I am a licensed architect who constantly questions the norms in architectural practice. Through research, exploration, a holistic view on architecture and a background with acoustics, lighting design, technology and landscape I am able to synthesize designs that meet a plethora of constraints. Combine this with an ability to communicate graphically and I know that I can have a positive impact on any firm I enter.
EXPERIENCE Dreyfuss + Blackford August 2022 - Present
Senior Associate | Design Director
- I lead design vision across projects, mentoring team members and fostering a culture of design excellence. I play a key role in project pursuits, shaping design narratives, and guide the preparation of award submittals that celebrate our best work. Through the use of tools like Rhino and Grasshopper, I help push the boundaries of design exploration to deliver impactful projects
Notable Projects
- Chapa-De Indian Health Program - Medical Campus Master Plan & MOB/Dental Clinic - Rocklin, CA
- J Street - Midtown Cultural Center - Sacramento, CA
- Marin Transit Feasibility Study - Francisco Blvd - San Rafael, CA
HMC Architects March 2021 - August 2022
Project Designer
-Led design efforts for small and medium-sized projects. Coordinate and produce design presentation material, and coordinate the design intent with the production and documentation of construction documents.
Design Technology Manager July 2018 - October 2021
- Managed the design technology team within HMC. focusing on R&D, integrating emerging technologies, computational design, visualization, representation, and data analysis.
Notable Projects
- Davis Senior High School - Robotics Lab - Davis, CA
- Chabot Community College - Library Facade Design and Validation - Hayward, CA
- Roseville City School District - C80 Elementary School - Roseville, CA
Vrilakas | Groen Architects May 2017 - July 2018
Project Designer
- Contributed to the design and development of projects on all levels. I helped move projects through entitlements and also worked to support the development of construction documents.
Notable Projects
- Open Window Development - Stockton, CA
- Oak Park Container Project - Sacramento, CA
- 1818 X Street - Sacramento, CA
- 23rd & I Street - Sacramento, CA
HMC Architects
Design Leader
March 2017 - May 2017
- Assisted in the design and development of projects, and will be responsible for managing the design of small projects. Produce design presentation material, and coordinate the design intent with the production and documentation of construction documents.
Designer II
December 2015 - April 2017
Designer I July 2014 - December 2015
Intern July 2013 - September 2013
Notable Projects
- Western Placer High School #2 - Lincoln, CA
- Davis Senior High School - All Student Center - Davis, CA
- Woodside High School Classroom Building - Woodside, CA
- Carlmont High School Classroom Building - Belmont, CA
- Cañada Community College Math and Science Building Competition - Redwood City, CA
- HMC Sacramento Office Interior Design - Sacramento, CA
- Saint Francis High School - Mountain View, CA
(For A full list of projects please contact Noah Kelly) SKILLS Rhino, Revit, Grasshopper, SketchUp, Dynamo, Enscape, Lumion, V-Ray, AutoCAD, Climate Studio, Cove.tool, Adobe Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, Finalcut Pro, Bluebeam, Layout, Newforma, Tonic DM, Mac and Windows
EDUCATION
NewSchool of Architecture and Design GPA: 3.5
Bachelor of Architecture 2014
Noah Kelly | 916.479.2073 | noahmichaelkelly@gmail.com | www.noahmkelly.com
As the Senior Designer on the Chapa-De Indian Health project, I led the architectural vision from concept through documentation, ensuring that every design decision reflected the values, culture, and mission of the Chapa-De Indian Health organization. I worked closely with our in-house team of healthcare design experts and interior designers to develop a cohesive and culturally responsive environment that supports wholeperson care. Through deep collaboration with tribal stakeholders and consultants, we created a design language rooted in wellness, identity, and community. Natural materials, daylight, and references to native traditions were thoughtfully integrated to foster a welcoming, healing experience for patients, families, and staff. My role included guiding the overall design narrative, mentoring team members, and aligning the architectural expression with Chapa-De’s long-term vision for dignified healthcare.
Project Diagrams
Throughout the pursuit and design of the Chapa-De Indian Health project, we relied on clear, foundational diagrams to communicate key design ideas—from site organization and patient flow to cultural symbolism and program relationships. Here are a few of the diagrams produced during the process.
The Human Realm
Thesis Statement
As we continue to evolve technologically and socially there seems to be a growing gap developing between our relationships with each other. The car, which was designed to separate, started this gap. The social media that has been made to connect us has failed to do so and has robed us of real physical relationships. This can leave most feeling inadequate in their current situation without the warmth given to a real physical relationship. Yet even in architecture there has been a gap. We have begun to be caught up in the advances of building technology. We throw solar panels and dynamic facades onto the exterior of a building and call it a great piece of architecture because it showcases new technology not even developed by the architect. Our field has moved in this direction without really thinking of how architecture interacts with its users. We have forgotten about the user and have continued to
“decorate” our buildings. We don’t design for people anymore and we have forgotten that our designs have an affect on society.
Both technology and Architecture have forgotten about the importance of the individual and there relationships with one another. Something many of us have experienced. Have the streets in a downtown urban environment in North America been designed purely as a means of transportation, both for pedestrian and vehicular. Have we forgotten about the human aspect in an urban environment altogether?
How can we as architects begin to design in a way that encourages human interaction both passive and active without starting over. The human experience shouldn’t be determined by how we experience architecture, but by how architecture allows us to experience relationships.
My design thesis is about cultivating human
interaction through architecture by connecting and re-configuring existing structures The idea is to graft volumes and program into existing structures as well as physical connections creating a more permeable city. This will encourage a greater community to form. I will be looking to graft into structures in order to connect them together, to start to create a human realm, that will integrate a larger group of structures and create a better sense of belonging that will build a stronger community which currently evades most downtown urban environments. This will start to connect the isolated blocks in a dense downtown environment. It is important to realize the importance of community and people in architecture. Brooks Rainwater in his article Cities are for people says, that “The relationships people form with one another and the space around them are what make cities work.” (Rainwater).
Area of Concentration
SMART HARBOR COMPETITION
SMART HARBOR COMPETITION
This project explored the possibility of a symbiotic relationship with the natural and built environment. By allowing natural systems to erode away at what was imposed on the site we begin to have a dynamic interaction between the natural and built environment. Allowing the site to speak for itself and dictate the major design moves. Trusting in this process has lead me to discover the need for a variable tide landscape that will re-introduce natural circulation back into the harbor, and provide for cleaner water for a healthier marine habitat.
Civic Arts Pavilion
The project became a Civic Arts Pavilion, a place for the people of east village to come, be refreshed and inspired through art of all types. The project also integrates a new bike path that connects it with the fabric of downtown and balboa park.
My role in the development of the All Student Center began with assisting in master planning the campus and developing a preliminary plan for the placement of the new building. From there I worked on the conceptual design for the All Student Center, looking to create a simple but strong architecture that would draw students in from the quad. I followed and helped develop the project through all phases: SD, DD, CD, CA.
WOODSIDE HIGH
This work was produced while at HMC Architects
Client:
Woodside Joint Unified School District
Location: Woodside, CA
Program: Science, Robotics, and General Classrooms
Program Size: ~12,000 SF
Project Team:
Arturo Levenfeld: Principle In Charge
Mirella Son: Project Manager
Noah Kelly: Designer/Renderings
Frederick Bauer: Project Coordinator
Project Status: Under Construction
My role in the development of the Woodside High Classroom Building began with assisting in master planning the campus and developing a preliminary plan for the placement of the new building. From there I worked on the conceptual design for the classroom, creating many schemes due to unforeseen site conditions that impacted the budget. I followed and helped develop the project through most phases: SD, DD, CD.
CLASSROOM BLDG.
HMC ARCHITECTS
This work was produced while at HMC Architects
Client:
HMC Architects
Location: Sacramento, CA
Program:
Design Studio Space
Program Size: ~5,000 SF
Project Team:
Arturo Levenfeld: Principle In Charge
Noah Kelly: Designer/Renderings
Tony Ho: Project Coordinator
Christopher Grant: Photography
Project Status: Completed
The Sacramento Office for HMC Architects was my first completed project out of college. I was responsible for the design of this project and worked closely with the project coordinator to develop the set of construction documents. I was intimately involved in all aspects of this project and was given the opportunity to take the CA phase by the reigns - giving me an invaluable understanding of the construction process, which allowed me to connect the drawings on paper to the materials in the field.
This work was produced while at Vrilakas | Groen Architects
Client:
Trondheim Properties
Location: Sacramento, CA
Program:
41 Unit Apartment Complex
Program Size: ~27,474 SF
Project Team:
Mark Groen: Design Principle
James Ross: Project Coordinator
Noah Kelly: Project Designer/Entitlements
Project Status: Design Development
23rd & I Street
Project Status: Design Development This work was produced while at Vrilakas | Groen Architects
