Category: Directors

Melanie Buzgan Dower
Melanie Buzgan Dower is a Principal and Director of Culture at Rothschild Doyno Collaborative, an architecture and urban design firm in Pittsburgh.
As a principal and registered architect, Melanie focuses on the end user’s experience to create meaningful places that respond to a client’s individual and unique needs. This approach embodies her belief that people are at the heart of design.
With her focus and prioritization on our shared humanity, Melanie has guided the open and supportive culture of Rothschild Doyno Collaborative. She fosters an environment built on trust and mutual respect for all living things. Melanie has helped grow a supportive network within the office that allows each individual to flourish and thrive, prioritizing mentorship and collaboration. Melanie is a steward of creative problem-solving that harnesses the expertise and perspective of all stakeholder voices.
Melanie joined Rothschild Doyno Collaborative in 2006, after receiving a Master of Architecture and a Master of Urban Design from Kent State University. She currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Kent State University College of Architecture and Environmental Design. She is a past chair of the American Institute of Architecture Pittsburgh’s Young Architect Forum and Associate Director of the AIA Pittsburgh Board.
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Jeff Kalina
Jeff Kalina is an Associate Principal and Director of Construction and Technology at Rothchild Doyno Collaborative.
Jeff is committed to the realization of meaningful design as a leader in our construction documentation and construction administration. Whether it is working with contractors to problem solve in the field or mentoring staff in the technical aspects of the design documentation, Jeff brings a collaborative spirit and a depth of knowledge to each project.
With nearly three decades in the architectural field, Jeff utilizes a team approach and a strong background in drafting and CAD to partner seamlessly with clients and collaborators and realize meaningful design outcomes.
Jeff enjoys his time “down in the weeds” of a project. His grasp of detail allows him to communicate a project’s goals from the design development phase through completion. In addition to his project work, Jeff is a leader for the firm’s IT systems and software management, overseeing office-wide computing systems and coordinating with software vendors.
His interest in technology, drafting, and construction laid the foundation for the firm’s construction document standards and construction administration practices.
Jeff is dedicated to elevating others through his generous side-by-side mentorship of staff and his willingness to lend a helping hand. His positivity and leadership have made him an invaluable member of the firm.
Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Point Park University and an Associate Degree from Pittsburgh Technical Institute.
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Kate Tunney
Kate Tunney is a Principal and Director of Urban Design and Communications at Rothschild Doyno Collaborative, an architecture and urban design firm in Pittsburgh. She leads the firm’s efforts in urban design and communication, and she works with clients to establish a vision for their site or building. Her work focuses on the design at a neighborhood and building program scale, shaping the interaction between sites and buildings. Kate also manages design projects focused on the adaptive reuse of existing structures, creating designs that connect a building’s history with the client’s current needs.
Kate has helped to advance the role of the Design Sketchbook to communicate both design goals and aspirations in an accessible manner. She has spoken at the American Planning Association’s National Convention to share her experiences in meaningful community engagement. With a dedication to community service, Kate is the co-chair of Industrial Arts Workshop, a non-profit that teaches youth welding skills through the creation of public art. She is a past member of the City of Pittsburgh Contextual Design Advisory Panel and the Strip District Neighbors.
She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in architecture from Parsons School of Design, a division of New School University. Kate is a certified planner, an associate member of the American Institute of Architects, and a LEED-accredited professional.
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Mike Gwin
Mike Gwin is a principal with Rothschild Doyno Collaborative, an architecture and urban design firm committed to a collaborative process with its clients that increases the value of the built environment through meaningful design solutions.
In his 20+ years of experience, Mike has consistently received architectural and sustainable design merit for successful project outcomes, including over 40 design awards at the local, state, and national level including an AIA national honor award for a net-zero community center and a team member for 2 AIA-COTE national top ten green design awards. On numerous accounts, projects have included the adaptive reuse of existing structures into meaningful design solutions that align with clients’ unique visions.
In his role as Director of Design, Mike not only leads projects that deliver innovative design solutions but also fosters a collaborative culture in the design process that encourages the integration of both technical and inspirational goals from initial concept through technical detailing and construction.
Mike continues to work to advance our professional organization’s mission as a past president of the AIA Pittsburgh Board of Directors. In the community, he has been a leader in the integration of Pittsburgh’s local maker movement into architectural design projects advancing local craft in architecture. He is also a committee member with the Pittsburgh Materials Hub of the International Living Futures Institute advocating for and advancing healthy materials in our built environment. He has been an adjunct studio instructor and guest reviewer at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Architecture for a number of years and has participated on many design juries.
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Geoff Campbell
Geoff Campbell is a Principal and Director of Operations and Services at Rothschild Doyno Collaborative. The breadth of his leadership capacity is evidenced through his ability to operate across multiple scales, while deftly balancing each client’s long-term goals with immediate needs. He has developed tools and techniques to facilitate active communication and guide clients to the achievement of successful project outcomes. Geoff consistently leads project teams to deliver exemplary professional services that span architecture, community urbanism, and planning.
Working with a diverse set of clients across an extensive range of buildings and sites, Geoff’s multi-faceted expertise maximizes the potential of every project. His deep understanding of the alignment between rapidly shifting marketplace conditions with design and placemaking goals allows him to comprehensively address design challenges in a way that promotes economic, social, and physical sustainability.
Through his leadership, the firm has redefined its approach to operations, elevated its capacity to provide exceptional design services, enriched delivery outcomes, and implemented systems to guide future growth. Geoff has introduced a systems-thinking approach to the operational framework of the firm that allows the office to operate with great clarity of purpose.
Geoff is a Leadership Pittsburgh graduate and a passionate community advocate. He has previously held the position of President at the Greenfield Community Association and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Strip District Neighbors. He has been active in the Housing Alliance of Southwestern Pennsylvania, has served as a graphic facilitator for the Sprout Fund, has contributed to various committees for NAIOP, and continues to volunteer his time with many local organizations.
Geoff earned his Master of Architecture from The University of California at Berkeley and his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is a registered architect, a member of the American Institute of Architects, and a LEED-accredited professional.
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