Team
Greg Irwin
Education: Bachelor of Architecture
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Greg began learning about architecture and senior housing as a youth, spending summers working for his father at Irwin Partners Architects. This experience inspired him to study architecture at USC, where Victor Regnier was the acting Dean. After graduation, Greg returned to IPA to begin his professional career. Over the years, Greg’s responsibilities expanded beyond the design and supervision of senior-housing projects to encompass management responsibility for IPA. All the while, Greg continued to further his education in senior housing by participating in training seminars such as Dr. Thomas’s Eden Alternative Course. His wide-ranging experience and proven leadership led to Greg’s promotion to Partner at IPA in 2000. Today Greg and his partner Melisa Pence work as a team, applying their complementary backgrounds to design award-winning senior-living projects that advance the quality of senior living projects. Greg is a frequent presenter at industry events, where he enjoys sharing what he’s learned from his studies and practice.
Melisa Pence, AIA
Email Melisa >
Education: Bachelor of Architecture
Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, California
Melisa started at IPA as a staff architect in 2008 and was named a Partner in 2016. She brings a unique perspective to the world of senior-living design, having applied her architectural skills to a wide range of use cases. Melisa gained expertise in public-space design working on NFL stadiums and campus renovations for the University of California; worked on innovative retail spaces that include the Camp Shopping Center in Costa Mesa, California, and the Fletcher Jones family of luxury automotive dealerships; and contributed to the designed the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, California. These experiences give Melisa fresh insight into modern senior-living communities, which typically comprise elements of residential, retail, commercial and resort design.
