We are proud to recognize and celebrate five years of hard work, growth, and shared purpose from five spectacular members of the team! Jose, Mia, Shradhan, Sophia, and Cara have each contributed their talents and leadership to projects that serve communities and advance our mission.
The collaborative culture that these five have helped built over their time here shapes how we at MWA practice architecture and design. Their work, curiosity, and care for both people and place continue to strengthen MWA, and we are grateful for the impact they have made over the past five years.
We wanted to hear about what they were up to and what they aim to accomplish in the coming years. Read on to learn more!
Jose Silva, Designer
What project(s) are you working on right now?
I am working on a couple of projects right now: York Terrace in Troutdale just wrapped up the last phase of construction; Chapul Farms, an insect farm project; and SEI Mississippi Apartments.
What are you most excited about in your career this year?
There’s nothing more satisfying than being able to see a finished project built and seeing your drawings become reality.
How have the responsibilities and expectations of your job changed in the last few years?
Over time, you learn a lot from past projects and how to apply that knowledge to new projects, taking responsibility for decision-making during construction, and steering the project on track.
How do you maintain work/life balance?
There’s nothing more fun than planting and growing your own vegetables. I enjoy playing around in my free time farming and experimenting with new plants each season.
What do you hope to do more of in the next few years?
I look forward to designing more projects. I enjoy the design phase of each project, having conversations with clients, and delivering a great project to the end user.
What is your next career goal that you would like to tackle?
I would like to get my architecture license and be able to finish the path of the architecture dream.
What is your favorite thing about working at MWA?
My favorite thing about working at MWA is my team. The Portland Housing team is an incredible team that creates a friendly atmosphere and makes every project more fun.
Mia Ashley, Designer
What project(s) are you working on right now?
I am working on 230 Main Apartments in North Bend, WA, a new affordable housing project about an hour east of Seattle. I am also working on a few renovation projects: Mill Creek Apartments in Battle Ground, WA and Woodspring Apartments in Tigard, OR. I’m also having fun and helping out with Cornell Transitional Housing, DIPU Roof Replacement, and Sunnyvale Cleanwater Stage II.
What are you most excited about in your career this year?
I am really excited to be working more with consultants and sitting in at coordination meetings to understand the different pieces of the building. It is exciting helping on construction administration too, just to be exposed to that process and the many things that pop up during construction.
How have the responsibilities and expectations of your job changed in the last few years?
I oversee most of the set now, get everything organized, and help get the drawings dialed in for each milestone. I’m also trusted now with project and model setup which is very exciting because it shows how much progress I’ve made since coming out of school. It’s empowering seeing how far you’ve come and all that you learn over time.
How do you maintain work/life balance?
When we work from home, I love to walk to lunchtime workout classes in the neighborhood, which is a nice way to break up the day. I also love to bake and read in my free time. On the weekends, I enjoy getting out in the city with friends and trying new restaurants, so let me know if you ever need a recommendation!
What do you hope to do more of in the next few years?
Professionally: take some AREs, my next year is not going to be as busy so hoping I can get my act together to do at least a few!
Personally: read MORE! I go through phases of reading a lot and then hardly reading at all, so I’d like to make that more regular. I also want to do more hiking and getting outside in this great state of Oregon! And finally, I’d like to take a trip outside of the US. It’s been a while!
What is your next career goal that you would like to tackle?
Work on a project through its entire CA phase!
What is your favorite thing about working at MWA?
My favorite thing about working at MWA is the people! The relationships I have formed here are so special and it’s been great getting to know everyone beyond the surface level. I also love when dogs come in, and all our holiday celebrations are fantastic!
Shradhan Shrivastav, Architect
What project(s) are you working on right now?
I am working on the SEI Mississippi Apartments with Taryn and Jenna. It’s a 30-unit 5 story affordable housing project in a very tight urban site. It’s a small challenging site and we are trying to fit a lot of program into it. I am also helping Mia and Isaac on the North Bend Apartments which is another similar sized affordable housing project in North Bend, Washington.
What are you most excited about in your career this year?
I guess all of these have already happened but it was rewarding to see Arts Plaza and Terracina Vista come to life, both projects I was part of, from the early stages. I learned a lot from doing CA and working with Erik on it. It was also nice to finally finish the AREs and get my life back. It was something I was struggling with on and off over the last few years.
How have the responsibilities and expectations of your job changed in the last few years?
It has changed a lot since I started working at MWA and responsibilities have grown consistently. I was drafting a lot in the beginning and more recently I have been learning how to Project Architect on the SEI Mississippi project with Taryn. I am doing a lot of coordination, code research, working with the city, and designing. Overall, a lot more responsibilities and expectations but also learning a lot.
How do you maintain work/life balance?
After work, I go out for a run or at the very least go walk around my neighborhood and say hi to all the neighborhood cats and dogs. Other than that, my wife Kelli and I enjoy trying new recipes, restaurants, finding new trails to hike, and going on long bike rides.
What do you hope to do more of in the next few years?
I have not been able to travel as much as I would like to, so I hope some of my travel plans work out. I am also not much of a reader, so I am trying to read more.
What is your next career goal that you would like to tackle?
It is going to be a long process but eventually I’d like become a project architect and learn how to get something designed and built with less guidance every single time.
What is your favorite thing about working at MWA?
It’s the coworkers and the kind of work we do. So, thanks to the amazing Housing team. I’m looking forward to creating some great projects.
Sophia Alberts-willis, Architect
What project(s) are you working on right now?
I am currently on construction administration for the Bull Run Filtration Project, which has taken the majority of my time as it’s been a large years-long campus project. I am also working on Springer Street Facility, EWEB River Intake and Treatment Plant, and Metro RID. Within MWA, I am on the onboarding team and file share organization committee.
What are you most excited about in your career this year?
This year, I am eager for the architectural components at Bull Run to begin construction. Once the above-ground buildings start making progress, construction will hopefully run more smoothly and be much more satisfying to see the scope of work we designed take shape on-site.
It will also be exciting to work on the EWEB Willamette River Intake & Treatment Plant Project and watch it develop from the start. I can apply what I’ve learned from the Bull Run and Willamette Supply Projects to support EWEB at a higher capacity, especially since earning my license in September of 2024.
How have the responsibilities and expectations of your job changed in the last few years?
Since getting my license, I have been able to take on more responsibility in my project role. I am now making major design decisions as the project architect for the Springer Street Facility and leading construction administration for Bull Run. I have also been involved in strengthening our MWA’s processes for graphic standards, drawing sets, the communication plan, and BIM championing.
How do you maintain work/life balance?
I build in a mini-break every three months to keep my life organized and to rest my mind. I also have cats who keep me sane. A fun new addition to my life is my new car, a Nissan Juke!
What do you hope to do more of in the next few years?
My biggest hope is that Bull Run will finish with a triumphant and smooth conclusion, becoming the legacy project it has sought out to be. I know I will glean many lessons that I can carry into subsequent projects. On top of it all, I’m excited to focus on design again.
What is your next career goal that you would like to tackle?
I look forward to taking on more projects as a project architect and getting better with each experience.
What is your favorite thing about working at MWA?
I highly value that we work in an office where my voice is heard and that people are very receptive to new ideas.
We serve good clients and work on community-oriented project types. It means a lot to me that our work is necessary buildings serving end users who do necessary work. If we can make these buildings last and make them beautiful, then we’ve done our job.
Cara Mitchell, Architect
What project(s) are you working on right now?
Currently, I am leading the permitting process for Habitat for Humanity’s Carey Boulevard (or True North), a 50-unit affordable homeownership development in North Portland. The project is dedicated to relocating historically displaced families back into the North Portland neighborhood. My main responsibilities are checking that all documentation is accurate, meets city requirements, and stays consistent with project goals/budget/schedule.
Additionally, I am collaborating with Taryn and Sarah on designing the complex exterior details for the historic Smith Tower renovation, focusing on preserving the building’s character while introducing energy efficient, modern construction technologies.
I’m also working with the Infrastructure team to wrap up the construction documents for the new office building at Cowlitz Falls Dam. If this project gets built, it will be a wonderful improvement to the temporary building that the dam operational offices are currently in now.
It’s interesting to me how all of these projects are in a similar phase of design and yet each one has its own unique problem-solving challenges that keep me busy!
What are you most excited about in your career this year?
I’m excited to continue my journey of learning and growth—not only as an architect, but as a leader committed to embracing new opportunities. Each year brings unique challenges that push me beyond my comfort zone, and I’ve found that these experiences help me become a more self-sufficient and resourceful project architect. I’m excited to face the next set of challenges and turn them into opportunities for both personal and team development.
With the rapid evolution of tools, especially advancements in AI, I’m excited to explore how these technologies can make us better architects. I look forward to helping integrate new processes into our workflow and working alongside my colleagues to ensure these tools empower us to do our best work. By staying proactive and optimistic, I hope to inspire others to embrace change and see every challenge as a chance for growth.
How have the responsibilities and expectations of your job changed in the last few years?
As I’ve taken on more responsibilities and guided projects independently, I’ve realized how much my confidence has grown over the past five years at MWA. While I still love learning, it’s rewarding to be at a stage in my career where I can move projects forward without needing as much assistance from my superiors. This progress has given me a greater sense of self-assurance and satisfaction in my work.
How do you maintain work/life balance?
I keep a very consistent schedule each day of the week, which helps me manage both work and personal tasks effectively. I aim to go to the gym four days a week. When I get home, I always have a project to work on and make it a point to pursue a hobby or art form that I’m passionate about and am eager to improve.
Many of my hobbies outside of work are actually quite architectural in nature. For example, fashion design and sewing challenge me to think in three dimensions: taking a 3D object, reducing it to a 2D set of plans, and then reconstructing it into a finished piece. This process requires careful measurement, sequencing, understanding material behaviors, and always keeping the end user’s comfort in mind. These creative pursuits not only enrich my personal life but also enhance my problem-solving and design skills at MWA.
My house has become another hobby of mine. I enjoy both the technical aspects of homeownership —like hiring contractors—and the creative side, such as selecting paint colors, decorating, furnishing, and designing spaces. Completing a challenging sewing project or successfully renovating a room in my home are achievements that fuel my passion for learning and personal growth. I find that continually pursuing new skills and interests keeps me motivated and helps me bring fresh perspectives and energy to my work at MWA.
What do you hope to do more of in the next few years?
In the coming years, I hope to continue leading continuing education training sessions, including training sessions for renderings at MWA, empowering team members to elevate the quality of our presentations and use visualization tools with confidence. Continuing my mentorship within the M&M program remains important to me, as it allows me to foster professional growth and create a supportive learning environment for emerging architects. By actively communicating with colleagues to discover what needs new technologies can help address, I aim to build efficiencies into our workflows—such as developing easily managed tools like a custom Revit toolbar for standard housing team processes—so that office needs are translated into practical solutions everyone can use, ensuring all staff benefit from streamlined resources and increased productivity.
What is your next career goal that you would like to tackle?
My next goal is to become an associate at MWA, where I can mentor colleagues in BIM, and rendering and guide teams in effective use of Revit and visualization tools. I want to help integrate creative design with technology by encouraging sharing of digital design tips and exploring new visual techniques to enhance presentations and support quality and efficiency. My experience in BIM, custom Revit tools, and leading trainings demonstrates my commitment to technology and team growth. I’m eager to take on more responsibility, inspire others, and contribute to MWA’s future success.
What is your favorite thing about working at MWA?
Besides the wonderful people, what I appreciate most about working at MWA is the genuine sense that my voice matters and that my ideas are truly heard and respected. The diverse range of projects I’ve taken on keeps me engaged and fuels my creativity day after day. I also connect deeply with MWA’s mission to support the essential needs of the community, which gives real purpose to my work and makes me feel that, especially during turbulent times, what we do here is important and impactful.
Thank you, Jose, Mia, Shradhan, Sophia, and Cara, for your good energy and continued devotion!