Amanda Twitchell, RA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
Senior Project Manager/Architect
Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority
Age: 36
- Alma Mater: University of Nevada, Las Vegas (both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees)
- Favorite Aircraft: Boeing 737; it’s the aircraft that I’m the most familiar with and it’s just such a timeless workhorse.
- Favorite Book: Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury. I like a lot of dystopian novels.
- Favorite TV Show: Game of Thrones
- Favorite Movie: Braveheart
- Favorite Hobbies: Photography, basketball, & volleyball
Amanda Twitchell knew that she wanted to be an architect well before she even knew what an architect was. What started out as a childhood fascination building structures out of Legos evolved into a passion for the world of architecture. Although taking her chosen career path to the aviation industry was purely by chance, it was meant to be.
“I’d like to help determine what the changing aspects for the new type of passenger would be and really look into the airport of the future,” she said. “I think for an airport like ours that’s fairly small that’s doable and something we can do to create a new experience here on our concourse.”
Twitchell grew up in the Reno area and then attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she was awarded both bachelors and master’s degrees in architecture. Upon graduation, she accepted a position as a project manager/designer for Richardson Wetzel Architects in Las Vegas. This introduced her to the world of airport design and construction, as the firm was contracted to perform design work at McCarran International Airport.
Twitchell managed several projects including security office remodels, retail tenant improvements and even large terminal roof replacements.
She joined the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA) in 2013 as an engineering-architectural technician.
“My role is constantly changing from project manager, to architect, to chair of the events committee,” she said. “ I get to work with all different types of stakeholders on all different types of projects and I’m constantly learning something new.”
During the past five years, Twitchell has been recognized for both her design skills and project management acumen. She was integral bringing about a complete redesign/remodel of the airport’s Customs and Border Protection facility in less than 42 days. This allowed for the establishment of the first regularly scheduled international commercial air service to the airport since 1999.
In addition, she established the first set of airport improvement guidelines at the authority, ensuring consistent, high quality tenant improvements at the RTAA’s two airport facilities.
Twitchell also led the design and implementation of the Nevada Unmanned, Autonomous & NextGen Collaborative Environment (NUANCE) Lab at Reno-Stead Airport. This facility is used by NASA, among other aeronautical research providers, to perform cutting edge research focusing on the integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) into the national airspace system.
