NEW YEAR, NEW PROMOTIONS

Berkeley, CA — ELS is pleased to announce the following seven promotions: Diana Banh to Director of Marketing and Communications; Lauren Wynveen and Marc Chu to Senior Associate; and Dana Bazzi, Dana Vollmer-Grant, John How, and Tracy Chan to Associate. We recognize each of their individual contributions to the success of the firm and their advancements in professional growth.

CONTACT: Diana Banh | dbanh@elsarch.com | 510.549.2929

DIRECTOR

Diana Banh, CPSM, Director of Marketing and Communications joined ELS in 2007 and brings over 15 years of strategic marketing, communications, and business development experience. She works closely with the Board of Directors on strategic initiatives including ELS’ recent branding and website re-fresh, long-range and annual marketing plans, and strategic partnering alliances. She manages internal and external creative resources as well as the firm’s social media. Diana is a Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) and an active member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) San Francisco Bay Area Chapter. She received her Master of Design in Design Strategy from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Design and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Computing and the Arts from the University of California San Diego.

SENIOR ASSOCIATES

Lauren Wynveen, Architect, Senior Associate, joined ELS in 2013. Lauren has worked on a variety of projects including mixed-use planning, retail centers, and residential building design. She works directly with city officials, consultants, and members of the community, and contributes her creative talents in both conceptual and technical phases to a variety of projects. Her recent project work includes the Austin Energy Headquarters, the Downtown Dublin Preferred Vision, which was recognized with the Honor Award from the AIA California 2021 Urban Design Awards, and Lisser Hall at Mills College, which was awarded a 2021 Preservation Design Award for Rehabilitation by the California Preservation Foundation. Lauren received a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture with Highest Honors from the University of California, Berkeley.

Marc Andrei G. Chu, Architect, LEED AP, Senior Associate, joined ELS in 2014. He brings over 10 years of comprehensive project experience including commercial, retail, public sector, hospitals, and housing. Marc served as the prime contact for the construction administration phase of the NewPark Mall redevelopment in Newark. He is providing construction administration for the Fremont Bank Headquarters. He has also worked on tenant improvements for the renovation of Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo, as well as the following projects in San Francisco: RH at Pier 70, the reconfiguration of Stonestown Galleria, and the renovation of Congregation Sherith Israel, a historic landmark. Marc received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

ASSOCIATES

Dana Bazzi, Associate, joined ELS in 2017. She has worked on various building types including commercial, hospitality, retail, civic, historic, institutional, community, academic, recreation. Dana’s work includes the historic renovation of the Hotel President in Palo Alto, Veterans Memorial Senior Center in Redwood City, and the Recreational Sports Facility Universal Locker Room, a highly inclusive facility at UC Berkeley. She received her Master of Science in Architecture from the Pratt Institute, and her Bachelor of Architecture from the American University of Beirut.

Dana Vollmer-Grant, Assoc. AIA, WELL AP, CBSM, Associate, joined ELS in 2017. Dana is ELS’ Sports and Wellness Programming Specialist. She brings a wealth of experience in aquatics as one of the most gold-medaled female USA Olympians of all time, with five Olympic gold medals in swimming. At ELS, Dana works with clients on design ideas to fit their specific sports and wellness programming needs. Dana is a WELL Building accredited professional and is trained in Community Based Social Marketing (CBSM). Her work includes the City of Piedmont Community Pool, City of Alameda Aquatic Center, and the City of Mountain View Rengstorff Aquatic Center. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley.

John How, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, Associate, joined ELS in 2019. He has experience working on challenging and complex projects from onset to completion. His work includes the City of Millbrae Recreation Center, City of Redwood City Veterans Memorial Senior Center, and Cañada College Wellness & Aquatics Center. He collaborates with the project team on technical building design development, MEP systems, building envelope, and compliance with applicable codes and standards. Outside of work, John is active with a variety of volunteer organizations and events. He received his Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Geography from the University of British Columbia.

Tracy W. Chan, Assoc. AIA, Associate, joined ELS in 2014. Her work includes the City of Piedmont Community Pool, City of Redwood City Veterans Memorial Senior Center, and Cañada College Wellness & Aquatics Center. Tracy is the ELS BIM Lead and oversees the BIM Resources Group and the BIM/Revit sector of the Design Technology group, through which she develops more efficient digital workflows. As a designer, she leverages her experiences from conceptual design through construction administration, to rapidly test ideas through iterative design and visualization. She regularly represents ELS at Autodesk University, a week-long immersion event that addresses the integration of technology and Big Data into design. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture with High Honors with a Minor in Sustainable Design from the University of California, Berkeley.

About ELS Architecture and Urban Design

ELS Architecture and Urban Design is an award-winning architectural practice with a 50-plus year tradition in the design of extraordinary buildings and spaces that enhance the experience of urban life while being mindful of the environment. The firm’s portfolio represents a diverse array of projects, including community and civic, recreation and sports, historic renovation, performing arts, education, mixed use, retail, sustainable design, and planning and urban design. ELS has ranked among the Top 50 firms in the U.S. by Architect magazine for six years and is listed among the 2021 Architectural Record Top 300 Architecture Firms. We are honored to be the first firm in California to be awarded the JUST 2.0 label which represents our commitment to transparency, equity, and stewardship practices. For more information, please visit elsarch.com. 

# # #