Welcome to my Archinect Page!
I'm a design professional in the San Antonio Texas area. See below for more about me.
The Basics:
Ten years of experience in architecture; working on a range of projects including cultural, retail, commercial, government, medical, and residential architecture. Graduated from Boston Architectural College with a M. Arch degree while working full time in design offices around Boston. Currently work for a small firm in San Antonio that designs private residences in the city and Hill Country.
My roles and responsibilities have included meeting with clients and contractors, drafting and design, code research, construction documents and administration, and final walk-through and punch-lists.
I love working collaboratively and presenting designs before client groups and consultants. I design best with pen and trace but also using Revit, SketchUp, AutoCAD, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
Design Experience:
Don B McDonald Architect: San Antonio, TX
Douglas Architects, Inc.: San Antonio, TX
Zak Architecture: San Francisco, CA Aug 2013 - 2016
Bergmeyer Associates Inc.: Boston, Ma Feb 2013 - Jul 2013
Watermark Environmental Inc.: Lowell, Ma Dec. 2010- Feb. 2013
Cambridge 7 Associates: Internship, March 2009- Dec. 2009
Safdie Architects: Sept. 2008- January 2009
Special project with Boston Architectural College
Evolo Skyscraper Competition, Boston, MA; November 2010 –January 2012
Field’s Corner Library, Boston, MA; September 2010 - May 2011
Hale Reservation, Westwood, MA; October 2009 – July 2010
Still reading? Here are the extras:
Travel:
College Internship: Haikou, PRC July 2005-January 2006
English Teacher: Tokyo/ Nagano, Japan Summer 2004 Humanitarian Aid: Port Au Prince, Haiti (1 Week ) 2001, 2002
Interests:
Darian's School Blog on Archinect:
Thesis Year : Inverting the Host/ Guest Relationship
A blog for an on going MArch Thesis Student
Thesis is now in progress. This Blog will track the advancement through the program and record the many iterations that it takes to arrive at the final solution.
My thesis is concerning how architecture can adapt to immigrant cultures and the current mixing of world cultures.
It will be a fun ride!
Don B. McDonald, Architect, San Antonio, TX, US, Project Manager
Current position includes managing multiple residential projects and working as part of the design and production team for select projects.
My roles and responsibilities include:
Leading the design and production under the direction of the owner and principal.
Coordinating work with design staff and managing the design team.
Meeting with clients and contractors,
drafting and design,
code research and coordination
coordination with consultants
managing and producing construction documents
site observation and contract administration
final walk-through and punch-lists.
Zak Architecture, San Francisco, CA, US, Job Captain
As a Job Captain and Architectural designer for Zak Architecture, I have been responsible for the design development and construction administration of multiple residential projects. These projects are in Kona, Hawaii and Northern California.
Responsibilities : developing and managing residential projects from schematic through construction. Meeting and coordinating with owners, consultants, building officials, planning boards, and contractors.
Bergmeyer, Boston, MA, US, Job Captain
As a job captain at Bergmeyer Associates Inc. I oversaw several renovation projects from initial survey to construction administration and punchlists. These projects were for a commercial client with a set design standard.
Watermark Environmental, Inc., Lowell, MA, US, Design Intern
Selected Projects:
Hanscom Air Force Base Mental Health Clinic – Bedford, MA – Project draftsman for the addition of a mental health wing of an existing medical facility on the Base.
Lowell National Historical Park Transportation Pavilion – Lowell, MA –
Draftsman and designer as a part of the design team to conceptually design and draft construction documents for an open-air pavilion.
Building P-481 – New London Shipyard, Groton, CT –
Architectural draftsman as part of the Design/ Build of a new indoor small arms range facility for the construction document phase and into the construction of the project. This building is also attempting a LEED Silver certification.
St. John’s High School – Shrewsbury, MA – Drafter and assistant in construction administration for the construction phase of the renovation for an existing residential building into an office for the institution.
CambridgeSeven, Cambridge, MA, US, Intern
Unpaid internship, working one day a week to provide project support. Responsibilities included:
Organizing firm's library
Creating presentation drawings for current projects
Creating mock-ups for projects in construction
Safdie Architects, Somerville, MA, US, Senior Staff Assistant, Document Controller
Worked as project assistant or two project managers. Responsibilities included:
Model making for large institutional projects
Drafting for construction documents
Site drawings for schematic studies
This position evolved into Document Control position. Responsibilities included:
Receiving and filing shop drawings for projects currently in construction
Organizing RFI and Sketch logs for projects
YouthBuild Boston, Boston, MA, US, Designery Fellow
YouthBuild Boston is a Non-profit organization that trains high school students in the building and design trades. I worked with YouthBuild's Designery in leading a group of high school students to design and build small community projects and a gallery installation.
Responsibilities included:
Leading a small group of novice designers
Creating a schedule for projects
Contacting clients and consultants
Leading the design team to design and construct a gallery installation.
Boston Architectural College (BAC), Boston, MA, US, MArch, Master's of Architecture
Cincinnati Christian University, Cincinnati, OH, US, Bachelors, B.A. Urban/ Intercultural Studies
