Frederic Knapp
Principal
Frederic seeks to draw out the client’s goals and assist in developing the broader context to help the client envision the greatest potential for the project. He is interested and involved in the preservation community to further growth in the field. He has given numerous presentations at conferences and seminars, including the Society of College and University Planners, the California Preservation Foundation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and San Francisco Architectural Heritage. As a published author of Hotel Renovation Planning and Design (McGraw-Hill, 1995) he has continued to be source of knowledge for development of a broad range of properties.
Frederic Knapp is registered to practice architecture in California and Arizona and meets the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards for Architecture and Historic Architecture. His 33 years of experience in architecture and historic preservation includes all phases of architectural practice, from pre-design and programming to post-occupancy, forensic investigation, feasibility studies, historic structure reports, National Register nominations, federal historic preservation tax credit applications, and evaluations for conformance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and review processes related to NEPA, CEQA, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and local preservation ordinances. He served as a board member at SF Heritage and is vice-president of the board of directors of Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco, a non-profit providing homeless and low-income San Franciscans with supportive housing, shelters, navigation centers, workforce development, and senior services on a $32-million budget for 2018.
Ruchira Nageswaran
Senior Architect
Travel is what engaged Ruchira in observations of how culture and history influenced architecture and its development. This led her to study Classical and traditional architecture at the University of Notre Dame, where she developed a love of elegant design, detailing, and visualization through sketches and watercolor renderings. With experience on a broad range of building types and construction issues, she is adept at problem-solving and formulating solutions that integrate technology and original historic fabric. Throughout her career, she has found fulfillment in being involved in various community organizations, most recently the AIASF Mentorship Program and Habitat for Humanity International Malawi.
As a licensed architect in California, Ruchira meets the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards for Architecture and Historic Architecture and has also constructed new buildings and additions in traditional styles. Since 1996, her professional experience has included project management, survey of building conditions, drawings from schematic design through construction documents, detailing, sketches, renderings, construction administration, code and materials research, sustainability, specifications, historical research, written architectural assessments, evaluation of historic resources, and federal tax credit applications. Ruchira has presented on historic preservation and accessibility topics for the AIA Historic Resources Committee and California Preservation Foundation.
Charles Bucher
Staff Architect
A graduate of Washington State University, Charles additionally studied vernacular architecture through Oxford Brookes University in England and has a sweeping interest in history and historic architecture. With deep roots in the East Bay, he keeps abreast of local news and development of the region and enjoys sharing its vibrant and eclectic history. He serves on the board of Oakland Heritage Alliance, coordinating its many activities. He finds historical research as an adventure of fact finding to provide meaning and depth to our shared heritage.
Charles is licensed to practice architecture in California. Since 1999, his project experience has included preparation of architectural documents from schematic design through construction documents, construction administration, as-built drawings, specifications, code and material research, drafting and three-dimensional modeling, historical research, architectural writing, and hand-drawn sketches. He has recently engaged in several residential remodel projects and is researching a number of buildings for historic resource determinations, evaluations, and tax credit documentation.