In this article, architect Sylvia Deye, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP explores the complexities of designing resort environments that are both safe and functional for the wide range of activities that they…
Sylvia Deye is a Registered Architect with over 30 years of experience in architectural design, construction, and project management. Her experience includes a wide range of building and facility types, from single and multi-family residential, to commercial, retail, hospitality, industrial, and institutional facilities. Sylvia's architectural experience also includes a concentration in large retail complexes and resorts. Sylvia applies her expertise to forensic casework involving premises liability disputes and construction claims.
Sylvia's architectural career includes roles such as lead designer, project manager, and firm owner. Her projects encompass complex design, construction, and occupancy issues. Having overseen projects from initial concept through completion, Sylvia has in-depth knowledge of how the building industry operates and how design elements within the built environment contribute to safety and accessibility. Within her forensic casework, Sylvia provides comprehensive evaluations of large scale projects, while also focusing on the minutiae of individual design elements such as walkways, stairs, handrails, and lighting.
In addition to her broader architectural experience, Sylvia focused her practice for several years on the design and construction of resorts and retail facilities. Within this concentration, she has been responsible for the design and construction of ski resorts in Colorado and California; state park facilities in New York; and vacation condominium complexes in Florida. This experience contributes to Sylvia's expertise evaluating interior and exterior spaces within the built environments, ranging from walkways, parking structures, and ski lifts, to locker rooms, hot tub areas, and storage facilities.
Sylvia obtained her Master in Architecture degree from the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign graduating with honors. Sylvia is certified by the National Council of Registration Boards (NCARB) with registrations in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Sylvia is a local and national member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI).
Associate
2018 to presentProvide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony toward the resolution of commercial and personal injury litigation. Areas of expertise include:
Building Design and Planning: Land development, facility planning, zoning, building codes and standards, accessibility, storm water management, means of egress, parking lots, pedestrian / bicycle infrastructure, and loading docks.
Building Failures: Foundation cracking, settling or failures, water intrusion, fungal growth, insect damage, roof and wall failures.
Construction Failures: Water intrusion related issues; brick, cmu, stone, and concrete spalling, gutter and flashing system failures, roofing system, expansion joint, sealant and caulk system failures, window system failures.
Building Systems: Plumbing, sprinklers, alarms, lighting, interior air quality, wood/coal stoves, chimneys & flues.
Building Safety: Codes and standards, lighting levels/uniformity, glass and glazing, floor & wall surfaces & openings, retail displays, food services, guard rails.
Security: Site and facility planning, fences and gates, lighting, hardware and devices, signage.
Trip and Stumble Accidents: Vertical misalignments, stairs, platforms and single risers, walking surfaces, walk-off mats, sloped areas and gratings.
Special User Requirements: Universal design for elderly, child and barrier-free standards for accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Architectural Practice: Standard of Care, Owner-Architect Agreements, General Conditions, errors and omissions, change order analysis, construction phasing, punch lists, and interpreting contract performance.
Principal Architect
2003 to presentProviding architectural services for all phases from zoning and planning, master planning, facilities and building assessment maintenance reports, leading into design, permits and construction. Projects have ranged from retail centers, tenant fit out, school buildings with multiple primes, theaters, modular construction, single family homes and urban residential renovations, industrial facilities, bakeries, residential, restaurants, office renovations and facilities planning, private school campus wide renovations from the dormitories to the gymnasium, pharmacy, daycare centers, playground surface renovations, hair salons, and camp ground restrooms with showers. QCit – providing quality control review of construction documents for constructability and coordination.
Project Manager
2014 to 2015The review and team management of large scale multi-family housing in New Jersey and single family development projects in New York and Pennsylvania with club houses, gathering rooms, and offices. Work also encompassed restaurants and stand-alone fast food establishments on building out-lot pads.
Architect
2001 to 2004Lead Architect Designer and manager for the Reading Office. Responsible for all phases from zoning and planning, master planning, facilities and building assessment maintenance reports, feasibility studies including inspection and documentation of electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems creating complete as-built of the ADA compliance and security systems, leading into design, coordination of all engineering disciplines permits and construction. Projects have ranged from retail centers, tenant fit out, school buildings, banks, corporate facilities renovations, Elderly and skilled nursing centers, industrial and explosion outbuildings, housing authority renovations and code upgrades for elderly centers and multi-family housing, lift installations, public gym facilities for both managed and 24 hours non-managed use centers, public utility service centers, car rental centers, doctor offices, high rise housing renovations and code compliant upgrades. Onsite inspections for, facilities, flat and pitched roofs, lightning rod installations, sidewalk and curb cuts for housing authority complexes.
Architect
2001Design and management of high end large custom homes, developer houses and 4-story multi-family housing complexes.
Architect
1998 to 2001Lead Project Manager for large teams and fast track projects. Responsible for the implementation of the schematic design into design development, construction documentation design and coordination of all engineering disciplines and construction for ski resorts in Colorado and California including the site and master planning development of the exterior facility from parking to ski lifts, slope water and drainage run off and pedestrian/bicycling paths and circulation of the entire site. Low high-rise condominiums included below grade parking garages, retail, club rooms, hot tub areas indoor and outdoor, locker rooms, storage areas, restaurants and pedestrian bridges. Construction detailing of a New York state park educational center. Responsible for the schematic design into design development for a vacation condominium resort with a multi floor parking garage, located in Florida.
Project Architect
1993 to 1997Lead architectural design and coordination of all engineering disciplines for large retail centers. Projects located in California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Kansas and Colorado. Involvement included site and master planning design, storm water mitigation and detention systems, out lot building pads and parking lot configurations. Schematic building design to construction documents and construction of core and shell and tenant fit outs for a variety of large retail establishments including small tenant fit outs from clothing stores, loading docks, trash removal systems, restaurants, offices and banks. Corporate facilities upgrades and renovations, extended stay hotel franchise, Multi complex movie theater. Responsible for office files, library and cad standard implementation.
Designer Intern
1987 to 1993Responsible for the design and drafting of housing authority projects, juvenile detention center, women’s detention center, auditorium renovations, Farm labor worker housing renovations in existing urban row homes renovations to meet code compliance.
Rough Framer
Summer 1989Construction of two story homes with attached garage, decks, steps and railings. Framing and standing walls, nailing floor substrates, setting stairs, joist bridging installation, hangers and hurricane straps, rim boards, floor joists, added blocking where needed. Some finish work such as moldings and trim.
General Help
Summer 1987Retail sales clerk, pool maintenance, restroom and locker room maintenance, boat fuel service for sailing boats and motor boats. Maintenance and rental of large sail boats while living on a sail boat.
Master of Architecture with Honors, University of Illinois, Urban/Champagne, 1992
B.S. Architecture, Spring Garden College, Philadelphia, PA, 1990
v. 02/7/23
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