JOE VELA AIA, LEED AP PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT, CENTRAL VALLEY
ABOUT JOE
Joe has over 35 years of construction experience in a variety of industries. He has expertise with private projects, prisons, churches, police stations, fire stations, and hospitals, but for the last 27 years he has focused on K-12 education projects. He has led all aspects of planning, design and construction. He is well known for his thorough knowledge of projects, positive client interaction, management skills, and understanding the large picture for his clients. Joe prides himself in unifying his clients and user groups during design and execution.
As a principal of the firm since 2006, Joe focuses on client relations, operations and business development. Joe has led many of the firms significant projects including the Burrell Field and Pacific Sports Complex in San Leandro, the transformation of Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, CA, and the expansion and transformation of San Benito High School in their $120M construction program. Joe has also been involved in several large community college projects.
Joe currently sits of on the Board of the American Institute of Architects, Silicon Valley Chapter and is the President of the Board of the San Jose Evergreen Community College Foundation.
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION/MEMBERSHIP
• California Architectural Registration C-27833
• LEED® Accredited Professional, U.S. Green Building Council
• American Institute of Architects: Member
• Construction Specifications Institute: Member
• Glenco/McGraw Hill Educational Advisory Board: Member
• AIA Emergency Preparedness Committee: Member
• CCFC: Member
REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS
Lyman Gilmore Middle School Modernization
Grass Valley School District
Bell Hill Academy Modernization and Addition
Grass Valley School District
Grass Valley Charter School Modernization
Grass Valley School District
Margaret Scotten Elementary School Modernization
Grass Valley School District
Charter School at YCOE
Yolo County Office of Education
Various Roofs, Cafeteria and Walk-in Cooler Projects
Fairfield Suisun Unified School District
Brownell Middle School Modernization
Gilroy Unified School District
San Benito High School CTE Building
San Benito High School District
San Benito High School Visual and Performing Arts
Building
San Benito High School District
Fiesta Gardens International School
San Mateo-Foster City School District
College Park Elementary School & Turnbull Center
San Mateo-Foster City School District
Pacific Sports Complex and Burrell Field
San Leandro Unified School District
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Architecture
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Architectural Services
Folsom Cordova Unified School District
July 20, 2023
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ROBERT RUDD LEED AP SENIOR ASSOCIATE
ABOUT ROBERT
Robert is a highly skilled Project Manager. He has over 20 years of school facilities design experience and has been a critical team member in the Central Valley. His technical expertise, highly respected management style, and knowledge of the Sacramento and surrounding areas makes him an effective and valuable team leader. Robert enjoys working with the stakeholders and clients, responding to contractor RFIs and running construction administration for the firm’s projects. Robert has a solid and long lasting working relationship with DSA Sacramento and is influential in getting projects approved expeditiously.
Robert is passionate about working on school projects as they have a direct impact on the experience that kids have at school. Having multiple school-aged children, Robert sees the importance of the work he is doing and what a big difference a good learning environment makes. He has brought his knowledge and passion to a wide variety of projects, including special needs preschools, k-12 schools, CTE programs, VAPA buildings, ADA projects, and Community College campuses.
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION/MEMBERSHIP
• LEED® Accredited Professional, U.S. Green Building Council
• USGBC: Member
EDUCATION
Associates Degree
ITT Technical Institute
REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS
Lyman Gilmore Middle School Modernization
Grass Valley School District
Bell Hill Academy Modernization and Addition
Grass Valley School District
Grass Valley Charter School Modernization
Grass Valley School District
Margaret Scotten Elementary School Modernization
Grass Valley School District
Ellis Elementary School Modernization and New Classrooms
Sunnyvale School District
ABLE Charter School
Stockton, CA
Andrew Hill High School Student Union MPR
East Side Union High School District
Charter School at YCOE
Yolo County Office of Education
Various Roofs, Cafeteria and Walk-in Cooler Projects
Fairfield Suisun Unified School District
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Architectural Services Folsom Cordova Unified School District July 20, 2023
Main Point of Contact for Projects
ANDREW MIKKELSEN AIA PROJECT ARCHITECT
ABOUT ANDREW
Andrew joined the Aedis team in 2017 after graduating from Cal Poly. He quickly became in integral part of several key projects, including the complete campus replacements of two middle schools in Gilroy. Andrew uses design thinking, in-field construction experience, and architectural technology expertise as the foundation of his design process. He excels in coordination, scheduling and client engagement and understands the importance of keeping a project on time and on budget. This combination has helped Andrew incorporate innovative ideas into his projects and deliver on client expectations and needs.
Andrew is driven by the understanding that school facilities play a pivotal role in a child’s school experience. Both his wife and his mother are teachers so he has a profound respect for the education process and is honored to work on projects that leave a positive and lasting impact on the students and staff.
Outside of the office, Andrew enjoys traveling, golfing with friends and family, and morning walks with his wife and dog. Any weekend you can find him out enjoying Sacramento area breweries and wineries or rooting for his favorite Bay Area sports teams - the Giants, Warriors, and 49ers.
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION/MEMBERSHIP
• California Architectural Registration C-39310
• American Institute of Architects: Member
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Architecture
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS
South Valley Middle School Replacement Campus
Gilroy Unified School District
Brownell Middle School Modernization
Gilroy Unified School District
Westmoor High School Campus Wide Modernization & New Construction
Jefferson Unified High School District
Searles Elementary School New Addition and Modernization
New Haven Unified School District
Montague Elementary School Mechanical and Lighting Upgrade
Santa Clara Unified School District
Hughes Elementary School Mechanical and Lighting Upgrade
Santa Clara Unified School District
Lydiksen Elementary School Rebuild & Modernization
Pleasanton Unified School District
Baseball & Soccer Field Bleacher Replacement Project
Solano Community College District
July 20, 2023
Architectural Services
Folsom Cordova Unified School District
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ANNALEE
MARSCHEL
AIA, LEED AP BD+C SENIOR STAFF/ JOB CAPTAIN
REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS
Annalee was drawn to Aedis because she wanted to make a positive lasting impact on the way children learn and engage with their learning environment. Annalee has a great deal of experience with educational projects, most in the public sector. She has been involved in the design and construction of multiple building types, from single and multi-story classroom buildings to multi-use buildings, as well as campus master planning, and design of exterior spaces.
In college, Annalee explored the concept of biomimicry, and how this type of design-thinking could be implemented across architectural design in a holistic way through water collection systems, environmentally reactive facades, user-interaction, transformable program spaces and contextually specific buildings. Annalee is very passionate about exploring new ways to incorporate sustainable thinking into the foundation of architectural design.
Annalee has been heavily involved with the AIA and Women in Architecture (WIA) Committee. In 2019 She was awarded AIA California’s Associate of the Year Award, and received the Distinguished Service Award from the AIA Silicon Valley in recognition of her work as Chair of the WIA and Co-Chair of the 2019 Architectural Intelligence Conference.
In addition to having spent time working in Rome, Annalee likes to travel, try new eateries, and explore the outdoors with her husband and dog.
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION/MEMBERSHIP
• California Architectural Registration C-40127
• American Institute of Architects: Member
• Leed AP BD+C Certified
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Architecture
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
New TimberQuest Classroom Building
Stratford School, Pleasanton Middle School
Modernization and New Construction
Charter School of Morgan Hill
Master Plan
Charter School of Morgan Hill
Castlemont Elementary School Campbell Care Building
Campbell Union School District
Lynhaven Elementary School Staff Lounge
Campbell Union School District
Marshall Lane Elementary School Modernization
Campbell Union School District
Monroe Middle School New Classroom Building
Campbell Union School District
Campbell School of Innovation New Campus
Campbell Union School District
Parkway Elementary School Classroom Modernization
Campbell Union School District
New CNG Station at the Corporation Yard
Campbell Union School District
Rosemary Elementary School Playground Replacement
Campbell Union School District
Cumberland Elementary School Portable Project
Sunnyvale School District
Bishop Elementary School Replacement
Sunnyvale School District
San Miguel Elementary School New Classroom Buildings
Sunnyvale School District
District Office Remodel
San Jose Unified School District
3 Campus Re-roofing Project
Fairfield Unified School District
Architectural Services
Folsom Cordova Unified School District
July 20, 2023
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JOHN DIFFENDERFER AIA, LEED AP, ALEP STATE AGENCY ADVOCATE
ABOUT JOHN
John became a Principal at Aedis in 2000, and has been instrumental in the success of large and complex school modernization and construction programs. In addition to having experience designing classroom buildings, gymnasiums, cafeterias, libraries, music buildings, and performing arts center projects, John has led the facilities master planning process for multiple school districts. His clients appreciate his timely and open communication, his willingness to go above and beyond, and his strategic leadership style.
Sustainable design is John's passion and career focus. He leads Aedis’ push for greener schools by continually educating clients about the positive impact that high-performing buildings have on the environment, student and teacher performance, and operational costs. His work designing the first “Net-Zero Energy/ Net-Zero Emissions” public school facility in the state of California shows his commitment to sustainable schools. John is a LEED® Accredited Professional (BD+C EBOM) and Co-Chair for USGBC’s Green School Committee. Notably, his project for the Evergreen School District was awarded San Jose’s Green Star Award for its focus on energy efficient and sustainable educational facilities.
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION/MEMBERSHIP
• California Architectural Registration C-25840
• LEED® Accredited Professional, U.S. Green Building Council
• American Institute of Architects: Member
• A4LE NCN Chapter: Board Member & ALEP
• SPUR: Regional Board Member
• SJ Downtown Association: Design Committee
• SJ Chamber: Housing and Planning Committee
EDUCATION
• Bachelor of Architecture, University of Arizona
• MBA, Western Governors University (in progress)
REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS
Timberquest Kindergarten Wing (CLT Construction)
Sacred Heart - Atherton
Prospect High School Classroom Addition (CLT Construction)
Campbell Union High School District
Blackford Elementary School New ZNEE Multi-Use
Building, Kindergarten Addition & Campus
Modernization
Campbell Union School District
District Wide Facilities Master Plan
East Side Union High School District
Overfelt High School Music, Art, and Admin Building & Central Quad Criteria Documents
East Side Union High School District
Andrew Hill High School Student Union MPR
East Side Union High School District
Cedar Grove Elementary School
Evergreen School District
District Wide Master Plan
Evergreen School District
Leyva Middle School New Zero Net Energy/Emissions (ZNEE), Administration Building & Campus
Modernization
Evergreen School District
Carolyn Clark Elementary School
Evergreen School District
Bishop Elementary School Replacement
Sunnyvale School District
Architectural Services
Folsom Cordova Unified School District
July 20, 2023
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GILROY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Business Services G·USD 7810ArroyoCircle,Gilroy,California95020
lfBiMhiiFiAifo011■ www.gilroyunilied.org
Tel.669-205-4000 fax: 408-486-7561
Enrique Diaz
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Re: Recommendation for Aedis Architects
To Whom It May Concern,
SUPERINTENDENT
Dr. Deborah A. Flores, Ph.D.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
B.C. Doyle ♦ Tuyen Fiack ♦ Mark Good Anisha Munshi♦ James E. Pace ♦ Linda Piceno
♦
It i s w ith great pleasure that I write this letter o f recommendation for Aedis Architects.
Several years ago, I lead the process you are leading now- circulating a RFQ for Gilroy Unified School District to establish a n excellent 'pool' of architects. It is how our District came to work with Aedis Architects. They have since won our largest project among our pool; a $70 million modernization project of Brownell Middle School.
Reflecting back on their interview, I offer that what Aedis Architects (Joe & John) represented/ promised, is in fact what they deliver! Most notably, they respect my budget and schedule throughout the project design and now into construction. We are in fact well under budget (we have a Maximum Guaranteed Price on our LLB) and will be able to add scope t o the project at our discretion. Their entire team is driven by creativity i n design and educational planning- but are able to channel and execute that creativity without breaking the bank. They are diligent in their attention to detail that is necessary in our school environment. They are also very responsive and do not cut corners to meet our needs.
As a CBO in our County, I would not stir you in the wrong direction. I whole-heartedly recommend Aedis Architects to be part of your architect pool. You will not be disappointed. Best of luck with your projects, and do not hesitate to call m e with any follow up questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Assistant Superintendent, Business Services/ Chief Business Official
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