GWWO Names New Principal, Associate Principals, and Senior Associates

Chris Elcock joined GWWO in 1997 and quickly became a pivotal member of the team. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Howard University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of the West Indies. His nearly 30-year career has focused on the design of cultural and educational projects with an emphasis on performing arts, interpretive, recreation, and elementary education facilities. His work with the firm has been significant for its careful balance of inspiration and practicality. Among other notable projects, he led the award-winning design of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, the St. Mary’s College Nancy R. & Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center & Learning Commons, and the Benfield Elementary School renovation and addition. Chris directs the firm's recruitment, orientation, and talent retention programs with an eye to shaping the best and brightest future architects and designers.

In addition to his contributions within the firm, Chris is a passionate advocate for the Maryland architecture community and beyond. He is a member of the AIA Documents Committee, a nationwide group of professionals tasked with drafting and revising the AIA standard contracts used throughout the building industry. At the state level, he serves as a grant reviewer for the Maryland African American Heritage Preservation Program and was a founding member of the Maryland Coast Smart Council, charged with establishing criteria for the siting and design of structures located within the state’s coastal areas to address threats of sea-level rise and coastal action. At the community level, Chris has been involved with the Baltimore Chapter of the AIA as an instructor in the ART program that helps young architects study to become licensed and he is a member of the advisory board for Great Talk, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to fostering intellectual discourse on topics outside of traditional media.

We look forward to this next chapter as Chris joins the other principals of the firm to help shepherd GWWO in new and exciting directions.

Lisa Andrews joined GWWO in 2001, was named an Associate in 2003, and became a Senior Associate in 2011. She prides herself on building trust and collaborating with clients to lead them through all aspects of the creative process, from early visioning to project completion. Lisa has extensive project management experience overseeing multidiscipline teams in the successful execution of challenging, multi-faceted projects. Within the office, she enjoys mentoring and providing guidance on best practices for innovative and thoughtful design solutions.

Lisa led the project teams for many of GWWO’s high profile projects, including the comprehensive design of the new Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Welcome Center in an environmentally complex site at Niagara Falls State Park; a new facility for the Irvine Nature Center that incorporates numerous innovations in sustainability; and the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention, which features integrative technology with eye-catching architectural elements seamlessly sited in a functional park setting. In addition to these, she has played a pivotal role in the design and project management of numerous renovation and restoration projects for the National Park Service and the Smithsonian Institution.

Lisa serves as an in-house resource on sustainability and historic preservation and plays an active role in the office’s GWWOrks philanthropic committee. She is a member of the AIA and a LEED Accredited Professional. Lisa holds Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and Master of Architecture degrees, both from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Brian Eschman joined the firm in 2006, was named an Associate in 2013, and a Senior Associate in 2020. Brian is a technically-strong and client-focused architect who is also an active, thoughtful mentor. He is skilled at guiding large, multidiscipline teams through challenging renovation, addition, and new construction projects. His creative thinking helps clients achieve their project goals while remaining on-time and within budget. His involvement in GWWO’s construction committee further informs his work and benefits the firm’s clients.

Brian has built a diverse portfolio of educational, community, and government projects over his career. Today, his work focuses on the leadership and management of GWWO’s educational projects team. Notable projects that he has overseen include the new 354,000-SF LEED Silver certified Severna Park High School that includes flexible learning spaces to accommodate a variety of learning and instructional styles; the new 600-student Two Rivers Elementary School; and the new 1,400-student Northern High School that integrated design strategies and technologies for 21st century learning. His commitment to understanding the needs of students, educators, and administrators, while maintaining a keen focus on the practical side of design ensures successful spaces for all users.

Brian is a member of the AIA and holds a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and a Master of Architecture degree, both from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Bob Mock joined the firm in 2010, was named an Associate in 2013, and a Senior Associate in 2022. A dedicated project manager, Bob skillfully coordinates large and often complex project teams for a variety of the firm’s institutional clients, including many universities and school systems. His attention to detail and close coordination with clients and design teams has proven successful on many multi-phase projects with long-term schedules. Passionate about the use of technology, he also leads the development and implementation of the firm’s technology strategy to optimize efficiencies and streamline processes.

Bob has excelled in managing some of the firm’s largest and most complex projects, including the award-winning Morgan State University Calvin & Tina Tyler Hall, which serves as a gateway to the university and includes 140,000 SF of new space for student services and business functions, as well as several new elementary schools in Frederick County, Maryland. These include the new 745-student Valley Elementary School in Jefferson and the new 725-student Brunswick Elementary School in Brunswick, both of which include significant sustainable elements and provide shared space with local recreation and parks programs.

Bob holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and is a member of the AIA. As a complement to his many professional activities, he is the coach for the York County Day School FIRST Tech Challenge Robot Team.

Kate Scurlock joined GWWO in 2011, was named an Associate of the firm in 2018, and a Senior Associate in 2022. Throughout her career, she has excelled in creating thoughtfully designed educational and community spaces that encourage discovery, facilitate collaboration, and invite exploration. Her passion for designing environments for learning and interaction, both formal and informal, has included work on community centers, nature centers, visitor centers, K-12 schools, and higher education campuses.

Significant projects that Kate has managed include the design and construction for phases I and II of The Nature Place in Reading, Pennsylvania, a LEED Gold facility which used reclaimed and recycled materials, as well as significant other sustainable elements to create versatile education, meeting, and outdoor spaces; Middle Branch Fitness & Wellness Center in Baltimore Maryland featuring flexible classroom, recreation, and community meeting spaces that bridge the needs of diverse neighborhood groups; and the renovation and addition to the Manassas Museum in Virgina.

In 2022, Kate led the expansion of GWWO into the northeast region with the opening of the West Hartford, Connecticut office, where she currently oversees an expanding team serving projects throughout the area, including current work on the Heritage Museums & Gardens Welcome Center in Sandwich, MA and the Elmwood Community Center in West Hartford, CT.

Kate serves as the co-chair of the Outreach Subcommittee for the AIA National Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE). She holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University.

Scott Moir has focused his career on K-12 projects. With the firm since 2001, he joined the management team as an Associate in 2018. He is dedicated to creating dynamic and engaging learning environments that provide vibrant, functional, and welcoming spaces for all users. He has brought his design, technical, and project management skills to a wide range of projects at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. His recent work includes the 618-student Berkshire Elementary School in Baltimore County, Maryland and comprehensive master planning for multiple schools located at US Army Fort Buchanan in Puerto Rico to create a multi-phased modernization and renovation strategy. He is currently serving as project manager for renovations to the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute/Western High School Campus. Scott is a member of the Education Market Association (EDmarket) Architect & Designer Council, serves on the Board of the Building Congress & Exchange Foundation, and is on the Advisory Council for the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.

Amanda McKinney plays a critical role in the firm’s management and financial strategy development and is a key advisor to the firm’s leadership. With GWWO for nearly 20 years, including the last 8 years as Controller, she pairs her technical knowledge of architectural accounting with well-honed analytical skills and strong communication to adeptly handle all aspects of the firm’s finances, including payroll, accounts payable/receivable, financial statements, budgeting and forecasting, and overall assessment of the financial status of the company. She is also responsible for the coordination of audit and tax activities, along with maintaining compliance with regulatory guidelines and establishing internal controls to mitigate financial risk and prevent fraud. Always the pragmatist, Amanda is ever on the lookout for ways to improve efficiency and productivity in accounting and financial processes. Internally, she is a member of the firm’s Operations Committee, and she holds a degree in Accounting from the Community College of Baltimore County.

Andy Towne is a knowledgeable architect and project manager with 23 years of experience on projects of all sizes. He joined GWWO in 2014 and became an Associate in 2022. He’s worked extensively with public clients, on new and renovated buildings that include libraries, school facilities, and park buildings, as well as on numerous projects for the Smithsonian Institution and various higher education campuses. His recent work includes the Ralph S. O’Connor Center for Recreation & Well-Being Addition and Renovation at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland and the new New Carrolton Library in New Carrolton, Maryland, both award-winning projects, as well as current leadership of the design process for numerous renovations to historic structures and other improvements with New River Gorge National Park & Preserve. Andy is a member of the AIA, a LEED Accredited Professional, and a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.