ERICK MIKITEN — PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT

Bachelor of Architecture, University of Texas at Austin
Master of Architecture, University of California at Berkeley
Licensed Architect in California since 1991

Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Member, US Green Building Council (USGBC)

Erick Mikiten has taught architectural design at the University of California at Berkeley and continues to lecture there and participate in design reviews as a guest critic.

Mr. Mikiten has worked in architecture since 1981. His experience includes civic architecture, multi- and single-family residences, transitional housing and housing for the homeless, commercial buildings, educational facilities, and renovations. Mr. Mikiten trained at internationally acclaimed architect Charles Moore’s firm Moore Ruble Yudell in Santa Monica, California, where he worked on commercial and religious buildings. Mr. Mikiten co-founded Mikiten Architecture in 1991, and is an expert in design for people with physical disabilities. As a life-long wheelchair rider and experienced architect, he has a deep respect for individual needs and desires, and brings this awareness to all our clients.

Mr. Mikiten has worked with non-profit developers Affordable Housing Associates, Resources for Community Development, Satellite Homes, Inc., Housing Consortium for the East Bay, and B.O.S.S. (Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency) to create HUD and other public-financed housing in Berkeley, Oakland, and Concord. He consulted for the Trammell Crow Company on a large-scale development of accessible housing, and has been an expert witness testifying on access codes.

Mr. Mikiten’s tour books for wheelchair riders are published by the California State Coastal Conservancy. They cover beaches and waterfronts in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. He has consulted for the Coastal Conservancy on access improvements on a number of projects, and created a new beach design for the newly acquired Gleason’s Beach north of San Francisco.

ELISA MIKITEN — URBAN PLANNER

Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, University of California at Berkeley
Master of City Planning, University of California at Berkeley

A co-founder of Mikiten Architecture, Ms. Mikiten has worked in design since 1989. She has remodeled many apartment units for accessibility with the City of Oakland’s Tenant Access Program. She authored an innovative technical guide to barrier-free transportation facilities for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, published “A Consumer’s Guide to Home Adaptation” for the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, and conducted seminars on state and federal access issues for architects and developers. She has helped form two non-profit agencies, including Affordable Housing Associates in Berkeley.

LAURA NATKINS — ARCHITECT, LEED AP

Bachelor of Arts, Magna cum laude, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Master of Architecture, Harvard Graduate School of Design

Ms. Natkins has over 25 years of experience designing multifamily, community, and residential projects throughout the Bay Area. She had her own firm for 11 years, and has been project architect on affordable housing projects, student housing, library work, and many single-family homes. Ms. Natkins has been responsible for leading projects through the design, planning approval, construction documents, bidding, and construction phases.

She has worked as a lighting designer, has been a LEED Accredited Professional (AP) since 2002, and is a Board Member of the Community Land Trust of West Marin and past Board Member of Environmental Forum of Marin.

Representative Experience:

• 4,500 sf new residence incorporating salvaged and antique materials – Orinda, California

• 2,500 sf caretaker’s unit/garage addition to a 10,000 sf historic mansion – San Francisco, California

Bethany is an avid student of Brazilian dance. Axé!

KRISTINA CHARBONNEAU — Project Manager, Sustainability Specialist

Bachelor of Architecture, The University of Texas at Austin

Ms. Charbonneau is a specialist in green/sustainable design. She has experience introducing green products and strategies to high-end commercial/retail and residential projects in San Francisco and Emeryville. She has also created a proposal for the sustainable design of retail stores. She presented this proposal at the Eco-Wave Conference, held in Berkeley, CA, August of 2003. In addition, this proposal will be used, as a resource, by Architecture firms in the future.

Representative Experience:

• Project Manager, 17-unit affordable family housing in Walnut Creek, CA
• New residence- Austin, TX
• Victoria’s Secret Stores- throughout the U.S.
• Construction documents for Victoria’s Secret prototypical store
• 54 unit mixed-use development, including retail spaces, live work units, studios, and apartments- Emeryville, CA

Kristina's extracurricular activities include triathlon training, kayaking, hiking, camping, and sailing.
 

LAURA SHAGALOV — JUNIONR DESIGNER

Master of Architecture with minor in Landscape Architecture, University of California at Berkeley

Ms. Shagalov started with Mikiten Architecture in 2007. She has a passion for making connections between buildings and their natural settings. Having focused on Mandscape Architecture in the process of getting her Master of Architecture degree, she is helping Mikiten Architecture to bring more landscape design work in-house.

KUNAL PARIKH — INTERN

Master of Architecture (2009 candidate), Califronia College of Art, San Francisco Campus

Mr. Parikh brings particular expertise in various computer-imaging applications to Mikiten Architecture. His modeling and visualization skills help us render and visualize projects better - meaning better communication with clients and a more thorough design process in-house.

PAM BOYLE — BOOKKEEPER

(and Karate instructor extraordinaire)

Erick

Erick

Elisa and Eli

Laura Natkins

Kristina