Mogavero Architects

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Leadership

David Mogavero, Senior Principal David Mogavero is the Senior Principal of Mogavero Architects. He began his career designing naturally heated and cooled buildings over thirty years ago. David’s practice embraces the full range of progressive community design, such as high density mixed-use infill and holistic building systems, including daylighting, natural ventilation, passive heating and cooling, solar shading, water recycling, on-site energy generation and agriculture. David’s roles as developer and environmental advocate help him conceive projects that are economically viable and sensitive to the community and the environment. Through his professional practice, writings and lectures, service as past president and board member of the Environmental Council of Sacramento and the Planning and Conservation League, and current board member of the Council of Infill Builders, David has promoted the widespread adoption of sustainable building and smart growth practices and policies. Craig Stradley, Principal Mr. Craig Stradley, Director of Architecture and Principal at Mogavero Architects, brings more than 30 years of experience in design and urban planning to his work. He has specialized in urban infill projects ranging from multi-family and student housing to complex retail and mixed-use developments. Mr. Stradley enjoys working closely with clients to create projects that balance function and ef ciency with environmental and social concerns. He leads his team of designers with constant attention to the principles of humanistic environments and the creation of a unique sense of place for each and every project. Renner Johnston, Principal Renner became passionate about architecture while working in Europe and returned to the U.S. for a Masters in Architecture at the University of Oregon. Joining Mogavero Architects in 1997, Renner shares the firm’s long commitment to green sustainable design. As Principal, he has designed and managed projects including infill, affordable and market rate housing, mixed-use, urban design and large solar arrays. Renner has also worked on several master planning projects including, the Mather Campus Vision plan, Grass Valley Workforce Housing plan and the Baechtel Charrette for the City of Willits. Cecilia Chouhy, Principal Cecilia is a Principal at Mogavero Architects. With over 15 years of experience in affordable and mixed-use residential architecture, Cecilia is focused on design excellence, bringing new ideas and fresh perspectives to the firm’s housing projects. Cecilia is committed to creating spaces that elicit joy often in spite of restricted project budgets and accelerated timelines. Creative design solutions include shaping light, which can make such a difference to residents. She remembers the dark patio houses common in her native country of Uruguay, and how she long imagined how much better they would look and feel if brightened.  Within Mogavero, Cecilia runs the Project Management Forum, an open platform for discussions about best practices and troubleshooting project issues. In addition, she leads the office BIM Committee, which establishes and maintains office standards and design templates, in an effort to increase project quality and efficiency. With a strong belief in creating inclusive and equitable environments both within Mogavero and across the architecture industry, Cecilia is a mentor to junior staff and an advocate for women and diverse design professionals often promoting and encouraging their excellence, community engagement, and professional development. Cesar Medina, Principal Cesar is Design Director and Principal at Mogavero Architects. With over 25 years of combined experience in residential architecture and design, Cesar has delivered exceptional housing projects throughout Northern California, including student housing at UC Davis, Sacramento State, and University of the Pacific. Originally from Mexico, Cesar has a high design sensibility that merges innovation, functionality, and empathy for the residents who call Mogavero projects “home.”  As the firm’s Design Director, he is responsible for ensuring a high level of quality design across all projects within the firm, with particular expertise in designing affordable, market-rate, and student housing. Cesar has a holistic approach to design, from big decisions early in the process down to the smallest details through construction. An advocate for people in need of housing, Cesar is dedicated to making housing more accessible for all, including for seniors, people with disabilities, and students. He is currently working on a SB169-funded, 400-bed student housing community at Ohlone College. He is passionate about making buildings that are dignified, well designed, and well integrated into the community. He finds great joy in having projects reach completion but also in seeing the communities they foster for years to come.

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Sustainability

Being committed to sustainability has been central to the firm’s ethos since its founding. David Mogavero was practicing ecological architecture prior to founding his first practice over 30 years ago. Principal Craig Stradley has collaborated with David since 1986 to design a wide range of sustainable projects, with approaches ranging from macro site-design considerations to sustainable building systems. Long recognized as thought leaders in the field of sustainability, the firm integrates technologies and natural systems into projects, increasing longevity and reducing life-cycle inputs. Our designs respond to site and context, reflecting the values of our clients while responding to community concerns and fulfilling program goals and objectives.

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Blog

Our firm’s approach to design revolves around the support of positive interactions between people, their community, and their environment. We search for inspirational elements that provide a basis for our designs: from broad concepts to fine grained details. Using themes that include historic and cultural influences, neighborhood identity, or natural elements like climate and environment, […]

Blog

Good Videos

Overview of the Good Project, LJUrban and MNA, featuring Craig Stradley, AIA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0NC7Omfdkc Discussion of Good project from MNA Junior Designer and Good resident Gerard Falla http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PLnrmUz9wg

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Contact Us

Mogavero Architects 1331 T Street, Sacramento, CA 95811 (916) 443-1033 Get Directions This map can be used to help you get walking, or driving directions and cycling information to get you here safely to meet us in person. Drop us a line

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Firm Culture

Mogavero Architects takes great pride in celebrating and cultivating a diverse and inclusive team. With 30% of our employees being first-generation immigrants, we embrace and celebrate the unique perspectives and experiences they bring to our firm. We represent a tapestry of national origins and languages spoken in the workplace, with individuals hailing from twelve different countries (Mexico, Thailand, Lebanon, Egypt, Iran, Uruguay, Argentina, Spain, China, Hungary, Moldova, and Ukraine). We are particularly proud that 50% of our firm comprises talented and accomplished women and nonbinary individuals, promoting gender equality and inclusivity throughout our ranks. We are also thrilled to witness the ongoing evolution of our leadership, evidenced by additions to our Principal group that incudes both Hispanic and female representation. Many of our staff members bike to work, access nearby transit lines, or carpool, earning the label “green architect” while living what we promote in the work we do. As a group, we like to ski, hike, white water raft, take cooking classes, go to baseball games and play softball. We have company picnics in the summer and holiday parties in the winter. We also have an outdoor living room terrace with wifi and a great city view where we meet in small groups or take a break from our desks. We take field trips to look at our work and the work of others. We encourage our staff to keep up with our continually evolving field by visiting sites and places of interest. Our senior staff mentor young professionals in their areas of expertise. We encourage creative thinking and knowledge sharing at weekly team meetings so that we can all benefit from our collective experiences. We foster collaboration on design projects within the firm and with our consultants.

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Services

Residential: Market-Rate & Affordable Housing Multi-Family Retail Mixed-Use Commercial Institutional Entertainment & Cultural Planning & Urban Design Architectural Services Conceptualization, Analysis & Pre-Design Site Planning Schematic Design Design Development Construction Documents Construction Administration LEED Certification & Commissioning BIM Development & Coordination Visualization, Illustration & Renderings Planning Services General Plan Revisions & Studies Specific and Neighborhood Plans & Studies Charettes & Public Involvement Processes Form-Based Code Development, Studies & Recommendations Redevelopment (Area & Corridor) Studies Master Plans & Urban Design Plans Development Services Entitlements Pro-Forma Development Market Conditions Review & Analysis Site Yield Studies Programming Select Development Partnering

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Our Team

A firm is only as good as the company it keeps! At Mogavero Architects, teamwork is an integral part of our operation. Our staff brings a wide variety of special talents and skills to any project as well as a commitment to giving our clients comprehensive, sustainable, multi-disciplinary services. The culture of our firm is inclusive and client satisfaction is a core value. We encourage staff mentoring and cross training as well as collaborating with our clients on architecture, planning and development service projects. Close

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Community Building

Communities start with people, and consensus building is an important part of what we strive for as we approach our work. We listen to stakeholder ideas and fold them into the design process so that the built environment is reflective not only of our own values, but of those who will use the spaces we are responsible for designing. When people have access to a sound decision-making process resulting in a community based plan, the likelihood that they will support new projects, and ultimately own and care for them, is greatly enhanced. Our firm has extensive experience in consensus building and collaborative decision making with public agencies, private organizations and individuals. Public participation in the planning and design process adds immeasurable value to the built environment. We typically facilitate collaborative efforts with neighborhood associations in addition to public and private organizations as we assist merchant builders, developers, government agencies and nonprofit organizations realize their project goals.

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Design

Our firm’s approach to design revolves around the support of positive interactions between people, their community, and their environment. We search for inspirational elements that provide a basis for our designs: from broad concepts to fine grained details. Using themes that include historic and cultural influences, neighborhood identity, or natural elements like climate and environment, we contribute to the definition and creation of community at varying levels while encouraging interaction with the projects we are asked to design. Everything Matters Mogavero Architects is committed to providing exceptional service to our clients, and the communities in which we work. We believe in facilitating smart growth and the development of sustainable neighborhoods that build better communities. As part of providing exceptional service, we are determined to provide exceptional value to our clients; throughout the design process we investigate each element carefully: this investigation minimizes expensive change orders later during the course of construction. We work with contractors throughout the estimating and bidding phases, and have had many opportunities to evaluate the accuracy of estimates on numerous projects. This experience shows us how to specify and detail construction programs to minimize bidding ambiguity and thereby produce projects that meet the allocated budget. In addition, regular team meetings are scheduled with all the consultants throughout the process for interdisciplinary coordination. Internally, the entire staff at Mogavero attends weekly office meetings to monitor all the work in the office. At this meeting project managers report on project schedules, coordinate and assign workloads, and familiarize staff with all projects; this allows the project team to easily grow during critical production points. We’ve developed in-house process systems that help us add value to our client’s projects: In-house charettes and design critiques In-house seminars on products and construction systems Specifications Committee Green Building Committee Professional development program for additional staff education Formalized project management