Summer 2021 Additions to our Team!
In addition to a successful return to in-person collaboration for our team, we have been fortunate to have a new group of talented individuals join our design studio since the beginning of the summer. Please join us in welcoming our newest team members, Andrew Mazer, Eli Perez, Irmak Fermen, and our interns, Oliver Church, Mason Reinhart, Madison Hollowell, and Stephen Leichty.
Andrew Mazer
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
Dual Master of Architecture and Community Planning | University of Maryland
Bachelor of Science in Architecture | Temple University
Andrew hails from New Jersey where he grew up in a rural town between Philadelphia and NYC – two cities that sparked and shaped his interest in the built environment. Living, working, and studying in Philadelphia, Andrew took part in interior design and campus master planning work, as well as supporting local community development initiatives to target environment injustice and gentrification. Finding new interests in urbanist topics, he moved to Washington D.C. to attend UMD where he simultaneously taught architecture studio courses, supported his peers in various student leadership roles and won the HUD 2019 Innovation in Affordable Housing Design Competition. During his educational career, Andrew spent two semesters living and studying architecture and urbanism in Italy. Andrew’s current interests include urbanism, environmentally sensitive design, and the burgeoning field of space architecture.
Eli Perez
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
Master of Architecture | Virginia Tech (WAAC)
Bachelor in Design in Architecture | University of Central Florida
Originally from Orlando, Florida, Eli earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Design in Architecture from University of Central Florida and his M.Arch Degree from Virginia Tech. In Orlando, Eli was passionately involved with the local arts community through volunteer gallery work, guest critiques, and self-led workshops. Currently, Eli is focused on expanding his knowledge on historic preservation and multi-family design, two areas that he strongly believes speak about community, the culture of a place, and their intersections with architecture. In addition, Visualization is a design area that brings him the most peace and excitement. He is proficient at visualization and received a Virginia Tech WAAC Recognition for Visualization Excellence. Eli joins Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS this summer, bringing 2 years of experience working on commercial/retail, office, single-family, CCRCs, entertainment, government healthcare, and master planning projects.
Irmak Fermen
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
Master of Architecture | University of Virginia
Bachelor of Architecture | Istanbul Technical University
Irmak is from Istanbul, Turkey where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture at Istanbul Technical University. She has studied one year at La Sapienza University in Rome, Italy, and one semester at Auburn University in AL, USA during her undergraduate studies. She later received her master’s degree in Architecture at the University of Virginia. She has completed architectural internships at architecture and planning offices in Istanbul and worked as an architectural intern, teaching, and as a research assistant in the US while at UVA. Irmak aims to bring her knowledge in arts and philosophy together with creative space-making. She believes architecture should provide a common ground and work as a catalyst for initiating dialogue between diverse fields and voices. Outside architecture, Irmak spends her time learning digital media, including movie making and motion graphics. She also enjoys singing, dancing, skiing, playing tennis, and analog photography.
Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS Interns
Mason Reinhart
The Catholic University of America, School of Architecture and Planning
B.S. Arch, 2021 and M.Arch, 2023
Mason currently attends Catholic University, where he’s starting his 5th year (out of 6) of the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) program. As an intern, Mason has been involved on different projects and marketing drawings and is passionate about sustainable and innovative design. Outside architecture, Mason is part of the Catholic Men’s Soccer team and won the conference championship in 2019. He is also a traveler and enjoys hiking/sightseeing at national parks.
Madison Hollowell
Virginia Tech (WAAC)
B.Arch, 2023
Madison is a 4th year architecture student at Virginia Tech where she gains experience in hand-drafting and Revit from her design studios. Madison is excited to work on projects that focus on using sustainable design practices. Her design interests lie in creating comfortable, efficient spaces at a range of scales to fit the client and program’s needs. After her semester in Alexandria, Madison will be heading to Demark for a semester abroad before returning to Blacksburg for her thesis. Madison is also interested in photography and traveling.
Oliver Church
University of Virginia, School of Architecture
B.S. in Architecture, Pre-Professional track and B.A. in Economics, 2022
Oliver returns to B|HA while he completes his final year at the University of Virginia School of Architecture. He recently received the 2021 UVA Arts Council Distinguished Artist Award in Architecture. During his internship this summer, he has helped on multiple projects, awards submission packages, proposal drawings, and other marketing drawings.
Stephen Liechty
University of Virginia, School of Architecture
B.Arch, 2023
Stephen is a 3rd year student at University of Virginia School of Architecture, majoring in the Design Thinking Concentration with a minor in Entrepreneurship. While at B|HA, Stephen prepared marketing materials, website drawings, and helped with award submissions for projects including Kennedy on L, Kanawha, and Sedgwick Gardens Apartments. He is excited to apply what he has learned as he returns to UVA and continues to develop his design skills. Outside of architecture, Stephen enjoys making house music and designing cover art for local musicians.