team

Say hello to Liam Arbeiter, the newest addition to the Graham Projects team as our Urban Designer and Placemaker! Originally from Maple Grove, Minnesota, Liam relocated to the DMV area to combine his industrial design expertise with his passion for enhancing urban infrastructure and creating spaces that prioritize the human experience.

We asked Liam a few questions about their personal mission, proudest achievements, their work at Graham Projects, and what placemaking/public art projects they’d love to work on. 

What’s your guiding principle for everything you work on?

Keep an open mind and stay curious. As a designer with strong values in improving the way people interact with each other and the world, I find that curiosity and openness lead to positive outcomes in my work more often than not. 

What’s one of your proudest achievements?

I’m really proud of the chair I designed while studying abroad in Copenhagen, where I focused on furniture design. For my semester project, I created a modern interpretation of an Adirondack chair, featuring simpler geometry, hidden joinery, and unique wood cuts in the seat and backrest that flex to your body. The best part is that I could pack it up and bring it home, and now it sits in my bedroom! As my first ‘serious’ piece of furniture, this project allowed me to experiment with new techniques, making it incredibly rewarding to sit in and reflect on the countless hours I put into crafting it.

What are you excited to do with Graham Projects?

I am extremely excited to make a difference in communities and help people feel safer and more connected to each other. Getting the chance to meet the people that I am designing for and hearing their stories is an incredible opportunity, and I feel that it will make my work feel that much more meaningful.

What are some of your dream projects? Is there a concept that you’d love to execute in collaboration with Graham Projects?

I would love to design bicycle infrastructure. After living in Copenhagen, I was inspired by their innovative biking solutions and approach to public spaces. I have a bike rack concept aimed at increasing ridership and reducing bike thefts in urban areas, and I believe Graham Projects would be the perfect place to bring it to life!

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

A good mix of adventuring and finding relaxing things to do. I love doing activities like exploring a new neighborhood, going to trivia, catching a baseball game, or finding new food spots around the city. My ways of relaxing include going for a walk/run/hike/bike ride, listening to music or finding a nice park to enjoy.

Outside of placemaking, I like to find a balance of adventure and relaxation — whether it’s exploring new cities, catching a baseball game, or searching for the best food spots. To unwind, I love a board game night, a casual bike ride, or a good bonfire under the stars.

Is there a website or platform that we can find any potential creative ventures of your own or artwork?

Instagram: 

@arbeiter_design

Graham Projects is excited to welcome artist Isabelle Conover (she/her) as our in-house Communications Specialist! Isabelle started with Graham Projects as an assistant art installer in fall of 2022, and is now leverage her numerous design and communications talents to help us Make Place Happen. She is supporting our process of community-based design by creating project outreach graphics, planning our future social media campaigns, helping with in-person engagement, and continuing to assist with installation.

We asked Isabelle a few questions about their personal mission, proudest achievements, their work at Graham Projects, and what placemaking/public art projects they’d love to work on. 

What got you interested in working with Graham Projects?

I’ve always been obsessed with painting BIG.  I loved the idea of murals, but had never seen anything like the horizontal street murals Graham Projects had been creating. I loved GP’s message of “Make Place Happen” and knew I wanted to be a part of their work. I was put in touch with Graham Coreil-Allen through a mutual friend, aided the GP team with installs in the Fall of 2022, and then was lucky enough to continue to be a part of Graham Projects beyond that!

What’s your guiding principle for everything you work on? 

Keep an open mind to other people’s situations. Everyone is going through something, whether it be big or small, so be kind and show appreciation for the little things that they do! It’ll go a long way.

What’s one of your proudest achievements? 

During the pandemic, I started a small business that sold handmade tapestries with positive affirmations on it. It was something I was proud of because I was able to use my creativity to help others create an uplifting environment in a rough time.

What are you excited to do with Graham Projects? 

I am excited to see more and more GP projects pop up throughout Baltimore and even beyond the city. I think the work that Graham Projects produces brings a sense of wonder to the people who see it for the first time. Watching people see an install in the works, or a project that’s just been completed, is such a rewarding feeling.

What are some of your dream projects? Is there a concept that you’d love to execute in collaboration with Graham Projects? 

A community wide art scavenger hunt! I think it would be a cool concept to have a trail of street art installations that have clues that lead to each other throughout a certain area. The project could even include local small businesses, that way people could enjoy the art, go for a nice stroll, and find new spots around town!

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? 

I enjoy oil & acrylic painting, going to figure drawing sessions at a local studio, yoga, farmers markets, and going on hikes with my two dogs!

How can folks find out more about your personal creative ventures?

I can be found at @lerouxcreative on instagram & tiktok.

By Corinne Litchfield 

Graham Projects is growing rapidly – and thanks to two new hires, we will be serving even more communities in making place happen.  

Melvin Jadulang (he/him) is the Director of Operations and Engagement for Graham Projects. Melvin has worked in organizational management for advocacy groups and nonprofits, and has a background in real estate and entrepreneurship. Born and raised in Hawaii, Melvin relocated to Baltimore when his husband, Randall, got assigned to Fort Meade.  

Zoe Roane-Hopkins (she/her) is an Associate Placemaker and Project Designer who works closely with Graham on design development and proposals. Zoe studied landscape architecture at Penn State, then received her MA in Industrial Design at the Savannah College of Art & Design. 

We asked them a few questions about their personal mission, proudest achievements, their work at Graham Projects, and what placemaking/public art projects they’d love to work on. 

What’s your guiding principle for everything you work on? 

Melvin: Meet people where they are at and allow them to be heard. Make sure they know they are valued, and that happens when you follow through: let people know what’s going on with a project and  how they can help. 

Zoe: Be kind to people and be kind to the earth. I do very thoughtful design and I like to listen – listening to people, the planet, and translate it into something that’s colorful, dynamic and interesting. I like to shift perspective through all my designs. 

What’s one of your proudest achievements? 

Melvin: In 2019, I worked with my East Baltimore Midway neighborhood to convert four vacant lots into a community green space. The Boone Street Commons has different elements to engage the community: garden, park, and a picnic area/event space. 

Zoe: Winning an award for my Space Frame design in the Design for Distancing competition last year. A friend told me to submit – I pulled my design together in two days and submitted right at the deadline. After my design was posted on Instagram, local landscape architecture firm EnviroCollab reached out to me about installing the Space Frame at a BelAir-Edison neighborhood event.   

What will you be doing with Graham Projects? 

Zoe: I split my time between EnviroCollab and Graham Projects, so every day is a little different. I recently submitted a design proposal for pavement art, and at our Pigtown pop-up event, I connected with community members on traffic calming and bumpout pavement art. I created coloring pages for people to use to give us their ideas. The community was enthusiastic – I liked talking with them and listening to their ideas. 

Melvin: As the director of operations and engagement, I facilitate the processes, whether it’s with the community that’s invited us, or the actual project from start to finish. Part of my role involves keeping us true to the Graham Projects philosophy of making place happen and making sure the community is represented in the work we’re doing with them.  

What are some of your dream projects? Is there a concept that you’d love to execute in collaboration with Graham Projects? 

Melvin: I want to create opportunities so that a neighborhood can experience high quality placemaking and public art on any budget. We’re shifting the narrative to say that placemaking & public art can exist anywhere, and that means making it accessible for all. I’m also interested in developing a kit or service for neighborhoods that encourages and supports engagement in the placemaking process. 

Zoe: I’d love to do a cross collaboration between EnviroCollab and Graham Projects that pulls together street art and landscaping architecture components. 

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? 

Zoe: I play ukulele, guitar, and piano – I like to write songs & make animations to accompany them. I’m trying to learn the banjo, too. I also enjoy hiking and camping, and once the weather cools down I’ll go backpacking with my boyfriend. I really like to cook and currently I’m working through recipes in a dim sum cookbook I got for Christmas. 

Melvin: I like taking bike rides through Baltimore. Finding cool new restaurants and cafes and visiting breweries & pubs are also fun. I like building furniture, like a bench or table. And of course gardening! 

If you would like to collaborate with Graham Projects on improving a public space in your neighborhood, connect with us here!