Key Personnel

CHARISSA W. DURST, AIA - President and Principal Architect

Charissa holds an undergraduate degree in Architecture from the University of Maryland and a Master of Architecture degree from The Ohio State University. Charissa is a registered architect with 18 years of experience in architecture and cultural resources management. She established the firm in 1990, and currently focuses on the rehabilitation of historic buildings, including new additions, as well as new design in historic neighborhoods. Charissa is also NCARB-certified and a Leadership in Energy Efficient Design™ (LEED®) certified professional. She is a founding member of the American Cultural Resources Association.

ROY HAMPTON, MA - Senior Historian/Architectural Historian

Roy holds an undergraduate degree in Art History from Bellarmine College and a graduate degree in History from the University of Louisville. Roy has been with the firm since 1997, where he specializes in the research, publication and documentation of historic buildings and structures. He is a qualified Historian and Architectural Historian whose extensive preservation work includes historic building surveys, National Register evaluations, HABS/HAER documentation and cultural resources management plans. Roy also provides his expertise on HDC's historic building rehabilitation projects.

BILL FACIANE, CSI - Facilities Planner and Architectural Engineer

Bill is an Architectural-Engineer and Facilities Planner with 31 years of experience in the construction industry as a heavy commercial contractor, an owner's representative, and as a designer. He has prepared specifications, cost estimates, engineering design, and document coordination for several project types, including historic buildings. Bill's former experience as Senior Facilities Planner with the City of Hampton, Virginia, a Navy diver and builder, and a commercial contractor included design and construction of several facilities, sites and structures dating from the 17th to 19th centuries. He joined the firm in 1997 and is currently responsible for HDC's capital improvement renovation and repair projects.

ANDY SEWELL, RPA - Industrial/Historical Archaeologist

Andy is a Registered Professional Archaeologist who specializes in the research, excavation and interpretation of industrial archaeology sites. He is a graduate of Oakland University and earned his master's degree in Industrial Archaeology from Michigan Technological University. Andy has been active in the research, excavation, analysis and publication of results for historic industrial complexes, homestead sites and prehistoric sites since 1993. Since 2001, he has been responsible for the management of HDC's projects ranging from the development of predictive models for urban historical sites to site location surveys for new utility developments.

ANNE LEE, RPA - Prehistoric Archaeologist and Faunal Analyst

Anne is a Registered Professional Archaeologist with specialized knowledge in forensic archaeology and is also a practicing zooarchaeologist with considerable experience in the analysis of animal remains from Ohio's archaeological context. She earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Anthropology from The Ohio State University. Anne has supervised field and laboratory projects, and has extensive teaching experience. Since 2002, she has been responsible for the management of HDC's archaeological projects that range from large-scale data recovery of prehistoric sites for the Ohio Department of Transportation to site location surveys in the southeastern United States for the U.S. Navy.

LAURA PIERSALL, AIA - Architect

Laura is a registered architect with 20 years of experience who specializes in the planning and design of new and historic theatres. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Architecture degree from Washington University. Laura has designed and developed projects for Cities and Counties in Ohio and on the East Coast. Most recent work includes the creation of new performing arts facilities, educational, historical and municipal work. Laura is a LEED® certified professional who has been responsible for design, documentation, coordination, construction administration, project closeout and building occupancy.