1Category: Staff Announcements

We are excited and proud to share that Partner and Principal Jason Forney, FAIA, has been appointed Chair of the American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Education (AIA CAE).

The AIA CAE is a national knowledge community of nearly 13,000 members dedicated to advancing the design of learning environments. Jason has been an active member of the committee for several years, serving as an at-large member and as part of the leadership group before taking on the role of Chair.

In his letter to the CAE community, Jason shared his vision for the year ahead with an emphasis on the “Continuum of Learning Spaces.” The idea is that people learn across all stages of life and in far more contexts than the traditional classroom: from early childhood centers and K–12 schools to higher education buildings, museums, and corporate learning facilities. As designers, our role is to understand what makes all of these environments excellent and to create spaces that are adaptable, inclusive, and rooted in community.

Jason also leads alongside a leadership group of talented architects from across the country, and four active subcommittees focused on research, advocacy, awards, outreach, and forum programming.

Congratulations, Jason!

Read Jason’s letter on the AIA Community Hub

We are proud to celebrate Patrick Sardo on earning his architect’s license!

Patrick joined Bruner/Cott in 2024 after receiving his Master of Architecture from the University of Virginia. With a strong interest in the reuse of existing buildings and urban infrastructure, his work reflects a thoughtful, people-centered approach to design.

Since joining the firm, Patrick has contributed to projects at Brandeis University and a mass-timber multifamily housing development in Cambridge currently in design. He is also part of the team working with the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center in Vermont. His work brings clarity and rigor to each phase of the design process while supporting projects grounded in purpose and place.

We are incredibly proud of this accomplishment and look forward to Patrick’s continued growth and contributions at Bruner/Cott. Congratulations, Patrick!

We’re excited to welcome two Northeastern University co-ops to the Bruner/Cott studio this spring! Krystyna and Keira join us from January through the end of June, and we’re thrilled to have them as part of the team. 

Krystyna is a third-year architecture student originally from Colorado, joining us for her first co-op. As our architecture co-op, she works across different project teams, gaining hands-on exposure to multiple phases of design and construction. 

Keira is a third-year student from the Bay Area of California, pursuing a dual focus in architectural studies and business, also on her first co-op. As our marketing co-op, she works to tell the stories behind our projects and promote the firm’s legacy of design excellence through proposals, presentations, award submissions, website content, and social media. 

Together, they bring fresh energy and perspective to studio life. Co-ops become fully immersed in the firm’s work from day one, and their contributions matter. It’s a reflection of our ongoing commitment to supporting the next generation of design professionals, and one of the reasons we’re proud to be recognized by AIA New England as an Emerging Professional–Friendly Firm. 

Welcome, Krystyna and Keira. We’re so glad you’re here! 

We are thrilled to celebrate Yujin Cao for earning her architect’s license, a milestone that reflects years of dedication, rigorous study, and professional perseverance.

Since joining Bruner/Cott in 2022, Yujin has been an integral member of our team, contributing to projects and studies at Harvard University, Northeastern University, and Williams College. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology and a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Beyond her project work, Yujin helps shape our studio culture by organizing internal education programs and lunchtime presentations that foster collaboration and learning. She also serves as Co-Chair of the BSA Emerging Professionals Network, supporting and mentoring emerging architects across the Boston community.

We are proud to celebrate this achievement and look forward to seeing Yujin continue to grow and lead!

A huge congratulations to Yujin Cao for passing all of her exams on the path to licensure!

We’re incredibly proud to celebrate this major milestone. Licensure is a rigorous journey that takes years of dedication, study, and perseverance, and Yujin tackled it with thoughtfulness, focus, and determination.

Yujin joined Bruner/Cott as a designer in 2022 and has been an integral team member on projects and studies at Harvard University, Northeastern University, and Williams College. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology and a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

We can’t wait to see what’s next for her as she continues to grow in her career at Bruner/Cott!

We’re proud to share that Jackie Mignone is now a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC®)! This exciting achievement reflects Jackie’s commitment to sustainable design excellence and marks a significant step forward for both her career and our firm.

Jackie recently served as Project Manager for the Pok Oi Residences at 288 Harrison Avenue in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood—an affordable housing development designed to meet Passive House standards.

With this new certification, Jackie strengthens Bruner/Cott’s capacity to deliver high-performance, low-carbon buildings that align with our mission of design excellence and environmental responsibility. We’re excited to see the continued impact of her work on our projects, our clients, and our communities.

Congratulations, Jackie!

Congratulations to Jason Forney, FAIA, for being elected to the 2024 BSA/AIA Board of Directors!

Jason joins five other design professionals who were elected to govern, set direction, ensure resources, and provide oversight to the BSA organization.

Jason has been a BSA member since 2002 and believes that design wields the power to inspire, address pressing global challenges, and drive positive change. He fully supports the BSA’s commitment to tackling issues of equity and sustainability within the built environment and is excited to use his time and expertise on the BSA Board to propel ongoing progress.

Read more about the 2024 BSA Board of Directors here. 

We’re extremely lucky to have TWO talented co-ops joining us this semester from Northeastern University – Amy McAllister and Allison Leacu.

Allison is a fourth-year Architecture & Design Student from Northeastern University, concentrating in Graphic and Information Design. She’s currently working on an adaptive reuse project at Wesleyan University and on the Crocker Cow Barn for Mass Audubon in Princeton, MA. Allison is interested in taking an active role in mitigating the effects of climate change through design and was drawn to the sustainable focus that carries across Bruner/Cott’s work and the firm’s collaborative approach.