Based in Philadelphia, MGA Partners is a nationally recognized firm distinguished for architecture that is considered, crafted, and resonant with its place. We are a design-oriented firm with experienced and mature leadership. Over the past thirty years, the focus of our practice has been for respected public and private institutions. Our work is collaborative, seeking fresh ideas drawn from the people and circumstances of each project—establishing our long tradition of making lasting contributions to urban and campus spaces, improving the quality of community through our planning and architecture.

Dan leads the overall approach to architecture, planning, and craft – sustaining for over twenty years the direction of the firm’s commissions as well as the continuity of the firm’s portfolio of design. His focus is on making thoughtful and artistically considered buildings. In parallel, his teaching affiliation has been with Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as presenting subjects of design and the built environment nationally and internationally. He is a graduate of Georgia Tech and the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and is a member of the Carpenter’s Company of Philadelphia. Dan is a native of Ohio.

Mary directs the firm’s strategic planning and ascertains what community engagements, consultants and projects are right for the firm. A graduate of Boston College (Newton College), she came to Philadelphia for an MBA at the Wharton Business School, joining the firm as a founder in 1990 and becoming a prominent female principal in the architectural community. Her professional interests include Board leadership in the Wharton Alumni Club and Advisory Board leadership in the PennWomenInDesign (PWID) at the University of Pennsylvania. Mary is a native of Boston.

Amy directs the firm’s work in building revival, workplace, and courthouse projects. Her experience is forged from an enduring relationship with the U.S. General Services Administration spanning twenty years and dozens of projects involving the reuse of important and historic civic buildings throughout the nation. To share her commitment to the heritage and quality of life in Philadelphia, she sits on the Architectural Committee of the Historical Commission. Amy is a graduate of Kent State University and is a native of Ohio.

Katie directs the firm’s work for performing arts and independent school projects. Her passion for these two programs is synthesized in her leadership of two non-profit organizations dedicated to arts education for school children in Philadelphia – Musicopia and Dancing Classrooms Philly. She is on the Board of the Philadelphia AIA and teaches design studios as an adjunct faculty member of Drexel University. She is a graduate of University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania. Katie is a native of Michigan.

Sara focuses on the planning, design, and management of institutional projects, including large-scale federal workplace studies. Sara’s passion for mentoring has shaped her role as a team leader for the ACE Mentor Program, where she works with Philadelphia high school students interested in the building industry. This interest in identifying talent and encouraging professional growth has also shaped her role in leading the recruiting process for the firm. She is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University and is a native of Pittsburgh.

Chris directs the firm’s graphic design process with a wide range of initiatives from discrete graphic design commissions to the preparation of proposals and presentations. His involvement across the studio allows the firm to focus on creative processes throughout all aspects of our work. Prior to joining the studio, Chris worked as a creative director in Boston, while teaching at Wentworth Institute of Technology. He is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and a native of Delaware.

Aisha focuses on the design, craft and management of complex projects primarily in the institutional and federal sectors. She brings a discerning attention to design through a passion for detail and materials, and through her client-focused practice to achieve strategic goals. She has served as a teaching assistant at the University of Pennsylvania and a frequent studio juror for Drexel and Temple Universities. Aisha is a member of the National Organization of Minority Architects and the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, a cherished Frank Furness design. She is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and a native of Pennsylvania.