Stephen Varenhorst founded Varenhorst in 1987 and has since realized numerous noteworthy, award-winning commissions. Single and multi-family residential, non-profit, education, and mixed-use retail projects comprise his extensive portfolio. An exceptional attention to detail as well as intensive client interaction and involvement have encouraged repeat clients. For Stephen, architecture is a creative process to continually seek new and better approaches to design.

Stephen is a graduate of North Dakota State University where he received a B.A. in Architectural Studies and a Bachelor of Architecture; and North Carolina State University School of Design, where he received a Master of Architecture and the Dietrich Fellowship. Stephen is a member of the American Institute of Architects, Pennsylvania Society of Architects, and National Association of Architectural Registration Boards, and is an adjunct faculty member at Drexel University . He also sits on the boards of a number of non-profit institutions.

Phone: 215 940 1128
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Neil Garrioch became Studio Director in 2008. He is responsible for design and for coordination of staff, project management, and office oversight. Neil works closely with Stephen Varenhorst to execute designs with the careful attention to detail for which the firm is known. His strong design and analytical skills continue to foster quality and innovation as the firm grows.  Neil has more than 20 years of experience and has designed projects in the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Mexico, Russia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia. Neil’s work has been recognized with several international awards.

Neil holds a Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor’s degree in Geology with Chemistry from Exeter University in the UK. Neil’s interdisciplinary background helps him enrich design relationships between architecture, the environment, materials, and emergent technologies (in which he holds two patents).  He is also a practicing artist.

Phone: 215 940 1111
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Thomas Bisignaro is a project manager at Varenhorst with over 20 years of architectural experience. He earned Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Architecture degrees from Spring Garden College in 1991, and another Bachelor of Architecture Degree from Drexel University in 1999, where he was a finalist for the Michael Pearson Architecture Prize, and was awarded with the Henry Adams Award and Senior Second Honors in Architecture. Thomas has significant experience in project coordination and documentation, as well as with lab and pharmaceutical design for companies like Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and Bayer, in technical, design and project management capacities.

Phone: 215 940 1151
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Britt joined Varenhorst in 2017.  She is a registered architect and LEED Accredited Professional with over 5 years of experience in design and construction. Her work to date has been for institutional clients on large scale residential, mixed-use, and museum buildings. Britt earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Philadelphia University where she spent a semester abroad at Oxford Brookes University.

Phone: 215 940 1143
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Hsing-Yuan has been working at Varenhorst since 2011. He earned his Master of Science degree in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University in 2005 after which he proceeded to work in several architectural firms in New York and Philadelphia on large retail, hospitality, residential and mixed-use projects. 

Hsing-Yuan is a detail oriented person who specializes in project coordination and documentation.  He is a Registered Architect and a LEED Accredited Professional. He is fluent in Mandarin and Taiwanese.

Phone: 215 940 1015
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Hasina joined Varenhorst in 2014 and is currently a Senior Project Manager. She received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Engineering and Technology in Bangladesh in 1983, subsequently studied at Harvard University Extension School, and earned a Master of Architecture from the Pratt Institute in 1991. Hasina has been a LEED Accredited Professional since 2009 and has been involved in both new construction and adaptive reuse projects throughout her career. She was previously an Adjunct Instructor at Temple University and currently also teaches at ITT Technical Institute. Hasina is fluent in English, Bengali and Hindi.

Phone: 215 940 1019
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Cathie Dopkin has been with Varenhorst since 1996. She has more than two decades of diverse project experience including large-scale buildings, community planning, and interior design.  She earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Pennsylvania State University in 1983, and a Bachelor of Architecture and Henry Adams Certificate of Merit from Temple University in 1990. In addition, she studied sculpture at the Bottega Palmatten Studio in Florence, Italy. Cathie is a member of the Horticultural Society of Philadelphia and obtained the Series One Certificate in Ornamental Plants from Longwood Gardens.  She also studies and teaches glass blowing at East Falls Glassworks, and is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional.

Phone: 215 940 1130
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John Edwards joined the firm in 2006. He is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he earned his Bachelor of Architecture.  He spent a semester in Shanghai at Tongji University, where he focused on urban planning, specifically in the field of high density housing.  John’s skills include project management, space planning, multi-family housing, zoning analysis, and institutional work.

Phone: 215 940 1066
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Carla Hopkins joined the firm in 2002. She is responsible for accounts payable and receivable, payroll, invoicing, and general accounting. She handles project administration and serves as the Varenhorst vendor and supplier point-of-contact.

Carla earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Widener University in 1994.

Phone: 215 940 1110
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Drew joined VARENHORST in 2004 as an intern architect, part of his cooperative work education experience at Drexel University, and remained after earning his Bachelor of Architecture degree.  He sought respite only for his participation in a six month urban design study abroad program in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Drew’s exceptional ability to create 3D computer models and animations made him an asset to multiple projects during his early time at VARENHORST.  His leadership responsibilities have increased dramatically to include complex project management, presently overseeing multiple projects while maintaining involvement in design, detail, and execution.

Outside the office, Drew regularly participates in sprint and Olympic distance Triathlon in the Mid Atlantic, participating in a dozen over the past three years.

Phone: 215 940 1139
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Varnika joined Varenhorst in 2017 after earning a Master in Sustainable Design from Philadelphia University.  She also holds a bachelor of Architecture from C.S.I.I.T, India, in which she learned and about sustainable design strategies including compressed stabilized earth block (CSEB) manufacture and bamboo construction in Auroville, India.

With two years of experience as an Architectural Intern, she has worked on a variety of hospitality, residential, and mixed-use projects.  Varnika also has experience with several energy analysis softwares including IES VE, EQUEST, Green Building Studio, and Sefaira.

Phone: 215 940 1064
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Paige Neill joined Varenhorst as an architectural intern in 2016. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture degree from The Pennsylvania State University, along with minors in Architectural History and International Studies. She spent a semester studying abroad in Rome at the Pantheon Institute, and traveled to various countries across Europe before returning back home to Philadelphia to begin her professional career. Paige is currently working to complete the Intern Development Program and accomplish her goal of becoming a licensed architect.

Phone: 215 940 1021
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Nushi joined Varenhorst in 2017.  She has a Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute in New York.  As an architectural intern, she has worked on a large variety of multi-unit and single family residential projects.  She has experience with many different modes of fabrication, including wood work, metal work, CNC, and large scale 3D printing.  She also is skilled in parametric design using the Grasshopper plug-in to Rhinoceros, among other applications.

Phone: 215 940 1067
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Christian came to Varenhorst with over seven years of professional experience on diverse project types, including higher education, K-12, mixed-use, commercial, single and multi-family residential projects.  He has in-depth knowledge of sustainable building and design practices, and experience on multiple LEED projects.  Christian is passionate about design, particularly at the intersection of architecture and context.  He has broad experience in building information modeling, rendering, graphic design, and typography.

Christian earned a B.Arch. from Virginia Tech, where he was a team member on the design of the research-oriented prototype home “Lumenhaus”, which received many awards including the National AIA Institute Honor Award, and overall champion of the European Solar Decathlon, 2010.

Phone: 215 940 1015
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Javier joined Varenhorst in 2017. He is a graduate of Philadelphia University where he earned his Bachelor of Architecture and minor in Digital Design and Fabrication. Javier spent a semester in Rome, where he focused on urban design and contextual impact on contemporary design.

Javier previously worked as a research assistant focusing on Philadelphia University’s NCARB grant awarded 3D Textiles Program, developing methods of digital generation and representation of textiles for design research. He was featured in ACM:XRDS for involvement in Philadelphia University’s Design Informatics Lab and had work featured in the 2016 International Contemporary Furniture Fair, and the Philadelphia Science Festival.

Phone: 215 940 1023
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Mirai came to VARENHORST in 2014 after gaining diverse experience at other acclaimed architecture firms in the Philadelphia area.  She designed and oversaw construction services for high-profile cultural and academic construction projects.  She has completed two LEED Platinum buildings.

Mirai has seamlessly merged into the VARENHORST studio and currently develops large-scale residential and mixed-use projects, emphasizing the multidisciplinary collaboration within the project team to facilitate a unified deliverable.

Mirai has served as a guest juror on architectural critiques in the US and in Japan.  She is fluent in both written and conversational Japanese, and serves as a board member for the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Philadelphia, PA.

Phone: 215 940 1141
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