Esop McNair is an emerging Senior Architectural Project Associate with METICULOUS and has over seventeen years of professional architectural and construction administration experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Technology, Architecture and Environmental Design from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Architecture degree from the Boston Architectural College. He is the past President of the American Institute of Architects – Indiana Chapter of the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program.
Currently, through the R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning, Professor McNair prepares and delivers course materials for graduate level students in the Master of Urban Design program and the Multi-Disciplinary Design Knowledge Studio to Master of Architecture Program students at Ball State University. Professor McNair has instructed interior design students at the Art Institute of Indianapolis, as well.
He has assisted and generated award-winning designs through Building Information Modeling technology throughout the Midwest. His major strengths are his ability to visualize design concepts and produce stunning design solutions to clients, within budget, and with on-time delivery. He has managed projects of varying complexity and size and specializes in designing new buildings, restoring, and conserving old buildings, while also developing ways of using existing architecture for adaptive re-use
My name is Justin Chappell. I am a graduate of Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and I will be attending Florida A&M University in the Fall majoring in Architecture. During High School I was an A honor roll student as well as participating in various activities including robotics, varsity track, Youth Action Boards, Black Student Union president, school tutor and Michigan Southeast Architecture Construction and Engineering Experience Program winner. At a very early age I knew I wanted to be an Architect, and I knew I was driven to learn all that could about this profession. During my Middle School and High School years, I participated in anything that I could to learn more including the University of Cincinnati Minority Architects Summer Program, University of Texas San Antonio Summer Architecture Program and the University of Notre Dame Summer Architecture Program. In my free time, I enjoy playing sports and spending time with friends. My future goals include earning my Bachelors and Masters degrees, traveling the world and then I plan to become an Architect and one day own my own Architecture firm.
Kamea is a transfer student currently attending the University of Detroit Mercy School of Community Development. She ran cross country for Lawrence Technological University and works at the University of Detroit Mercy during the school year. Her goal is to redesign cities to promote growth and healing within all communities. Having come from a low-income household, vital experiences have opened her eyes and influenced her to want to make a bigger impact through architecture.
Kamea spends her time running, sketching, and researching studies in city planning and sustainable designs. She is heavily involved with her family and takes every opportunity help those around her. Kamea plans are to create spaces that are beautiful and sustainable for every household.
Torri Smith serves as both the Michigan Mellon Design Fellow in Egalitarianism and the Metropolis and Economic Development & Design Manager for East Jefferson Development Corporation. Through her fellowship, Smith currently conducts research related to her interests at the intersection of environmental justice, urban activism, and design while simultaneously exploring the ways in which ecological regeneration can address systemic racial inequity, tangentially sharing this passion by teaching high schoolers from Detroit Public Schools through ArcPrep. Additionally, Smith’s role at the East Jefferson Development Corporation is to uplift, empower and promote inclusive development and growth for the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood and its community members.
This past year, Smith was recently awarded the Burton L. Kampner Memorial Award for the most outstanding thesis by Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, as well as a Program Distinction Award. Smith was co-creator of Design Justice Actions, co-lead of the Taubman College Community Engagement Working Group, an executive board member of NOMAS, and a contributor to Design Futures Forum, as the Economic Development & Design Manager. Additionally, Smith has worked as an architectural designer at ROSSETTI, volunteered teaching art and architecture at Denby High School, and launched an independent art and design practice in Detroit.