Member Profile: Margaret Parker Salop, AIA

Margaret Parker Salop is accustomed to adapting to new environments while staying true to her passion. She grew up in a military family, living in cities and on bases all over the United States. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University in Urban Studies, focusing on Architecture and Urban Design, and a Master of Architecture from University of Washington, where she studied historic preservation. Her early historic building projects in Seattle were all collaborations with non-profit housing and service providers; Margaret soon realized that her love was less with the historic buildings, and more with the non-profit mission.

Back in the Bay Area, Margaret began at HKIT Architects in 1997, for the opportunity to work on affordable family and senior housing, particularly mixed-use urban projects with supportive services. In 2006, her career evolved into a consulting role for two architectural firms, working with firm leadership on marketing, public relations, and business development. In 2010, Margaret switched over to the client side, serving as an Owner’s Rep for independent schools, particularly at Escuela Bilingüe Internacional in Oakland and Emeryville. Assisting these institutions to meet their institutional goals through the development of new campus facilities was a new way to put her design experience into practice.

Margaret recently returned to where she began her career: at HKIT Architects, managing the planning and design of affordable housing for a variety of non-profit developers. Recent projects include two multi-family communities in Walnut Creek, both built on challenging sites adjacent to the freeway and near to BART; these will provide much needed housing for under-served low-income families. Other current work includes design of an affordable family housing project in San Francisco and a 51-unit apartment building for low-income seniors in West Oakland.

Margaret’s primary interests are in the business of architecture, and how firms can thrive in the work of designing sustainable, beautiful, community-serving buildings, particularly for schools, low-income families, and our elders.

When she’s not at work, Margaret serves on the Board of Directors of Shotgun Players, a Berkeley theater company, where she contributes to the business side of making great art. She lives in Oakland with her high-school twins, husband, and incorrigible dog.