MICHELLE MURPHY VASSALLO AIA, Principal
Having lived in Europe most of her childhood, Michelle was exposed to a tapestry of styles of architecture. Her 14 years of experience at Barnes Vanze Architects was impactful and led to opportunities to work on projects across the country and abroad. Michelle’s design style is characterized by sensitivity to scale, simplicity, and the needs of modern-day living. She enjoys the collaborative process with each client. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three boys.

EMILY HIRST, Senior Associate
Emily Hirst, AIA is a Registered Architect in the District of Columbia and was born and raised in Northern VA. She received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Virginia Tech in 2007. Her love of DC’s rich architectural fabric ignited her passion for blending historic and modern architecture. She sees the importance of protecting our natural environment and embraces modern technology for sustainable building practices. She strives to blur the boundaries between the built and natural world. Emily believes that the home is a sacred space and loves creating beautiful and functional environments for her clients. She lives in Anacostia with her partner, son, and dogs. In her free time, she enjoys anything that involves working with her hands – including gardening, pottery, and cooking.

NATALIE DiVITO CUNNEEN, Associate
Natalie is a Registered Architect in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University in 2006, and then moved to the DC area, where she worked for several years. Natalie has over 14 year of experience in the field of architecture, including residential, mixed use, education, religious and commercial projects. She grew up in Massachusetts, the youngest of four children, and thrives on being part of a team. Natalie loves figuring out the details and seeing a design come together. She and her husband live in Massachusetts with their two children, where they enjoy visiting the beach, skiing and spending time with their dog, George.

JAMES UPTON, Associate
James has over 20 years of experience in the design of multiple building types including residential, educational, and libraries, across the Washington region and nationally. A design technology specialist, James excels in 3d modeling and visualization. He received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Maryland. James lives on Capitol Hill with his wife and daughter.

BRYNN ADNER, Staff Designer
Brynn received her Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech in 2021. Throughout her education, she participated in several influential experiences including a study abroad in the Netherlands, where she focused on sustainability and computational design, and a summer internship in NYC, where she worked on multifamily and mixed-use projects. Originally from upstate New York, Brynn moved to Northern Virginia and joined MV Architects in June of 2021. She is excited to work with clients and design even the smallest of details needed to realize their dream spaces.

LAUREN WILLIAMS, Designer, Stylist and Office Manager 
Since joining MV architects in 2020, Lauren has focused on expanding the interior design portfolio and broadening the clientele for the firm. As a designer, she enjoys closely working with clients to bring their visions to life. Blending form and function, old and new, traditional and contemporary styles to create beautiful, livable spaces. She leads the styling team on photoshoots, meticulously sourcing props and florals and documenting interior and exterior projects upon completion. Lauren is also the online marketing presence for MV, sharing progress and finished photos as well as collaborations with various industry professionals including artists, photographers and artisans.

LJ (LAUREN) JACOB, Designer
LJ is a Washington DC-based designer. LJ loves to work with clients and to create homes that truly feel like home. That means that each home is as unique as the people living in them. As a former English teacher, LJ knows that the stories we tell are what bring us together; just as how we design our homes tells the stories of who we are. LJ started her career in interior design after completing her home renovation and being inspired by just how much joy crafting a home can bring. LJ holds master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Bank Street College of Education, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut. When not deep in design, LJ is usually found somewhere in nature or snuggled up with her dog reading a book. LJ lives on Capitol Hill with her husband and senior pup.