Jury Alumni

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  Erich Fox

  Producer, Executive Team Director, Gentilhomme

  2024 Built Environment Jury Captain

  With nearly three decades of experience, Erich stands as a seasoned professional in the dynamic realm of technically challenging projects. His extensive portfolio boasts successful leadership across the globe, encompassing diverse ventures such as theme-park attractions, large-scale exhibits, experiential and environmental activations, restaurants and public spaces.
  
  Erich's expertise lies not just in project execution, but in his role as a guiding force. His primary focus is on meticulously navigating clients and partners through the intricacies of project planning. Whether it's aligning the design vision or establishing a robust foundational project plan, Erich ensures precision and alignment in every step of the process.
  
  Based in the vibrant city of Toronto, Erich finds joy in the simple pleasures of life. Outside the dynamic world of project management, he shares his home with his wife and dogs. Erich's leisure activities reflect his creative spirit, indulging in drawing and model-making. His green thumb finds expression in gardening, and he embraces an active lifestyle by embarking on long-distance bicycle rides. Beyond the boardroom, Erich's passions reveal a well-rounded individual with a zest for both the creative and the outdoors.

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  Lyndsey (Vincent) Archer

  Founder & Creative Executive, Studio Archer (Formerly LVincent Studios)

  2024 Built Environment Jury Member

  Lyndsey's journey in design began at Walt Disney Imagineering, where she spent over a decade contributing her creativity to projects like EPCOT World Celebration, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Shanghai Disneyland Resort and World of Disney flagship retail. Her expertise in crafting immersive experiences across retail, hospitality, and attractions has earned her recognition, including a coveted spot in Design:Retail Magazine’s “40 under 40.”
  
  In October 2021, Lyndsey embarked on a new adventure, co-founding Studio Archer and taking her lessons learned in themed entertainment design to the masses “beyond the berm.” From luxury hospitality to landmark sporting venues, Lyndsey aims to inspire, engage, and delight guests of all ages and backgrounds with her adventurous designs & artistic approach.

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  Sal Agosta

  Vice President of Architecture and Design, SimEx Iwerks

  2024 Built Environment Jury Member

  With over 25 years of experience at SimEx-Iwerks, Sal has honed his expertise in architecture and design to perfection. He is Vice President of Architecture and Design, Responsible for crafting captivating attractions found in top theme parks, museums, zoos, and aquariums globally, Sal’s drive for innovation and commitment to quality has positioned them as a respected leader in the industry. Based in Toronto, Sal finds inspiration in the city's vibrant atmosphere and thriving creative community.
  
  "Design aficionado who finds inspiration in every corner of the globe. Whether it's a unique architecture or a simple piece of street art, I am always seeking new ways to incorporate creativity into my work. When not immersed in design, you can find me hitting the pavement on my bike or going for a run."

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  Scott Hickman

  Creative Director, Coca Cola

  2024 Built Environment Jury Member

  Scott creates design-driven experiences and environments for the best-known brands in the world. He leads teams that specialize in experience design, digital media, architecture, place making, interactivity, environmental graphic design and fabrication to develop branded environments that are multi-sensory and nontraditional. Scott is a tech-savvy storyteller that connects brands to massive markets with immersive digital and physical interactions. His journey has taken him from boutique West coast studios to global East coast agencies, and he is currently the Creative Director for the World of Coca-Cola, a first-mover in branded spaces.

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  Kristin Kreppner

  Senior Project Manager, CBRE

  2024 Built Environment Jury Member

  Kristin Kreppner is a Senior Project Manager with CBRE’s Project Management team in Atlanta, GA. Ms. Kreppner utilizes her twelve years of experience in the architectural and interior design industry to consult some of the most notable owners and occupiers in the Atlanta area as well as nationally including Cox Enterprises, Nike, and Google. Her understanding of experiential design, as well as her attention to detail and client service, brings tremendous value to her clients throughout the region. Before joining CBRE, Ms. Kreppner practiced interior design and project management at both Gensler and, most recently, Interior Architects (IA). As an interior designer, Ms. Kreppner has been involved in large-scale projects, experiential and exhibition design, and branded environments that focus on the end-user and visitor experience. This includes the renovation of approximately 2.3M SF of Coca-Cola’s headquarters Campus. With a special focus on leading the storytelling and showcasing the replica of Robert Woodroof’s office and display of his innovative thought leadership in the Central Reception Building (CRB). In addition, she has also managed the design and construction of multiple production studios and innovation labs for Nike, Papa Johns, and Cox Enterprises. She had led efforts on interior renovations for Cobo Hall Convention Center and Ritz Carlton Japan Lobby and amenity spaces. Kristin has led several large headquarters assignments in the Atlanta Metro area and multimarket accounts. Most recently, Ms. Kreppner served as the design team lead for Brown Forman’s Immersive visitor experience center and renovation of a historically registered barrel warehousing facility showcasing their vast amount of products, local distilling process, company history, and tasting room.

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  Jacqueline Tang

  Creative Director/ Studio Director, Entro Communications

  2024 Built Environment Jury Member

  As a Creative Director at Entro, Jacqueline brings over 12 years of multi-disciplinary design experience to the team. Her expertise spans a wide spectrum, including experiential graphics, exhibition design, identity, branding and interior design. Drawing inspiration from all aspects of life, Jacqueline strives to create dynamic, user-friendly environments of all types and sizes. Jacqueline’s education in Graphic Design, Architecture, and Fine Art History allows her to approach each project with a unique perspective. She is a valuable member of the senior design team with a skilled ability to work with international and specialized consultants, architects and fabricators to deliver highly tailored, award-winning solutions.

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  Todd Palmer

  Director, Diversity in Design Collaborative

  2023 Built Environment Jury Captain

  Todd Palmer is a strategist, curator, and cultural leader of purpose-driven platforms at the intersection of design, public learning and spatial equity. As Director of the Diversity in Design Collaborative he steers a start-up driven by over 56 design-focused organizations that are aligned to confront systemic barriers faced by Black talent at critical moments in the design lifecycle.
  
  Palmer orchestrated the second and third editions of the Chicago Architecture Biennial as its’ Executive Director, defining the platform’s identity as a global catalyst connecting design experimentation with civic urgencies. As Curator and Associate Director of Chicago’s National Public Housing Museum (2013-2016), Todd ensured exhibits and programs served grassroots efforts to rehabilitate a community site as a cultural framework for confronting poverty.
  
  Palmer’s transdisciplinary efforts have been profiled in range of media outlets - most recently the DID Collaborative under Palmer’s leadership was recognized by a 2022 Fast Company Innovation By Design Award. As an independent creative Todd co-founded Program Collective, the design team behind immersive exhibitions tackling sustainability at the core of Spain’s World Expo 2008. He has also designed urban justice prototypes for Harlemworld at the Studio Museum (2004) and published critical essays in Columbia University’s The Avery Review (2015) and Illinois Institute of Technology’s 2022 Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize catalogue. As an educator, Todd has created high school design curriculum for Miami’s Design and Architecture Senior High School, and taught professional certificate and advanced degree courses in design and curatorial practices at NYU and for RISD’s M.Arch program.

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  Nootan Bharani

  Associate Director, Design & University Partnerships, Arts + Public Life

  2023 Built Environment Jury Member

  Nootan Bharani is a fierce champion of the continuum of communities and a thoughtful leader of processes to shape places where people want to be. An architect with a deep background in environmental sustainability, Nootan has a propensity toward existing buildings and in-between spaces, and has spent most of her career in non-traditional practice, working directly with neighborhood partners on projects at a wide variety of scales. Nootan is currently the Associate Director of Design and University Partnerships at Arts + Public Life, and a lecturer in the Humanities Division, at the University of Chicago. Previously, Nootan was Lead Design Manager for Place Lab at the University of Chicago where she was thought and practice leader for building projects. Prior to coming to the University of Chicago, she was Managing Director for CB&I Sustainable Design Solutions of Illinois. Nootan is also a volunteer in Chicago Public Schools where her children attend, co-leading initiatives for caregivers of students with disabilities.

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  Shawn Rickenbacker

  Assoc. Professor, Architecture, CCNY Spitzer School of Architecture, J. Max Bond Center for Urban Futures

  2023 Built Environment Jury Member

  Shawn L. Rickenbacker is a trained architect, urbanist and urban data researcher. He is currently the Director of the J. Max Bond Center for Urban Futures where he directs the Center’s sponsored and partnership research and is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the CCNY Spitzer School of Architecture. His research and work at the Bond Center confronts the complex urban intersection of spatial equity and the social and economic impacts of place-based policies, programs and design through the lens of urban data, forensic and design research. He’s served as Senior Research Fellow at the Phyllis M. Taylor Institute for Social Innovation, where he researched ‘Artificial Intelligence and The Future of Social Urbanism’, The Favrot Chair in Architecture at Tulane University, Gensler Distinguished Professor at Cornell University and Director of the Motorola Sponsored Future Interactions Lab at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Design. His work and research have been published in The New York Times, NY Daily News and Global Architecture, Wired and exhibited at Studio Museum of Harlem. Shawn holds a MArch with a Certificate in American Urbansim from the University of Virginia where he was the Dupont Scholar and a BArch from Syracuse University.

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  Adriana Young

  Design Research & Director, Programs, SVA MFA Interaction Design, School of Visual Arts

  2023 Built Environment Jury Member

  Adriana is a mother, design researcher, and educator based in NYC. She practices design research that focuses on elevating the voices and lived experiences of historically excluded and underrepresented peoples and communities. She works in the context of personal care, health, the built environment, digital products, and play. Previously, she supported the global design teams at Colgate-Palmolive to integrate co-design practices to make personal and oral care experiences more inclusive. She is a community advisor at 3x3, faculty and director of programs at SVA’s MFA in Interaction Design, and the homeschool teacher of her 9-year-old son, Rui, who is currently obsessed with dragons, kaiju, hobbits, and Buddhas.

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  Frank Tjepkema

  Founder, Tjep

  2022 Built Environment Jury Captain

  Frank Tjepkema (born 1970) is a Dutch designer based in Amsterdam. He started his award-winning design agency Tjep. in 2001 and works in a broad variety of disciplines including sculpture, architecture, interior design, product design and jewellery. He has provoked audiences worldwide through his art and exhibition pieces, such as the Bronze Age Furniture, Recession Chair, Bling Bling and Oogst. Frank is an early collaborator of Droog and his work is part of the permanent collection of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Cooper Hewitt in New-York. Recently Tjep. has delivered a variety of major sculptural projects in public space such as Zwerm in Eindhoven and Air Cells in Amsterdam.

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  Frank Tjepkema

  Founder and owner, Tjep.

  2022 Built Environment Jury Captain

  Frank Tjepkema (born 1970) is a Dutch designer based in Amsterdam. He started his award-winning design agency Tjep. in 2001 and works in a broad variety of disciplines including sculpture, architecture, interior design, product design and jewellery.

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  Judith Baehner

  Founder, Het Groenlab

  2022 Built Environment Jury Member

  Judith Baehner, concept maker and plant-architect, is the founder and owner of Het Groenlab. Fascinated by nature and the relationship of humans with nature. she is a plant-guru, plant-poet, designer, and teacher. She combines her experience as a plant expert with being a stylist and editor for magazines with her passion for plants to create inspiring and inventive green experiences. Her designs, articles, books, pictures, videos, lectures, workshops, and plantings are stylish and personal. Judith wants to inspire you to love all things green as much as she does. She wants to show you how easy it is to grow plants and enjoy them. All across Europe she leads projects, talks and workshops in which you can really feel her passion and her story. Alongside the work in the ‘lab’, Het Groenlab helps individuals and companies create green living and working spaces for a happier and healthier lives. The plantings made by Het Groenlab are about cultivating personal spaces, and are planted with love and care.

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  Sheryl Leysner

  Founder, Sherylleysner Interior Architecture & Project Management

  2022 Built Environment Jury Member

  Sheryl Leysner holds a bachelor degree in interior architecture from the Willem de Kooning Acadamy in Rotterdam. She founded her own design and project management studio in 2011 after working for several leading interior design companies. Sheryl’s 22 years of experience, her professionalism and enthusiasm have led to many successful projects in the areas of Dynamic Office Design, Hospitality, Retail, Health Care Facilities and Private Houses. Her goal is to design functional spaces with a pleasant atmosphere that positively affect the mood and performance of the user, and uses recycled, bio based materials whenever possible. 
  
  Sheryl also founded her own label “Ruwe Bolster” for unique custom made artlights and furniture so she can offer her clients more creative solutions. 
  www.sherylleysner.com / www.ruwebolster.nu

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  Dick Mulders

  Founder, DMD Amsterdam

  2022 Built Environment Jury Member

  Dick gained his experience as an interior designer by completing his bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture and Design at Raffles International School of Commerce in Shanghai and Sydney. Dick was also inspired by living in metropolises such as London, Shanghai and Sydney. Before founding DMD Amsterdam, in 2017, he gained experience by working at the internationally renowned architectural firm OMA and COARE in Amsterdam.
  
  Dick's main sources of inspiration have been the international influences, travels and experiences over the years. He likes to create environments that are distinctive, have something surprising, something striking, something unique and alluring that conveys bold luxury.

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  Remi Versteeg

  Partner Architect, Beyond Space

  2022 Built Environment Jury Member

  Remi Versteeg is equal parts architect and entrepreneur. He founded his first company back in 2002 (many were to follow) and obtained his degree in architecture from Delft University. In 2016, he co-founded office for architecture Space Encounters. In 2021, he co-founded Beyond Space together with Stijn de Weerd. Remi is driven to innovate and always seeks to combine diverse perspectives to forge new connections and lead him down roads less traveled.