People

Taylor joined Studio Rick Joy in 2020, with over a decade of experience as a director, project manager and consultant. She is highly skilled in PR & marketing, brand management, trust and archival work, project & event production, development, contemporary art, and community cultivation.

Her work with a vast variety of artists, brands and institutions internationally include projects in Los Angeles, Austin, New York, Miami, London, Paris, Rome, and Berlin.

Most recently, she was the Membership & Development Director at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tucson, Arizona and the Director of the Hopper Art Trust in Los Angeles, California. She is a licensed real estate agent in the state of Arizona.

Taylor was raised on the southernmost border of the US and Mexico. She is a native Mexican American and a dual citizen of both countries.

Natalia has been part of Studio Rick Joy since 2010. She plays a pivotal role in leading the design and management of the studio's work and oversees the full architectural development of projects through their construction, many of which have been widely recognized and published.

She is engaged in the general management of the studio, guiding the team and studio vision, and is dedicated to mentoring early-career team members, professionals, and students. She is responsible for directing the collaboration and coordination of large project teams and is skilled in addressing the needs of multi-faceted projects.

Her experience covers a range of projects, and reflects her dedication to bringing ideas to fruition, especially in high-end residential and cultural work. Her resume also includes numerous resort master planning, institutional, historic renovation, luxury hospitality, and urban mixed-use endeavors.

Prior to joining the studio, Natalia worked for offices in Dallas, Austin, and Santiago, Chile.

Natalia is passionate about designing spaces that are both conceptual and sensitive in nature, while responding to the surrounding environment.

Since 2016, Annheliza has led a variety of the studio’s work. As project manager she has extensive experience working on all phases of a project and has overseen numerous schemes through construction. Her passion to lead and create encourages streamlined systems which result in efficient production and a designed product of the highest quality, strongly rooted within the studio’s core values.

She is involved in the general management of the studio. As a mentor she enjoys promoting office operations that support the team to participate in every aspect of a project and encourages learning from active construction sites.

Since 2007, she has driven the coordination of large collaborative teams on award-winning developments -- master planning, high-rise commercial, hospitality, high-end residential and retail – making her widespread knowledge a trusted resource for the studio.

Prior to joining the Studio Rick Joy, she worked as Project Architect, Designer and Manager for internationally renowned offices throughout South Africa and in London, UK.

Annheliza finds inspiration in the observation of nature, a reminder of what our natural environment has to offer when we create a sense of place for a sheltered human experience.

Claudia is the partner of Rick Joy and has been a collaborator to the SRJ team for over 13 years.

In 2013, Rick and Claudia co-founded the lighting design consultancy studio, CLL – Concept Lighting Lab, LLC, in which she is creative and managing director, leading all projects - responsible thru implementation – having done so on several award-winning projects.

This includes large scale Masterplans, Civic Plaza Lighting, Roadway and Pathway Lighting, Installations, Hospitality, large- and small-scale Commercial Projects, High-end Residential and Boutique Designs, as well as Specialty Lighting Applications and Art Lighting.

She is recognized as a CLD – Certified Lighting Designer, and with more than 16 years of experience, her areas of expertise range from concept design, design development and construction documents, specification and technical coordination, building integrated modelling, cost comparison, value engineering, trade coordination, procurement and implementation, including aiming-adjusting and retrofit solutions.

She has lived and worked in Austria, the United Kingdom, Sweden and since 2007 has called Tucson, Arizona her work and home base.

Claudia’s fascination with the ephemeral quality of light and its essential role when creating moving atmospheric space is at the base of her design approach and interest.

www.cll-conceptlightinglab.com

Ethan joined Studio Rick Joy in 2020. As a student intern, he has worked to repair and develop physical models of select award winning projects, contribute his sincere appreciation for craftsmanship and sensitivity to detail, and engage with the studio on all levels to further his architectural and design skills.

His experience includes 5+ years in the construction industry, working on high end residential projects with world renowned builders and designers, in positions ranging from laborer to project coordinator.

Along with his world travels, his time spent living and working in Australia with architects Peter Stutchbury and Bijoy Jain, is responsible for his devoted interest and passion for design.

He is currently, in his third year of the BArch program at the University of Arizona.

Rick Joy is the founder and principal of Studio Rick Joy.

He is considered an important contributor to the ongoing global discourse on conceptual and sustainable architecture. His work expresses innovation and exactitude in modernism and reflects a unique sense of place.

Honors include receiving the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Architecture in 2002 and in 2004 winning the prestigious National Design Award from the Smithsonian Institute/Cooper-Hewitt Museum.

In 2015, Rick was vested into the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows and the Royal Institute of British Architects’ RIBA International College of Fellows.

He was inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame in a Javits Center event in 2019. Other professional affiliations include The College of Fellows of The American Institute of Architects, The American Academy of Arts and Letters, Tucson MOCA Advisory Board Member.

Rick lectures internationally and periodically serves as visiting professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, Rice University, M.I.T. and the University of Arizona.

The studio’s first monograph, Desert Works, was released by Princeton Architectural Press in 2002 and the second, Studio Joy Works, was released in 2018.

He is also the co-owner of CLL Concept Lighting Lab with his partner Claudia Kappl Joy. CLL provides full-service lighting design for all SRJ projects in addition to outside firms.

Originally from Maine, he studied music and was a classical percussionist and rock/blues drummer until the age of 28 when he moved to Tucson to study Architecture.

Agustin joined Studio Rick Joy in 2019 and has been involved in both residential and commercial projects from the first programming to design presentations and construction drawings.

His creative and thoughtful nature has helped develop early design schemes, while his incredible sense of humor keeps the team smiling.

His work incorporates an appreciation for nature and light, and he has collaborated with Concept Lighting Lab on various project initiatives.

Agustin has also worked for firms in his native Santiago, Chile and in New York.

He has experience working on various residential and cultural projects and has collaborated in the fields of art and design internationally, having worked with New York City based artist-curator Jan Frank.

Since joining Studio Rick Joy in 2019, Mitch has been involved in commercial, master planning, institutional, and residential work as well as collaborations with Concept Lighting Lab.

His analytical design process and attention to detail has helped develop projects’ early design schemes.

Prior to joining the studio, Mitch worked for offices in Boston and St. Louis, taking part in the design phases for a variety of projects including a mausoleum chapel and a cinematheque.

He seeks to build what evokes reciprocity between sustenance, shelter, and surroundings.

Dan was initially an advisor to the Studio before joining full-time in January 2013. As the Chief Financial Officer, he handles both day-to-day business, contractual and financial matters as well as longer-term planning.

His years as a financial advisor with UBS as well as experiences in technology and manufacturing give him the insight to understand and assist with a diverse range of projects.

Dan is originally from Cleveland, Ohio and is currently building his own house in his spare time.

Alyssa joined Studio Rick Joy in 2018. She has played a part in the studio’s early planning, analysis, and design phases for several projects, and further developed those schemes through coordinating with full consultant teams to bring the concepts through to construction.

Her thorough and reliable nature has been a strength in developing the detailing of those projects in documentation.

She has experience working on institutional, cultural, commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects. Prior to joining the studio full-time, Alyssa conducted an eight-month internship with SRJ.

As a graduate student, she spent a semester studying architecture in Orvieto, Italy.

Nancy has served as the Studio’s Executive Assistant, Office Manager/Property Manager, and Bookkeeper since 2010.

Her prior experience encompassed administrative work at Tucson arts businesses and non-profits for over a decade. Most notably, she managed the gallery for glass artist Tom Philabaum, and assisted the Executive Director at Native Seeds/SEARCH where she also kept the books.

A lover of learning, Nancy’s interests have led her to formal studies in film and culinary arts. She is currently pursuing a degree in music.