MANDY PALASIK
CONTACT 719 S Los Angeles St, Suite 376, Los Angeles, CA 90014 (213) 373-1266; [email protected] ; https://www.mpal.studio
EDUCATION
2016 Master of Architecture: Housing + Urbanism, Architectural Association (AA), London, UK International Urbanism Workshop, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, BR 2009 Bachelor of Architecture, Minor in Construction Management, Kennesaw State University, Marietta, GA Magna Cum Laude
CREDENTIALS
2014 - Current Registered Architect, State of California (2020-Current), Maryland (2014-2021) 2009 - Current LEED Accredited Professional, United States Green Building Council
PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS
2025 (forthcoming) Birds and Benches, sculptural bench, Sacramento, CA 2025 Soft Surrealism, temporary installation, Adams Square Mini Park Gas Station, Glendale, CA 2025 Chur Chur, sculpture/community engagement w/ James Dinh, Reno, NV 2024 (in-progress) Confluencia, shade structure/gathering space/community engagement w/ James Dinh, Surprise, AZ 2024 (in-progress) The Web Connecting Earth & Sky, shade structure/gathering space w/ James Dinh, Socorro, NM 2024 (forthcoming) Bloom, interactive sculptures, Los Angeles, CA 2024 Soft Surrealism, series of participatory public art installations for Arts in the Parks, Tempe, AZ 2022 Dream in Ribbons, temporary installation and community engagement, LA Commons & The Music Center, Los Angeles, CA 2020 6,414 Miles, Storefront video projection, Projecting Possibilities; Helms Bakery District, Culver City, CA 2016 Living Synergies, Temporary installation for Art on the Atlanta BeltLine w/ Nghi Duong; Atlanta BeltLine Inc., Atlanta, GA
EXHIBITIONS
2023 U.S. Green Building Council Los Angeles MyGBCE, The Beehive, Los Angeles, CA, Commissioned artist 2022, 2023 Cardboard City, ReDiscover Center, Santa Monica, CA, Exhibiting artist 2022 No Longer Valid, Momentum Gallery 06, Krakow, PL, Group exhibition 2022 This is My Home, National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, PA, Finalist 2021 Reimagining Public Art: Bridging the Digital Divide, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Virtual, Commissioned artist 2021 Borderline, Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA, Group exhibition/Curator 2020 Imaginar: A Virtual Botanical Garden of the Imagination, Arroyo Arts Collective, Virtual, Commissioned artist 2018 Design Philadelphia: Temple University Faculty Work, BOK Building, Philadelphia, PA, Group exhibition 2016 Transportation, Housing, + Event Led Urbanism, Architectural Association, London, UK, Exhibition designer 2013 School 33 Lotta Art, Silo Point Gallery, Baltimore, MD, Group exhibition
ARCHITECTURAL EXPERIENCE / SELECT PROJECTS
2020 - Current Principal, Architect/Artist, Mandy Palasik Studio, Los Angeles, CA City of Los Angeles EWDD JEDI Facade Improvement Program 2019 - 2020 Project Manager, Marmol-Radziner, Los Angeles, CA 2018 - 2019 Architect, SITIO Architecture + Urbanism, Philadelphia, PA La Joya Gardens, Detroit, MI : 53-unit mixed-use affordable housing development 3720 Chestnut, Philadelphia, PA : 420-unit mixed-use residential tower 2016 - 2018 Architect, KieranTimberlake, Philadelphia, PA University of California San Francisco - The Tidelands, San Francisco, CA : 708-unit housing complex 181 Mercer, New York, NY : 735,000 sf mixed-use academic, performance, and residential development 2012 - 2014 Architect, GWWO Architects, Baltimore, MD
New Carrollton Library, New Carrollton, MD : 60,000 sf interior renovation with exterior modifications Attachment 7
Exploration Tower Welcome Center, Port Canaveral, FL : 20,000 sf six-story exhibition and event facility CC Jackson Recreation Center, Baltimore, MD : 20,000 sf renovation plus addition 2010 - 2012 Designer, ArchPlan Inc, Baltimore, MD
Sphinx Club Museum + Heritage Center, Baltimore, MD : 18,650 sf historic renovation plus addition 2005 - 2006 Architectural Model Builder, Applied Model Solutions, Atlanta, GA
ACCOLADES / RESIDENCIES
2022 Cardboard City, ReDiscover Center, Santa Monica, CA, Resident Artist 2020 FORUM, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA, Resident Artist/Writer 2020 AIA Maryland Excellence in Design Merit Award, New Carrollton Library 2020 AIA Potomac Valley Excellence in Design Merit Award, New Carrollton Library 2019 Jury Choice Award, La Joya Gardens Project, Detroit Design 139 2016 Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellowship, Finalist
TEACHING / PRESENTATIONS / JURIES
2018 - Current Adjunct Assistant Professor, Temple University Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA Arch 0875 Architecture and the American Cultural Landscape; Arch 9991 Directed Research for MArch Thesis Arch 8131 Research Seminar 1 Urban Design Theory & Practice; Arch 3146 Engaging Places 2023 Adjunct Professor, El Camino College, Los Angeles, CA Arch 149 Studio 1 - Design Fundamentals and Principles
2021 Juror, ARCC King Student Medal Award, Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, GA Guest Critic, Thesis Review, Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, GA 2020 Guest Lecturer, “The Art of Urbanism: The Role of Art in the Built Environment,” Tecnológico de Monterrey, MX 2016 Lecturer, “Integrating Art + Architecture On the Atlanta Belt Line,” Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, GA Visiting Instructor, Tactical Urbanism. Public Art Workshop, Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, GA 2014 -2016 Archivist and Research Assistant, Architectural Association, London, UK 2014 Appointed Juror, American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2014 National Awards for Collaborative & Professional Achievement: Edward C. Kemper, Thomas Jefferson, Whitney M. Young Jr., Associate, and Young Architects
PRO-BONO / CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
2022 - Current Association for Women in Architecture & Design (AWA+D) Active Member, Los Angeles, CA 2020 -2023 Marketing Coordinator & Project Lead, Open Architecture Collaborative, Los Angeles, CA Empowering community organizations and non-profits to realize their projects through pro-bono design services including facade improvements. Led volunteer design team and oversaw marketing and media outreach 2018 - 2019 Urban Design Committee, AIA Philadelphia Chapter, Philadelphia, PA Group administrator for emerging professionals mentor program, organized Urban Design Committee book discussions and community forums on topic related to gentrification .2012 - 2014 Design Committee Chair, Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street, Inc., Baltimore, MD Provided design services for facade improvement projects and community hub/ farmers market venue, led graphic design services for community events and promotions 2012 - 2013 Project Organizer, U.S. Green Building Council Green Apple Day of Service, Baltimore, MD Led community projects with Baltimore City Schools to design and build outdoor classrooms using reclaimed materials 2010 - 2012 Design Volunteer, Neighborhood Design Center, Baltimore, MD Provided placemaking, community engagement, and conceptual design on Waverly Commons Farmers Market and community redevelopment masterplan
PUBLICATIONS
2017 - 2021 Contributing author, Artblog.org
2022 “The Balcony,” Art of Poetry, Artandcakela.com
2020 “[An] Open House,” The Noble Art of Art Writing: The Art Writing Challenge, p. 98-100 2015 “The Chaos of Neglect,” LOBBY No. 3 Defiance, p. 62-63 Attachment 7
Dream In Ribbons, 2022
Materials: Ribbon, steel, wood
Dimensions: 12’h x 31’w x 31’l
Budget: $35,000
Commissioning Agent: The Music Center / The Music Center, Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County, LA Commons Location: Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center; Los Angeles, California 01: Inspired
by community outreach initiatives fostering the collective vision for the future of Los Angeles, the art proposal called for a celebratory centerpiece that would engage the community and activate Jerry Moss Plaza. The design refl ects a parts-to-whole concept where individual ribbons represent the diverse voices of Angelenos. In the center lies a communal ring composed of multi-colored ribbons inscribed with the wishes of Angelenos. Symbolic of prayer fl ags, the dreams are carried in the wind and shared with all of Los Angeles.
02: Detail view of canopy underside. In unison, the ribbons create a vibrant composition of color and texture designed to dance in the wind.
ANNOTATED WORK SAMPLE IMAGE LIST
01 02
07 Soft Surrealism, 2025
Materials: Vinyl, magnets, air
Dimensions: 12’h x 12’w x 12’l
Budget: $2,500
(Adapted from a prior commission)
Commissioning Agent: City of Glendale Arts & Culture
Location: Adams Square Mini Park Gas Station; Glendale, California 03: Installation featuring biomorphic infl atables forming fl uid, amoeba-like compositions that appear to hover weightlessly within the glass pavilion—like suspended particles caught in time. As night falls, vibrant beams of light animate the fl oating shapes, shifting in color and intensity to create an ever-changing spectacle in the public park, inspiring curiosity and wonder.
Soft Surrealism, 2024
Materials: Vinyl, magnets, air
Dimensions: Varies
Budget: $30,000
Commissioning Agent: City of Tempe Community Arts Team
Location: 6 public parks throughout Tempe, Arizona
04: Participatory
community project that invites the public to create evolving abstract sculptures using magnetically connecting infl atables. Designed for various Arts in the Parks events, the project seeks to create an immersive experience that constantly evolves with the creative contributions of its participants. The biomorphic custom shapes contain magnets welded into the plastic infl atables at strategic nodes that allow the diff erent shapes and colors to connect in various confi gurations. 05 Confl uencia (Rendering, left and canopy/lighting mockup photo, right), 2024 (In-progress) Co-Artists: Mandy Palasik, James Dinh
Materials: Steel, aluminum, LED lighting, concrete, mosaic tile Dimensions: 18’h x 50’w x 65’l
Cost: $600,000
Commissioning Agent: City of Surprise
Location: Surprise, Arizona
05:
Multi-generational community gathering space inspired by the life-giving spirit of water. Refl ecting the agricultural roots of Surprise, two pathways converge like rivers of the past and future, forming a plaza with terraced seating reminiscent of canyon walls with mosaic paving patterns evoking fl owing water. Above, mirrored cloud-shaped canopies refl ect the colors and energy of the plaza, with custom perforated patterns that illuminate like constellations at night. 03 04
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Living Synergies, 2016
Co-Artists: Mandy Palasik, Nghi Duong
Materials: Plywood, steel, paint
Dimensions: 8’h x 8’w x 25’l
Budget: $8,000
Commissioning Agent: Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.
Location: BeltLine Eastside Trail; Atlanta, Georgia
06:
Temporary installation/bench that challenges our perception of “home” as a place of private refuge, suggesting the collective memory of people, place, and experience is what defi nes the notion. 07: Situated along a recreational trail, the installation welcomes visitors through a portal symbolic of a traditional house. The enclosure slowly morphs into a public bench, creating an open “living room” with views of the Atlanta skyline as the backdrop.
New Carrollton Public Library Renovation, 2018
Design
Team: GWWO Inc. Architects- Mandy Palasik, AIA, LEED AP; Mark Lapointe, AIA; Alan Reed, FAIA, LEED AP; Andrew Towne, AIA; Katie Werner Grajewski, AIA
Role: Lead design Architect
Materials: Varies/ Design Services
Dimensions: Varies/ Renovation area of 57,960 SF
Cost: $13,042,000 total project budget
Commissioning Agent: Prince George’s County Memorial Library System Location: New Carrollton Public Library; New Carrollton, Maryland 09: Led team on architectural transformation of library paying homage to existing triangular layout, creating a light-fi lled “prism of knowledge”. Guided Public Art RFQ with technical guidance for suspended installation that activated reading space and selected artwork by Alan Binstock. Led lighting design of interior and exterior, including illuminated information desk design. 10: The children’s area was designed with an aquatic theme to create an interactive and immersive experience of being underwater featuring coral-reef inspired wall partitions with back-lit educational visuals of sea life to defi ne zones, water- themed fl ooring patterns, and bubble-like lighting accents. 06 Chur Chur, 2025
Co-Artists: Mandy Palasik, James Dinh (Studiofolia)
Materials: Steel
Dimensions: 18’h x 12’w x 11’l
Budget: $120,000
Commissioning Agent: City of Reno
Location: Reno, NV
08: Chur Chur
emerged from a community engagement workshop in which local high school students envisioned a sculpture that would inspire them. The design weaves together recurring themes of regional fl ora and fauna with the area’s aviation legacy, rooted in Stead Airport and its history as host of the National Championship Air Races. Serving as a visual landmark, the sculpture shifts in perception as viewers move around it, creating a sense of movement and evoking ideas of freedom, aspiration, and community.
08 07
09 10
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2 MANDY PALASIK STUDIO - Proposal
Mandy Palasik is a licensed architect and artist with
over fifteen years of experience designing public
environments. Her work operates at the intersection
of art, architecture, and community, creating site-
responsive installations that engage light, color,
and spatial experience. She brings a strong technical
foundation and collaborative approach to delivering
complex projects in the public realm.
REVIEWING LIGHTING MOCKUP FOR CURRENT CONFLUENCIA SHADE STRUCTURE AND
GATHERING SPACE PROJECT
DREAM IN RIBBONS, TEMPORARY INSTALLATION/SHADE STRUCTURE Los Angeles, California
NEW CARROLL TON LIBRARY ADDITION, PROJECT ARCHITECT WITH GWWO INC.
New Carrollton, Maryland
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1 INSPIRATION
Our proposal is inspired by Sunnyvale’s shifting landscape, from agricultural rows to digital terrain. Drawing from the ordered geometry of orchard plots and the nostalgic, horizon-driven aesthetics of early video games, the installation creates a dynamic field of color, movement, and light that immerses visitors in an interactive and playful environment, inviting gathering, curiosity, and discovery.
OUTRUN GRID HORIZON / A NEON FIELD SIGNALING THE DAWN OF CYBERSPACE Courtesy of Dreamstine.com
SUNNYVALE AGRICUL TURAL GRID
Crossman Advertising Map of Sunnyvale, 1906.
Courtesy of California History Center (Sunnyvale History Collection).
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2 Emerging from Sunnyvale, Atari video games pioneered
digital culture, bringing people together through
shared play and opening portals into immersive,
imagined worlds. This proposal translates that legacy
into physical space, reflecting the City’s brand
essence of “Bold, Sustainable Innovation” while
activating Plaza Del Sol as a vibrant, colorful
amenity for residents, visitors, and local businesses.
Rooted in early digital environments, linear fields
of light, color, and simple geometric systems evoke
movement and depth. The proposed design aligns with
the existing rhythms of the plaza, echoing its angular
paving and architectural lines while extending rays
outward as a contemporary horizon—expressing momentum,
connectivity, and Sunnyvale’s forward-looking spirit.
CONCEPT
SOLARIS ATARI 2600 VIDEO GAME SNAPSHOT WITH PERSPECTIVE HORIZON Courtesy of 1morecastle.com
ATARI2600 NTSC PALETTE, PROPOSED LIGHTING SCHEME COLORS Courtesy of Wikimedia.org
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3 The installation is designed to create a recognizable identity for Plaza Del Sol, drawing people through the space and encouraging longer dwell time for surrounding businesses and community use.
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4 DESIGN
SITE APPROACH
11’-15’ RANGE
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26’
80’
SOUTH FRANCES ST
LOFT HOUSE APTS
NOT TO SCALE
The proposed design introduces a luminous canopy
composed of modular, architectural-grade LED neon
elements suspended on high-tensile aircraft cables and
supported by steel posts embedded within the existing
planters, maintaining clear circulation throughout the
plaza.
The integral design of the fixtures and lightweight
structure allows the lines of light to visually hover
above the space.
11’-15’ RANGE
NORTH ELEVATION
PLAN VIEW
Attachment 7
5 During the day, the lines read as a subtle framework, casting layered shadows that shift across the plaza
over time, bringing movement and visual interest to the ground plane while maintaining an open and unobstructed space for daily use and events.
At night, the canopy becomes a field of light. The
LEDs are programmable, with a default setting that is
calm and ambient. At select moments, subtle patterns
of color move through the system, drawing from the
visual language of early video games and adding energy
without becoming overwhelming.
Attachment 7
6 As people move through the space, the experience shifts. The lines open up in some areas and tighten in others, creating a sense of movement and variation in light intensity.
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7 Subtle variations in column height introduce a gentle undulation across the field, allowing the lines to gather, disperse, and converge in moments of visual intensity. These convergences create perspectival “rays” that recall the horizon lines and vanishing points of early video game environments, where space was defined through motion, rhythm, and light.
Attachment 7
8 DESIGN REFERENCE
DEFAUL T STATIC WARM WHITE LIGHT SETTING, PROGRAMMABLE The system is composed of durable,
architectural-grade components designed
for long-term outdoor use, minimizing
maintenance while allowing for
straightforward replacement of individual
elements if needed.
The open cable structure minimizes surfaces
for debris accumulation and does not require
regular cleaning beyond periodic inspection
and occasional cable tensioning.
Energy-efficient LED technology and a lightweight structural approach reduce material use and long-term energy demand.
All lighting elements are modular, allowing individual components to be accessed and replaced without impacting the overall system.
Electrical connections are consolidated and accessible to simplify troubleshooting and reduce downtime.
Light levels and color transitions will be carefully calibrated to avoid glare and spill, ensuring compatibility with surrounding residential and commercial uses.
BOORLOO BRIDGE, LED ON CABLES
PERTH, AUSTRALIA
Courtesy of Colorkinetics.com
LIFE LINE BY DAVID SVENSSON
SUSPENDED LED; STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
Courtesy of Gecem.com
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