AIA Columbus welcomes new committee chairs for 2024! Howard Blaisdell, AIA, is the Committee on the Environment (COTE) chair. Kayla Mahoney, AIA, and Tom Mahoney, AIA, are co-chairs of the Emerging Professionals and Young Architects Committee. David Meleca, FAIA, is chair of the Fellows Committee. Thank you for your leadership!
Howard Blaisdell, AIA, is a senior project manager and an associate principal at Moody Nolan specializing in sports and recreation facilities. Howard’s 35 years of experience have allowed him to work on diverse projects from smaller community centers and office buildings to large collegiate buildings and field houses. Howard became a LEED-accredited professional in 2001. Howard has led many projects through the LEED and sustainable building process and believes strongly in improving the built environment. Howard was an early leader at Moody Nolan in embracing sustainable design and teaching to MN’s staff and Howard’s clients. Howard’s work in mentoring others was part of his being awarded AIA Ohio Mentor of the Year in 2020. Howard believes in the mission of COTE Columbus to improve building efficiency, encourage clients to generate on-site energy, improve the built environment, and meet the 2030 challenge of which Moody Nolan is a signatory.
Kayla Mahoney AIA, NCARB, received her Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning with a certificate in Sustainable Landscape Design. In her final year of undergrad, Kayla’s studies on sustainable urbanism took her to Central and Northern India where the works of Louis Kahn and Le Corbusier were studied for their impact on economics and urban development. Upon graduation, she returned to a previous co-op at Gensler in Houston, Texas to work full time. At Gensler, Kayla spent most of her time in the hospitality studio working on the design and detailing of a private penthouse and luxury suites for a five-star, high rise hotel in the Galleria area of Houston. She returned to Ohio to receive her Master of Architecture degree at The Ohio State University Knowlton School of Architecture where she continued her studies of Le Corbusier’s work under José Oubrerie. Kayla was awarded the William Riot prize for her exemplary thesis research on the Anthropocene and its future impact on culture and the environment. After graduation, Kayla worked for BHDP in higher education design and joined JBAD in early 2021. At JBAD, Kayla has assisted in the development of a multifamily housing project consisting of forty-eight units with a unique owner/renter relationship. She is currently developing an Accessory Dwelling Unit Prototype Program with the City of Columbus in an effort to address the current housing market. With previous employment at David B. Meleca Architects LLC, Kayla assisted in construction administration of two Lifestyle Communities developments in downtown Columbus totaling over 200 units with retail below. These experiences allowed her to gain knowledge about scale, standards in the housing industry, and an understanding of a wide variety of living spaces. She is licensed in Ohio.
Tom Mahoney, AIA, is a registered Architect in the state of Ohio, an alumnus of the University of Cincinnati and Ohio State University, and a member of Moody Nolan’s design studio. Under the mentorship of David B. Meleca, FAIA, Tom has developed a wide array of experiences, primarily in the collegiate and residential Architecture markets. On a daily basis, his effort focuses on programming, site capacity analysis, form exploration, and facade articulation. With a particular interest in the convergence of form and function, Tom strives to push the boundary of multifamily, residential Architecture, both locally in Columbus, and on a national scale. He believes that thoughtful and nuanced design can be achieved in the multifamily space as means of placemaking, regardless of scale, scope or budget. Within and outside of work, Tom has found a passion for mentorship and guidance for the next generation of aspiring Architects. He is currently involved in various mentorship programs associated with Moody Nolan, AIA Columbus, Knowlton School of Architecture, and the Urban Land Institute.
For David B. Meleca, FAIA, great design is composed of beauty and detail that evoke emotion and build heritage. His mission is to bring forth creativity through tradition, which he translates into the design of classical structures that endure for generations. As Director of Classical Architecture, David’s desire is for each project to relish in aesthetic appeal, brilliance, and functionality. More than just buildings, he creates spaces outside of the modern trend to provide structures that would truly be missed should they cease to exist. A tour of our Columbus office will include a stop by David’s workspace, where he prefers the “old school” method and continues to draw by hand. His connection to creativity and attention to detail is evident in his leadership and client commitment. With more than 30 years of award-winning experience, David’s portfolio branches from his passion and expertise in ecclesiastical design to a broad range of project-types including retail and mixed use, hospitality, office, restaurant, and multifamily. Prior to joining Moody Nolan, his own firm was named in the top 100 Classical design firms in the world by the Classical Institute. In 2017, David was elevated as a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects, an honor bestowed on only three percent of licensed architects. He holds a BS in Architecture from The Ohio State University.
