ABS Profile and Team

Jay Schwarz is a founding principal of ABS Architects. Jay is equally comfortable designing and managing the large commercial and institutional projects in the firm as well as the plethora of smaller scale residential additions and renovations. Additionally, Jay believes it is important to be involved with the community. He has been a member of the City of Annapolis Building Board of Appeals since 2005, sits on the Friends Board at St. John’s College, and is a life long supporter of local Chesapeake Bay driven environmental causes and concerns.

Angela earned her Masters of Architecture in 1991, and Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 1987 from University of Maryland while working in the field of graphic design and rendering. She began her architectural career as a residential designer in Washington D.C. with award winning firms and became a Registered Architect in 1995. She was offered a position in Project Management for a medical facility master plan with a firm in Baltimore. Along with interior fit out, Angela developed expertise in the facility planning and programming aspects of architecture and was elevated to a second Principal of the firm. She directly managed the system integrations of hospital functions during design through construction as well as the reconciliation of whole project costs. Angela began working at ABS Architects in 2003 with a primary focus on residential architecture with light commercial renovation. She engages in the design process from the feasibility concepts through the development of contract documents. She especially enjoys the challenges of understanding and interpreting city or county codes. Angela is a people person and team player, always eager to take on the opportunity to work with clients and contractors to bring a concept design through construction administration.

Bill Williams is a lifelong City of Annapolis resident. Bill earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from Catholic University, 1985, and a Master’s Degree in Architectural Design from Clemson University, 1991. He received his architectural license in Washington DC 1989, and Maryland 1994. Additionally, he is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited – LEED AP, 2008 and LEED AP BD+C 2010. With his projects located in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC, Bill has wide reaching experience and a varied career in large and small commercial and institutional development projects. An important in-house manager of ABS Architects’s commercial and institutional teams – and as Project Architect for 25 years, Bill’s experience includes the Historic SJC Carrol Barrister House, Annapolis Recreation Center, Severn Bank Corporate Office Building, 35,000 seat Naval Marine Corps Memorial Stadium renovations and additions, and the USNA – Ron Terwilliger Center for Student-Athletes at Ricketts Hall. Bill – an avid fan of the history of Annapolis and the area – serves on the City of Annapolis Historic Preservation Commission which reviews all construction proposals within the Historic City of Annapolis.

Sarah Favrao’s primary focus is Concept Design and Design Development for residential projects. Sarah is particularly adept and exceptionally strong in developing a project’s parti and form language. Coming from a family of architects and artists and growing up in a mid-century modern house, Sarah discovered her love of design at an early age. She earned a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Virginia, with an emphasis on preservation and adaptive reuse. A stint in Italy studying Andrea Palladio cemented her lifelong respect for history and for the relationship of inside and outside spaces. She earned her MArch from Virginia Tech’s Alexandria Center. With over 30 years of experience in both large and small firms, she continues to delight in helping clients realize the homes that they imagine. In her off hours, Sarah is grateful for friends and family time, traveling, playing tennis, and gardening.

Peter earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the New York Institute of Technology in 1981 and became licensed in the State of New York in 1983. In the years that followed he was employed by several prominent residential architects on Long Island, and eventually established his own firm located in Westhampton Beach – specializing in custom residential housing in the prestigious Hamptons. Peter has over 30 years of experience and is the recipient on numerous awards and accolades. With ABS since moving to Maryland in 2018 he has now become an important residential team leader. Peter is responsible for coordination and developing the Architectural Concept Design, Design Development through Construction Documents Phase as well as the management, coordination and Administration of the Construction Phase.

David Ferrara earned a Bachelor’s in Architecture from the Catholic University of America and graduated with honors. With more than 18 years of experience, Mr. Ferrara has earned numerous Computer Aided Design Certificates and 3D Rendering Certificates. Dave is responsible for developing architectural components for both commercial and high end residential projects. He efficiently manages client details and coordination among all disciplines to effectively meet project deadlines. His role at ABS Architects includes executing Initial Code Research Reports, Feasibility Studies, Site Selection Reports, Project Material Research, and reviewing all Architectural Shop Drawings.

Michael began an early career in construction, working on many projects in historic Annapolis as a carpenter’s apprentice. Michael then moved on from carpentry to study architecture in Rome and New York, where he earned a five-year Bachelors of Art and Architecture with a concentration in Historic Preservation from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. He also holds an Associate’s degree in Architecture from Anne Arundel Community College. His combined carpentry and architectural work history stretches over three decades of high-end residential work. An integral part of the small projects team at ABS – Michael is adept at the development and coordination of the design and document components of both residential and commercial projects.

Originally from London, Mark Davis has over 8 years of commercial and residential experience within the construction industry in the United Kingdom. While on a sabbatical visiting various architectural sites across the globe, he met his wife and later set roots down in Annapolis. He has become an integral and valued member of ABS Architects. Mark is responsible for producing graphic models, research of land development code and assembly of permit application packages, project management, and assisting with drawing plans with senior architects. Since moving to Maryland in 2017, Mark achieved success with his continued studies and was selected as Anne Arundel Community College’s Valedictorian for the Class of 2019. Mark has also received national recognition for his work, winning several awards for his studio projects and hand renderings. Mark is currently working towards licensure while continuing his B.S. in Architecture and Preservation at the University of Maryland in College Park.

Born and raised in India, Raavi’s family manufactured flooring and wall tiles. This helped Raavi developed interest in Design at a very young age. Raavi graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Interior Design in 2017. She also has Bachelor’s and Master of Fine Art in Interior Design from Jawaharlal Institute of fine Arts in Hyderabad, India. During her time at Atlanta, she worked on a feature film as an Assistant Set Designer. This proved to be an important internship as she focused on the different facets of design which she now uses favorably in her work. Raavi was fortunate enough to work with a nationally recognized Interior Designer straight out of college. Socializing with some of the important designers in the industry, Raavi was given an early insight into the makings of successful Interior Design firms. With experience in both residential and commercial project genres, she’s proven herself as an innovative designer. A childhood in India and time spent studying and working in both India and the United States have given Raavi a dynamic personality and the ability to communicate in five languages. That alongside a diverse set of design influences and a unique understanding of cultural issues, has made her a recent but important part of the team at ABS Architects. Apart from work, Raavi also has many varied interests. She’s an amateur photographer and jointly runs a successful website – as well as developing social media for ABS.