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Richard Zapata, AIA, NCARB, CCCA, LEED AP

Richard Zapata, AIA, NCARB, CCCA, LEED AP

West Hollywood, CA, US

 

About 

Passionate and versatile Architect with over twenty years of experience in commercial, hospitality, retail and entertainment projects. Adept at fostering a collaborative project environment and at maintaining a productive rapport with clients, colleagues and vendors. Experience with international, domestic and local projects.

Employment 

Gensler, Los Angeles, CA, US, Project Architect

Member of the of the Hospitality and Retail Center studios.
Projects and roles performed:
• Hollywood & Highland renovation – Architect and Senior BIM Designer
• Galleria Dallas renovation – Architect and Senior BIM Designer
• Confidential hotel project for Walt Disney Imagineering – Interior Designer
• 550 room Disney hotel – Architect and Site Designer
• The Edison 40,000 sf restaurant complex at Disney Springs, Orlando –
Project Architect
• Confidential Concept Master Planning project for Universal – Site Planner
and Designer
• Great Wolf Lodge – Interior Designer
• Motiongate Dubai – Design Architect for 1000-seat live performance
theater; responsible for layout and design of all queues in the park;
architect and interior designer of the two main attractions in the Lionsgate
Zone
• Hato Grande 141 acre theme park, RD&E district, and recreation zone near
Bogota, Colombia – Site Planner
• Feasibility and planning studies for a variety of hotel projects

Feb 2014 - Apr 2020
 

Walt Disney Imagineering / Fontana Architects, Glendale, CA, US, Architect

Designer for the 900-seat Fandango Theater at Treasure Cove, Shanghai Disneyland Resort, including themed facades, queue areas, pre-show gallery and theatrical support spaces.

Collaborated with the Show Producers and Art Directors on the coordination of all themed facades throughout Treasure Cove, including Architectural Ornamentation, Show Set, Graphics, AV, and Telecom.

Construction documents for Mickey Avenue and Club 33 at SDLR.

May 2011 - Dec 2013
 

Independent Consultant Architectural Services, West Hollywood, CA, US, Architect / Designer

Worked independently on a variety of projects including a 685 acre lifestyle mixed-use project near Qingdao, China. Performed overall master planning of the retail, commercial, tourist, and residential components, including the conceptual design of two immersive environments.

Sep 2009 - Apr 2011
 

Perkins&Will, Los Angeles, CA, US, Architect

Member of the Construction Documents team for three core & shell hospital projects.

Designed and detailed the vertical conveyance and emergency egress packages.

Coordinated the QA/QC efforts of the two collaborating offices.

Mentored younger staff on licensure.

Jun 2008 - Aug 2009
 

HTH Architects, Los Angeles, CA, US, Architectural Designer

Designer and site planner for multiple commercial, retail, and mixed–used projects
Including:

970,000 square foot mixed-use development with residential, commercial and retail components in Pearland, Texas.

105,000 square foot shopping, entertainment and tourism center for Royal Caribbean cruise line in Roatan, Honduras.

Aug 2004 - May 2008
 

F+A Architects, No longer in business, Architectural Designer

Member of the Design team for Mall of the Emirates, a 6.5 million square foot world-class shopping and entertainment center in Dubai

Responsible for the Design Development package covering the 460,000 square feet of suspended ceilings and bulkheads.

Designer for Simi Valley Town Center, an 800,000 square foot high-end regional shopping center in Simi Valley, California.

Dec 2002 - Jul 2004
 

HTH Architects, Los Angeles, CA, US, Architectural Designer

Responsible for the Schematic Design & Design Development of multiple lifestyle retail projects in the Southwest US.

Jul 2000 - Oct 2002
 

Education 

Cal State University Dominguez Hills Extension, Carson, CA, US, Construction Project Management

Certificate program in Construction Project Management.

Topics covered include:
Construction accounting
Acquisition
Estimation
Plan reading
Management
Real estate law
Bidding & scheduling
Construction safety

Jan 2010 - Jul 2010
 

University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, US, BArch, Architecture

Five year architecture degree.

Semester abroad - Como, Italy - 1995

Sep 1991 - May 1996
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills