PETER SPERA III, AIA, LEED GA Principal + Co-Founder
Born and raised in New Orleans, Peter has been a licensed architect practicing in the city since 2004. In 2016, Peter co-founded GOAT, bringing with him extensive experience in commercial hospitality, restaurant, and retail design, along with large-scale project management. As a New Orleans native, Peter attended Jesuit High School and Louisiana State University and is deeply embedded in the South Louisiana community. He is the President of the New Orleans Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Chairman of the Gretna Historic District Commission, and serves as a Mardi Gras Float Lieutenant in the Krewe of Thoth. He’s also the pit master on his Hogs for the Cause team, Piggy Stardust.
COLIN VANWINGEN, Associate AIA Principal + Co-Founder
Colin graduated from the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning in 2008 and immediately moved to New Orleans. While attending graduate school at the Tulane University School of Architecture, Colin developed the concept for a practice that would eventually grow into GOAT. After completing his Master’s Degree, Colin worked on projects ranging from affordable prototype housing in the 9th Ward to massive scale entertainment & hospitality complexes around the country. In 2016, Colin co-founded GOAT as the firm’s intransigent idealist. Outside of the office, Colin is a part-time chef and a full-time dad, and co-chair of the New Orleans Small Firm Exchange (SFx).
PAULA BECHARA Associate Designer
Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Paula was exposed to various styles of architecture at a very young age, which sparked her interest in pursuing an architecture career. In 2018, she graduated from Tulane University School of Architecture with a Master’s degree in Architecture and a minor in Real Estate Development. Before joining GOAT in 2019, Paula worked at Kronberg Wall, an Atlanta based firm, where she worked on adaptive reuse projects and residential projects. Outside of architecture she enjoys cooking and traveling.
JOANNA TANASESCU Associate Designer
Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Joanna attended and graduated from Parsons the New School for Design in 2013 with a BFA in Interior Architecture. Having spent much of her life in New York City, she became immersed in its building culture and familiar with its specific, often unexpected demands. Preceding her move from NY to New Orleans, Joanna was the interior designer at SPAN Architecture; much like her experience up to this point, the role required her integral knowledge of both the interior and architectural worlds.
JULIA BALLARD Business Development Associate
Julia began her career in a business development role at the global e-commerce company Wayfair in Boston, next door to her hometown of Cambridge, MA. She then moved to New Orleans after graduating from the University of Redlands in California. Julia has worked with several local businesses over the years, establishing her background in marketing, business development, community building, and project management. She has deep-rooted ties to the New Orleans entrepreneurial ecosystem through her role as Editor-In-Chief of the technology publication Silicon Bayou News. When she’s not at work or planning her next trip, you can find Julia exploring the Big Easy with her husband and three dogs.
RYAN HARNISH Associate Designer
Born and raised in Chicago, Ryan graduated from Tulane University School of Architecture in 2023 with a Bachelor of Architecture. He first took an interest in architecture through the intricate brick and terracotta detailing throughout Chicago. While at Tulane, Ryan worked in the Millhaus, the school’s CNC milling lab, and participated in the URBANbuild program, both of which gave him a strong appreciation for material fabrication and assembly. On his days off, he enjoys experimenting with baking bread or exploring New Orleans via one of the city’s craft breweries.