Education
- Syracuse University, Bachelor of Architecture
Experience
- Over 15 Years in the Industry
Registrations
- Architect MD
- NCARB
- LEED® Accredited Professional + Building and Construction Specialty
Associations
- American Institute of Architects
- Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums
- Society for College and University Planning
- Small Museum Association
Throughout her career, Cara has blended her interests in design, sustainability, and technology to contribute to the success of her clients and project teams. Cara graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Architecture. During her educational journey, she studied abroad in Florence, Italy. This experience influenced her ability to integrate contemporary elements into historic structures while maintaining their original character. Cara joined MCA in 2009. She was impressed with the firm’s reputation for outstanding service to their clients. Similarly, Cara strives to propose appropriate solutions by understanding the client’s goals. She engages multiple building stakeholders (including leadership, future occupants, and the community) to achieve a more dynamic, flexible, functional, and purposeful building. By establishing a highly collaborative environment, Cara uses the combined knowledge of her team to develop creative resolutions to complex problems – turning project challenges into opportunities for innovation.
Cara has held the roles of project manager and project architect on a wide variety of building types, including museums, libraries, cultural offices, health and wellness centers, cafeterias, student unions, dormitories, research labs, and classroom buildings. She is actively involved in all phases of a project’s development from concept to construction administration. She enjoys reinforcing overall design themes through thoughtful details. As a result of her ability to combine aesthetics and function, she has designed several award-winning projects.
Cara has been a LEED Accredited professional since 2009 and earned her Building Design + Construction specialty in 2011. She has managed the LEED Certification process for Gold and Silver accredited projects and is an active member of MCA’s Sustainability Committee. To improve the efficiency of her projects, Cara has pioneered the use of emerging technologies in the office. Her projects have utilized 3D modeling, building information modeling (BIM), rendering software, social media for community interaction, and mobile device enabled construction software. Additionally, Cara has served on the BIM / Documentation Standards Committee for every company where she has worked. Her industry affiliations include the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums (MAAM), the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), and the Small Museum Association (SMA). Through these activities, Cara helps MCA serve their clients well.
Did you know that …
Cara enjoys walking. Her personal step record is 36,000 steps in one day. That day included a 10-mile walk around Fort McHenry National Monument and Shrine and a visit to Baltimore’s Artscape Festival.