Robert Gay / Co Director / Founder / rgay@thoughtbarn.com

Orginally from Cusseta, Alabama / M.Arch from University of Texas at Austin (2005) and B.Arch from Auburn University (2000). 

Robert founded Thoughtbarn in 2007.  His diverse design and building experience focuses on material experimentation, building systems and refined details. He has an intuitive design sense, a sophisticated understanding of construction processes, and exacting quality control standards, making him an invaluable leader through all phases of a project.  

He worked previously in the offices of Baldridge Architects in Austin, Adjaye Associates in London and Roth + Sheppard in Denver, and was a lead research member for the Plastics in Architecture project conducted by current Kieran Timberlake Research Group director Bille Faircloth.  He was also a founding partner of BBIITT (Building Integrating Technology), a digital fabrication consultancy that collaborated with other design firms to create products, furniture and small scale works.  

Robert has taught graduate and undergraduate studios at the University of Texas School of Architecture and is a regular visiting critic.

Lucy Begg, AIA / Co Director / Architect / lucy@thoughtbarn.com

Originally from London, England / M.Arch from UC Berkeley (2007), B.Arch from Cambridge University, UK (2001) / Rural Studio Outreach Program (2003)

Lucy joined Thoughtbarn as Co-Director in 2010 and is a licensed architect in the state of Texas. A skilled communicator and organizer, she has a passion for delivering project excellence within complex urban settings and in partnership with diverse stakeholder groups. 

Her background includes work for Austin architecture firms KRDB and Pollen Architecture, and London firms Simon Conder Associates and Eldridge Smerin Architects.  One of her key interests is in the fusing of design practice with public-interest and advocacy work. She attended the Outreach Program in at Auburn University's renowned Rural Studio in Alabama and was awarded the Branner Travelling Fellowship from UC Berkeley, which enabled her to spend a year working with architects around the globe innovating with participatory design methods. She has also has a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management and was involved in the start-up of the Austin-based housing non-profit Design Build Alliance.

She is currently a member of the Publications Committee of Texas Architect magazine, a board member of local non-profit Civic Arts and a regular visiting critic at the University of Texas, Austin.

Texas State license #26395

ANDREI KLYPIN / Senior Designer / aklypin@thoughtbarn.com

Originally from Moscow, Russia / BArch from University of Texas at Austin. 

Andrei has been helping Thoughtbarn make easy projects 'complicated' since 2011.  He is an avid cyclist with a tremendous skillset for mathematics, scripting, and dialing in the details of difficult technical projects.   

Anna McConnall / Architect / aplyler@thoughtbarn.com

Originally from South Carolina /  BA in Architecture from Clemson University / MArch from University of Texas at Austin.

Anna’s design work has taken her from Barcelona to Brooklyn. Outside of her own exploration, she loves hearing about architecture and cities from the perspective of others and has helped organize community mapping projects around Austin. Anna has worked in the New York offices of ARO and has a passion for community mapping research and its potential for collaborative environments.  Licensed to practice Architecture in the state of Texas #28083

Megan Marvin, AIA, LEED / Architect / mmarvin@thoughtbarn.com

Originally from Austin, Texas / BArch from University of Texas at Austin 

Megan was born and raised in Austin in the shadow of the LBJ Wildflower Center (which she didn't see enough of because she was busy trying to become an Olympic gymnast). She lived in NYC for 7 years where she excelled in optimizing small spaces both personally and professionally. Megan continues to weave movement, ecology, and economy into all she creates. 

Licensed to practice Architecture in the state of Texas and New York.

ADRIAN REYNA / Adrian Reyna / areyna@thoughtbarn.com

Originally from Dallas, Texas.  / BArch from Texas Tech University / MArch from Texas Tech University

Land Arts of the American West Field Program Participant

Adrian has spent much of his time in the American West exploring landmarks, geographical icons and learning about the significance of the architecture on the land it inhabits.  Throughout this time, he gained a love for hiking and camping. He has worked on various fabrication and construction projects ranging from the design of a support vehicle for overlanding to robotic fabrication in metals and wood furniture refurbishment. Adrian, in and outside of architecture values the smaller details of things and the focus in all of his design work is tailored to that interest.

STEPHANIE MADDAMMA / STEPHANIE MADDAMMA / smaddamma@thoughtbarn.com

Originally from Butler, Pennsylvania / BED from Texas A&M University / MArch from the University of Texas at Austin

Stephanie has lived in several different cities, states, and countries throughout her life, leading her to a deep interest in the unique ways space can be experienced by a person depending on their culture and previous experiences. She is passionate about inclusive design where community, sustainability, and equity are at the forefront. During her time in the UT graduate program, she conducted research on participatory design and completed a thesis project proposing a new design process that integrates the individuality of a community into the construction of buildings. Outside of architecture and design, Stephanie loves reading, traveling, and spending time with her cat, Charles.

Eli Johnson / Junior Designer / ejohnson@thoughtbarn.com

Originally from Elmo, TX. / B. Arch + B.S. Architectural Engineering from University of Texas at Austin (2024).

Eli is currently in his final year of the architecture and architectural engineering dual degree program at the University of Texas at Austin, where his studies have further cultivated his interest in sustainability efforts for the built environment, particularly in passive and active systems and energy modeling. He is interested in making the buildings that already exist around us work harder and better. Beyond architecture, Eli is passionate about volleyball, finding cool things in thrift stores, and all types of music (especially if there's strings).

Tricia Torley / Studio Assistant / ttorley@thoughtbarn.com

A Jersey girl born + living in Texas / B.A. in Film (2012) Full Sail University, M.F.A. in Creative Writing (2014) Full Sail University

Tricia joins the team as a studio assistant, and is a storyteller at heart. Delighted to be working with designers who tell their clients' tales through reimagined spaces and inventive creations utilizing calculated details, she aims to be a valued assist by matching this team's thoughtful consideration and seemingly-effortless momentum. Outside of the office, Tricia can be found basking near water or dancing somewhere dive-y.