President Barack Obama
Main Library
St. Petersburg’s library renovation brings together light-filled reading areas, a children’s space, and public computer facilities.
DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION · TAMPA BAY
An architectural
perspective.
A builder’s
mindset.
I’m Grace Belen. I bring a background in architectural design to the everyday work of construction project management.
Explore my workAssistant Project Manager
Biltmore ConstructionDesigner.
Army veteran.
Biltmore ConstructionDesigner.
Army veteran.
SELECTED WORK
Spaces with a purpose.
Project experience across education, civic spaces, behavioral health, and community facilities.
President Barack Obama
Stetson University
College of Law Renovation
A campus renovation shown through its courtrooms, advocacy lounge, and distinctive architectural spaces.
Photography: RIMO PHOTO.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
Selected work at Shumake Architecture
Keiser University
Student housing in West Palm Beach, with suites and shared residential amenities.
Beacon College
Residence hall projects in Leesburg supporting campus life and student community.
LifeStream Behavioral Center
Southlake Campus, part of my architectural design and construction administration experience.
Architect of Record: Robert C. Shumake / Shumake Architecture. Keiser and Beacon imagery courtesy of the Shumake Architecture project galleries; LifeStream imagery from my existing portfolio.
ABOUT ME
Curious by nature.
Creative at heart.
I’m Grace—a designer at heart and a construction professional with a curious streak.
I love figuring out how things work, hearing a different perspective, and asking, “What if we tried it this way?” Creativity is a big part of how I approach life, whether I’m thinking through a space, working through a project detail, or making something just because an idea caught my attention. A little humor helps, too.
My background is in architectural design, where I wore quite a few hats at Shumake Architecture. These days, one of those hats is a hard hat: I’m an Assistant Project Manager at Biltmore Construction. I enjoy getting to connect the design on paper with the people and work that bring it to life. There’s always something new to learn, because growth never ends.
I’m also an Army veteran and former medic. At home, I’m married to my favorite teammate, and Roger, my rescue dog, rounds out our little crew. There are usually more creative ideas than hours in the day. I take my work seriously, but I like leaving room for curiosity, a good laugh, and the occasional creative detour.
MS, Construction ManagementFlorida International University · 2022 · GPA 3.91
BS, Architectural StudiesFlorida A&M University · 2008
HOW I CONTRIBUTE
From drawings to delivery.
Technical understanding, practical coordination, and clear communication throughout a project.
Keeping teams connected
Trade and field coordination, construction meetings, owner reporting, and follow-through on outstanding items.
Working through the details
Scopes and subcontract agreements, RFIs, submittals, change orders, drawing reviews, and closeout documents.
Preparing the next step
Baseline schedules, monthly updates, weekly lookaheads, permit tracking, bidding, and pricing coordination.
Seeing the whole space
Conceptual design, space planning, construction drawings, specifications, rendering, and visual communication.
Tools in my experience
Procore · Bluebeam · AutoCAD · Revit · SketchUp · Enscape · Microsoft Project · Adobe Creative Cloud
BEYOND THE JOBSITE
A creative thread
runs through it all.
My interests extend into graphics, digital design, photography, and the small projects that make everyday life more personal.
Source Design Studio
A home for my creative interests in design and visual communication.
Hard Hat Heroine
An apparel idea inspired by construction. Currently on hold, still part of my creative story.
Life with Roger
My rescue dog Roger is part of life beyond work—and a subject of my social media creativity.
LET’S CONNECT
Continue the conversation.
Find me on LinkedIn for professional connections and updates.