AIA
Principal Emeritus

A versatile architect with an academic background that includes art history and mathematics, Sara has a valued combination of analytic skills, technical expertise, and design sensitivity. She brings over 30 years of design and construction experience, including serving as a principal in a mid-size architectural firm, to each project.
During the past 20 years, she has focused her career on higher education facilities, including numerous complex, multi-phased housing, dining, and academic projects for universities throughout the Midwest.
Sara’s ability to develop the broad goals of the project while attending to the client’s needs and technical aspects has made her successful in leading projects. Her success is exemplified by a number of repeat projects for clients - 12 residence halls at Washington University in St. Louis, eight residence halls at University of Missouri and two residence halls at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign where she earned her Master of Architecture.
Clients depend on Sara to coordinate the design team’s efforts and be a collaborative leader for their project and give close attention to all details of the building. She brings to each project a commitment to provide the best value through a process that is creative, informed and engaging.
Representative Work
(Personal experience while at Mackey Mitchell Architects)
Student Housing
Washington University in St. Louis
- South 40 Master Planning/ CUP (1997-2009)
- Master Planning for 40-acre residential district for 3,200 students
South 40 Substation (1997)
- Electrical substation for residential campus
Gregg House (Phase 2) 1999
- New 155-bed residence hall for upperclassmen in single suites. Faculty apartment. Brookings Residential College.
Lien House (Phase 2) 1999
- New 175-bed residence hall for freshmen with double semi-suites. Brookings Residential College.
Lien Parking Facility (Phase 2) 1999
- 2-level parking garage with thermal plant.
Nemerov House (Phase 2) 1999
- New 130-bed residence hall for upperclassman with single bedroom suites. Faculty apartment. Wayman Crow Residential College.
Village House Residence Hall & Dining 2001
- New 150-bed residence hall for upperclassmen with single semi-suites. Includes 200-seat dining facility, private dining rooms, and black-box theater.
Lopata House (Small Group Housing/Village) 2001
- New 167-bed residence hall for upperclassmen with single semi-suites. Includes classrooms and multi-purpose meeting rooms. - View Image
Fraternity House No. 2 (Small Group Housing/Village) 2001
- New fraternity house for two Greek chapters.
Fraternity House No. 4 (Small Group Housing/ Village) 2001
- New fraternity house for two Greek chapters.
Thomas A Eliot House (Phase 3) 2003
- New 167-bed residence hall with double semi-suites and single semi-suites.
Dardick House (Phase 2B) 2004
- New 180-bed residence hall for freshmen with double semi-suites.
Koenig House (Phase 4A) 2005
- New 163-bed residence hall for freshmen with double semi-suites.
Liggett House (Phase 4B) 2006
- New 116-bed residence hall for upperclassmen with single suites.
Park House (Phase 5) 2007
- Renovation for 204-bed for freshmen with 6-person and 4-person double semi-suites.
Village East Apartments 2008
- New 153-bed residence hall with single-bedroom apartments.
South 40 Chiller Plant 2009
- New chiller plant for residential district.
Umrath House (Phase 6) 2009
- New 99-bed residence hall with double semi-suites. Includes campus retail store, summer conferencing offices and student activity spaces.
South 40 House (Phase 6) 2009/2010
- New 225-bed residence hall for upperclassmen with single suites. Includes 400-seat dining center, residential life offices, fitness center and multipurpose meeting rooms.
Thomas Eliot B House (Phase 6) 2010
- New 150-bed residence hall for upperclassmen with single bedroom suites.
Olin Business School Expansion completion anticipated (anticipated completion 2014)
- 175,000 GSF business school with two connected buildings, united by glass atrium
George Warren Brown School of Social Work Goldfarb Commons (2007)
- “Grounds for Change” coffee/café commons renovation
Missouri University of Science and Technology
- Residential College Hall One (2004)
- New 280-bed residence hall for upperclassmen and freshmen students in single-bedroom suites and double bedroom suite-semi units. - View Image
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
- Ikenberry Commons Bousfield Hall (2013)
- New 484-bed residence hall for upperclassmen students in single-bedroom suites and double bedroom suite-semi units. - View Image
Ikenberry Commons Residence Hall No. 3 Schematic Design (completion anticipated 2016)
- New 504-bed residence hall for freshmen students designed in 10-12 student double bedroom clusters.
University of Cincinnati
- Stratford Heights (2005)
- 14 new residential buildings with 700 beds, designed for Greek and other group living. Multipurpose building with banquet rooms, convenience store and café. Two parking garages.
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
- 17 th Avenue Hall and Dining Facilities (2013)
- New 600-bed residence hall for freshmen students designed in double bedroom clusters with semi-private bathrooms. Includes new 400-seat dining facility and Greek Chapter Houses. - View Image
University of Missouri
- South, Center and North Halls (Southwest Campus Housing) (2006)
- New 659-bed residence halls for freshmen and upperclassmen students designed in single bedroom semi-suites, double bedroom semi-suites, double bedroom suites, single bedroom semi-suites and single units. Includes convenience store and living/learning classrooms. - View Image
Dogwood, Hawthorn and Galena Halls (Mid Campus Housing) (2009)
- New 526-bed residence halls for freshmen students designed in community-style double bedrooms of primarily 18-resident clusters. Living-Learning Community.
Defoe & Graham Hall Renovation and Addition (2009)
- Renovation and addition to two historic residence halls for 314 student beds.
University of Pittsburgh
- Mark A. Nordenberg Hall (2013)
- New 559-bed high-rise residence hall for freshmen students with student wellness center and retail space.
University of Wisconsin - Madison
- Dejope Hall & Four Lakes Market (2012)
- New 412-bed residence hall for freshmen students designed in double bedroom clusters with semi-private bathrooms. Includes new 450-seat dining facility, 264-seat multi-purpose room, convenience store, coffee house and satellite student health center. - View Image