Suping Li and Yang Tian

Meaningful Designs for Everyday Life

Founded in Norfolk Virginia in 2015, GARC is committed to improving our Client's everyday life in every way we can.  Our Clients have repeatedly told us that our work has had a profound impact on their living, working, and social environments, In our well-tested, research-oriented design process, the Client is always at the center. We design your space as a portrait of you, your family or your company.

We believe the future of architectural design is to provide a higher-level product for both professional services AND new ideas.  Our work is developed from the strategic thinking of social contexts, human behaviors and environmental concerns.

As award-winning architects, GARC has an international profile of work that spans the United States, Southeast Asia and China.

Our Services

GARC's work incorporates holistic design solutions integrating architecture, interior and landscape design.  We also provide multiple levels of consultant services.  If you wish to have a stress-free process with guidance on every aspect of the project, we offer a full service that starts from initial programming to identify your needs, to the completion of the construction.  If you are simply looking for a better understanding of how to start your project, what the road map ahead looks like, or if you just want to explore the project’s potentials, we offer our Vision Design as a separate stand-alone service.


GARC Client Meeting

Client meeting at GARC's office in downtown Norfolk, Virginia



The Team

AIA, RIBA, LEED AP

Yang Tian

Yang has over 15 years of work experience in China and the U.S. in the fields of planning and architecture. He has concentrated on campus planning, educational architecture, creative space, and landscape design. He has rich experience in research-oriented design approaches, and his award-winning projects have appeared in well-known architectural magazines. Yang is a contributor to several Chinese architectural magazines, and is an international guest editor of Zhuqu (Design Community). He received his Bachelor of Architecture from Southeast University, China, and his Master of Architectural History from the University of Virginia.

RA PRC, Assoc AIA, LEED AP

Suping Li

Suping has worked with a number of prestigious architectural firms in Beijing, Singapore, and in the U.S. In her 15 years of practice, she has worked on projects of different types and scales, specializing in educational and cultural architecture, adaptive reuse, and interior design. She was a leading designer of projects that earned Virginia AIA and Detroit AIA design awards. Suping has a Bachelor of Architecture from Southeast University, China, a Master of Arts in Architecture from National University of Singapore, and a Master of Product Design and Development Management from Northwestern University. Suping also serves as a member of the City of Norfolk Architecture Review Board.

Kate Bell

Having previously worked as a summer intern with GARC, Kate returned to GARC as a full time employee after her graduation in Spring 2019. Kate received her Architectural Studies degree with a Studio Arts minor from the University of Pittsburgh. Her portfolio of work emphasizes the use of digital and physical modeling as an integral part of the architectural design process. Kate discovered her interest in architecture after taking a class and found it was a perfect outlet combining her love of art and design. Kate, a  “military brat”, was born in Virginia Beach into a career military family, and traveled with her family from posting to posting. She finished her high school education in Germany. Kate wants to integrate her passion with art and travel into her design work.

NZIA Graduate Member, M.Arch Prof (Hons. 1st)

Mark Schmidt

Mark has several years of work experience contributing to a broad range of architectural projects, both in the U.S. and in New Zealand. Mark has developed a breadth of specialized knowledge in the fields of town planning, low to medium density housing, and higher education. He also actively pursues opportunities to work on community based projects like emergency shelters and local education centers. Mark studied art and architecture at the Savannah College of Art and Design and later received his Master of Architecture from the University of Auckland with first class Honors.

Leon Li

Leon is an experienced digital 3D Visualization artist. He has more than 15 years of work experience in Shanghai and Singapore. He was trained as a graphic designer, and combined his strong sense of design with his skills of photorealistic digital rendering and animation. Leon is also a photographer. His works have been published on several consumer magazines. Leon is a remote member of our team currently based in Singapore.

AWARDS

2020
HRACRE design awards
Got Fish? for Best Recreation/Entertainment/Hospitality Project Merit Award
Get Well Soon for Best Interior Excellence Award
 

2014
AIA Detroit ARCHITECTURAL HONOR AWARDS / INTERIORS | Alice Lloyd Hall Renovation, University of Michigan

2012  
Virginia Society AIA Design Merit Awards, USA | USF School of Music, Main Designer

2009
AIA Hampton Roads Design Excellence for Unbuilt, USA | USF School of Music, Main Designer

2008
Jury Grand Prize: ACUHO-i 21st Century Project Design Showcase, USA

“net+work+camp+us” Team Leader (Yang Tian), Main Designers (Yang Tian and Suping Li), Final Presenter (Suping Li)

Media Reports
John Gendall, “Housing the YouTube Generation and Beyond.” Architectural Record, Mar 2008.

Lawrence Biemiller. “An Updated Monastic Quadrangle Is Residence Hall of the Future.” The Chronicle of Higher Education (Blog). Last modified Feb 04 2008.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/buildings/an-updated-monastic-quadrangle-is-residence-hall-of-the-future/4984.

"Net+Work+Camp+Us Wins Jury Prize at 21st Century Project Design Showcase." Living On Campus: College Housing Annual Report 2008. 7.

Matthew Bowers. “Dorms of the Future.” The Virginian-Pilot, March 24, 2008.

James A. Baumann. “There Goes the Neighborhood.” Talking Stick. May/June 2008. Volume 25, Number 5. 70-72.

"net+work+camp+us: A Prelude to Student Housing of Future." [in Chinese.] Jianzhushi [The Architect] 132 (2008): 112.

Suping Li as Project/Design Architect with HEWV