MELISSA ALLEN, aia
Promoted to Associate
Melissa joined Payette in 2019 and has worked on several science projects, both large and small. Melissa first worked on the interior spaces for Northeastern University’s EXP engineering research building. She then led several small-scale specialized facilities for Harvard Medical School from programming through construction. Melissa worked on the exterior envelope for Jefferson’s Kimmel Biomedical Research Building before joining the Takeda Research Headquarters project team at its onset.
Melissa co-chairs Payette’s Young Designers Core and was instrumental to maintaining the vibrancy of YDC within Payette’s practice as the pandemic came to a close, organizing events that promote knowledge sharing, culture and mentorship within the firm. She is actively involved in the firm’s MLK Day of Service, Women in Design Group and serves as a mentor for the Boston Private Industry Council Mentorship Program.
Education:
• M.Arch., with Distinction, 2019, Wentworth Institute of Technology
• BS, Architecture, 2018, Wentworth Institute of Technology
NICHOLAS BERUBE, aIA
Promoted to Associate
Nick joined Payette in 2022 and was immediately essential to the Space Strategies team. His translation of complex ideas into beautifully simple graphics and quick comparative metrics quickly earned him the regard of his team members and clients alike. Drawing from his extensive background as an architect and Project Manager, Nick seamlessly combines design thinking and space planning expertise. His influence extends to master plans, programs and feasibility studies, shaping projects at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Emory University, Cornell University and the University of Notre Dame. Nick now helps lead The Johns Hopkins University Life Sciences Building team as they progress from programming to schematic design. Nick brings strong analytical, data visualization and graphic design skills to all his work.
Education:
• M.Arch., with Honors, 2013, Washington University in Saint Louis
• BA, Architecture, Summa Cum Laude, Minor in Graphic Design, 2008, Washington University in Saint Louis
Laurie booth
Promoted to Associate
Laurie joined Payette in 2020 and has been an integral part of several large-scale academic research projects including the Ragon Institute, a new Medical Research Building for a confidential university client, and Jefferson’s Biomedical Research Building. Most recently, Laurie’s efforts on the design competition for Takeda’s Research Headquarters resulted in a successful award of the project, and she currently serves as a team member stewarding its completion.
Outside of her project work, Laurie remains committed to her alma mater, serving as the youngest member appointed to the 12-person Advisory Board for the School of Architecture. Laurie has leveraged her passion for teaching to successfully build the OpenLAB Boston Studio, hosted every Fall at Payette since 2021. She has shaped the education of over 36 fourth-year architecture students from Virginia Tech and Hampton University as Studio Coordinator and mentor.
Education:
• B.Arch., 2020, Virginia Tech
ALISON DOBBERTIN, aIA
Promoted to Associate
Alison joined Payette in 2021 with six years of experience in several practice areas including lab design, higher education, primary education and multi-family residential design. She has focused on various fast-paced projects including a speculative lab development project in Durham, North Carolina, where she quickly earned the trust and support of the client, assuming a leadership role on the team, fusing design, regulatory and programmatic requirements together. Her next assignment focused on interior architecture with programmatically complex laboratory environments. Beginning with an enabling project, she concentrated on design for functionally and technically challenging spaces. She embraced the pursuit, demonstrating Payette’s core design values. She is the commensurate generalist, equally comfortable at every project. Deeply valuing mentorship and interpersonal relationships, Alison is a team-builder at heart and works to make knowledge accessible to both clients and younger design professionals.
Education:
• B.Arch., Cum Laude, Minor in Landscape Architecture, 2015, Syracuse University
Opening later this year, the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard in Cambridge, MA is an essay in the tuning of building façades for performance. The aluminum sunshades that veil the building began as a concept tested by scoring Bristol paper. The team utilized tools from all modalities: paper models, CNC-mills, parametric studies, solar analysis, wind and water simulations and full-scale mock-ups to inform the design and drive energy use down. The ultra-high performance building is tracking a 61% reduction in energy use compared to the 2030 baseline.
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