Javier Arizmendi interests reside in the integration of architecture, engineering science and the visual arts. As Design Principal at the San Francisco office of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, his design practice has covered several areas of expertise including civic, government, residential, education, science, mixed-use, commercial, high rise design, and master planning. He has worked in diverse geographic locations including North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

30+ years of experience in the Corporate Facility Management and Government Capital Project Management. Experienced leader in driving operational excellence, innovation, and highly effective and collaborative workplace. Specialized in construction management, real estate development, sustainable and zero net energy facilities. Oversee the Project Development Unit (PDU) with team of 20 project managers, construction managers, project engineers for all new ground-up construction projects for the County of San Mateo properties. PDU manages approximately $1B of diverse projects including County Hospital, Rehab Campus, New County Office Building, Parking Garage, Medical Office Campus, Navigation Center, Fire Stations, Animal Shelter, Emergency Operation Center, etc.

As Structural Engineering Principal in the San Francisco office, Eric Long incorporates innovative structural engineering design concepts to drive new solutions in building design and construction. Long works in close collaboration with the entire design team, including architectural and MEP, to develop integrated ideas and advance each project in pursuit of design excellence. He maintains this focus through the entire structural design process, from the development of the structural concept and selection of building systems, through final construction documentation and administration. Long’s project experience includes the design of office, residential, and multi-use mid-rise and high-rise structures, in addition to complex multi-building developments. Notable projects include the United States Embassy in Beijing, the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, 350 Mission Street in San Francisco, and the New Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles. Long has successfully incorporated innovative and technologically advanced structural applications into the design of these projects including seismic base-isolation, long-span cable structures, integrated glass curtain wall systems, and performance-based seismic design. Long is involved in teaching an integrated architectural studio class, focusing on the creative collaboration of architecture and structural engineering, with students from Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; and California College for the Arts. Long frequently lectures on a wide variety of topics including the application of advanced technology in design, seismic performance and resiliency, and the unique design solutions of individual projects.

Pete Caputo provides vision, leadership, management and entrepreneurial guidance for the operations at Truebeck. In addition, he oversees Truebeck’s Interiors team, led by Travis Schultz, Project Executive. This team is managing interiors projects for technology, banking, science and healthcare clients throughout the Bay Area. He also oversees the firm’s Construction Technology & Innovation team, creating and implementing more innovative ways to deliver projects both in the digital world as well as the physical to provide greater value and efficiency. His impact is in pushing the business forward through progressive and industry changing ideas. Caputo’s background includes leadership positions over the past 15 years, serving on the client side and as construction manager. He was Executive Director of Facility & Property Services for Sutter Health, leading the Sutter Health statewide development group, which includes a project portfolio over $4 billion. He also served as Principal at Cambridge CM, working as the prime liaison between owners, design teams and general contractors on some of the largest and most complicated projects in the Bay Area, including the UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, Sutter Health Van Ness and Geary Campus, and Sutter Health Mission Bernal Campus. He has extensive experience in healthcare and high-tech markets, with a focus on Integrated Project Delivery and Lean processes. Caputo studied Civil Engineering at Santa Clara University.

As a Principal at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in San Francisco, Francesca R. Oliveira is responsible for projects from concept through construction execution, ensuring that sustainability principles are incorporated holistically. Her project experience includes a diverse range of building types from skyscrapers to civic buildings in the U.S. and overseas which seek creative design solutions synthesizing innovation in the built environment with vernacular architecture while pushing the boundaries of resiliency. Specializations in high performance building enclosures and strategic programming compliment her strong balance of design and technical abilities. Her expertise ranges from high-rise buildings, corporate / commercial projects to multi-family residential, and R & D laboratory facilities. Additionally, Francesca serves on the executive committee of AIASF, and was the AIASF Emerging Professional 2018. Francesca has been teaching at the Academy since 2014. Though her leadership role at SOM and frequent client meeting trips to China keep her busy, she always makes time for her students. Her past academic experience is primarily with Drexel University in Philadelphia. As an Adjunct Professor for the B. Arch program there, she had the privilege of teaching three different Design Studios for the 6th year students (year before Thesis). These studios included High-Rise Design, Long-Span Structures for Velodromes, and Co-Operative Housing. For the technical curriculum, she taught Building Enclosure Design during the summer for three years. In addition, Francesca taught free-hand drawing and drafting in Architectural Drawing I and II. Beyond these courses, she has been a critique juror for the undergraduate architecture Thesis mid- and final reviews at Drexel since 2009. For the undergraduate Architecture studios, she has been a jury member for Year 1 and 2 studio finals, as well as their high-school student summer programs since 2007. She has also been a juror for Drexel’s Interior Design graduate program studios, Temple University’s undergraduate Architecture studios, and Morgan State’s undergraduate Architecture studios.