Amanda L. Miller Amankona

AIA  NOMA

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EXPERIENCE

PROGRAM + PROJECT MANAGEMENT

LEARNING NETWORK EXPANSION MANAGER

July 2021 « » Present
Reimagining the Civic Commons // National

  • Assist in the management of a national initiative demonstrating the impact of the public realm through intentional investment and action
  • Develop programs, coordinate logistics + convene over 100 practitioners for shared learning and immersive study tours several times a year
  • Advise on impact assessment & strategy for public space practitioners, designers, + advocates working in cross-silo teams in 12 U.S. cities
  • Manage two working groups focused on civic engagement + place-based equitable practices
  • Develop tools + resources for the field, including a community engagement card deck + case studies
  • Represent organization at industry events

AIANY COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR

January 2020 « » Present
Diversity + Inclusion // American Institute of Architects, NY

  • Lead monthly meetings and collaborate with AIANY
  • Develop programming, including panel discussions, town hall meetings, and workshops

LOGISTICS PARTNER

August 2020 « » October 2020
Annual Awards for Excellence in Design // NYC PDC

  • Consulted on virtual design awards event
  • Coordinated run-of-show and day-of logistics

CONVENING PARTNER

August 2020 « » October 2020
Knight Public Spaces Forum // Knight Foundation

  • Consulted on multi-day virtual convening for public space leaders, including plenaries and breakouts
  • Executed and planned content and logistics in partnership with Knight Foundation through Spirit for Change Consulting

SPACES AND PLACES CO-ORGANIZER

September 2018 « » Present
Spaces and Places // Grassroots Urbanist Collective

  • Organized and managed 4 convenings since 2019, most recently in Philadelphia. Pivoted to virtual in 2020 and 2021, hosting over 400 participants in online event in partnership with Next City
  • Identified vendors and venue; managed logistics
  • Co-developed vision and program highlighting urban planning work by BIPOC-community change agents

CULTURAL MAPPING INTERN

January 2016
cultureNOW // Boston, MA

  • Developed conference proposal on cultural mapping
  • Planned and coordinated panel discussion at the Boston Society of Architects, “Revealing a City Through Maps”

BLACK IN DESIGN 2017 CO-ORGANIZER

September 2016 » December 2017
African American Student Union // Harvard Graduate School of Design

  • Co-organized multi-day 400-person conference
  • Coordinated with university administration, outside advisors, sponsors and invited speakers
  • Co-created conference vision, program, and website
  • Collaborated on parallel exhibition, “Real Talk”

ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN

PROJECT ARCHITECT

September 2017 « » July 2021
Hoffmann Architects // New York, NY

  • Promoted twice during tenure for outstanding performance and increased project management responsibilities
  • Lead design and documentation for hardscape rehabilitations, including accessibility retrofits to plazas and sidewalks, and provide building enclosure expertise to clients in the New York City area
  • Draft technical memoranda, including building condition assessment and Local Law 11 reports, prepare change order opinions, requests for proposals, and presentations
  • Develop project proposals and budgets, securing new clients and maintaining ongoing client relationships
  • Manage and mentor project team
  • Published articles in JOURNAL [Plaza Design for Longevity and Maintainability], Facility Executive, and FMJ (IFMA)
  • Office Safety Program Coordinator and Design Librarian

COPYRIGHT ASSISTANT AND WEBMASTER

October 2015 « » August 2018
Neil Brenner, Ph.D // Harvard Graduate School of Design

  • As a graduate student assistant, reviewed and edited bibliographies and obtained image permissions for multiple publications; managed Urban Theory Lab website

PROJECT DESIGNER

September 2011 « » July 2015
Strada Architecture // Pittsburgh, PA

  • Performed comprehensive design development and implementation on range of commercial, higher education, multi-family residential, and corporate interiors projects
  • Supported project architect with mid-level management, drawing review, code analysis, consultant coordination, construction administration, and client presentations
  • Implemented ongoing monthly ‘ArchiCAD Collaborative Learning Sessions’ for office staff, fostering peer to peer learning and development of office drawing standards
  • Mentored new staff and facilitated BIM training
  • Managed BIM software platform for 30 person firm with offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Design Studies Liaison and Student Forum Infrastructure Officer // Harvard Graduate School of Design

  • Spokesperson and student advocate to university administration. Accomplishments included establishing co-working space for Design Studies students, all-gender restroom campaign, and design ideas competition for student lounges.

Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant // University of Notre Dame

  • Planned and led weekly discussion section for Analysis of Architectural Writings; graded exams and developed review sessions for Architectural History II. At the Green Scale Research Project, researched embodied energy and thermal performance in traditional construction practices.

Technical and academic writing

Media and content development

Project, program and event management

Facilitation

Pen, pencil, and watercolor

Rendering, drafting, and sketching

Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop

Autodesk: AutoCAD + AutoCAD Architecture

ESRI ArcGIS

Google SketchUp

Graphisoft ArchiCAD

Microsoft Office

SquareSpace

WordPress

Registered Architect, Pennsylvania, RA 407653

Registered Architect, New York, 9968912

American Institute of Architects

National Organization of Minority Architects

American Planning Association | New York Metro Chapter Member

EDUCATION

MASTER IN DESIGN STUDIES

Harvard Graduate School of Design
Cambridge, MA
Urbanism, Landscape, Ecology Concentration

  • ARTS FIRST Installation // CO-DESIGNER
    “What’s Hanging Over Your Head?”
  • Black in Design // CO-ORGANIZER + MODERATOR
  • Designing Justice // PRESENTER + POSTER SESSION
    “Evaluating Justice and Injustice in the Built Environment”

  • Design Research Forum // EVENTS LIAISON + TREASURER
  • African American Student Union // INTERNAL RELATIONS CHAIR
  • Radcliffe Choral Society // MEMBER
    Choral tours to New York City, Indonesia, and Pacific Northwest

BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE
magna cum laude

University of Notre Dame // Notre Dame, IN
Bath Summer Studio // Bath, United Kingdom
Rome Studies Program // Rome , Italy

  • 4th Undergraduate Scholars Conference // PRESENTER
    “Creating Place: The Question of Urban Renewal and Redevelopment”
    “Preservation by Relocation: An Analysis of the Transfer and Reuse of
    St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church, Buffalo, NY”
  • 3rd Undergraduate Scholars Conference // PRESENTER
    “The Molino Project: A Study of Regional and Sustainable Urbanism”

  • Students for New Urbanism // CHAPTER PRESIDENT
  • Taskforce for Sustainability // STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
  • Women’s Liturgical Choir // MEMBER

HONORS + AWARDS

University of Notre Dame

  • Alpha Rho Chi Medal for exceptional leadership, service, and professional merit
  • Tau Sigma Delta, Honor Society in Architecture and Allied Arts
  • Congress for New Urbanism Academic Charter Award, Honorable Mention
  • David M. Schwarz Architects Traveling Fellowship
    Competitively selected for international research project and 10-week internship at David M. Schwarz Architects in Washington, D.C.

Harvard Graduate School of Design

  • Alumni Council ‘Unsung Hero’ Book Prize
  • Class Marshal

Strada Architecture

  • AIA Pittsburgh, Architecture: Honor Award
  • AIA Pittsburgh, Historic Preservation: Award of Excellence

AIA New York Chapter

  • Civic Leadership Program
    Selected as one of ten emerging architectural professionals to hone development of civic engagement skills and advocacy
  • AIANY Vice Presidential Citation 2020 + 2022

Next City Vanguard 2023

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