Opsis Welcomes Five New Staff and Celebrates Two Promotions
We are excited to welcome five new employees to the Opsis team and announce architects, Fearn Smith and Paulina Wilkowski, have been promoted to Associate at Opsis.
Fearn Smith, AIA, has been promoted to Associate at Opsis. As a former small business owner and ceramic artist, Fearn brings a unique design perspective and creativity to her work as an architectural designer. Realizing her interests in the built environment, Fearn pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design with a Minor in Sustainability and a Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon. At Opsis, Fearn utilizes her creative skill set and commitment to sustainable design to lead project teams in the creation of competitive workplace environments and next-generation K-12 schools in the Pacific Northwest.
Paulina Wilkowski, RA, has been promoted to Associate at Opsis. Paulina brings a collaborative spirit and draws from over 15 years of design expertise in new commercial, adaptive reuse and interior projects. Her nationwide project experience includes the Google Pittsburgh offices, the Seattle Asian Museum addition, and the expansion of the Columbus Convention Center. In the projects she pursues and supports, she seeks out conceptual clarity, synergistic teamwork and collaboration. At Opsis, she is developing the North Academic Complex for Central Washington University, supporting various project pursuits and building interdisciplinary connections through participation in the inaugural Portland Design Festival.
Maram Albahrani, joined Opsis as an Interior Designer. Maram is an interior designer whose experience living and traveling in the Middle East and United States has continued to shape and inspire her approach to design. Her experience traveling and moving to the United States has shaped her understanding of cultures influence on design challenges and solutions. A graduate of Washington State University with a degree in interior design and minor in construction management, Maram is continuing to grow her skills in design through her work on higher education and student center projects at Opsis.
Kelsy Colvin, NCARB, joined Opsis as an Architect. Kelsy is a designer and project architect with twelve years of experience, bringing expertise in a broad range of skills. In addition to demonstrated creativity and responsiveness to design challenges, she is also a great multitasker with experience in team organizing. She brings a strong leadership personality to cross-disciplinary design teams, with a passion for collaborative work. Her interest in public work and sustainability brought her to Opsis, where her strengths in project organization, development of project documents at all stages, and creative design responses are an asset for every team she joins.
Erica Dunn, AIA, CPHC, LEED AP, joined Opsis in September 2022 as a Senior Associate. Committed to a sustainable future and creating a positive impact within our community, Erica brings more than 19 years of experience in architecture with the last 12 years dedicated to zero energy projects. Erica believes architecture, when developed through a collaborative design process, can empower communities to be more connected, more resilient, and more likely to find delight in the world around them. Erica is a recognized leader in sustainable design, recently honored as one of eight new Fellows in the New Building Institute’s Senior Fellows program.
Fatemeh Eskandari joined Opsis as a Designer. Having studied and worked as an architectural designer in both Iran and the United States, Fatemeh has had the privilege of working on a broad range of projects and project types. Her diverse background has driven her desire to create spaces that promote social and cultural gatherings within a sustainable environment. From Iran, Fatemeh graduated from Azad University prior to earning her Master of Architecture degree with a specialization in Urban Design from University of Oregon.
Samantha Tokos, Associate AIA, joined Opsis as a Designer. An emerging professional in the field of architecture, Sam has a strong eye for design and is skilled at communicating big ideas through graphic representation. A recent graduate of the University of Oregon School of Architecture, where she focused on design justice, Sam explored the impact buildings have within communities. As a third-generation Portlander, Sam’s goal is to create beautiful education and learning spaces for historically underrepresented communities within Portland and across the region.
