Neal J.Z. Schwartz, FAIA

Founder + Principal

Neal J. Z. Schwartz established the modern design studio, S^A | Schwartz and Architecture in 1997, where he serves as Founder + Principal today. Recent recognition for the firm's design work and ethos includes a national James Beard Foundation Award for Excellence in Restaurant Design, 2 Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Awards, 4 AIA California Council Design Awards, a Boston Society of Architecture Award, and 4 AIA San Francisco Design Awards. The firm's work has been profiled in numerous publications here and abroad including The New York Times, Dwell, Architect, Wallpaper* and Residential Architect among others. Neal is also committed significant pro-bono work with non-profits, including La Cocina, The Children's Creativity Museum, Larkin Street Youth Services, Public Architecture, The National Aids Memorial Grove, and the Abayudaya Synagogue in Eastern Uganda.

In additon, Neal had been actively involved in teaching for over 25 years, most recently as a full Professor in Architecture Studies at the California College of the Arts (CCA). Recognition for this work has included an NCARB Prize for the Integration of Teaching and Practive (under Chair Rudolf El-Khoury), the national ACSA Diversity Achievement Award, and 2 ACSA Faculty Design Awards.

From 2016-2018, Neal chaired the newly revived AIASF Public Policy & Advocacy Committee (PPAC) building off of the joint working group he initiated between AIASF and SF Planning advocating for improvements to residential design review policies and procedures. Recognition for the quality of this work has included an AIACC Presidential Citation and 2 AIASF Community Alliance Awards. From 2006-2009, Neal was on the Board of Directors for the National AIDS Memorial Grove, chairing the Memorial Design Committee working towards the capital campaign and design development of this national memorial.

Neal completed dual Master's degrees in Architecture and Public Policy at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design and the Kennedy School of Government respectively. At Harvard, Neal graduated with Distinction in Architecture, received the Thayer Award for Meritorious Scholarship (awarded to one student in each in each of the nine graduate schools), the Sheldon Traveling Fellowship, as well as national awards from the Urban Land Institute and American Planning Association. He graduated magna cum laude from Brandeis University receiving a Bcahelor of Arts in European History and has lived and researched abroad extensively.

Laura P. Huylebroeck

Associate Principal

Laura, a licensed architect in the state of California, has been with S^A since 2014. She received her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona where she graduated Cum Laude, was awarded the prestigious AIA Alpha Rho Chi Medal, a Capstone project award, as well as an athletic soccer scholarship.

At S^A, Laura has taken on complex construction administration duties on both large and small scale projects with astonishing grace, while becoming a top designer and technical product and materials specialist within the firm. Laura is originally from the small town of Pinetop, Arizona and on weekends you can find her playing soccer or at John McLaren Park with her husband Kevin and two Vizslas, Huxley and Escher.

Wyatt A. Arnold, Architect

Principal

Wyatt has been a mainstay of S^A since 2005, arriving soon after receiving his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona. While attending the U of A Wyatt received the M L Tophoy Scholarship for excellence in architecture with a focus on the construction trades and was a letter winner on the football team.

During his time at S^A, Wyatt has been involved in every aspect of the practice, becoming a licensed architect in 2013 and Principal in 2017. He has a broad and deep knowledge of design, construction detailing, and building systems, and is the consummate team player - taking the lead with staffing and office management mentoring members of our team at all levels, and leading our commitment to sustainability. Wyatt has a dedication to volunteer work and relishes the outdoors. On most weekends, you can find him on top of Bernal Hill with his wife Barbara, son Asher and golden retriever Bennett.

Caterina Belardetti

Senior Designer

Caterina has been with S^A since 2014, focusing on a range of residential projects in San Francisco and the South Bay. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from UC Berkeley and Master of Architecture degree from the Rhode Island School of Design, where she was awarded a RISD Graduate Fellowship and two Architecture Alumni Travel Awards for completed studio projects.

She focused on her interests in materiality and fabrication by completing design-build projects locally in Providence as well as in rural Ecuador (a pavilion made of bamboo) and in Versailles, France (a single-family home made of high-performance textiles).

Caterina is unflappable, independent, and always brings good spirits to her work and the firm. She is currently pursuing licensure. A native of Italy, Caterina lived for various years in New York City, Dallas, Verona, and Vancouver, prior to moving to San Francisco for school. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, traveling to new places and filling her sketchbook with drawings from her travels.

Christopher W. Baile, Architect

Associate Principal

Christopher, a licensed architect in the state of California, has been with S^A since 2015 when he completed his Master's degree in Architecture from California College of the Arts, where he has since served as a guest instructor and juror for graduate architecture studios. In addition to his prior experience with mixed-use residential projects, digital fabrication, and prototyping, Christopher’s interests in architectural theory and the politics of aesthetics and image-making have supported his focus on the representation, media and publication arm of our practice.

Christopher is originally from Indianapolis, Indiana and holds a BS in Architecture from Ball State University, where he was a fellow at the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts and an employee of the Institute for Digital Fabrication. His work has been exhibited in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Neil O'Shea

Senior Associate

Neil worked on a variety of large-scale commercial, airport, performing arts, and public architecture projects before becoming S^A’s very first employee in 1998. In 2002, Neil left to work for a number of years in medical facility design and planning before returning to the S^A fold in 2011 and becoming a Senior Associate in 2014.

Neil brings a great depth of experience managing complex projects, and shares his seasoned technical and construction expertise with all S^A staff. He is meticulous and detailed oriented, leading our in-house peer review and quality control efforts. Neil first earned a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University before continuing his education there to receive a Bachelor of Architecture including study at the prestigious Cornell in Rome Program. He enjoys fixing up his Miraloma Park home with his husband Marcus and the dogs, Felix and Ysabel.

Ania Burlinska

Intermediate Designer

Ania received her Masters in Architecture from California College of the Arts (CCA) in 2018, where she was recognized both for her design excellence and commitment to the broader architectural community. She was awarded the studio Jury Prize for Design and the Commencement Exhibition Curators Award for her Thesis work, as well as received both the national AIAS Leadership Award and the Alpha Rho Chi Medal.

Prior to CCA and after completing her Bachelor of Arts at the University of the Arts London, she left the UK to travel and explore Asia as a climbing guide. Ania does not do things by halves whether it is crafting a solution to her latest design problem or scaling a mountain in the Sierra Nevada.