2025 TSACS D+CM EXPO

The D+CM Expo is hosted by the Robert R. Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science on the historic campus of Tuskegee University. Our mission is to connect our students with the newest developments in the architecture, construction, and design industries. This is accomplished through a week-long event featuring career fairs, seminars, and workshops. This year, companies are invited to attend the in-person event February 10th-14th, 2025!

Monday, February 10th, 2025 (Willcox C Building Multipurpose Room)

***Required for all Architecture and CSM Students***

1:00 PM - 1:15 PM CT | Welcome & D+CM Expo Overview

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM CT | 2025 TSACS D+CM Expo Keynote

2018 TSACS Architecture Graduate and Newly Licensed Architect

Jordan Crawford, AIA, NOMA

Jordan Crawford is a graduate of Tuskegee University and a licensed architect with seven years of experience in light and heavy commercial projects. He has played a key role in a variety of developments, from large-scale mixed-use projects such as Atlanta’s Midtown Union to undergraduate research labs and facilities.

As a senior design manager and lead design consultant at WSP, Jordan currently oversees multiple projects under the ATLNext program, supporting the expansion of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Beyond his technical contributions to the design industry, he is passionate about mentorship, facilitating workshops and serving on the advisory board for Atlanta’s Global Impact Academy—a STEM magnet high school in South Fulton County that serves a predominantly Black student population. A strong advocate for professional empowerment, Jordan emphasizes the importance of licensure and certification while investing in specialized expertise.

2:15 PM - 4:00 PM CT | Navigating Success during the D+CM Expo

Includes Networking Break, Refreshments Served*

Tuesday, February 11th, 2025 (Willcox A Building)

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM CT | Company Table Setup, Continental Breakfast for Companies

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM CT | Open Career Fair - Click Link for Floor Plan

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CT | Career Fair Day 1

• 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

  Learning Session: Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) + BIM Modeling for Career Readiness

  ***Required for Architecture / CSM Freshmen, CSM Sophomores, All Students Encouraged***

  Alumni Highlight: Mariah Stewart, DPR Project Engineer and MEP Coordinator

  Presenter: Keonia Woods, DPR VDC Sr. Project Engineer

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT | Company Lunch

• Architecture Representatives - Willcox A 2nd Floor Team Room

• Construction Representatives - Willcox A Room 104

1:30 PM - 4:00 PM CT | Career Fair Day 1

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM CT | Company Mixer and Reception (Margaret Murray Washington Rotunda) ***Business Attire***

Wednesday, February 12th, 2025 (Willcox A Building)

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM CT | Company Table Setup, Continental Breakfast for Companies

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM CT | Career Fair Day 2

• 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

  Learning Session: Understanding the Construction Lifecycle and the Important Roles of a Preconstruction Professional and Project Manager

  ***Required for Architecture / CSM Freshmen, CSM Sophomores, All Students Encouraged***

  Presenter: Keenan Arnold (Balfour Beatty, Senior Preconstruction Manager)

  Presenter: Travis Alford (Balfour Beatty, Senior Project Manager)

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT | Company Lunch, Grab & Go

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM CT | Career Fair Day 2

• 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Learning Session: The Design-Build Process - Pairing Architecture and Construction

***Required for Architecture / CSM Freshmen, CSM Sophomores, All Students Encouraged***

Presenter: Michael Moore (Performance Services, Business Development Manager)

• 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM CT

  Learning Lesson: Bridging Connections: Robert R. Taylor, MIT, and Graduate School Opportunities

  ***Required for Architecture / CSM Freshmen, CSM Sophomores, All Students Encouraged***

Presenter: Nandini S. Choudhury, LCSW, MPH (MIT, Department of Architecture)

Required for all Architecture + CSM Students

***New Event*** 2025 TSACS D+CM Symposium

Design from the Ashes: Creating Spaces of Resilience

The 2025 Design and Construction Management Expo invites faculty members, graduate students, and design professionals to submit papers and posters for the Faculty and Studio Symposium. This year's theme, Design from the Ashes: Creating Spaces of Resilience, explores innovative approaches to designing built environments that foster resilience, regeneration, and sustainability in the face of adversity—be it from natural disasters, social disruptions, or environmental challenges.

Theme Overview: As we confront increasingly frequent environmental and social challenges, architecture and design play a pivotal role in creating spaces that not only withstand disruption but emerge stronger, more adaptable, and more connected to the communities they serve. The symposium will examine how design can transform areas of devastation into foundations for resilience, recovery, and regeneration.

Note: The Symposium is a student-based event; however, professionals are welcome to attend.

Thursday, February 13th, 2025 (Willcox C Building, Multipurpose)

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CT | NAHB, AGC, and ABC Informational

11:00 AM - 12:00 AM CT | AIAS and NOMAS

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT | NOMAS Charrette

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM CT | Symposium

Friday, February 14th, 2025 (Willcox C Building, Multipurpose)

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM CT | Symposium

Career Fair and Interview Logisitics

Student Interviews

Companies are encouraged to review student résumés prior to the Expo career fair. Students who wish to be considered for pre-selected interviews have provided their résumés and/or work samples in the links below. Please note that the documents shared do not include all student résumés, only those from students seeking consideration for pre-selected interviews. Some students have already committed to employment opportunities, while others may request sign up for "walk-up" interviews during the career fair.

2025 Architecture Resumes - Access Link

2025 CSM Resumes - Access Link

This year, TSACS will use SignUpGenius to digitize the student interview sign-up process. Once your company has identified the students it wishes to interview, please email them directly and provide the sign-up access link to confirm their intent to interview, as well as the date and time for their interview during the Expo.

Please note that it is not mandatory for companies to pre-select students for interviews. Sign-up forms can be printed and placed on company tables during the career fair for any students seeking "walk-up" opportunities. Sign up for “Walk-up” interviews are encouraged Tuesday, February 11th from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM.

Career Fair Table

Expect a 6-foot table, a black tablecloth, and two task chairs. Free-standing banners are welcome; however, please tuck them behind your table or directly to the side to clear the walkway. Company-branded tablecloths and handouts are welcome. If you would like to showcase projects, we suggest the use of an IPAD or laptop that can hold charge or be recharged during the lunch hour. This suggestion is due to possible trip hazards and unforeseen Wi-Fi/electrical issues.

Note: If your company needs to mail items prior to the career fair, please make sure your items are delivered by Wednesday, February 5th, 2025. The mailing address is provided below. Please also note, TSACS is unable to ship your items back. Arrangements should be made to drop off at an Auburn or Montgomery shipping location following departure from the Expo.

ATTN: Ms. Terrell Jones

Robert Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science and Management (TSACS)

Tuskegee University

Wilcox Bldg C, Rm 115

1200 W. Montgomery Rd.

Tuskegee, AL 36088

Travel Logisitics

Expo Location:

Tuskegee University Willcox A Building (1200 West Montgomery Road, Tuskegee, AL 36088)

***Campus Access and Security:***

To access campus, all company reps must visit the security office across from the main campus gates. In preparation of this security checkpoint, please complete the form on the following page - Link. Under “how long is your visit,” please note “TSACS D+CM Expo - Tuesday/Wednesday 8 or 16 hours.”

Flight and Hotel Accommodations:

If you are flying into Atlanta, GA, please consider hotel arrangements in Auburn, AL. If you are flying into Montgomery, AL, please consider arrangements in Eastchase. Hotel accommodations are not available on Tuskegee University’s campus.

Directions:

From Birmingham, AL, take Interstate 65 South to Montgomery, then transfer to Interstate 85 North. From Mobile, AL, take Interstate 65 North to Montgomery, then transfer to Interstate 85 North. From Montgomery, AL, take Interstate 85 North to the Tuskegee/Franklin exit (Exit #32). Turn RIGHT off the exit onto Pleasant Springs Drive (Co. Rd. 50/30). Go approximately 2 miles, then turn LEFT onto Franklin Road (Co. Rd. 30). Go approximately 3 miles to the end of Franklin Rd. Take a LEFT at the traffic light onto "Old" Montgomery Rd. You will see the entrance to Tuskegee University on your left.

From Atlanta or Columbus, GA, or Auburn, take Interstate 85 South to the Tuskegee/Notasulga exit (Exit #38). Turn LEFT off the exit onto Tuskegee Airmen Blvd. (Hwy. 81). Stay on this highway (approximately 2 miles) through several 90-degree turns and you will end up on North Main Street. You will see Burger King on your left. Turn RIGHT at the first traffic light onto "Old" Montgomery Rd. Go straight through the next traffic light on "Old" Montgomery Road until you see the east end of the campus (you'll need to go several blocks further to enter through the main gate). Go to the next traffic light and you will see the main entrance to Tuskegee University on your right.

Parking:

Parking is available between the Willcox A & C Buildings, behind the Emory dorms, and near Chappie James Arena.

2025 Participating Companies

Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. (Detroit, MI) - Virtual Interviews

Balfour Beatty (Atlanta, GA)

Barganier Davis Williams Architects Associated (Montgomery, AL)

Batson-Cook Construction (Atlanta, GA and West Point, GA)

BECK Group (Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, GA)

Birchfield Penuel Architects (Birmingham, AL)

Brasfield & Gorrie (Atlanta, GA)

Chambless King Architects (Montgomery, AL)

Cooper Carry (Atlanta, GA)

Corgan (Dallas, Texas)

DPR Construction (Redwood City, CA)

Gensler (San Francisco, CA)

Haskell (Jacksonville, FL)

HKS Inc (Dallas, TX)

HOK (Saint Louis, MO)

JE Dunn (Kansas City)

KPS Group, Inc. (Birmingham, Alabama)

Kraus Anderson (Minneapolis, MN)

McCarthy Building Companies (Atlanta, GA)

McMillan Pazdan Smith (Greenville, SC)

Moody Nolan (Columbus, OH)

MSA Design (Cincinnati, OH)

Performance Services, Inc. (Auburn, AL)

Perkins&Will (Atlanta, GA)

PH&J Architects (Montgomery, AL)

Populous (Kansas City, MO)

RAMSA (New York)

Sherlock, Smith and Adams, Inc. (Montgomery, AL)

Studio 2H Design LLC (Birmingham, AL)

Swinerton (Atlanta, GA)

The Beck Group (Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia)

Williams Blackstock Architects (Birmingham, AL)

2025 Participating Graduate Schools

MIT (Cambridge, MA)

Day 1 - September 23rd, 2023

Day 2 - September 24th, 2023

Join us for the Parenthood in Architecture Panel

Parenthood brings about a big shift in one's life and balancing it with a demanding career like architecture can be daunting. However, becoming a parent doesn’t have to mean sidelining your architectural ambitions.

Join us to hear from a panel of experienced architects who are also parents, including Creative’s XP Owner Jennifer Matthews. They've negotiated sleepless nights and stringent project timelines, changing diapers while changing design blueprints. Their stories and strategies will offer valuable insights into managing the delicate balance of parenthood and architecture.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Gain insights from architect-parents on how they've balanced their career and family life.

• Understand the potential challenges and rewards of juggling parenthood and architecture.

• Learn practical strategies to navigate parenthood without compromising your career ambitions.

• Reflect on your own work-family balance with experiences shared by the panelist

MANDY FREELAND, AIA, NOMA

President & Principal Architect at Mandy Freeland, Architect, Inc.

Mandy is an architect, firm owner, advocate for emerging professionals, and a mother of two. She is currently serving as the Vice President of the Academy for Emerging Professionals at AIA California, and she founded / co-founded three social media platform sites to build communities in architecture, including the Parents in Architecture Facebook Group. Mandy participates in panel discussions and podcasts related to EDI and women in architecture, balancing work-life and home life balance, and improving workplace culture. She spends her time learning to play guitar, doing outdoor activities, supporting her children's sports and activities, and exploring the world one place at a time with her family.

CONTACT

Email: mandy@freeland-architecture.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandy.freeland.architect/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandyfreelandaia/

JING JOHNSON, MBA, LEED AP

President at Prism Renderings

I'm a mom, a visual storyteller, and an entrepreneur. I worked in architectural firms for 12 years before I founded Prism Renderings, Inc. in 2005.

Prism is an all-women team, located in Houston, Texas. Our specialty is providing conceptual design, photo-realistic renderings, and fly-throughs during the design and feasibility phase. Our visual deliverables have helped hundreds of commercial real estate developers and other stakeholders by catalyzing their marketing initiatives, fundraising endeavors, entitlement pursuits, and leasing purposes.

CONTACT

Email: jing.johnson@prismrenderings.com
Website: https://www.prismrenderings.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prismrenderings/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jingjohnson/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/prism-renderings

STEVEN BIERSTEKER, AIBA

Associate Architect at Thinkspace Architecture Planning Interior Design Ltd.

Steven is an architect by day, a content creator by night, and a dad all day long. He has 3 kids under 5 and an amazing wife (as you can imagine with that chaos in the house). After nearly a decade in the industry, Steven was frustrated by the lack of clear information for young architects. To help change the industry and encourage others to do the same he has been creating daily content on LinkedIn and writing to over 900 architects who are subscribed to his newsletter, The Carbon Architect. Hi plans to grow his personal brand to help more architects design better buildings.

CONTACT

Email: biersteker.steven@gmail.com
Website: https://www.stevenbiersteker.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steven_biersteker/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-biersteker/

JENNIFER MATTHEWS, ASSOC AIA

Healthcare Architectural Designer at SS&A Design Collective, Founder and Owner of Creative's XP LLC, Partnering Collaborator for Apostrophe Consulting

Jennifer T. Matthews, Assoc. AIA is a Healthcare Designer at SS&A Design Collective based in Montgomery, Alabama, and the Owner of the professional development platform, Creative’s XP LLC. She also collaborates with Apostrophe Consulting in their mission to help architects transform their companies by supporting efforts in talent development, change management, and business strategy.

Jennifer obtained her Bachelor of Architecture from Tuskegee University in 2013 and her Master of Arts in Business Design and Arts Leadership from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2020. She served as the National Vice President of the American Institute of Architecture Students 2013-2014.

CONTACT

Email: jennifertmatthews@gmail.com
Website: https://www.ssainc.com, https://www.creativesxp.com, https://www.apostrophe.consulting
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifertmatthews/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-matthews-4a253528/

BENJAMIN KASDAN, AIA

Principal at KTGY

Benjamin Kasdan, AIA, is a Principal and Design Leader at KTGY Architecture + Planning in Tysons, VA near Washington, DC. He is a frequent speaker and published writer about the value of design, mentorship, advocacy, sustainable architecture, resilience, student housing, multifamily housing, and mixed-use communities. He has held leadership positions with the American Institute of Architecture Students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, AIA Orange County, AIA California, and AIA National including serving as the 2019 President of AIA California.

CONTACT

Email: bkasdan@ktgy.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bkasdan/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkasdan/

This year, TSACS has partnered with Creative's XP, a professional development platform founded by Tuskegee architecture alumnae Jennifer Taylor Matthews '13. Creative's XP introduces design-related students to traditional and nontraditional career paths while supporting them through career readiness and job acquisition.

Her interest in student engagement and career readiness stems from her time as a former local President of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). While a student, she also served as the former National Vice President of the AIAS and former National President of the Tuskegee Architecture and Construction Alumni Association. She is excited to re-engage with TSACS and support its students' pursuing internships and full-time positions in architectural and construction-related fields.

"Our mission is to develop skilled professionals capable of playing active roles in shaping communities by building meaningful places for all people, said Dr. Carla Jackson Bell, professor and dean of the School of Architecture and Science (TSACS)." "We intend to keep working to help our current and future students have a competitive advantage that will distinguish them from students at peer institutions and advance their career goals."

Companies in attendance include:

Architecture

• Corgan

• SS&A Design Collective

• Moody Nolan

• IKM Architecture

• Nequette Architecture and Design

• Perkins + Will

• MOSA Architects

• Mead & Hunt

• Cooper Carry

• MSA Design

• HKS

• PH&J Architects

• HOK

• RAMSA

• Orcutt | Winslow

• Duvall Decker Architects

• Williams Blackstock Architects

Construction

• DPR Construction

• Juneau Construction Company

• Holder Construction

• McCarthy Building Companies

• Kraus Anderson

• Batson-Cook Construction

• JE Dunn Construction

• The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

• Robins & Morton

• Caddell Construction

• Stewart Perry Construction

• Brasfield & Gorrie

Architecture/Construction

• CRB Group

• The Campaign for Historic Trades

• Performance Services

• The Beck Group

Graduate Schools

• Weitzman School of Design - University of Pennsylvania

Join America's Hidden Gem, B.E.A.M, and Creative's XP for a Fall Seminar Series featuring a panel discussion and three focus sessions. The panel discussion will explore the career paths and motivations of Architectural Designers knee-deep in traditional practice and pursuing licensure. The focus sessions will highlight professionals with an architecture background who have successfully transitioned to alternative career paths by identifying their creative career passions. Please use the links below to sign up for sessions!  

Inspired Wandering is a travel company that focuses on creating unique experiences centered around the architecture, culture, people and food of Morocco and  Italy. The company was created and inspired by the volunteer time spent with  Habitat for Humanity and The Fuller Center for Housing over the past 12 years.  Jamillah served as board member, family partner, land committee member, volunteer team lead for international trips, and volunteer team member for international trips helping to build houses for families. 

Melding architecture with travel has been a long time passion and one that has  helped to shape the future of her career. 

About the Series Co-Hosts …

America’s Hidden Gem™ is a platform dedicated to celebrating the Black Architect, ally professionals and students. Through features, mentorship, and professional development summits, AHG™ aims to increase the percentage of Black architects from ~2%. Follow AHG in Instagram @americashiddengem

Black Emerging Architects Mission (B.E.A.M.) - A special thank you to Yasmine Hardy-Njie, our Creative Ambassador and Student Representative, who will assist in moderating the Fall Seminar Series! Yasmine is the founder of the B.E.A.M., a student run organization focused on creating a platform that allows authentic connections between minority students in architecture programs throughout the DC Metro area. Follow B.E.A.M. on Instagram @beam.rvt