Design

Kishore Varanasi is an urban designer, strategist, and educator who specializes in developing authentic design solutions for cities at all scales that address human connection, social equity, and climate resilience. 

For 25 years, Kishore has worked to shape cities and communities globally through sustainable and holistic solutions in both the public and private sectors. Kishore’s innovative contributions to communities stem from his ability to inspire creative collaborations among individuals, governments, and businesses while simultaneously creating fresh perspectives and approaches to sustainable city-building and living. As a principal and Director of Urban Design at Boston-based CBT, his recent work includes the Masdar City Master Plan, Lincoln Yards in Chicago, the Blueway at the New England Aquarium, Cambridge Crossing, Boston University Master Plan, Suffolk Downs Master Plan, Hudayriyat Island Master Plan, Bhavani Islands Master Plan, The Riverline in Buffalo, NY, and Ghadan21 Climate Interventions. 

Kishore is a regular critic and teacher at various institutions including MIT, Harvard University, Yale University and the Boston Architectural College (BAC). He serves on the Van Alen Institute Climate Council, BAC’s Board of Trustees, and Boston Harbor Now and Emerald Network Board of Advisors. Kishore's work has been recognized by various awards and organizations including the American Institute of Architects, Rethinking the Future, World Architecture News and Urban Land Institute. He holds a Master of Science in Urbanism from MIT; a Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and received his Bachelor of Architecture from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Hyderabad, India. 

Ariel Brain, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
Principal

Ariel is a senior laboratory architect and Principal at CBT with over 25 years of professional experience in the field. He has been a key contributor to projects requiring a high level of integration from multiple disciplines, and is adept at interpreting a wide range of design imperatives. His innate problem-solving skills allow him - and enable the project team - to expertly address complex structural and technical design needs without sacrificing either form or function.

Chris Matthews, ASLA
Director of Landscape

CBT’s Director of Landscape, Chris has more than 30 years of experience in the practice of landscape architecture in the US and abroad, as well as 15 years instructing at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. His work is driven by the belief that landscape design is integral to the overall master plan from day one, resulting in projects that are more sustainable, equitable, efficient, and beautiful. Prior to joining CBT, Chris led the site planning and landscape design of many projects that combine recreation and learning in nature, including the Walden Pond Visitors Center and the planning and design of several higher-education campuses, including UMass Boston, Harvard University, and the University of Washington, Seattle. Chris has also designed recreational and athletic landscapes at the University of Pennsylvania (the 24-acre Penn Park, and the Timothy J. Toomey Park in East Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Devanshi Purohit, AICP
Principal

Devanshi is a widely-recognized urban designer, planner, and resiliency strategist. Highly skilled at generating innovative approaches and urban design solutions, she brings energetic conceptual vision to her work, resulting in active placemaking and smart design. Her ongoing study of the interplay among societies, infrastructure, and our ever-changing climate drives her work, and she is a widely-sought speaker on the effects of urban heat islands and resiliency in the face of global climate change. She is the 2023 recipient of the prestigious Pinnacle Award for Emerging Executive, given by the Boston Chamber of Commerce; and she is a champion of CBT's robust Women in Design initiative. Devanshi holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from M.S. University in India and a Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, from Columbia University.

Henry Celli, AIA, LEED AP, CPHC
Principal

Henry Celli is a Principal and Senior Architect at CBT with over 20 years of professional experience. He has a particular expertise in technically complex architecture that is human-scaled and environmentally responsible. Henry is a sought-after expert for many building types, from residential and commercial developments to large-scale and complex urban projects. Henry is known for developing pragmatic and consistently sustainable solutions for each project and for his creative use of new and emerging technological tools. A Certified Passive House Consultant, Henry holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the Boston Architectural College.

Kate Finn, SPHR
Principal, Director of Human Resources

Kate Finn is a Principal and the Director of Human Resources at CBT with 15 years of experience. She leads the firm's efforts on all human capital initiatives, enhancing workplace culture, and helping to align staffing with current and future project needs. Kate manages career and professional development, benefits, immigration, as well as talent acquisition. Certified in FIRO‑B, she is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, the Northeast Human Resources Association, and the AIA Large Firm Roundtable. Kate holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from the University of New Hampshire.

Kent Southard
Principal, Chief Financial Officer

Kent Southard is a Principal and the Chief Financial Officer at CBT, with 15 years of professional experience. He manages and allocates the firm’s financial resources, for both internal budgets and external project based work. Kent oversees staffing and monitors the finances of all ongoing CBT projects, creating a holistic view of the firm’s financial health. Kent holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Suffolk University and a Master of Business Administration from Northeastern University.

Maureen O'Brien, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C
Principal

A natural project leader of complex projects for both corporate and academic clients, CBT Principal Maureen O'Brien is a Senior Interior Designer with a discerning design sense and sharp business acumen. A specialist in one-of-a-kind interior environments from the refined to the rustic, Maureen's leadership emphasizes both the quality of the design and the quality of the design team. Maureen holds a Master of Interior Design from the Boston Architectural College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Massachusetts.

Mitchell Bush, AIA
Principal

Mitchell Bush is a Principal and Senior Designer with particular expertise in urban design/planning and architecture, and the interplay between the two practices. Since joining CBT, Mitch’s professional experience has been devoted to large-scale and complex urban projects, namely the new and highly-sustainable elliptical tower at 121 Seaport Boulevard in Boston’s Innovation District and the redevelopment of the Government Center Garage into Bulfinch Crossing (the latter involves the complete redevelopment of a centrally-located urban parcel into a 2.4-million-square-foot mixed-use destination at the convergence of five significant Boston neighborhoods). Mitch is known for developing pragmatic and elegant solutions, as well as his advancement of the greater discussion around urban development and design. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Florida and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University.

Nirva Fereshetian
Principal, Chief Information Officer

Nirva Fereshetian is a Principal and the Chief Information Officer at CBT, where she leads the Digital Design Practice Group and is responsible for aligning business technology strategy to meet primary business objectives. She is a highly skilled senior information technology leader, experienced in managing projects and people with an interdisciplinary background in architecture, construction, and technology. She brings capacity to bridge that knowledge to enable informed business decisions and increased productivity. Nirva holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Catholic University and a Masters of Architecture from UCLA.

Robin Fitzgerald-Green, AIA
Principal

Robin Fitzgerald-Green is a Principal at CBT with over 15 years of experience as a designer and project manager, with a particular focus on the successful delivery of large and challenging urban infill projects. Robin is involved in projects from the early planning stages through to final delivery and across all scales, working on some of CBT’s more complex urban design projects. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Columbia University and a Master of Architecture and Urban Design, also from Columbia.

Sae Kim, AIA
Principal

Sae Kim is a Principal at CBT, with over 10 years of experience as an architect and designer focusing on multi-scaled and experiential design and concepts. With particularly keen understanding of creative processes on both national and international levels, Sae is deeply involved in complex, award-winning projects from large urban master plans to architecture and exhibition design. His creative process is founded on the generation and evaluation of multiple design solutions through the lens of problem-solving, storytelling, and value-creation. Recently, he received a prestigious 2024 AIA Young Architects Award and was honored as the sole recipient of the 2022 Boston Society for Architecture's Earl R. Flansburgh Young Designers Award. Sae holds a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Talitha Fabricius
Principal, Middle East Regional Director

Talitha is an established senior project manager, having overseen high-profile and large-scale projects around the world. Her professional experience lends her expertise from both the client and consultant side on large scale projects including commercial/mixed-use, educational, institutional and government-sector projects. Her extensive work in the USA and in the UAE has provided Talitha with deep knowledge and skills in strategic, feasibility, and budget planning, as well as long-range capital planning.

Adam Cuomo
Associate Principal

Adam is a senior architectural designer with strong professional experience working on complex residential projects in the Boston and globally. Adam’s depth of experience with multi-family residential environments extends beyond the building perimeter to encompass site planning and exterior/public realm developments for a number of large urban sites. A designer dedicated to environmental responsibility in all of his work, Adam is a Certified Passive House Consultant and LEED-accredited professional for Building Design and Construction.

Anelise Bateson, International Associate AIA, MCPPO
Associate Principal

Senior Project Manager Anelise Bateson brings finely honed consensus building to CBT’s large-scale, multi-stakeholder, multi-building urban developments. Combining meticulous focus, rigorous methodologies, and an energizing, steadfast bonhomie, Anelise deftly guides complex city-building projects to successful realization. From successful fast-track permitting set delivery, to co-creating forums to share client/consultant best practices, her contributions are as invaluable as they are varied. From guiding the implementation of the innovative hybrid development, 176 Lincoln, in Boston’s evolving Allston neighborhood with Berkely Investments, to overseeing core components of CBTs design for Winn Development’s transformation of South Boston’s Mary Ellen McCormack residential community, Anelise brings wise, effective management to CBT’s urban placemaking. An active participant in the Urban Land Institute and the National Organization of Minority Architects, Anelise has a Bachelor of Architecture from Brazil’s Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos.

Aditya Deshmukh, AIA, LEED GA
Associate Principal

An integral member of CBT’s award-winning Urban Design Group, Aditya Deshmukh is a leading force in CBT’s Abu Dhabi office, providing invaluable design and management expertise to the firm’s clients in the Middle East. An urban designer and architect, Aditya is particularly adept at delivering comprehensive urban visions that respond in equal measure to vital sociological, environmental, and economic development goals. With a Masters in Urban Design and Planning from Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands, and a Bachelor of Architecture from BKPS College of Architecture in Pune, India, Aditya’s project work ranges from large-scale master plan development for new, walkable ,and environmentally sustainable urban districts to establishing city-wide planning frameworks for multi-year strategies.

Adrian LeBuffe, MCPPO, LEED AP
Associate Principal

Adrian LeBuffe is an Associate Principal and Senior Project Manager at CBT. His work ranges from academic and civic facilities to complex residential and mixed-use buildings. Adrian has managed award-winning projects that require highly technical integration from multiple disciplines and which posed several structural and technical design challenges. Adrian holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University and participated in a study abroad exchange program in Lausanne, Switzerland at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. He is a Thesis Advisor for Suffolk University’s New England School of Art and Design, and has served as a guest juror at RISD, Northeastern, and the BAC. He is the Vice-Chairperson of the Winchester Design Review Committee and an active member of the Winchester Central Business District Sub-Committee.

Dan Gelormini, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Associate Principal

Dan is a talented project architect/project manager with great technical abilities, an affable style and proven leadership when undertaking complex design commissions. He is a facile design professional who translates the project vision into accurate and efficient design results. Working as easily on new construction as on existing building renovation and modernizations, he recently completed work on the award-winning renovation and expansion of the renowned Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach.

Dave Ferris, AIA, LEED AP
Associate Principal

Dave brings more than three decades of professional experience in architectural design. He has served as senior designer on a wide range of projects including multi-family residential developments, commercial/office mixed-use developments, private residences, condominiums, hospitality developments, and civic projects. He is known industry-wide for his expertise and meticulous approach to residential unit and floor plan design.

Eileen Casciari, RA
Associate Principal

Expert at the programming, planning, and design of award-winning civic and cultural buildings, from public libraries to public universities, Eileen’s design focus encompasses educational environments, places for community, and centers for the arts. A core member of CBT’s Academic Design Group, her work includes early learning centers to new high schools to award-winning campus restorations.  A library design specialist, Eileen’s portfolio includes eight public libraries, many of which integrate sensitive historic renovation and expansion design, including the AIA/ALA award-winning Woburn Public Library. A registered architect with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame, Eileen’s professional roles include serving the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners as an architectural consultant, as well as a member of the Board of Trustees for Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, Massachusetts.

Elizabeth Bradley, LEED AP
Associate Principal

Elizabeth is a highly accomplished architect with more than 20 years of experience on a broad spectrum of complex projects, ranging from multifamily and mixed-use to adaptive reuse and higher-education campus design. She is a sought-after mentor in the industry and a highly-respected and talented member of the CBT team.

Emil Gosselin, LEED AP
Associate Principal

Emil is an accomplished and extremely diverse professional who has delivered projects of nearly every type practiced at CBT: academic, civic, multifamily residential, and very complex mixed-use projects. Many of these involved historic and architecturally significant buildings, which require agility, precision, and great sensitivity with regard to the built environment. 

Hee Park, RA, NCARB
Associate Principal

Senior designer Hee Park is a mainstay of CBT’s master planning and architectural design successes nationally and globally. Hee’s work encompasses large-scale urban master plans to mid- and high-rise life sciences projects, to multifamily residential towers, in locations from Boston to Taiwan, to the Middle East.

Hee’s portfolio includes design for mixed-use commercial developments, academic institutions, multifamily residences, hospitality, and retail environments. With a Bachelor in Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University, award-winning work includes Masdar City’s Eco-Residences, CBT’s sustainably and resiliently designed new urban district in the United Arab Emirates.

Henry Weinberg, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Associate Principal

Henry is an Associate Principal and a design leader at CBT. With over 20 years of professional experience, many of his projects focus on the seamless integration of landscape and the built environment. His approach to design focuses on sustainability and integration of the public realm at all scales from individual buildings to large-scale developments. In addition, Henry has a passion for the strategic integration of technology at all phases of project development.

Jan Abercrombie
Associate Principal

With 25 years of design and management of a full range of interior architecture projects, Jan is a skilled and meticulous team manager. She has a pragmatic approach to problem-solving and is a facile communicator with all parties in the realization workplace interiors. Her work has served several industry leaders and knowledge-based firms needing the latest imperatives in future-ready workplace design.

Jim Burke, AIA, LEED AP
Associate Principal

Jim is a recognized and talented team leader and architect with meticulous design acumen in all of his work. Particularly skilled in the realization of complex urban projects, he has an unmatched ability to navigate the permitting and design process, build consensus, coordinate large project teams, all while delivering highly tailored architectural solutions.

Joe Pucci, AIA
Associate Principal

Project designer Joe Pucci is a linchpin in CBT’s design of complex, mixed-use urban developments, consistently delivering inspired integrations of life science, innovation, and multifamily uses within pedestrian-friendly, human-scaled environments. 

Expert at synthesizing the vision of commercial developers into cohesive, comprehensive master plans and strategically implementable designs, Joe is equally adept in developing successful design approaches for urban in-fill developments in some of Boston’s densest neighborhoods as he is developing large scale master plans for multi-acre, multi-building sites. 

Joe’s design insight consistently challenges the status quo, paving the way to the best city-building. With a Master and a Bachelor of Architecture from Northeastern University, Joe’s portfolio spans CBT’s design of the multifamily Gables Seaport to the Metro Boston area innovation industry campus, CityPoint South.

Laura Rushfeldt, AIA, LEED AP
Associate Principal

Senior project architect and Associate Principal Laura Rushfeldt’s work is dedicated to shaping the built environment in ecologically transformative, community-centered ways. Her work focuses on the planning and programming for complex cultural and commercial projects that seek to improve urban life, from resiliency to equitable human experience. From these central concerns, her portfolio spans building types, project scales, and geographic settings, from small-scale residential and commercial buildings to large scale mixed-use master planning efforts. A rising expert on design for life science and innovation, Laura presents trend research to industry organizations including the Urban Land Institute (ULI). A talented facilitator and momentum builder, Laura is co-chair of CBT’s Women in Design Group and chairs the Policy Working Group within CBT’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Task Force, propelling programming, conversation, and energizing engagement at CBT, as well as in Boston’s larger design communities. An active member of ULI and the Boston Society of Architecture, Laura has a Master of Architecture from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and B.S. Architecture from The Ohio State University.

Liam O’Sullivan
Associate Principal

A senior design team leader, Liam O’Sullivan is  specialist in building information technology (BIM) and energy modeling, while also providing invaluable design and construction phase continuity for CBT’s civic, academic, life science, and residential project clients. Expert in design coordination, Liam guides complex projects from concept design through construction, assuring the technical excellence of high-performance buildings. Liam’s roles encompass shepherding ultra-fast-paced college “summer-slammer” renovations, to providing multi-year design development continuity for large scale expansions for clients like the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, to meticulous oversight of building infrastructure design for project’s like Fitchburg State University’s Antonucci Science Complex. With a Master of Architecture and Certificate in Historic Preservation from the University of Maryland School of Architecture, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Trinity College, Liam’s expertise is integral to projects achieving the highest sustainability and performance standards, and project budgets and milestones in sharp alignment.

Lonnie Ash, RA
Associate Principal

A leading member of CBT’s Academic Design Group, Lonnie’s design management spans projects for public charter schools, independent preparatory institutions, and university campuses. Keenly attuned to the contextual and cultural imperatives of learning environments, Lonnie’s work is grounded in sustainable and equitable design approaches including guiding projects through the LEED certification process. Expert in the design and project management of new school buildings, targeted renovations, and campus planning at all scales, he has managed multiple projects for returning clients including Northeastern University, Boston College, The Fessenden School, and Middlesex School. Recent award-winning work includes UMass Lowell’s Coburn Hall and Champlain College’s new Residential Quadrangle. A registered architect, Lonnie has a Masters of Architecture from the Boston Architectural College.

Michael Liporto, AIA
Associate Principal

Life science building specialist Michael Liporto is a guiding light in CBT’s Life Science and Innovation Design Group. A senior project architect, Michael understands the multi-layered complexities of these most technical of facilities, assuring that CBT’s architecture provides both the infrastructure and the flexibility to accommodate today’s leading R&D work. Bringing meticulous detailing and expert building system coordination to CBT’s research and innovation building projects, Michael’s portfolio features some of CBT’s most dynamic mixed-use life science developments, including Cambridge’s 585 Kendall, and the Greater Boston area's newest innovation campus, CityPoint South. With a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame, Michael’s project work also includes life science and cultural facilities for client’s including the University of Connecticut, Amherst College, The Penn State University, and Harvard University.

Rob Hagan, AIA, LEED AP
Associate Principal

Rob is an accomplished architect and team leader with 22 years of professional experience. He specializes in the creation of mixed-use and retail-centric developments, with a focus on creating high-quality public realm experiences. He is an expert in placemaking and a recognized thought leader in the field. Rob serves as an integral part of design teams, encouraging open communication and depth of collaboration that ultimately result in diverse and successful projects.

Steve Cockcroft
Associate Principal

Steve Cockcroft is an Associate Principal and technical architectural expert at CBT with over 20 years of professional experience. He has worked with a broad range of clients including multi-family housing, large mixed-use commercial, hospitality, civic, and academic projects. He is an extremely valuable resource at CBT, most notably for his ability to coordinate the implementation and construction of some of the firm’s most large and complex projects. Steve holds an Associate of Engineering with Honor in Architectural-Structural Technology from the Franklin Institute of Boston.

Tarica Leskiw, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP
Associate Principal

A specialist in building reuse, building code, and life safety design, senior project architect Tarica Leskiw leads the technical coordination of complex amenity and specialty space design. Her adaptive design projects feature the sophisticated integration of workplace, retail, hospitality, and cultural environments. A natural team leader, she is expert at solving design challenges during construction to assure each project fulfills its original design intent. As an accredited professional in both the LEED and WELL building certification programs, Tarica is a standard bearer for sustainable, human-centered projects. With a Masters of Architecture from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Architecture from Drury University, Tarica’s projects include reuse design for Boston’s 101 Arch Street and Center Plaza, and CBT’s design of the new 585 Kendall in Cambridge’s Kendall Square, a 500,000-square-foot, 16-story, technologically advanced, hybrid project combining science and the arts.

Tyler Lombardi
Associate Principal

Interior designer Tyler Lombardi is a rising specialist in contemporary workplace environments, multifamily residences, and retail interiors. Tyler brings big picture creative vision and fresh curiosity to each project, providing clients with thoughtful options that unearth inspired design solutions. Pairing a meticulous concern for design detail with a collaborative spirit, Tyler translates each project’s design intent into carefully coordinated construction documents. Notable interior projects include CBT’s LEED-Platinum-certified 121 Seaport, innovative workplace environments for Liberty Mutual’s Boston headquarters, and the rich array of residential amenity spaces at Avalon North Station. With both a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology, Tyler brings added design expertise to CBT through his specialized certification in Neuroscience for Architecture, Urbanism and Design from California’s New School of Architecture & Design.

Richard Bertman, FAIA Member Emeritus, LEED AP
Co-Founder (retired)

Richard Bertman is a Co-Founder of CBT. His work has graced the skyline and streetscapes of Boston, and he has been the force behind prominent restorations and renovations of historic buildings throughout the Northeast. Richard is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and past president of the Boston Society of Architects, which honored him with their highest individual award for lifetime achievement. For his “dedication to preserving the architectural legacy of Boston,” Richard was personally designated an Honorary Boston Landmark by the City of Boston. He was one of the first architects to be inducted into the New England Design Hall of Fame and received a lifetime achievement award from the Boston Preservation Alliance. He holds undergraduate degrees from Harvard University and MIT, a Master of Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley, and has taught at the Rhode Island School of Design. Richard is also known for producing a radical series of three-dimensional mechanical sculptures, meshing together gears, pulleys, switches, and wheels with wire and fabric to forge colorful, moving creations. Though recently retired from the practice, he continues to inform and shape the ethos, culture, and work of CBT.

Follow Richard on his website

Charles Tseckares, FAIA Member Emeritus
Co-Founder (retired)

Charles Tseckares is a Co-Founder of CBT with over 50 years of professional experience in architectural and urban design. He  served as principal-in-charge on a wide range of projects, including academic planning and design, residential and hospitality developments, commercial/office mixed-use developments, and historic rehabilitation. Charles was instrumental in leading our overseas practice including spearheading client development and project offices in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia. Charles is a Member Emeritus Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and is past president of the Boston Society of Architects. He has been honored with the distinguished Citizen of Boston Award and the United Way Leventhal/Sidman Real Estate & Building Industry Award. He has shared his knowledge with numerous academic institutions as a guest critic and advisor including Yale, Harvard, and MIT. Charles received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Dartmouth College and a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a former Fulbright Fellow at the University of Rome, Italy and received a Diploma in Urban Design and Town Planning. Recently retired from the practice, Charles continues to inspire CBT's quest for greater understanding, broader horizons, and the most meaningful relationships with our community and clients.