Architecture

Since Gorman Architectural’ s conception in 1998, the team has grown to over 30 designers across 6 states and growing. Our vertical integration with development, construction, and portfolio management allows our team to be nimble and detailed in our solutions through design and construction phases of projects.

Our expertise in affordable, multi-family, and hospitality design fosters engaging new construction, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse projects.

While spread across the nation, the architectural team collaborates to problem solve, coordinate, and most importantly laugh.

Meet Our Design Team
Avenida del Sol in Denver, CO

Avenida del Sol
Total Development Cost: $27,632,288

Avenida del Sol is an 80-unit affordable family housing development in the Westwood neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. We closed on this project in August 2020. More than one-quarter of the units are restricted at 30% and 40% of the area median income, and 30% of apartments are three-bedrooms for families in a neighborhood long characterized by larger households. The overall project includes one, two, and three-bedroom units restricted at 30%-80% AMI.

Avenida del Sol in Denver, CO

Avenida del Sol
Total Development Cost: $27,632,288

Avenida del Sol is an 80-unit affordable family housing development in the Westwood neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. We closed on this project in August 2020. More than one-quarter of the units are restricted at 30% and 40% of the area median income, and 30% of apartments are three-bedrooms for families in a neighborhood long characterized by larger households. The overall project includes one, two, and three-bedroom units restricted at 30%-80% AMI.

Embassy Suites Rockford Hotel & Conference Center in Rockford, IL

Embassy Suites Rockford Hotel & Conference Center
Total Development Cost: $67,330,763

Embassy Suites Rockford Hotel and Conference center is a $87.5 million public-private partnership project that transformed the dilapidated former Amerock factory into a four-star, 160-room Hilton Embassy Suites and Rockford Conference Center.

This 13-story historic building renovation development is located in the downtown area of the city of Rockford, Illinois.

Demand for the project was influenced by regional demographic and economic characteristics including commuting patterns, neighborhood revitalization, expansion of employers, retail linkage, and the strength of the Rockford Metropolitan area and Illinois economy.

Embassy Suites Rockford Hotel & Conference Center in Rockford, IL

Embassy Suites Rockford Hotel & Conference Center
Total Development Cost: $67,330,763

The hotel and conference center complex contains 233,000 square feet of retail space and offers multiple restaurants, lounges, a game room, and indoor pool. The complex also includes a patio lounge on the 12th floor with private meeting rooms and a spectacular city view. Next to the property is an adjacent park that provides space for outdoor events.

Colburn Hotel in Denver, CO

Colburn Hotel
Total Development Cost: $23,092,636

The Colburn Hotel is an existing Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing community located in the heart of Denver. The re-syndication consists of a conversion of the SRO vouchers to Project Based Vouchers under HUD’s Mod Rehab Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), as well as the infusion of 4% Federal and State of Colorado Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and Federal and State Historic Tax Credits, City of Denver funds and State of Colorado HOME funds. The existing tenant community represents some of the most vulnerable households in the City of Denver, with more than 90% of current residents falling below the 30% AMI level. Gorman works with the Denver Housing Authority to establish a new resident admissions preference for homeless individuals. Deep affordability for all residents is preserved through a 15-20-year Project Based HAP contract. The rehabilitated building consists of 91 LIHTC efficiency units and one manager’s unit. The building offers a centrally-located laundry facility, community room, fully-equipped community kitchen, and fitness room. The renovated units include the addition of air conditioning and efficiency kitchens with a two-burner electric stove, sink, and full sized refrigerator.

The Village at Wintergreen in Keystone, CO

The Village at Wintergreen
Total Development Cost: $58,744,786

The Village at Wintergreen neighborhood, in Keystone (Summit County), Colorado, is a mixed income community of 196 units, offering a spectrum of rental housing options.

Gorman partnered with Vail Resorts to craft seasonal housing for their operational needs while also including additional apartment homes targeting both 30-60% AMI and 100% AMI. The site offers connectivity to the resort bus shuttle, mountain hiking trails, and the County wide bus system.

The Village at Wintergreen in Keystone, CO

The Village at Wintergreen
Total Development Cost: $58,744,786

The Village at Wintergreen neighborhood, in Keystone (Summit County), Colorado, is a mixed income community of 196 units, offering a spectrum of rental housing options.

Gorman partnered with Vail Resorts to craft seasonal housing for their operational needs while also including additional apartment homes targeting both 30-60% AMI and 100% AMI. The site offers connectivity to the resort bus shuttle, mountain hiking trails, and the County wide bus system.

Vista Verde Workforce in Breckenridge, CO

Vista Verde Workforce
Total Development Cost: $75,989,056

Vista Verde Workforce is the second phase of the Vista Verde Neighborhood located in the McCain subdivision of Breckenridge. Phase II adds 172 residential units to the community, and includes a variety of amenities such as onsite property management, outdoor open space, a dog park, picnic areas, a fitness room, and a community room.

The design includes several features with the intention of reaching net zero in terms of greenhouse gases including solar photovoltaic panels, all-electric construction, reduced thermal loads, unit energy recovery ventilation, low-flow water fixtures, and Energy Star appliances.

Rafael C. Tudor MRED, AIA, NCARB

Vice President of Architecture

Meet Rafael

Growing up in Chicago, Rafael loved to experience the sharp contrasts of inner-city architecture which led to his professional calling. A graduate of architecture from Illinois Institute of Technology, he began his career with a real estate development firm learning a breadth of skills within this vertically integrated company: development, design, construction, and property management.

From there he pursued an education in real estate development. He is humbled to help design shelter & create solutions for the country’s growing housing crisis with a deep appreciation for residential & mixed-use design.

Our Registered Architects

Jonathan Asiimwe
Lead Architect

Jonathan has 20 years of international experience in many disciplines of architecture. Upon receiving his architecture degree from Makerere University in Kampala, he worked to establish an architectural department at MBW Consultants in Uganda.

He built an impressive residential portfolio in Atlanta, GA leading him to become an expert in multi-family residential and mixed-use buildings.

Sophie Brooks
Project Architect

Sophie has 8 years of experience in architecture, specializing in mixed use, urban infill, and LIHTC projects. She believes in the importance of preserving affordable housing and enjoys the challenges existing conditions pose in rehabilitation and historic projects. After receiving her MARCH from Georgia Tech, she became committed to creating high quality, interesting, and sustainable design in her southeast market.

Cat Brown
Project Architect

With 15+ years of experience as a Registered Architect and Certified Passive House Designer, she brings technical knowledge and on-site construction experience to make designs a reality.

Cat believes buildings tell a story, there is much to be seen in the details of each project.

Ercan Eldem
Director Architectural Quality Control

Ercan brings 30 years of international residential & mixed-use architectural experience to the team. A registered architect in Florida as well as Germany, he received his degree from the University of Applied Science in Cologne, Germany.

He gained knowledge on various projects in Germany, Austria, Turkey, & Yemen before moving to Atlanta.

Emeline Gabbour
Project Architect

Emeline has 10 years of experience in architecture, specifically light frame design and construction techniques for multifamily projects. She is an AZ Project Architect for the Phoenix Metro Area, responsible for design and construction administration of 400+ affordable housing units.

Emeline received her Master’s in Architecture degree from Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture in Scottsdale, AZ.

Daniel Kornaus
Lead Architect

Daniel has 10 years of experience working extensively in low-income housing design & construction on multiple projects, including wood-framed new construction, acquisition rehab, historic adaptive reuse, single-family homes to large, multifamily apartments and hotels.

His interests in the preservation of affordable housing and sustainable practices in design make him a valued team member.

Peter Meyer
Lead Architect

Peter brings 30 years of experience in light frame architectural design and construction techniques. He joined our team as Project Architect in Wisconsin, and more recently became Architect of Record and Lead Architect in our Arizona market.

He proudly supports development and design of quality, sustainable, and affordable housing throughout the state of Arizona.

Dan O'Mara
Lead Architect

Dan has 25 years of Architecture and construction experience in a wide spectrum of building types: educational, industrial, retail, hospitality, and multifamily. As a registered Architect in 12 states, he has a strong grasp on effective regional and climatic building practices. His previous work in the LIHTC field brings a solid knowledge base and his previous construction experience compliments his cost-effective approaches.

Alice Owen
Lead Architect

Alice has global architectural design experience with international high-value projects in London, New Zealand, and the United States. Her expertise encompasses a large range of projects from retail and residential to higher education.

She has a strong analytical and design focus that enhances her broad technical experience, providing a unique and holistic approach to projects.

Aleka Pappas
Lead Architect

Aleka has 20+ years of experience working in building and construction as both a licensed architect and an engineer. Her engineering expertise is energy efficiency and indoor comfort with a focus on HVAC systems and loves the challenges and vast opportunities of this discipline.

She has been working as an architect within affordable housing and permanent supportive housing in Colorado since 2017. Aleka has been a project manager at Gorman Architecture since 2021.

Mark M. Smith
Lead Architect

Mark is a registered Architect with 30 years of experience as well as adjunct architecture professor at UW-Milwaukee. He led design and entitlement in WI for two hotel projects and a Veteran’s housing project.

He is focused on the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative in Phoenix, the largest Gorman project to date. Mark has proudly served on the City of Madison Urban Design Commission.

Kristen Stanford
Project Architect

Kristen brings 10+ years of built environment experience to the team. Inspired by Outer Banks housing at a young age, Kristen’s passion lies in rebuilding homes affected by disasters as well as sustainable design. Her favorite part of Architecture is watching details in building design come to life through construction. Kristen will be working on design of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative in Phoenix, AZ.

Nathaniel Stark
Director of Design

Nate has 15 years of architectural experience and has been Architect of Record on 500 constructed units of housing. Volunteer experience as Chair of Planning & Zoning and the Board of Adjustments & Appeals gives him a unique ability to work through complicated projects.

Passionate about collaborative design for a project’s success, he is a registered architect in Colorado.