WHO WE ARE
BAI’s tight-knit team of technical architecture consultants is comprised of not just individuals with formal architecture training - we are also individuals who are well-versed builders, mechanics, tinkerers, and artists. We believe that our well-rounded skill sets translate nicely to understanding the real nuts and bolts of architecture, including the nuances of construction methods and materials, their capabilities, and their limitations. Our experience allows us to understand and problem solve for difficult construction projects where advanced building techniques and materials are employed. Our keen attention to detail and affinity for quality can play a pivotal role in affecting projects in a positive direction.
PHILOSOPHY
As technical architecture consultants we believe that simple is always best in our approach and in the details we help craft. Our industry can be complex and challenging to navigate at times, and so can the projects we work on. At BAI we have a pragmatic no-nonsense approach to the work we do. We are adept at understanding the construction process, visualizing potential problem areas in construction sequencing and details, and bringing them to the forefront of the conversation in order to affect necessary change in the project. We collaborate with project team members to help boil down systems and details to their essential function.
We believe that organizing team working meetings, particularly via video conference, can be a highly efficient way to steer, align and organize thinking in the right direction. We help the process by analyzing big picture issues and asking the right questions in order to evoke critical thinking, which ultimately often leads to greater simplicity in the details and greater possibility of higher performing systems and details.
INTERNAL LEADERSHIP
At BAI we have adopted and naturally developed a mix of democratic and transformational leadership ideologies, along with a sprinkling of Stoic philosophy. We strive to be supportive where everyone’s voice is heard and appreciated. We encourage and allow our team to realize overall success by maintaining an environment that raises morale and self-confidence.
We nurture the growth and success of each other by cultivating and celebrating the achievements of all individuals within the firm, both professionally and personally. We encourage autonomy and empowerment, while still providing necessary support and guidance. Through delegating responsibilities, we empower team members to demonstrate their capabilities and take ownership of their work. We believe in not only leading down the chain of command, but encourage leading up the chain of command, which further develops self-confidence, growth, initiative, and greater autonomy.
We strive to provide an overall environment where we can all thrive, contribute our best, and reach our full potential.
At BAI we believe that dogs are people too, and we proudly donate to the Marin Humane Society. Click on our dog bios below to learn all about our furry assistants.
Adrian N. Blanco, AIA
Principal
Adrian with Waffle
Adrian is the Principal of BAI. He is involved in all aspects of running the firm, both with technical consulting work and administrative operations. Making his team and clients happy is what initially motivated him to launch BAI and that continues to motivate him everyday. Adrian has a formal Architectural Technology background and is a licensed architect in California, Hawaii, and Arizona. He has provided consulting services on a wide range of project types. He has provided construction litigation support for attorneys, including trial testimony, and has led forensic investigations. He has designed and constructed custom spray racks for differential pressure fenestration testing, and he and his team have performed many, many ASTM E-1105 tests on windows and doors.
From an early age Adrian took to working with his hands, first in auto mechanics, rebuilding cars and dabbling in welding. He then became interested in and fell in love with construction work. In his college years he spent time in the summers working at a golf course where he became an Operator, operating a wide variety of heavy machinery, including loaders and backhoes. This led to a hobby of owning and operating heavy equipment. Adrian’s early mechanical and construction experiences led him to his formal technical architecture education.
Adrian has continued to work with his hands throughout his entire career, building several of his own construction projects, including completing six office renovations. Adrian particularly loves seeing his own visions come to life with his own hands and enjoys continually improving his craftsmanship. He also continues to tinker with and operate a small collection of heavy equipment for his own use. In addition to his current residential projects, he is embarking on a larger three phase renovation/development project at BAI headquarters. Following a lengthy planning and permitting process, the first phase is currently in construction. This phase required the building to be shored and moved in order to allow space to drive helical piers to bedrock as part of the new foundation system. Adrian has attended field training and Chance University for the installation of Chance helical piers for underpinning, tiebacks and new construction and is a Chance certified installer. He is self-performing the helical pier installation with the use of his CAT305 excavator, which has been fitted with special attachments necessary for driving piers and monitoring installation torque.
Adrian’s hands-on experience, coupled with his technical architecture training and career, have given him a unique perspective and a much deeper understanding of architecture and construction as a whole, and, most importantly, where they meet. It has made him particularly well suited for technical architecture consulting and adept at developing designs for practical details and construction assemblies. His hand-on perspective and pragmatic approach are also valuable when interfacing with contractors in the field.
Adrian likes learning about and practicing Stoicism and strives to lead with elements from that philosophy. He appreciates the pragmatism and also enjoys other related subjects, including time management, team development and empowerment, and self discipline. Adrian enjoys the freedom he finds through practicing self discipline, particularly via exercise and eating a simple diet, and can be found early in the mornings each day in his gym on his Concept 2 rower, stair climber, and lifting weights. Adrian also loves to travel when he has the time to do it. Outside of work and his own projects, and, most importantly, he spends as much time as possible with his master, Waffle.
Sara B. Batchelder, MBA
CFO
Sara with Whiskey
Sara has worked in finance and administration of small architecture firms for twenty years. She brings extensive knowledge of finance, payables, receivables, budgeting, analysis, planning, and project management to our team. In addition, prior to working in architecture, she had fifteen years of experience in small business, banking, non-profit, and Fortune 500 companies.
Sara was instrumental in founding BAI, from creating company financial and administrative systems, to forming corporations, LLCs and LLPs, to acquiring and managing mortgages and SBA loans. She also has created policies and structures that help BAI succeed, such as business and marketing plans, HR administration, time and expense policies, employee handbooks, invoicing, and AR procedures. Sara also manages various insurance policies, legal matters, tax matters, and risk control measures.
Sara works closely with outside counsel, CPA’s, brokers, and other experts to maintain and improve company structures and policies that are instrumental to BAI’s success. She also works closely with Adrian in a business advisory role.
Prior to her work in architecture and after being inspired by her first rescue dog Rosie, Sara began a two-year sabbatical in animal rescue at Best Friend’s Animal Society in Kanab and Salt Lake City, Utah. There she managed a marketing program and also worked directly with the dogs in Dog Town, including taking care of a wolf! She found it extremely rewarding not only to help the animals, but to work with people who were passionate about making the world a better place. Although she went back to school for her MBA at the University of San Francisco and re-entered the for-profit world, working with non-profits remains an important part of her life. She has continued to rescue dogs, including Little, Bella, Hoss and now her fifth rescue pup Whiskey, who was adopted from a rescue organization run by a previous co-worker in Utah.
After being diagnosed with migraines, Sara started advocacy work in the migraine space. Currently she volunteers for two migraine organizations whose goals are to increase funding for migraine research. Sara has attended Headache on the Hill at the Capitol in Washington DC regularly since 2014, advocating with doctors and other patient advocates and meeting with Senators and Representatives. Sara also volunteers for Miles for Migraine by raising money for their San Francisco event, where she has been the top fundraiser several times. She has also attended many other migraine events around the country, including once giving a presentation in front of hundreds of people.
Sara loves to knit and sew - she’s worked on a number of toques, scarves, blankets, and sweaters. She is currently working on dog sweater prototypes, much to Whiskey’s chagrin, and is thinking about opening an Etsy store. She loves to travel, especially to Scotland and Canada. Recently she traveled with her two sisters across the UK for two months. She loves to bake gluten-free treats and is currently working on a BAI team recipe book. Other interests include genealogy, politics, and gardening.
Jason Sheldrick
Senior Project Manager,
Production Manager
Jason has worked on a wide range of projects in Canada and the United States, from commercial to institutional to high-end residential structures. He has a formal Architectural Technology background and is a Senior Project Manager and Production Manager at BAI.
He is responsible for project management, building envelope design for both new structures and remedial work, coordination of drawings and specifications, and contract administration services. He conducts investigations for failed building assemblies and is experienced with building condition evaluations and fenestration testing.
Jason has taught college-level construction methods and materials courses in Canada and has delivered waterproofing seminars to architecture firms in the Bay Area. He particularly enjoys mentoring junior staff and educating his peers in the industry.
Jason has been a life-long visual artist and has brought his exceptional hand drawing skills into his detailing - beautifully marrying art with technical drawing. See some of his hand drawing work on our home page and services page.
Over the past few years, Jason has further developed and honed his hand drawing skills, while crossing over into the digital realm with Morpholio Trace. By employing the software, Jason has been able to marry hand drawing with the digital interface to develop unique and complex yet highly legible three-dimensional details. Jason is recognized by Morpholio Trace and has a following in the architecture community. See Jason discuss how he utilizes the software to craft his unique and beautiful detail illustrations here.
Richard V. Ciccarelli
Senior Project Manager,
Production Manager
Richard is a Senior Project Manager and Production Manager at BAI. After graduating with degrees in Building Sciences and Architecture on the East Coast, he made his way to San Francisco. His first professional experiences began following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake - working on the reconstruction of prominent historical structures such as The Palace Hotel, The US Court of Appeals Building, and the Los Angeles Central Library. He returned to live in New York City for a decade and worked as a Project Manager on a wide range of restoration projects, chief among them The Frick Collection and the Plaza Hotel. In addition to his reconstruction work, he has a wide range of experience in managing multi-family and civic facade restoration and roofing projects in New York City and the Bay Area. Richard has conducted building facade condition evaluations, prepared construction documents and specification packages, and provided contract administration services.
Along with his architectural practice, Richard is a muralist and oil painter. His background in architecture has informed his large format painted work and his experience in the graphic arts has guided the development of his architectural details. He prides himself on preparing precise and readable CAD details that clarify the design intent of construction assemblies, resolve the interaction of intricate architectural finishes, and enhance the function of the building envelope. See some of his CAD work on our services page. At BAI Richard is noted for his ability to work effectively with both design professionals and contractors in order to provide direction for the successful completion of building projects. He enjoys mentoring younger colleagues and getting work done quickly.
Richard is currently at the final stages of completing the architectural registration process in California.
Felix St. Augustine
Senior Project Architect
Felix is an architect with over 34 years experience, much of it originally centered around the multi-family housing industry, including both new design and renovation/rehabilitation projects. He previously served as one of the principals of a local forensic architecture and building envelope specialist firm for 9 years. It was there that he honed his skills in forensic investigations into building envelope failures and developed a solid working knowledge of building envelope design, detailing, materials, and systems.
Felix joined BAI after taking time off to complete the last phase of an extensive renovation on his own home that he started nearly 15 years prior. He is an avid scuba diver, cyclist, and woodworker with a strong passion for durable and sensible technical design. His philosophy? “Build it right the first time.” Felix is particularly adept at assembling technically and graphically proficient CAD drawings.
Most recently Felix embarked upon a new hobby – a custom build-out of a Sprinter camper van for his road trip adventures.
Aaron Hopkins
Assistant Operations Manager
Aaron with Cooper and Tucker
Aaron is the Assistant Operations Manager at BAI. He has over 31 years of experience in successfully coordinating all aspects of large and small facility operations, including management, facility development, marketing, budgets and, sales. As a diligent, articulate, and detail-focused professional, he provides support to the project management team in the day-to-day operations of the firm. His goal is to offer a seamless and efficient process - moving from a reactive to a proactive workflow.
As BAI has expanded, Aaron has helped to streamline information and has developed systems to track projects, as well as assisting the team to more efficiently schedule work. Aaron also helps to bring the team together through monthly educational lunch and learns, scheduling team-building events, and producing an office newsletter. Aaron brings a cheery and light-hearted approach into our daily work.
Outside of the work place you can often find him traveling, where he loves to discover new and exotic places throughout the world.
Casey Walters
Senior Field Manager
Casey with Stella
Casey is a Senior Field Manager at BAI. He began his career over 31 years ago, working for a local waterproofing membrane manufacturer, and then progressed to becoming a skilled caulking and waterproofing journeyman. After a short contract for a local consulting firm where he provided quality control services, he shifted his full-time focus to consulting and field observation work for building envelope architecture firms. Casey has a wide range of experience from wood-frame, single-family structures to commercial concrete buildings, and is especially versed in sealants and coatings. He has performed many ASTM E-1105 tests on windows and doors and has conducted water testing for diagnostic purposes for other failed building envelope assemblies. Casey is mainly responsible for contract administration services at BAI.
Outside of work, Casey can be found hanging out with Stella, shooting a round on the golf course, or working on his current home renovation.
Haley Lim
Assistant Project Manager
Haley joined the BAI team following the completion of her Bachelor of Architecture at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Her academic background in architecture and design provoked her interests within the “how” of the built environment. More specifically, Haley has been intrigued by the translations between the design of a concept and its execution in physical realities. At BAI, she is able to unravel and feed her curiosities in a highly technical and detail-oriented environment. Inquisitive and self-driven, Haley has been enjoying diving into the nitty-gritty elements of building science. Haley has also already begun the NCARB process of working towards licensure.
Outside of work, Haley enjoys music, ceramics, and food. Oftentimes, you’ll find her wandering around the Mission District in San Francisco looking for the last spot of sun and a good burrito.
Chelsea Crim
Junior Designer
Chelsea is a recent addition to the BAI team, following the completion of her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and spending an adventurous year in France. During her time abroad Chelsea was searching for her next big intellectual challenge and the right architecture career path. She found herself curious about the intricacies of bringing a project to life and is eager to further develop her construction knowledge, which ultimately sparked her interest in working in a technical environment. This brings her to BAI, where she is able to better understand the specifics of Architecture and design in a very detail driven and focused setting.
Outside of work Chelsea enjoys painting, snowboarding, and good cheese. You can probably find her reading at a park or running around San Francisco.
Little (R.I.P)
Chief Treat Inspector
Little’s career began with a short internship with the Milo Foundation. She learned a lot about treats and begging from her foster siblings and other interns. Finally she landed her dream job at BAI. Her primary duties include inspecting her parents’ and sister’s meals for poisonous and other foreign materials. Sometimes others simply get too much food, and she takes care of the overages. She carefully studies how many treats are dispensed and gives Adrian hourly reports. Little sets an example for the balance between work, play and sleep. She has been working on two problem areas lately - taking hikes by herself to downtown San Rafael and sleeping in too late. She is currently running a test of a GPS dog tracking system to see if it helps with her independent nature. Little always brings high energy to her work, inspiring all of her coworkers to do the same.
Bella (R.I.P)
Senior Activities Director
Bella’s career also began with a short internship with the Milo Foundation. After a too brief maternity leave, Milo found her in Lake County and offered her a temporary position that led to her permanent placement with BAI. In a more supportive environment, Bella was able to enthusiastically throw herself into all areas of play. After extensive study, she found that she excels in running, jumping, and barking, especially in the area of fence-gaming. She recently took on an internship with her Aunt Sandra and her BFF Spencer, who have introduced her to the challenging world of hiking off-leash. Once again, she has excelled at this new adventure, never venturing too far away, like her independent sister, Little. She brings joy to every task she sets her mind to and sets a very happy tone in the office.
