The Team
Haril Pandya, FAIA
CEO / Founder
As CEO/Founder of SPARC, Haril's goal is to partner with clients (building owners, developers, brokers, and tenants) providing INSIGHT, EXPERTISE, & DESIGN EXCELLENCE in Mixed-Use High/Mid/Low Rise, Residential, Building Repositioning/Adaptive Re-Use/Highest & Best use, Value Add, Office, Workplace, Retail, Hospitality, Office, Urban/Master Planning and Branding Strategies.
Prior to SPARC, Haril was Senior Principal at HFA/TRIA for two years growing the Mixed Use and Multi-Family sectors and was SVP/Principal at Nelson Worldwide for over four years prior to that at NELSON, his leadership reached across the country as he led the National Asset Strategy Practice and the Boston office as National Practice Leader. Here, Haril successfully worked with companies like Hines, Blackstone, JLL, RMR, Metlife, Brookfield, Rockpoint, and more; creating innovative design and value-add outcomes.
Previously, while at CBT and as Principal for 16yrs, Haril led the most successful repositioning practice in the city of Boston, with award winning projects that changed the urban landscape. He oversaw the design of several significant repositioning, adaptive reuse and ground up projects.
In 2018, Haril was honored by being elevated to FAIA - a Fellow of the AIA, the highest recognition for an Architect for progressing the field of Architecture similar to a lifetime achievement award. In 2009, he was one of 8 recipients nationally of the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Young Architects Awards Additionally, in 2008, he was recognized by Building Design + Construction as a top “40 under 40”. Haril has been featured in 2010 & 2011 in Banker and Tradesman and Boston Business Journal as an upcoming “Emerging Leader.” As part of his professional experience, He served as the youngest elected member on the Board of the Boston Society of Architects, Pres. & Chair of the Young Professional Advisory Council, & currently on the Board of Directors of the Boston Center for the Arts, The BSA Foundation Board, the AIA Government Affairs Committee and the NAIOP Gavel Board. In 2015, Haril gave his first TEDx talk on the generational impact in the workplace called, the "Death of the Corner Office". Recently, he received his Certification as Master Professional & Life Coach and sits on the Design Review Board for the Town of Needham.
Outside of SPARC, Haril plays lead guitar in a couple of local cover bands. Previously, Haril had toured the country in a well known Indian/Rock/Folk fusion band playing at well known venues and for people like, Deepak Chopra, Hillary Clinton and the Prime Minister of India. Lately, painting, film-making, cooking, and outdoor activities tend to steal some of his time as well.
> his personal blog at HarilEstate.com and his 20 year project monograph is » here «
Aksel Solberg, AIA
CIO / Founder
As one of SPARC’s founders, and it’s Chief Innovation Officer, Aksel strives to ensure that SPARC’s workflows are always on the cutting edge of technology, creativity and efficiency. Having spent the first 20 years of his career working with a wide range of clients on various project types, Aksel brings a broad perspective to each conversation. His experience acting as designer, manager and leader in small and large firms has armed him with a wealth of knowledge that makes him an expert in architectural design and production workflows. With an extensive track record proving his ability to lead clients through design challenges and curate project-specific workflows to deliver uniquely thoughtful solutions, Aksel has developed a reputation as an innovator in his field.
Prior to SPARC, Aksel served as the director of HFA’s Development Design Studio where he led a highly-talented team working on small and large-scale commercial, retail and mixed-use development projects across the United States. With the wide range of his portfolio, both architecturally and geographically, Aksel has built many strong relationships with national and regional Real Estate Developers, General Contractors, Engineering partners, and more.
Aksel’s journey in leadership began early in life, with a notable milestone being his achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout. Since then, he has regularly engaged with industry organizations to lead workshops and seminars at national conferences hosted by ICSC, Bisnow and ULI. Aksel was also inducted into ICSC’s 2017 class of Centerbuild+ Leaders Under 40 in recognition of his leadership in the retail development sector.
Outside of SPARC, Aksel is a prolific musician, composing and performing with multiple New England musical groups on a regular basis. His love of music also regularly blends with his passion for architecture, which can be found in his musically-inspired architectural design concepts. When not practicing architecture or music, Aksel spends most of his time with his family, striving to enjoy and appreciate the natural world which he hopes to improve through his career in architecture.
Stefan Vogelmann, AIA
Senior Design Director
Stefan is the Senior Design Director at SPARC with 40 years of experience and expertise developing client-focused design solutions across a wide variety of project types. His experience includes successful projects in Master Planning, Mixed-Use Developments, Commercial Asset Strategy and Repositioning, and Multi-Family building typologies.
Stefan leads major projects and pursuits, helping shape project direction from the beginning. Working closely with clients, he understands their goals and serves as a steady advocate for their vision throughout the design process. He provides design leadership across all project phases, starting with the earliest phases, helping teams clarify priorities and establish a strong foundation for successful delivery. Colleagues and clients value his thoughtful approach, responsiveness, and ability to bring clarity to complex issues.
He is known for his ability to quickly translate ideas into clear design concepts that respond to client needs and provide long-term value. Stefan's work emphasizes solutions that are grounded in their surroundings and enhance clients' project investments through design excellence. By balancing creativity with practical constraints, he helps clients move forward with confidence toward outcomes that are both achievable and high-impact.
Brenda Wong, NCIDQ
Senior Interior Designer
With more than 20 years of experience designing distinctive interiors across multifamily, hospitality, workplace, and academic sectors, Brenda excels at capturing the unique voice of every space. Her collaborative approach ensures each design authentically reflects the client’s brand, site, and community, transforming environments into places that tell stories and shape meaningful experiences.
Brenda skillfully leads projects through every phase, from concept development to construction administration and FF&E installation. She is adept at solving complex design challenges, whether improving flow, efficiency, and accessibility through thoughtful space planning; selecting FF&E that supports wellness and performance; or developing custom millwork tailored to specific programmatic needs.
As an NCIDQ Certified designer and LEED AP professional, Brenda brings together creative vision and technical precision. Drawing from a previous career as a writer and editor, she now writes three-dimensionally, crafting impactful spaces with depth, clarity, and purpose.