Christopher M. Vela
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About
Professional Architectural, Interior and Design Skills:
I have more than 14 years of experience as an Architectural Designer for a wide variety of commercial projects. My experience includes new construction and building rehabilitation for existing Commercial Upscale Developments, Specialty Grocery Stores, Boutique Retail, and Environmental Branding for offices. I also have experience in all phases of architectural project development—from determining Project Feasibility to Concept and Design development, through project Construction Administration and Project Closeout. I have effectively managed Design Teams throughout all Architecture Service Phases.
My Professional all-inclusive Interior Design Services includes Space Planning, Environmental Branding, and Building Service Repositioning on permanent and exhibit spaces. I have experience in the creation and project management of Exhibits, Furniture Packages, and Built Environments that effectively realized clients' visions. I have supervised over Production Quality Control Furniture and Exhibit Fabrication, including Logistical Challenges for Shipment and Installation.
As a Self-Contractor, I completed As-Built drawings and Field Surveys to determine feasibility for Construction Rehabilitation. I also provided Full Design Services including Rendering Services for Concept and Schematic Design, Construction Documents for Single and Multi-Family Residential Projects, Business Oriented Projects and Interior Design.
Professional and Community Engagement:
Current Event Coordinator, Vision Zero Hillsborough
Liaison, Tampa Bay Foundation for Architecture and Design (TBFAB), Gasparilla Festival of the Arts
President, Historic Ybor Neighborhood Civic Association
President and Founder, Sunshine Citizens, Inc.
Former Architect, Barrio Latino Commission
Former Member, Tampa Heights Community Garden,
Former Agent, The Urban Charrette, Former Volunteer
Tampa Historical Society, Henry B. Plant Museum, Ybor City Museum Society
Co-founder, Emerging Tampa Bay Architects - local chapter of the American Institute of Architects
Former Member, AIA-Tampa Bay Heritage Committee
Co-author, Mixed Media Artist and Gala Corina Architecture Competition
Professional Technical Skills:
Graphics - Hand Drafting, Sketching, Autodesk AutoCAD, Draftsight, Gimp, Inkscape, Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
3D Modeling - Google Sketchup Pro, Google Layout, Twilight, Maxwell Render, Thea Render, Endscape -
Education
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Master of Architecture Architectural DesignSavannah College of Art and Design2003
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Bachelor of Fine Arts ArchitectureSavannah College of Art and Design2003
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Associate of Science ArchitectureAnne Arundel Community College2000
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Experience
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President and Co-Founder2015 - Present (9 years)Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area Mission statement: Sunshine Citizens is a non-partisan, grassroots organization that promotes walkable, inclusive communities and smart growth. As President and co-founder of a not-for-profit organization, I work collaboratively with Board members and stakeholders, members of the local community-at-large, other advocacy groups, and the media to gather and disseminate information related to state, county, and local land-use and transportation proposed projects. As an advocacy organization, we have successfully engaged hundreds of city, county, and state community members to attend workshops in the community as well as meetings at the county, municipality (Tampa, Temple Terrace, and St. Petersburg), city, and state levels. As part of a team, I have also coordinated several meetings with Hillsborough County neighborhood associations, city economic groups, and related civic organizations to underscore the importance of land-use and transportation planning. My biggest accomplishment as President of Sunshine Citizens, Inc. has been organizing and creating the driving force behind the community to successfully break public attendance records at state transportation meetings and local and county board meetings for Hillsborough Regional Transit Authority (HART), the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), and Tampa City Council. My organization has collaborated with studies led by the PRIG/ Frontier Group over transportation studies, worked with USF on transportation forums and with graduate students in regards to social-economic issues from transportation and land-use.
Role: Lead community efforts to educate constituents and government officials about the Tampa Bay Express Project (STOP TBX). -
Independent Contractorn/a2005 - Present (19 years)Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area Create visual and experiential branding for commercial, architectural, interior, storefront museum, and exhibit designs. As a Self-Contractor, I completed As-Built Drawings and Field Surveys to determine feasibility for Construction Rehabilitation. I also provided Full Design Services, including Rendering Services for Concept and Schematic Design, Construction Documents for Single and Multi-Family Residential Projects, Business Oriented Projects, and Interior Design.
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Project ManagerTampa, FL2019 - 2020 (1 year)Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area I provided construction administration services for an upscale business club, resolved ongoing permitting issues, provided conceptual site planning for residential projects. I worked closely with the owner & owner's representative to ensure the project timelines goals are met. Project budget range over a million-plus.
I utilized BIM, SketchUp, AutoCAD, and Adobe Products for design and construction documents. -
Lead DesignerTampa, FL2010 - 2014 (4 years)Provided conceptual and technical interior design services for commercial and not-for-profit clientele in museum, entertainment, boutique retail, and elated industries through the development of exhibits and environments that effectively realized clients' visions. I supervised Quality Control issues on millwork fabrication process, including engineering, assembly, and installation.Created interior design concepts; corporate branding; constructiondocumentation; and 3-D visualizations/renderings. Conducted extensive space planning; furniture and exhibit designs; andinterior wall and flooring material selections, including light and visualdisplays. Maintained drawing files; drafting standards; and successful projectmanagement under aggressive deadlines.
Key clients: Odyssey Marine, PSCU Florida, Tampa Museum of Art, MOSI,Leepa Rattner Museum, DISH Network, Sky Golf, Artistas Café, Crisis Centerof Tampa Bay, Tampa International Airport, Clearwater Main Library, andWeisman Museum of Southwest Texas. -
Agent / ECO.lution Co-coordinatorThe Urban Charrette2008 - 2011 (3 years)Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area Mission Statement: The Urban Charrette is a Tampa-based non-profit organization that educates and collaborates with community, business, government, and educational leaders, cultivating knowledge of leading urban design practices to build vibrant cities. Role: Conducted community outreach events and programs serving the Tampa Metropolitan Area, and organized public urban design sessions with AIA Tampa Bay and the Historic West Tampa Neighborhood District.
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Architectural Designer2006 - 2009 (3 years)Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area Provided extensive schematic design deliverables for new building construction and major site modifications. Created technical construction documentation for military, federal, and country emergency response facilities, including transportation facilities effective 3-D visual presentations for zoning and building review committees Conducted effective application of Florida building code, zoning, accessibility, and LEED guidelines in early design stages for highly technical federal and military projects extensive engineer and shop drawing reviews Maintained accurate, independent, site and as-built documentation.
Key clients: Florida Department of Transportation, Sarasota County and Emergency Response, and Tampa International Airport. -
Architectural DesignerTampa, FL2005 - 2006 (1 year)Developed as-built drawings for public schools, universities, county services facilities, private offices, and banking centers. Provided construction documentation for various building interior modification and expansion projects.
Key clients: Wachovia (now, Wells Fargo), Lowry Park Zoo, Horizon House, Hillsborough County Schools, and University of South Florida. -
Architectural DesignerTampa, FL2003 - 2005 (2 years)Prepared successful schematic design presentation packages, accurate construction documentation, and accurate fieldwork for site analysis and existing building conditions.
Key clients: Publix, RE/MAX, and Sembler. -
Architectural InternBaltimore, MD1999 - 2000 (1 year)
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Architectural InternTampa, FL1999 - 1999Summer position.
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Awards
2018 WMNF Homegrown Heroes
2017 Creative Loafing's “Best of the Bay” co-winner, “Best Win for Tampa's Grassroots Activists”
2013 Ybor City Development Corporation grant, "Ybor Window Art Program for Centro Ybor Parking Garage"
2006 Creative Loafing's “Best of the Bay” winner, “Activist Architect”
2006 American Cancer Society American Institute of Architects' Competition, second place
2005 American Institute of Architects Tampa Bay President's Award
2003 National Architectural Accreditation Board Elected Thesis Project -
Affiliations
Ybor City Development Corporation, Inc.
Historic Ybor City Neighborhood Civic Association
Tampa Bay Foundation of Architecture and Design
Vision Zero Local Chapter -
Industries
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Skills
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Elsewhere on the Web
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On Coroflot@cmvela, member since 2012
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Followers 4
