Hi! I am Alena and I am a multifaceted designer with a keen interest in residential architecture and innovative housing solutions. Throughout my career I’ve worked across various project scales including designing ADUs, single family housing prototypes, and complex mixed use multifamily residences in both market rate and affordable housing sectors. Apart from residential architecture, I had exposure to interior fit-outs, commercial projects of various sizes, and child care centers.

experience

(October 2024 – Current)

Project Architect

Co-led the development of a 236-unit market-rate mixed use/ residential project in South Boston, resolving complex design and regulatory challenges including floodproofing and resiliency strategies, Passive House certification, and building code compliance. Directed internal architectural and interior design teams and managed the project design schedule to maintain coordination and delivery milestones. Led consultant coordination and drawing review to ensure integrated documentation. Served as a Project Architect on the construction documentation of Passive House affordable housing project in Jamaica Plain from 70% set to completion and through bidding process with multiple GCs. Supported production and coordination of permit sets for an existing site with 330-unit portfolio through energy retrofit and upgrades.

(January 2023 – May 2024)

Architectural/ Product Designer

Led the development of a prototype single-family house aimed at productizing architectural services, creating a standardized floor plan and a company catalog of finishes and fixtures to streamline offerings while prioritizing quality and sustainability. Contributed to
a range of design-build projects including single-family homes, multifamily residences, and landscape improvements.

(March 2022 – June 2024)

Freelance Architectural Designer

Collaborated with Sales Leads and Permitting Specialists based in California to design ADUs for homeowners from schematic design through permit drawings in compliance with California regulations. Served as primary contact for homeowners, guiding them through design decisions, finish selections, revisions, and permitting processes.

(July 2016 – March 2022)

Job Captain

Served as the lead designer on various projects including multifamily affordable housing, child care centers, senior housing, commercial office fit-outs, and exterior upgrades. Lead projects from initial schematic design to the development of construction documents. Developed several mid-scale residential new construction projects that pursued passive house certification.

hackathons

July 21-22, 2018

Winner of ‘Best Use of Data’ award

Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of young professionals including a programmer, a cost estimator consultant, and an architectural technologist in a 24 hour intensive hackathon to address issues related to AEC industry. Our solution was an interactive cost estimating Revit plugin that allowed designers to be able to integrate cost awareness into early design process in hopes to help them avoid value engineering in the future and reduce probability of elimination of crucial design components. We devised a dashboard called ‘Palette’ that enabled designers to upload BIM models and assign options of materials to analyze cost impacts for a project.

education

Northeastern University
M.ARCH

2018-2019

Northeastern University
B.S. in Architecture
Minor in Spanish

2011-2016

Accreditations

Skills

Interests