Elsy Studios Expands Leadership Team; Adds Two New Principals
Elsy Studios, a Denver‐based full-service commercial interior design firm, recently promoted two of its associates, Sarah Zales, AIA, NCARB and Cathy Loftus, NCIDQ, LEED GA to principal. In their new roles, Zales and Loftus will support the overall management of the firm, including strategic planning and business development, as well as continuing to work directly with clients to implement full-service interior design solutions. Zales and Loftus were among the first employees of Elsy when it launched in 2012.
“Elsy Studios would not be where it is today without the drive, dedication and design prowess of these two powerful leaders,” said Lynn Coit, founder and president of Elsy. “With Sarah and Cathy’s design expertise and ability to inspire others, this new leadership structure will not only foster future growth of the team, but also provide a new level of service excellence to our clients.”
Zales offers 20 years of experience in architecture and interior design, as well as extensive experience with the International Building Code, which allows her to creatively address client challenges and seamlessly reconcile beautiful design with complex building code criteria. Serving as the architect of record for Elsy’s projects, Zales brings project management and design experience to a diverse client base from large corporations to smaller operations.
Zales’ most notable projects include Healthgrades Headquarters, Merchant & Gould, Inspirato Vail Lounge, CH2M Headquarters and an ASID award-winning ceiling design for a shared service center. She received a bachelor’s degree in environmental design from Miami University, and a Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado at Denver. She maintains certifications as an ICC Plans Examiner, ICC Commercial Building Inspector and ICC Accessibility Plans Examiner/Inspector.
Loftus brings 15 years of design and project management experience to the principal role. Her creativity and interior design talents have earned the loyalty of clients, as well as industry recognition in national and regional publications. Loftus’ most recent projects at Elsy include Anton Collins Mitchell, Icon Venue Group/CAA, NetApp, and Miles Marketing.
Loftus received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Furman University before receiving an associate degree in interior design from Arapahoe Community College. She is a graduate of the Downtown Denver Partnership’s 2016 Leadership Class, a recipient of the Denver Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award, NCIDQ-certified, and has received the LEED Green Associate credential from the U.S. Green Business Council.
NexCore Group’s Kyle Robbins earns Design-Build Professional™ Certification from DBIA
NexCore Group, a national healthcare real estate developer, today announced today that Kyle Robbins, the firm’s senior vice president Design & Construction, has successfully completed the Design-Build Institute of America’s (DBIA’s) comprehensive education and certification testing program, to achieve the design-build industry’s highest designation as a nationally certified Design-Build Professional™.
To obtain the Designated Design-Build Professional™ certification, Mr. Robbins met the prerequisite two to six years of substantial, documented direct project experiences in design project delivery experience.
DBIA Certification is the nation’s only measurable standard of an individual’s knowledge of the Design-Build Done Right™ principles vital to successful project delivery. By completing these requirements, which touch on all aspects of design-build, candidates earn the right to display “DBIA” after their names, identifying them to design-build end-users and the industry at large as experienced design-build professionals.
NexCore Group Managing Principal Todd Varney says Mr. Robbins’ accomplishment is a proud moment for NexCore. “Kyle’s excellence as a design-build professional is well-known to our industry, and having the prestigious DBIA distinction further exemplifies his commitment to the highest ideals in healthcare real estate design and construction.”
Mr. Robbins has more than 21 years of experience in the design, construction and development of real estate projects, with a primary focus on the healthcare industry. His broad scope of project experience includes healthcare, high-tech, critical facilities, laboratory, hangar and flood control projects. His renovation and construction projects for healthcare clients such as Kaiser Permanente, Adventist Health and John Muir Health include surgery, radiology, emergency, trauma, patient rooms, pediatrics, wound care, cancer treatment, acute care, pharmacy, dietary and dialysis facilities ranging in value from $100,000 to $260 million. Mr. Robbins has provided exemplary senior leadership for his project teams, and his executive management has ensured projects are completed within budget and on schedule.
Mr. Robbins earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering Management and a minor in Business Administration from Oregon State University. In addition to his DBIA certification, he is also an OSHPD Class A Healthcare Inspector and a LEED Accredited Professional.
JVA, Incorporated Announces Two Promotions
JVA, Incorporated, a structural, civil, and environmental consulting engineering firm headquartered in Boulder with offices in Denver, Fort Collins, Winter Park and Glenwood Springs announced two promotions.
Steve Carpenter has been promoted to principal. Steve has been with JVA since 2013 and he leads JVA’s structural team in the Fort Collins Office. Steve has extensive higher education experience in Wyoming and Colorado and he has designed numerous projects for Colorado State University, the University of Wyoming and Front Range Community College. Steve also has significant K-12 education and healthcare experience. He is a LEED AP and Steve has been involved with the local building community in the US Green Building Council and the Structural Engineers Association of Colorado.
Jeannette Torrents has been promoted to Senior Associate. Jeannette has been with the JVA Structural team since 2002, working out of the Boulder office as a Senior Project Manager. She is a LEED AP and is currently the President of the Structural Engineers Association of Colorado. Jeannette’s career has focused on the structural design of healthcare and K-12 education facilities. She also has extensive experience in multi-family and senior housing as well as commercial building construction.
