Internal restructuring and leadership expansion strengthens design firm’s dedication to meaningful collaboration that allows for integrated design and delivery
Cuningham, a design firm with expertise in architecture, interior design, urban design, landscape architecture, and master planning, has announced the appointments of a new Board Chair and Leadership Council as part of an internal restructuring that reflects the firm’s continued dedication to meaningful collaboration and creating unique, forward-looking environments.
“At Cuningham, we’ve long been committed to designing and bringing to life environments that are continuously uplifting the human experience and have the future in mind,” says Tim Dufault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Principal, and Chief Executive Officer at Cuningham. “Through close collaboration with stakeholders, we’ve identified new strategies to optimize our internal operations, allowing us to improve and enhance how we serve our clients and partners in consistently meaningful ways as we grow.”
The unprecedented events of this past year have impacted how people view and interact with the built environment and the importance of design and delivery that is integrated, regenerative, and restorative, says Christy Cavataio, Associate AIA, Principal, President and Chief Operating Officer.
“Our new, expanded leadership platform will allow us to better leverage our team’s deep expertise and capabilities across disciplines, markets, and locations,” says Cavataio. “The Leadership Council is made up of the firm’s studio and practice leaders and is charged with leading the firm to achieve our collective goals to enhance our expertise in each studio to provide superior services to our clients, while bringing a body of shared knowledge and learning to how we practice. We know that learning from each other and borrowing the best from each studio’s markets while having a strong platform benefit our projects and their outcomes.”
In line with this restructuring, the firm also updated its name to the singular ‘Cuningham’ from ‘Cuningham Group,’ which reflects this unified approach and conveys the close connection to every project, stakeholder, and team member.
Cuningham Principal Meg Parsons, FAIA, NCARB, ALEP, LEED® BD+C, who has been with the firm for over 30 years, is also stepping into the role of Board Chair.
“Meg takes an active, inclusive approach to her work that is inspiring to all who have the pleasure of knowing her,” Dufault says. “She will play a key role in ensuring that every strategy is aligned with maintaining an optimistic, idealistic, and engaging culture that celebrates our myriad of diverse backgrounds, talents, and voices and move Cuningham forward.”
Parsons specializes in the planning and design of innovative learning environments from pre-referendum planning through construction. She is an Accredited Learning Environment Professional through the Association for Learning Environments and serves as the Chair for the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design and is the Chair of Region 4 for National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Parsons is also a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
The firm’s new Leadership Council includes:
New Board Chair: Meg Parsons, FAIA, NCARB, ALEP, LEED® BD+C
Principal and Board Chair
Parsons, who has been with Cuningham for 32 years, was recently named Board Chair. She specializes in the planning and design of innovative learning environments. She takes an active, inclusive approach to her work, which ranges from pre-referendum planning through construction. Meg is an Accredited Learning Environment Professional through the Association for Learning Environments and serves as the Chair for the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design and is the Chair of Region 4 for National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Meg is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
Christy Cavataio, Associate AIA
Principal, President, Chief Operating Officer
Cavataio joined Cuningham in 2020 as President and Chief Operating Officer. She oversees and closely collaborates with the firm’s studio and practice leaders in providing operational oversight for our design practice and works alongside CEO Dufault to guide the firm’s strategic vision. She was honored by Globe Street’s 2020 Women of Influence and was selected for her “reputation as a trailblazer and innovator in commercial design.”
Tim Dufault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED® AP
Principal and Chief Executive Officer
As Cuningham’s CEO, Dufault brings a holistic view to guide strategic goals and promote a collaborative approach within the firm. He is a nationally recognized leader on community building learning environments, and his leadership roles within AIA includes AIA Minnesota’s Chapter President and Board Member, and Committee Chair for the AIA Committee on Architecture for Education. He’s also a member of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).
Nina Broadhurst, AIA, NCARB
Principal and Executive Director – Work
Broadhurst is the firm’s new Executive Director of Work creating the meaningful workplace. Her visionary approach coupled with strong architectural skills and extensive planning experience have been the guiding force behind some of Cuningham’s most iconic projects, including Epic’s corporate campus in Verona, Wisconsin.
Michele Espeland, CID
Principal and Executive Director – Strategy
As Executive Director for Strategy, Espeland oversees and delivers on the overall strategic vision for the firm as well as leading the efforts on branding, business development, and marketing. She previously served as the firm-wide leader of Cuningham’s interior design team anchored in design leadership focused on engaging through experience for projects in retail, hospitality, resort, restaurant, housing and corporate market sectors.
Kari-elin Mock, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP® BD+C
Principal and Executive Director – Grow
Mock is the firm’s Executive Director of Grow, a studio dedicated to design for communities and learners, from preschool to higher education. She has been leading the firm’s efforts on many significant education projects and serves as the Southwest Region Past President of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE).
Jeffrey Schoeneck, AIA, LEED AP®
Principal | Executive Director – Live
As Executive Director – Live, Schoeneck provides the strategic design thinking necessary to assist clients in differentiating their projects in a changing world. His focus on living environments including senior, student, affordable/supportive, condominiums and apartments is informed by a well-rounded portfolio in hospitality, retail, health care, industrial, workplace, and masterplan work.
Wade Morgan, RA, NCARB
Associate Principal and Executive Director – Play
Morgan oversees Cuningham’s Play studio, which includes entertainment, hospitality, restaurant, and retail sectors. Having led many large Play projects including our feature projects in China, Morgan brings a blend of extensive organizational knowledge and a willingness to foster flexibility and creativity among team members, stakeholders, and consultants.
Lisa Schenck
Associate Principal and Executive Director – People
In addition to being Cuningham’s director of Human Resources, as Executive Director of People, Schenck is making sure that the firm develops and manages our greatest asset –our people – and offers a fair, welcoming, and equitable work environment.
Marcy Schulte, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP® BD+C
Principal and Executive Director – Design + Performance
Schulte leads the firm’s new Design + Performance Practice, which champions great design across disciplines, integrative regenerative strategies, and technical excellence. Her focus is on increasing Cuningham’s value through advanced digital delivery, innovation, and design quality. She also manages many of the firm’s large complex projects, including large mixed-use developments
Mark Tiscornia, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP® BD+C
Principal and Executive Director – Heal
Tiscornia has extensive experience leading complex healthcare design projects and has made a positive impact in healthcare, working with notable clients including Banner Health, Valleywise Health, and HonorHealth. As Executive Director of the Heal studio, he brings his unique expertise managing teams and developing creative and innovative responses to meet the challenges facing the healthcare industry.
High resolution headshots for the Leader Council members can be found here.
Cuningham recently revealed a new visual identity that reflects the firm’s evolution. The traditional ‘Cuningham yellow’ is now accompanied by a color palette with complementary shades influenced by gems of nature, representing the team’s sustained commitment to new possibilities and regenerative design. A hexagonal grid and series of striking irregular geometric shapes further enhance the creative energy. Cuningham has launched a new website, which can be found at cuningham.com.
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About Cuningham
Founded in 1968, Cuningham is Uplifting the Human Experience® through award-winning design and a client-centered, collaborative approach. We provide integrated design services, including architecture, interior design, urban design, and landscape architecture, for a diverse mix of client and project types. With more than 250 employees in offices in Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and San Diego, we maximize our cross-studio expertise on every project around the world. Learn more at cuningham.com.
*Editor: Please note the spelling of “Cuningham” with no “double-N.”
