NEW PRINCIPALS: Brian Szymanski + Neville Fernandes

We are pleased to announce two new MV+A Principals:

Brian Szymanski | AIA, AICP, LEED AP BD+C and Neville Fernandes | AIA, LEED AP BD+C.

As our practice continues to grow and evolve, our firm ethos continues to keep pace as we transition to the next generation of firm leadership. Both Brian and Neville bring an impressive mix of planning, design, and deep, niche knowledge and experience to MV+A’s mutually informing areas of expertise—urban planning, architecture, and large-format retail planning. Each has shepherded multiple MV+A projects of considerable complexity through the full spectrum of project delivery—from entitlements to ribbon cutting. Furthermore, each has established a solid track record in cultivating and maintaining critical relationships—from clients, and fellow project team members, to the full range of affiliated project stakeholders.

It is our hope that Brian’s and Neville’s promotion to Principal will extend our client’s confidence in our long-term commitment to their needs and interests, inspire our staff to follow their example in growing the firm and expanding opportunities, and, of course, inspire Jim to focus more exclusively on the things he loves doing and less on the things he doesn’t.

Brian Szymanski |AIA, AICP, LEED AP BD+C

Clockwise from upper left: Riverdale Park Station, Halley Rise, McMillan Sand Filtration Site, Virginia Village

Brian Szymanski, now in his twelfth year with MV+A, has been an instrumental team leader for some of the firm’s most celebrated, high-profile projects. His educational and professional background in architecture, planning, and urban design has positioned Brian as a vital contributor to MV+A’s diverse portfolio. As a registered architect and certified planner, Brian participates primarily in the planning of mixed‑use developments and projects on a variety of scales, and the schematic development of architectural components within these projects. He is able to navigate complexity at both large and small scales with a keen understanding of the development process across both private and public sectors.

Some of Brian’s larger scale urban design and entitlement successes include Riverdale Park Station in Riverdale Park, MD; Tyson’s West in Tysons Corner, VA; Halley Rise in Reston, VA; and Virginia Village in Leesburg, VA. At a more intimate scale, Brian led successful entitlement processes for Rodin Square in Philadelphia, PA; Westbard Shopping Center in Bethesda, MD; Faraday Park East and West in Reston, VA; 2722 Merrilee Drive in Fairfax, VA; Mount Vernon Gateway in Fairfax County; Parcels 2 and 4 for the McMillan Sand Filtration Site in Washington, DC; and many others currently on the boards.

Brian is a quick-study and masterful in assessing the challenges of complex planning and design problems and equally able in conveying creative and viable solutions. This has earned him a stellar reputation with clients who appreciate his acute understanding of their challenges and his openness to work with them to find the best solutions.

Neville Fernandes | AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Clockwise from upper left: The York, Broad + Washington, Cabin John Village, Liberty East

Neville Fernandes brings a wealth of national and international experience, spanning several continents, in architecture, urban design and planning. A registered Architect with a multidisciplinary educational background, Neville has developed a unique skill set adept at providing creative solutions for our clients with challenging opportunities. At MV+A, Neville has relished the opportunity to lead planning, design, and construction teams that are at the forefront of rebuilding urbanism in America. Neville’s deep commitment to livable, resilient communities is readily apparent in his projects for The York in Towson, MD; Broad and Washington in Falls Church, VA; and Liberty East in Pittsburgh, PA. Most recently, Neville has garnered considerable experience working with ‘form-based’ codes, namely in the Columbia Pike Corridor of Arlington, VA. His efforts in planning, designing, and leading the entitlements for The Elliott, a sizable, mixed-use, multifamily project along with his retail façade designs for Centro Arlington, have continued to expand the firm’s niche, mixed-use planning expertise.

For close to twenty years, Neville has challenged the monotony of tired, retail landscapes of the past—from shopping malls to big-box outlets. His fresh, creative approach to emergent retail spaces can be found in projects like Cabin John Village in Potomac, MD; Kentlands Market Square in Gaithersburg, MD; and the Kelvin in DC. Whether he is working through a multi-story, multi-family project with a large format retail anchor or developing tenant design guidelines for a boutique shopping venue, Neville welcomes every opportunity to provide MV+A’s clients with the appropriate focus on designing, planning, and realizing their retail projects.

Neville is excitedly envisioning the next generation of projects for MV+A and realizing his dream of playing a small part in building the urbanism of the future in his adopted country.

We celebrate Brian and Neville and wish them great fortune as they move into this next, exciting chapter of their careers!