Our idealists
Susy M. Mikhail, AIA, NCARB, LEED GA
Co-founder | Services Director | Digital Practice Architect
Susy has more than 11 years of architecture experience. She’s an expert in the creation and implementation of Architecture BIM Standards, and has extensive knowledge of New York City documentation requirements and multifamily Revit workflows.
Her hands-on experience as an architect is what makes her so skilled at identifying inefficiencies in her clients’ digital practices. When she worked in an architecture firm, she was frustrated by the fact that BIM specialists would come in and solve a short-term problem, but not impart the knowledge and tools to help people adapt to the next challenge. She began to envision a more sustainable and empowering model of BIM support and co-founded 4 Ideal Design (4iD) in 2016. Read more
Samuel Mikhail, RA, NCARB, LEED BD+C
Co-founder | Managing Director | Digital Practice Architect
Over the past decade, Sam has worked with more than 50 architecture, interior and lighting design firms, as well as construction companies, to implement BIM technologies. Sam began his career as an architect, and transitioned to the BIM consulting during the early days of architecture firms converting to Revit. At that time, the industry standard was day-long training sessions that had little to do with the specific requirements of a firm. This inefficiency in a business that should be all about efficiency frustrated him. He began to envision a more nimble model of BIM consultancy and co-founded 4 Ideal Design (4iD) in 2016.
Instead of offering clients a list of services, Sam tailored each engagement to the client, developing tools to assess firms’ processes and benchmark the proficiency of employees. Read more
Mary Manikis, RA, LEED BD+C
Senior Digital Practice Architect
Well versed in the AECO industry, Mary is a licensed architect with more than 12 years of experience on multiple project scales ranging from residential, commercial, K-12, higher education, and institutional types. At every stage of her career, she has had a special interest in BIM and its capabilities. Even before joining 4iD in 2021, she took on leadership roles in the coordination and implementation of Revit standards and workflows for previous employers. Her experience, along with her robust knowledge of Building Information Modeling (BIM), makes her approach to BIM standards and implementation a holistic one. She strives to ensure technology is always supporting the design processes efficiently and effectively. Mary transforms complex BIM workflows into simple, actionable solutions to design and documentation challenges. Read more
Andrea Lynn
Digital Practice Idealist
Andrea is a dedicated member of 4 Ideal Design (4iD), bringing her diverse expertise in interior and lighting design to the team. With seven years of experience in the design industry, Andrea’s career began at a large architecture, interiors, and engineering firm, where she worked as an interior designer. There, she gained a deep appreciation for cross-disciplinary collaboration and the value of optimized workflows. Her portfolio spans various project types and sizes, including hospitality, healthcare, test fits, corporate spaces, and residential projects. Andrea has also worked independently as a consultant, providing specialized lighting and interior design services. Through these experiences, Andrea has witnessed firsthand how essential a robust template, organized workflow, and clear collaboration are to successful BIM practices. Her passion lies in teaching and mentoring others—a quality that shines through in her work with 4iD. Read more
Elena Mantas
Digital Practice Idealist
Elena is passionate about optimizing architecture workflows. With over six years of experience as an architectural designer and project manager in New York City, she specializes in helping firms maximize their use of Revit and BIM standards. Her expertise lies in boosting productivity and developing customized, efficient workflows tailored to each client’s needs. Additionally, her in-depth knowledge of the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) documentation process and ADA standards allows her to create effective workflows to facilitate the documentation of these regulatory and accessibility requirements.
Throughout her career, Elena has contributed to a diverse range of projects, including large-scale multifamily, mixed-use, and educational developments. Read more