ABOUT US
Our staff members have many years of experience with expertise in all areas of project types - intricate to medium size projects, rehabilitation, code upgrade including accessibility, public and private facilities. We have managed many projects with various client types including governmental, commercial, and residential.
Our project management system makes it possible for us to dedicate personal attention to your project. We assign highly skilled staff to oversee and implement every project and provide day-to-day personal contact with clients, consultants, and contractors. Every project is unique and our design team is tailored to the specific needs of each. We have developed our project delivery system to reduce large team inefficiencies.
For preservation projects, we are fully versed in the Secretary of Interiors Standard for Rehabilitation, the California Historic Building Code, as well as various funding resources, the California Environmental Quality Act and federal Historic Preservation Tax Credits. Many of us exceed the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualifications Standards. Our knowledge of the standards, regulations, codes and technology enable us to easily identify how they apply to unique or complex structures and allows us to comfortably explore all options presented by the design challenge.
Michael Garavaglia, AIA, LEED BD+C
Principal, Preservation Architect
Exceeds Secretary of Interiors Professional Qualification Standards - Historic Architecture
With over 32 years of experience in the architectural profession and as principal, Mr. Garavaglia leads the firm with preservation architectural services that respond to the specific needs of cultural resources and their environment. He has long understood the sustainability of historical rehabilitation, its merit in economic development, and its community significance. He seeks opportunities for creative teaming in his staff and consultants to create the most responsive team for each unique project and client. He directs his firm to constantly evolve the preservation services and work products to maintain the relevance of the firm's work, especially in quality control. As such, a preservation project delivery methodology integrating historical knowledge in the design process is key. His work with the preservation community, primarily through involvement with the California Preservation Foundation, has focused on organizational involvement, educational programs, and stewardship development.
His commitment to historic preservation issues includes current memberships with the California Preservation Foundation (past board member and Vice President of Programs), National Trust for Historic Preservation, Association of Preservation Technology, San Francisco Heritage, National Main Street Center, and the Preservation Action Council of San Jose.
He received his professional Bachelor of Architecture from California State Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo that included a special study program in Historic Preservation, and is licensed to practice architecture in California. The National Institute for Conservation has named Mr. Garavaglia a Conservation Assessment Program (CAP) Assessor and is a LEED® Accredited Professional.
Bruce Sloan, AIA
Technical Advisor & Architect
Mr. Sloan has more than 50 years of architectural experience, including 33 years as principal of Woodford/Sloan, AIA, Architects. He became a licensed architect in California in 1970, and earned his NCARB Certificate in 1978. He has a reputation for exceeding client expectations in the arenas of design, client interface, project management and coordination, contract drawings and specifications, and construction administration. He joins Garavaglia Architecture, Inc. as Technical Advisor, bringing expertise in many sectors including government, civic, scientific, and the military. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Ambrose Wong, AIA
Project Manager
Meets Secretary of Interiors Professional Qualification Standards - Historic Architecture
Mr. Wong has over 16 years of experience in the architectural profession designing a wide range of facilities for clients in the governmental, commercial and residential community. Since entering the architectural field in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1994, he has participated in the design and construction of many and varied historic preservation, tenant improvement, and residential remodel projects in the greater San Francisco Bay Area and throughout California. As Project Manager, Mr. Wong is responsible for the day-to-day management of Garavaglia Architecture Inc. architectural projects as well as providing the oversight and coordination of architectural related issues for our preservation services projects.
Mr. Wong is dedicated to professional development and has actively participated in numerous design charrettes at for local communities for over seven years. He is constantly expanding his knowledge in related fields of carpentry and residential electrical and plumbing. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo and is now approaching the last phase of the California Architectural Registration Examination.
Alison Garcia Kellar
Architectural Historian
Meets Secretary of the Interior Professional Qualifications Standards - Architectural History
Ms. Garcia is an architectural historian with a wide range of interests and experiences. Her work at Garavaglia Architecture, Inc. includes extensive archival research, Historic Resource Evaluations, feasibility studies, cultural landscape reports, National Register nominations, Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit applications, Environmental Impact Reports, historic context statements, Secretary of the Interior's Standards compliance reviews, Historic Structure Reports, HABS/HAER/HALS documentation projects, and reconnaissance and intensive-level survey work.
Ms. Garcia came to GA with a broad background in historic preservation, archival collection management, and interior and lighting design. She received a B.A. in Design with a focus on Interior Architecture from UC Davis, and an M.S. in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Garcia has worked in museums and for design and preservation firms in Northern California, Miami and Philadelphia, gaining extensive experience conducting conditions assessments, historical research, and field survey documentation. Ms. Garcia is fluent in Spanish and holds memberships with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, San Francisco Heritage, American Society of Interior Designers, and the Illuminating Engineering Society.
Stephen Gallardo
Senior Drafter
Mr. Gallardo joined Garavaglia Architecture, Inc.'s team as Senior Drafter and has worked on a broad range of project types including residential, retail, commercial, and food service establishments. His residential experience largely consists of wood frame construction for both multi and single-family homes in California and Nevada. While he is relatively new to the field of historic preservation, he had completed a few historic projects prior to joining Garavaglia Architecture, Inc., and his experience completing tenant improvement projects on a wide variety of building types gives him invaluable insight into how to work within an existing building. Additionally, Mr. Gallardo also has unique construction experience having served in the California National Guard for 6 years, during which he was deployed by the Army Corps of Engineers to complete two tours of duty in Iraq to complete numerous reconstruction projects. During these two separate 6-month deployments, he assisted in rebuilding schools, roads, bridges, water irrigation systems, power grids and other infrastructure projects as needed.
Mr. Gallardo is currently lending his drafting expertise to the Angel Island Immigration Station Hospital Rehabilitation project and will provide support to efforts both in the architectural studio and preservation services division. His specific skills include expertise in AutoCAD, and REVIT (2012) Photoshop, and Illustrator.
Mr. Gallardo received a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from University of St. Thomas Aquinas He is currently undertaking the tests to obtain a license to practice architecture.
Steve Garavaglia
Business & Financial Manager
Bio coming soon!
Jacqui Hogans
Architectural Conservator
Exceeds Secretary of Interiors Professional Qualification Standards - Architectural History
Ms. Hogans has extensive project management experience with particular focus on conditions assessments, construction materials, finishes analysis, and recommendations for rehabilitation and long-term maintenance. In her role as Architectural Conservator, Ms. Hogans focuses on architectural history and material conservation, with a firm grasp on the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Prior to joining Garavaglia Architecture, Inc., Ms. Hogans worked in New York City where she was responsible for overseeing exterior restoration projects involving historic buildings, from small residential repairs to large-scale restoration and redevelopment projects. She has experience preparing proposals, creating preliminary budgets and construction documents, overseeing the bidding process, and monitoring construction work in progress.
Ms. Hogans' specialties include masonry and metalwork, specifically conservation and repair of weathering steel. Her research has included investigative repairs for graffiti removal at masonry and steel, as well as the conservation of the sandstone at Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Ms. Hogans holds a B.A. in Architectural Studies and Urban Studies from Brown University, and an M.S. in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. She is an active member of the Association for Preservation Technology International, the California Preservation Foundation, and the Junior League of San Francisco.
Ricarda Cepeda
Job Captain
Meets Secretary of Interiors Professional Qualification Standards - Historic Architecture
Ms. Cepeda has more than 20 years of specialized experience in the maintenance and restoration of existing buildings. She is highly skilled in several disciplines, including architecture, construction management, architectural conservation, historic research, photography, material condition assessments, report production, and laboratory experiments. Ms. Cepeda's work experience has expanded on knowledge obtained through academic programs in historic preservation, workshops, and lectures. She has also worked in cultural resource management in the United States at local and national levels, and has participated in public education by means of organized tours, television segments, and other media. She has practiced conservation methodology in the states of New York and California, Romania, and the Western and Pacific Island Regions on monumental historic buildings.
Ms. Cepeda's educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural History, Art History, and Archaeology from the University of Maryland at College Park, and a Master of Science in Architecture and Historic Preservation Certificate from Texas A&M University. More recently, Ms. Cepeda managed her own architectural restoration business in New York and worked as a general construction project manager.
Rebecca Salgado
Conditions Assessment Specialist
Secretary of the Interior Professional Qualifications Standards - Architectural History
Ms. Salgado is a historic preservation professional with experience in field surveying, conditions assessment, historical research, report writing, historic preservation regulation, and public interaction and education. Her work at Garavaglia Architecture, Inc. includes conditions assessments reports, archival research, feasibility studies, cultural landscape reports, National Register nominations, Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit applications, Historic Structure Reports, and reconnaissance and intensive-level survey work.
Ms. Salgado has a broad background in historic preservation, editing, and architecture. She received a Bachelor of Architecture from Cooper Union and an M.S. in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. Ms. Salgado has worked for local governments, nonprofit organizations, universities, publishing houses, and design and preservation firms in New York, Northern California, and Argentina. Prior to joining Garavaglia Architecture, Ms. Salgado worked in New York City as a Landmarks Preservationist at the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, where she was responsible for reviewing applications for work on landmarked properties throughout the city. Ms. Salgado holds memberships with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, San Francisco Heritage, and Preservation Alumni.
