People
Apicella + Bunton is a diverse team of creative and experienced architects and designers working in a dynamic, open studio. As keen listeners and determined problem solvers we are committed to finding well-reasoned solutions through comprehensive research and creative design exploration. We are diligent, careful and imaginative in our approach and inspired by the people we meet and the places we work.
John Apicella
Partner
John Apicella collaborates on the design and management of each project he oversees, supervises the execution of complex projects, and has continuously developed and implemented the firm's management practices.
Notable projects include the LEED Gold and award-winning renovation of 493 College Street, home to Yale University’s sociology department; the master plan for Yale’s Old Campus, and the award-winning renovation to Manuscripts & Archives at the Yale Sterling Memorial Library.
John gained extensive experience in the design and management of a wide range of project types during his 16 years as a Senior Associate at Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. He played a vital role in the completion of some of the firm's largest and most notable projects including the Petronas Towers in Malaysia, London’s Canary Wharf Tower, and the Segerstrom Concert Hall and Samueli Theater in California.
John received his Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University. He serves on the faculty at the Yale School of Architecture where he has been teaching Architectural Practice and Management since 2006.
John Apicella
Partner
AIA
John Apicella collaborates on the design and management of each project he oversees, supervises the execution of complex projects, and has continuously developed and implemented the firm's management practices.
Notable projects include the LEED Gold and award-winning renovation of 493 College Street, home to Yale University’s sociology department; the master plan for Yale’s Old Campus, and the award-winning renovation to Manuscripts & Archives at the Yale Sterling Memorial Library.
John gained extensive experience in the design and management of a wide range of project types during his 16 years as a Senior Associate at Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. He played a vital role in the completion of some of the firm's largest and most notable projects including the Petronas Towers in Malaysia, London’s Canary Wharf Tower, and the Segerstrom Concert Hall and Samueli Theater in California.
John received his Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University. He serves on the faculty at the Yale School of Architecture where he has been teaching Architectural Practice and Management since 2006.
J Bunton
Partner
J Bunton is involved in all aspects of the practice, collaborating on the design and management of each project under his direction. He is passionate about design, architectural lighting, and the implementation of sustainable methods of design and construction.
J has significant experience designing educational projects. Notable projects under J’s direction include Grossman House, a LEED Gold certified dormitory for international students at Lafayette College, the new home for the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, the Yale Sterling Hall of Medicine Library, and the Yale Digital Humanities Lab.
Prior to founding Apicella + Bunton, J was a Senior Associate at Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects for 15 years where he worked with institutional clients on the design of many high-profile cultural centers, academic buildings, and libraries. He led design teams for some of the firm’s most notable performing arts commissions including the Segerstrom Concert Hall and Samueli Theater and the renovation of the South Coast Repertory Theater.
J holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Architecture degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a juror for studio reviews at the Yale School of Architecture and Yale School of Drama. He serves on the Board of Trustees at Cold Spring School and is a lifelong hockey player, a motivated tennis player, a husband, father of two sons, a devoted lover of dogs, and an ice cream enthusiast.
J Bunton
Partner
AIA
J Bunton is involved in all aspects of the practice, collaborating on the design and management of each project under his direction. He is passionate about design, architectural lighting, and the implementation of sustainable methods of design and construction.
J has significant experience designing educational projects. Notable projects under J’s direction include Grossman House, a LEED Gold certified dormitory for international students at Lafayette College, the new home for the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, the Yale Sterling Hall of Medicine Library, and the Yale Digital Humanities Lab.
Prior to founding Apicella + Bunton, J was a Senior Associate at Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects for 15 years where he worked with institutional clients on the design of many high-profile cultural centers, academic buildings, and libraries. He led design teams for some of the firm’s most notable performing arts commissions including the Segerstrom Concert Hall and Samueli Theater and the renovation of the South Coast Repertory Theater.
J holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Architecture degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a juror for studio reviews at the Yale School of Architecture and Yale School of Drama. He serves on the Board of Trustees at Cold Spring School and is a lifelong hockey player, a motivated tennis player, a husband, father of two sons, a devoted lover of dogs, and an ice cream enthusiast.
Steven Carlson
Associate
Steven Carlson
Associate
Darin Curts
Senior Associate
Darin Curts joined the firm in 2011 and became a Senior Associate in 2016. He collaborated on the Yale Center for Science and Social Science Information (CSSSI) renovation and has been the lead on the majority of residential college projects in the firm. Darin assists in the management and coordination of all projects.
Prior to joining the firm, Darin worked at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson in Pittsburgh. He collaborated on a variety of projects, most notably the Life Sciences Center Laboratory at Dartmouth College, and the corporate headquarters for Adobe in San Francisco.
Darin received a Bachelor of Architecture from Kansas State University. He has been a teaching fellow at the Yale School of Architecture for the Architectural Practice and Management course.
Darin Curts
Senior Associate
RA, LEED AP
Darin Curts joined the firm in 2011 and became a Senior Associate in 2016. He collaborated on the Yale Center for Science and Social Science Information (CSSSI) renovation and has been the lead on the majority of residential college projects in the firm. Darin assists in the management and coordination of all projects.
Prior to joining the firm, Darin worked at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson in Pittsburgh. He collaborated on a variety of projects, most notably the Life Sciences Center Laboratory at Dartmouth College, and the corporate headquarters for Adobe in San Francisco.
Darin received a Bachelor of Architecture from Kansas State University. He has been a teaching fellow at the Yale School of Architecture for the Architectural Practice and Management course.
Cristiano Dos Santos
Cristiano Dos Santos
Sonya Hals
Sonya Hals
Marc Houston
Marc Houston
Erin Murphy
Erin Murphy
Gina Narracci
Principal
Gina joined the firm as a Principal in 2017. She led the design and construction for the Digital Humanities Lab at Yale’s Sterling Memorial Library; renovations at Evans Hall, the Yale School of Management; and the renovation of freshman and sophomore residence halls at Quinnipiac University.
Prior to joining the firm, she was an Associate Principal at Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects for 19 years. She was a senior designer for many of the firm’s performing arts centers including Hancher Auditorium, The Theater School at DePaul University, and Eccles Performing Arts Center.
Gina received a Bachelor of Architecture from Pennsylvania State University. She is a teaching fellow for the Systems Integration and Development in Design course at the Yale School of Architecture and has been a guest critic at Temple University and Pennsylvania State University.
In 2015, Gina received the Penn State Alumni Award from the Arts and Architecture Alumni Society, and has been a fellow at Branford College at Yale University since 2018. The renovation of her 1895 house in New Haven received The New Haven Preservation Trust’s House Preservation Award in 2015, and when not repairing or restoring the house she can be found in the kitchen cooking with her husband or exploring the outdoors with their dog, Phoebe.
Gina Narracci
Principal
AIA
Gina joined the firm as a Principal in 2017. She led the design and construction for the Digital Humanities Lab at Yale’s Sterling Memorial Library; renovations at Evans Hall, the Yale School of Management; and the renovation of freshman and sophomore residence halls at Quinnipiac University.
Prior to joining the firm, she was an Associate Principal at Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects for 19 years. She was a senior designer for many of the firm’s performing arts centers including Hancher Auditorium, The Theater School at DePaul University, and Eccles Performing Arts Center.
Gina received a Bachelor of Architecture from Pennsylvania State University. She is a teaching fellow for the Systems Integration and Development in Design course at the Yale School of Architecture and has been a guest critic at Temple University and Pennsylvania State University.
In 2015, Gina received the Penn State Alumni Award from the Arts and Architecture Alumni Society, and has been a fellow at Branford College at Yale University since 2018. The renovation of her 1895 house in New Haven received The New Haven Preservation Trust’s House Preservation Award in 2015, and when not repairing or restoring the house she can be found in the kitchen cooking with her husband or exploring the outdoors with their dog, Phoebe.
Lily Raffio
Lily Raffio
Kelsey Tudor
Kelsey Tudor
Mai Wu
Principal
Mai joined the firm in 2006 and became Principal in 2017. She led the design and construction of Yale’s 493 College Street, an award-winning office and classroom building that earned LEED Gold certification. Mai also led the Yale Daily News Building Renovation and collaborated on the interior design and finishes for the Beinecke Library and Yale University Library Preservation project.
Prior to joining the firm, Mai worked at Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates on the restoration of Radio City Music Hall. While at Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, she worked on the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, WI and the Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School in New Haven, CT.
Mai has a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Yale College, and a Master of Architecture from the Yale School of Architecture.
Mai has been a teaching fellow for the Architectural Practice and Management course at the Yale School of Architecture. She volunteers to interview Yale College applicants for the Yale Alumni Schools Committee and has served as a sponsor for the Yale Asian American Cultural Center externship program. She has a strong interest in product design and interned with noted designer Niels Diffrient.
Mai Wu
Principal
Mai joined the firm in 2006 and became Principal in 2017. She led the design and construction of Yale’s 493 College Street, an award-winning office and classroom building that earned LEED Gold certification. Mai also led the Yale Daily News Building Renovation and collaborated on the interior design and finishes for the Beinecke Library and Yale University Library Preservation project.
Prior to joining the firm, Mai worked at Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates on the restoration of Radio City Music Hall. While at Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, she worked on the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, WI and the Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School in New Haven, CT.
Mai has a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Yale College, and a Master of Architecture from the Yale School of Architecture.
Mai has been a teaching fellow for the Architectural Practice and Management course at the Yale School of Architecture. She volunteers to interview Yale College applicants for the Yale Alumni Schools Committee and has served as a sponsor for the Yale Asian American Cultural Center externship program. She has a strong interest in product design and interned with noted designer Niels Diffrient.
Tian Xu
Tian Xu
Julie Zink
Senior Associate
Julie Zink joined the firm in 2013 and became a Senior Associate in 2016. She collaborated on the renovations of Lanman-Wright Hall and the Beinecke Library and Yale Preservation. Julie worked on the renovation of Yale Manuscripts & Archives, where she was involved in all phases of the project including interior design. Julie manages the digital production and BIM standards for the firm.
Prior to joining the firm, Julie worked at Stratton Brook Associates in Simsbury, Connecticut. She collaborated on a wide range of health care projects including the Ellis Medical Center of Clifton Park and a new critical access hospital for Endless Mountains Health Systems in Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Julie received a Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She teaches the Visualization and Computation course on Revit and Building Information Modeling at the Yale School of Architecture.
Julie Zink
Senior Associate
AIA
Julie Zink joined the firm in 2013 and became a Senior Associate in 2016. She collaborated on the renovations of Lanman-Wright Hall and the Beinecke Library and Yale Preservation. Julie worked on the renovation of Yale Manuscripts & Archives, where she was involved in all phases of the project including interior design. Julie manages the digital production and BIM standards for the firm.
Prior to joining the firm, Julie worked at Stratton Brook Associates in Simsbury, Connecticut. She collaborated on a wide range of health care projects including the Ellis Medical Center of Clifton Park and a new critical access hospital for Endless Mountains Health Systems in Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Julie received a Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She teaches the Visualization and Computation course on Revit and Building Information Modeling at the Yale School of Architecture.