CO Architects, a leading national design firm specializing in healthcare, education, and research facilities, is proud to announce the elevation of Managing Principal Jenna Knudsen, FAIA, to the 2025 AIA College of Fellows. Concurrently with this prestigious honor, the firm proudly recognizes the achievements of Parini Mehta, AIA, LEED AP, who has been promoted to Principal. These advancements, along with additional promotions across the firm, reflect CO Architects’ commitment to fostering talent and leadership from within.
Jenna Knudsen, FAIA, a recognized industry trailblazer, has been elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in recognition of her significant contributions to architecture throughout the United States. She embraces an inclusive leadership ethos, engaging diverse perspectives to promote an integrated and transformative practice paradigm. Her widely lauded projects for clients such as the University of California, San Diego, and Kaiser Permanente demonstrate innovation in design, sustainability, and early adoption of BIM and integrated project delivery. Nationally recognized for her forward-thinking approach, Jenna has also been a long-time advocate for equal representation, spearheading initiatives to support and encourage women in architecture. This is the second significant honor Jenna has received from the National AIA; in 2011 she was granted the AIA Younge Architect Award. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in architecture from University of Southern California (USC) in 1997, and a Master of Science degree in Architecture & Urban Design from Columbia University in 2002.
Parini Mehta, AIA, LEED AP, a passionate healthcare architect for 20 years, has been promoted to Principal. Parini has led transformative projects for mission-driven clients such as Cedars-Sinai and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. She is a steering committee member and past co-chair of the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles (AIA|LA) Healthcare Committee and was honored with the AIA Academy of Architecture for Health’s “Best 40 Under 40” award. Parini advocates for diversity in design through her work with organizations such as the Alumni Council for Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning at University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and CO’s Architectural Discovery Program, fostering curiosity about architecture in high school students. She is a graduate of Taubman College of Architecture with a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture in 2001 and received a Masters of Architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) in 2006.
Associate Principals
Ben Bye, AIA—a talented designer with more than 11 years of experience in the programming, planning, and design of new buildings and renovations that support collaboration, innovation, and discovery—has been promoted to Associate Principal. He brings a thoughtful and engaging approach to design, ensuring the client’s vision and goals are met. Ben’s portfolio of projects includes higher education, science and technology, health sciences education, and healthcare facilities throughout the US. A member of the firm since 2014, Ben earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon in 2014.
Emilio Todescato, AIA, who designs spaces that integrate the built environment with nature, context, and technology to create beautiful buildings that inspire, connect, and encourage exploration, has been promoted to Associate Principal. He is skilled at translating complex program requirements into responsive design solutions that are sustainable and stand the test of time. Since joining CO Architects in 2020, Emilio’s experience has ranged from complex replacement medical centers to higher-education research and teaching facilities. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon in 2014.
Senior Associates
Chun Liu, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, has been promoted to Senior Associate. Chun is a skilled project manager and architect with a diverse background in large, complex healthcare and academic projects throughout the US and abroad. She earned a Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis in 2015 and a Bachelor of Engineering in Urban Design from Chongqing University in China in 2005. She joined CO in 2021.
Eddie Valdez has also been promoted to Senior Associate. Since joining CO Architects in 2018, Eddie has coordinated several complex medical and health sciences education and healthcare projects across the US for clients such as Montana State University, the University of Pennsylvania, Scripps Health, and UCLA. He received a Bachelor of Architecture from the New School of Architecture & Design in New York in 2014 and an Associate of Science from Bakersfield College in California in 2010.
Edgar Beltran, who has 15 years of experience as a laboratory planner for teaching, research, and engineering facilities for public and private clients across the US and internationally, has been promoted to Senior Associate. A member of CO’s San Diego office since 2018, he earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Woodbury University in Los Angeles in 2005.
Justin Owens, AIA, a member of the Los Angeles office since 2014, has been promoted to Senior Associate. Justin excels at collaborating with all disciplines to achieve cohesive architectural design for healthcare, science and technology, and higher education clients. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Woodbury University in Los Angeles in 2014.
Megan Marsh, LEED AP—promoted to Senior Associate—has more than 15 years of experience on projects spanning higher education, healthcare, corporate, and residential. She has played a key role in projects for Rutgers University, Montana State University, and Scripps Health since joining CO in 2022. Megan earned a Master of Science in Interior Design from Pratt Institute in New York in 2006 and a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. John’s University in New York City in 2001.
Associates
Aizeder Iriondo, LEED GA, joined CO Architects in 2020 and has been an integral part of the UCI Health – Irvine Medical Center project. She earned a Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon in 2020 and a Bachelor of Architecture from Universidad José Antonio Páez in Venezuela in 2015.
Barbara Abecassis, LEED AP BD+C, joined CO in 2023 as a senior designer for a new 300,000-square-foot research tower for an academic medical center. She earned a Master of Design and Applied Arts from L’École Normale Supérieure in Paris in 1999.
Colton Stevenson, RA, joined CO Architects in 2022 and brings an interest in envelope design, sustainability, and building performance to the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Redevelopment team. Colton earned a Master of Architecture in 2015 and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture Studies in 2014 from Louisiana Tech University.
Lori Short, CO Architects’ Director of Employee Experience, creates a cohesive and consistent employee experience and firm culture by enabling processes that support continued employee support, engagement, and growth. She joined CO in 2022 and holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership (Human Resources emphasis) from the University of La Verne in California.
Mahyar Naghshvar brings a keen interest in collaborative design approaches that improve building performance and socio-cultural relevance to his work on healthcare projects at CO. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Mahyar earned a Master of Architecture from SCI-Arc in Los Angeles in 2019 and a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies from UCLA in 2016.
Marc Dobbs brings years of experience in office management and human resources to his role as CO Architects’ Los Angeles office manager. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Morehouse College and he earned a Human Resources Management Certificate from Los Angeles’ Loyola Marymount University in 2020.
Onur Tasan, RA, joined CO Architects in 2022 as a member of the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Redevelopment team. He studied Global Sustainability at UCLA in 2014 and earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Maltepe University in Turkey in 2010.
Priti Arneja, LEED AP, has more than 20 years of experience in the design and management of diverse projects, including K-12, higher education, healthcare, residential, and commercial. She earned a Master of Architecture from SCI-Arc in Los Angeles in 2001 and a Bachelor of Architecture from Kamla Raheja Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies in India in 1998.
About CO Architects
CO Architects is nationally recognized for architectural planning, programming, and design in the higher education, science and technology, and healthcare sectors, and works with leading institutions from coast to coast. CO Architects’ specialized expertise includes transformative schools of medicine and health professions, advanced research and teaching laboratories, K-12 facilities, and innovative clinical facilities on higher education, healthcare, and urban campuses. The firm has been nationally and internationally recognized with more than 230 awards for innovative design and project delivery, including two AIA National Architecture Awards and AIA California’s Architecture Firm of the Year Award.
