our studio
We have a collective passion for revitalizing existing cities and designing new ones.
We are committed to designing vibrant, exceptional places for people to live, work, and play. Our craft includes our passion for design through hand drawing and illustration alongside innovative digital tools in the quest to provide new and reimagined places everywhere.
Email us to learn more
Lori Sipes
Marketing & Recruiting Coordinator
Lori coordinates our firm-wide marketing, business development, proposals, and recruiting efforts. She also manages our presence on social media platforms and elsewhere. Lori is passionate about travel, urban living, and all things art – especially in film.
B.S. Communication, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Film Degree, Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts
Megan O’Hara, AICP, LEED AP bd+c
Principal & CEO
Megan serves as the firm’s CEO, leading the UDA team and overseeing operations. She leads a wide range of projects across the USA and Canada including mixed-income housing, downtown master plans, and resilience plans. She is passionate about working with communities to create equitable visions and with the public and private sectors to implement. Megan is an active member of the American Planning Association and the Congress for the New Urbanism. She serves on several boards, including the University of Oxford’s Sustainable Urban Development Advisory Board.
B.Arch. University of Notre Dame, magna cum laude, M.Sc. in Sustainable Urban Development, University of Oxford, with distinction
Barry J. Long, Jr. AIA, LEED AP
principal & President
Barry serves as the firm’s Managing Principal, overseeing the day-to-day and year-to-year operations of our finance and personnel functions. Barry has led projects across the United States in affordable, market rate housing as well as overall master plans for major downtown areas. As a community volunteer, he’s donated countless hours to several local commission and youth organizations.
B.S. Architecture, M.Arch., Montana State University
Eric Osth, AIA, LEED AP
principal & Chairman
As UDA’s Chairman, Eric leads UDA’s marketing efforts in addition to running projects as a Principal-in-Charge. Eric has led urban design and architectural projects across the United States. Over the years, Eric has been deeply involved in the design community, serving on several boards of directors including the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art in New York City, Riverlife, and AIA Pittsburgh.
B.Arch. with honors, University of Miami, M.U.D., University of California, Berkeley
Gail Armstrong, SDA
Principal & Controller
Gail serves as the firm’s Treasurer, managing the day-to-day financial functions of the firm. Her experience spans more than 28 years and includes executive-level Controller, as well as Human Resources Director roles. She formerly served as Vice President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Societyof Design Administrators. Gail’s financial and human resource expertise makes her exceptionally valuable as UDA’s first non-architect Principal.
B.A. Business Communication, Carlow University
David Csont, ASAI
Principal & Illustrator
As the firm’s Illustrator, David leads our illustration efforts in both digital and hand-drawn media. David’s passion is in drawing itself, but specifically in the challenge of expression and communication of the unique feel of a place. David also participates in national plein-air competitions and leads in-house seminars on hand drawing.
B.S. Design + Art History, SUNY Buffalo; M.F.A., with honors, University of Wisconsin
Jeffrey Schwaiger, ASAI
Associate Principal
As an Associate Principal, Jeffrey contributes design, digital modeling, and illustration expertise to UDA’s teams. His foundation in traditional architecture, urbanism, and representation informs his design, digital modeling and rendering techniques, which are critical to the UDA design process. Jeffrey has taught 3D modeling and digital illustration and regularly volunteers for planning and housing organizations.
B.Arch. Summa Cum Laude, University of Notre Dame
Alice Enz, aia
Associate Principal
Alice Enz is an Associate Principal at UDA, leading the design of large-scale residential buildings, mixed-use architecture, and master planning efforts. In addition to practice, Alice taught at Catholic University, where she worked to instill a sense of stewardship and communal responsibility in the next generation of designers.
B.S. Goshen College, M. Arch. University of Notre Dame
Ashleigh Walton, AIA, NCARB, LEED GA project manager
Ashleigh is an architect with a deep appreciation for contextual architecture and the communication that can only be accomplished through a hand-sketch. She serves as a project manager on one of UDA’s design teams. She loves to travel, documenting neighborhoods and cities in her sketchbook. Ashleigh serves as an active member of the National Organization of Minority Architects and sits on the board of the Congress for the New Urbanism. She enjoys walking to work as one of Pittsburgh’s Downtown residents.
B.S. Architecture, Summa Cum Laude, M.Arch, Andrews University
Rebecca LEfkowitz, AICP
Project Manager
Rebecca is passionate about how urban patterns evolve, guided by social and political movements that emerge from communities themselves. Before joining UDA, Rebecca won the Gindroz Travel Prize and explored tensions between old and new European architecture through hand drawing, bookbinding, and origami.
B. Arch. The Pennsylvania State University, M.U.D. Carnegie Mellon University
Lily Xing
senior Urban Designer
Lily is a designer on one of UDA’s design teams. Lily’s passion is in all scales of design – from the human scale of furniture to the scale of the City. Prior to joining UDA, Lily studied abroad in Rome and spent her undergraduate years focused on urban design, architecture, and furniture design.
B.Arch. University of Notre Dame
Diksha Singh
senior Urban Designer
Diksha is a senior urban designer on one of UDA’s design teams. With a background in architecture from India and a passion for creating people-centric and culture-responsive places with scalable impact, she has evolved her work and career from designing single-family homes to master plans for residential communities. Before joining UDA, Diksha worked as a zoning reform fellow with Opticos Design in Berkeley where she gained an added lens of urban planning and experience in navigating state and county-specific cultural and cosmopolitan influences.
B. Arch. Sushant School of Architecture, India, M.U.D. University of California, Berkeley
Christian Johnson, AIA
URBAN DESIGNER
Christian’s greatest interest in urban design is in the collaboration of different disciplines, backgrounds, and expertise to create beautiful places that nurture sustainable communities. As a licensed architect, he hopes to bring his specific knowledge and experience of the built environment to each new team and project. His love of people, architecture, food, and running guides him through his travels. Prior to joining UDA, Christian worked at multiple architecture offices, including Merrill, Pastor & Colgan Architects in Vero Beach, Florida.
B.A. Architecture, Judson University, M.Arch., University of Notre Dame
Connor Kooistra
Urban Designer
Connor’s passion is creating human-scaled places that function comfortably for all. Before joining UDA, Connor spent time in the Canadian wilderness as a canoe guide & trainer, and in Alaska with a Dept. of Natural Resources conservation team, where he built trails and a bridge to make a small part of the Alaskan wilderness safer and more accessible for nearby residents and visitors. Just as he learned in the backcountry, he strives to leave any place better and healthier for the next person who is lucky enough to be there.
B.Arch. University of Notre Dame
nicolas sanchez
Urban DESIGNER
Nico is an urban designer on one of UDA’s design teams. His passion lies in designing and reworking urban frameworks to design communities that benefit all people. Nico fell in love with architecture and urbanism through the Picturesque Movement, which led to his focus on the connection people have with nature and the built environment. Prior to joining UDA, Nico studied abroad in Rome and spent his undergraduate years focused on volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and tutoring elementary students.
B.Arch. University of Notre Dame
Terry Welsh, AIA, LEED AP
consulting Architect
Terry’s passion is focused on the use of the collaborative process to solve urban design and architectural problems. Terry specifically leads the firm’s effort in harnessing up-to-the-minute digital technology in the representation of the firm’s design work. Terry has also participated in the local AIA’s Young Leadership Forum.
B.Arch. University of Notre Dame
Susann Reimann
Consulting Graphic Designer
Susann handles the strategic direction and implementation of UDA’s brand and graphic identity. She has a genuine passion for thoughtful, clean design. Susann collaborates with UDA’s design teams, and manages the firm’s graphic deliverables.
B.S. Graphic Design, Art Institute of Pittsburgh
Steve Auterman, AIA, AICP, LEED AP Consulting Principal
As a Consulting Principal, Steve leads projects as a Principal-in-Charge, as well as leads team efforts. Steve’s passion is for the thoughtful connection of architecture and active public space. He’s a frequent lecturer at leadership classes and conferences, and taught architecture and planning at the University of Memphis.
B.Arch. Carnegie Mellon University, M.U.D. University of Sydney
Rob Robinson, AIA
Consulting Principal
Rob leads the firm’s strategic design approach to Urban Design. Rob has been leading some of the firm’s biggest projects around the world for many years. Rob has also been instrumental in resurrecting the use of Pattern Books in urban design today, and he co-authored The Architectural Pattern Book with Norton Publications.
B.S. Architecture + Urban Planning, Virginia Tech
Paul Ostergaard FAIA, AoU, NCARB
Consulting Principal
Paul has led projects across the country and around the world. For his extensive design resume, he was recognized as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. As an acclaimed illustrator, Paul led UDA’s early commitment to 3D renderings as part of the urban design process.
B.Arch. Carnegie Mellon University