Quattrocchi Kwok Architects

Alexa Riner, Cris Martinez, Diana Mendez, Heather Evans, Nate Busse, Edmond P**n, and Elizabeth Watt attended the California Green Building Conference, where Elizabeth also shared her reflections on the ideas and conversations shaping the future of sustainable design.

The speakers representing UC Berkeley’s Center for the Built Environment were particularly inspiring because not only do their research projects refine repeatable strategies for building performance and indoor environmental quality, but they also use this research to create tools that are free to the public. There was a sense of defiant hope and camaraderie in continuing to push for something that has always been underappreciated, but is now being actively undermined.

I think we often get bogged down thinking that creating sustainable built environments requires large moves to succeed, but many of the voices I heard and products I saw emphasized one thing: it’s the intentional little steps that get you towards this larger goal.

Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence — Carol Tonelli 🎉

We’re proud to recognize Carol’s 20-year milestone at QKA. Her dedication, expertise, and behind-the-scenes impact have helped shape how we work every day.

Through her strong knowledge, collaboration, and commitment to continuous improvement, Carol has made a lasting difference across the firm.

Thank you, Carol, for 20 years of outstanding contributions—we’re grateful to celebrate this milestone with you. 💚



📷 Photography by Julie Hughes

We’re excited to see Studio Director Joel Williams featured in School Construction News, sharing insights on QKA’s expansion into the Colorado K-12 market and the opening of our Castle Rock office.

In the interview, Joel reflects on what makes Colorado a compelling environment for education design, from strong community investment in schools to evolving sustainability priorities, and how thoughtful architecture can help districts balance growth, aging infrastructure, and limited resources.

Guided by a collaborative approach and nearly two decades of experience in education planning and design, Joel is helping to build QKA’s presence in the Rocky Mountain region while strengthening connections between our California roots and growing national work.

Read more about Joel’s perspective on the future of school design and what this next chapter means for QKA. https://schoolconstructionnews.com/2026/05/26/joel-williams-on-leading-qkas-new-colorado-office-and-taking-on-a-new-k-12-market/

We’re proud to have been part of Path to Purpose and to stand alongside so many incredible local employers investing in the next generation.

This spring, QKA had the pleasure of hosting two students in our office—it was truly exciting to have them join us, and we loved seeing their curiosity, energy, and growth throughout the experience.

Thank you to Foundation and the Sonoma County Office of Education for creating opportunities like this that connect students to meaningful, real-world learning.

QKA is proud to be part of a program that’s helping build a stronger future—one student, one internship, and one opportunity at a time.

We recently had the pleasure of attending the final project presentations for the Santa Rosa Junior College architecture program—an exciting milestone as the program launches its first year. Nick Stephenson, who served on the advisory board during its development, joined Justine Weigl in supporting students at this important moment. It was inspiring to see the program come to life and the next generation of designers share their work. Justine shares her thoughts on the program

"This is the first year of having an architecture program at the JC! From my understanding, there either used to be a program or classes awhile ago, and one of the professors has been working over the past few years to build a curriculum and program to bring architecture back to the JC. This is the first time that I’ve been part of the program and it was also the very first end-of-semester studio crit for these students.

It’s so much fun to see the creativity of students and I really enjoyed being back in that setting. Being able to explore ideas, test through models and sketches, and work through the creative process is something that we don’t get to do as often in the “real world” where we’re bound by budgets, construction schedules, and all sort of other constraints. I liked listening to their thought processes to see how students’ ideas evolved and how they interpreted the design brief into their final models and drawings.

It’s important to build relationships with the local program. Having a local program creates opportunities for both the students and the local firms. Students can seek mentorships, internships, job shadowing, and eventual fulltime jobs post-graduation. Firms can also provide that mentoring, insight into working in an architecture firm, teaching or other opportunities to get involved with learning, and a talent pool of future employees.

One great thing about the JC having an associates degree in architecture is that it provides an alternative path to licensure for students. Traditional architecture school can take anywhere from 5–7 years (depending on your degree(s)), which is a huge time and financial commitment that not everyone can make. Alternative pathways are a way to expand the diversity and talent within architecture. I’m excited that the JC is offering this degree and look forward to ways QKA can help support the program."

🎉Please join us in welcoming Jairo Laverde QKA’s CA Project Manager in our Oakland office! 🎉

I get the sense that QKA is a collaborative place with a healthy work culture. I want to have an impact in our youth by creating spaces that have a positive social impact, foster community, and inspire the next generation. I like doing work that will foster community in youth’s learning environment and will have a long-term impact in their future growth, I think QKA does this and I wanted to be part of it.

I’m design driven and enjoy seeing how things come together. My role falls within this realm, and I’ve learned that this is where I thrive. I believe that I will help QKA continue to deliver high quality design and construction.

We're excited to have you join the team! ✨

Our June Newsletter is out! 📬

➡️ Our Industry Climate Commitment
➡️ Q&A with Alexa Riner, Project Architect and Sustainability Lead
➡️ Studio Director Joel Williams Talks Rocky Mountain Expansion

See more in the full newsletter! https://mailchi.mp/qka/making-progress-towards-net-zero-emissions-joel-williams-discusses-colorado-office

Design shaped by the voices that matter most. 🏫✨

As Sunnyvale Middle School’s Steering Committee wraps up its second year, student involvement has been at the heart of the process, bringing creativity, perspective, and a deeper sense of intention to the design of their future spaces, as Erin O’Mara reflects:

“Getting to have input and direct collaboration from the people who would be getting to use and most benefit from the spaces we were designing makes the project feel much more intentional and made for the students. The students really inspired the team when they would start making their own color schemes and coming up with their own ideas for the design.

Seeing them dig through paint colors to put together their own palettes and suggesting some really good ideas was very impressive and really stood out to me. I think that approaching projects in this way with direct feedback and collaboration with students and teachers and allowing them to come up with design ideas and provide design input can really elevate our projects.”

When students are part of the process, the result is more meaningful, inclusive design—for today and for the future. 💙
Sunnyvale School District

In 2005, a tradition begins in Yosemite that continues to define us today: connecting in nature while giving back to the community. It reflects our core values and shared sense of purpose.

That purpose carries into everything we do, from airshows to hands on experiences like our visit to Heritage High School, where we see our work make an impact firsthand.

Moments like these shape the culture of QKA and inspire how we show up today.

🎉Please join us in welcoming Edgar Navarro-Mendoza QKA’s Project Coordinator in our Santa Rosa office! 🎉

I chose QKA for the growth opportunities and the chance to expand my knowledge in the industry. I’m excited to contribute my strong interpersonal skills and my understanding of windows, doors, and construction processes.

I value the close-knit, collaborative environment at QKA and the opportunity to learn from experienced team members across different trades. My familiarity with construction workflows is a strength I look forward to building on. I’ve also been very impressed by how welcoming and supportive everyone has been.

We're excited to have you join the team! ✨

📷 Photography by Julie Hughes