Joseph Ahmadi, AIA, is the founding principal of J&N Arch Studio and a licensed architect in over 15 states, specializing in urban design, master planning, and adaptive reuse. His work spans multifamily, student housing, and active-adult communities, with a consistent focus on integrating design with development realities. Joseph’s background also includes advanced academic research on the emotional and spatial dimensions of place attachment, which informs his commitment to creating meaningful, connected urban environments.

Ali Anbari, Ph.D., is a senior project manager at IMEG, specializing in mechanical engineering and building systems design for new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse projects. He has contributed to numerous office-to-residential conversion projects, where success relies on resolving complex infrastructure challenges, including optimizing dry and wet utility distribution, integrating decentralized HVAC and metering systems, and coordinating multidisciplinary design teams to meet code and performance standards.
Dr. Anbari brings a foundation in building science and research to his work, combining analytical rigor with constructability awareness. His expertise supports multidisciplinary efforts to effectively transform underutilized commercial assets into high-performance residential environments. He has led projects that balance energy efficiency, code compliance, and practical implementation, supporting architects, structural engineers, and other MEP professionals to deliver coordinated, resilient, and sustainable building systems.

Karin has dedicated her career to community building, sustainability, and advocacy by embracing adaptive reuse as a powerful means to revitalize our cities. For over 25 years, Karin has focused on adaptive reuse projects and advocates for policy reform to make the repurposing of older buildings more financially viable and cornerstones of their communities.
In 2009, she founded Omgivning Architecture and Interiors, a firm known for uncovering the potential in underutilized buildings. Omgivning transforms these buildings to a wide range of new uses—including multifamily housing, hotels, restaurants, event venues, and workspaces—from a small cafe up to a  two-million-square-foot historic high-rise.
A leader in advocacy, Karin combines hands-on experience with a practical yet visionary approach. Her ability to see all perspectives has helped shape local planning policies and drive reforms in building and fire codes for more than two decades and has led her to be a State and National thought leader.

Karin holds a MArch from UCLA. 

Upendra Poudel is a Principal at EM Structural, based in the Firm's Arlington, VA office. With over two and a half decades of experience, he has led projects across multifamily, hospitality, higher education, senior living, federal facilities, and adaptive reuse and repositioning. Upendra brings authoritative expertise in structural systems, including cast-in-place and post-tensioned concrete, structural steel, timber, and masonry. He has designed buildings to meet rigorous seismic and wind performance standards. His collaborative style and commitment to resilient, efficient, and architecturally integrated solutions make him a valued partner to design teams and clients alike. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Alabama, Maryland, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, DC, and holds NCEES record registration. Upendra holds membership with the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Institute of Steel Construction, and the Structural Engineers Association of Metropolitan Washington.