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Alumni Career Feature – Amanda McGinniss-Gibble

We feature alumni with interesting careers from a variety of career areas. To find out more about the alumnus profession contact them via the e-mail provided. Or if you are interested in being featured, e-mail us at alumni@pct.edu.

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Amanda McGinniss-Gibble

• A.A.S., Architectural Technology, 2000
• Donnally Vujcic Associates, L.L.C.
• amcginniss12@hotmail.com

Amanda knew at a young age that she wanted to be in the field of architecture. She took her first architecture class in her junior year at Lock Haven High School in Lock Haven, PA. Her dream was to someday drive past a building and proudly say, “I designed that.”

Amanda graduated from Penn College in 2000, earning an associate of applied science degree in Architectural Technology. Two weeks prior to graduation she was offered an architecture job designing houses for Camelot Log Homes, formerly in Williamsport, PA.

After working there for some time she accepted a position with Albert Drobka Architects, in State College, PA, where she continued to gain experience in a more focused architectural field. While in that position Amanda had the opportunity to renovate a historic restaurant into a two-story bank, as well as work on many other residential and light commercial projects.

While gaining considerable experience after graduation, Amanda decided that earning her bachelor’s degree would take her much further in her career. She decided to continue her education at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. CUA accepts credits from students coming into the school with associate degrees, which leaves only three more years to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Upon entering CUA, Amanda completed three years of schooling in two years by continuing her education throughout the summers. 

During Amanda’s first semester, she was required to do an internship for a class on historic preservation. Eventually, her internship led to a part-time position as an architectural technician for The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), a division of the Department of the Interior. While tackling a full schedule of classes each semester she managed to squeeze in an average of 20 hours a week with HABS for the next year and a half. Architecture students generally do not have much of a social life given the long hours they put in to their projects; great time management skills are key.  

During her employment at HABS, Amanda worked on many different scopes of projects, including architectural detailing and documenting historic landscapes. One project required her to work in the White House documenting and recording the building after September 11. These projects were then archived in the Library of Congress for future reference.

In 2003, Amanda graduated from The Catholic University of America earning a bachelor’s of science degree in Architecture. That summer she took a position with Case Design Remodeling in Bethesda, MD, as an assistant project designer in their Kitchen & Bath division. Since joining the company, Amanda has gained valuable experience in the remodeling industry and continues to learn more each day.

Beginning in July, Amanda will be taking on a new job for DVA Architects in Gaithersburg, MD. She will be a Project Manager tackling commercial office building space planning, site design, and high end residential custom home design. Amanda ultimately hopes to design an entire building (commercial or residential) from concept through construction.