WOMEN OF INFLUENCE IN ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN 2022

MELINA ALUWI

AIA, LEED AP BD+C Higher Education Sector Leader and Associate Principal HED

Melina Aluwi is a Higher Education Sector Leader and Associate Principal in the San Diego office of the national architecture and engineering firm, HED. Recently, she was named NewSchool of Architecture & Design's 2020 Alumni of the Year, recognizing her career accomplishments and mentorship of emerging leaders. Aluwi has deep expertise in both public and private sector educational, civic, cultural, and commercial project types. She has worked in various roles within the architecture and design field, from business development and operations to design and construction, bringing a holistic design and management approach to every project. She has achieved the credentials of AIA, LEED AP BD+C, and NCARB. Committed to diversity and equity within the profession, she is also a founding member of the San Diego Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (SDNOMA), and works to cultivate awareness, membership, engagement, and support programs. She can be reached at maluwi@hed.design or 619-398-3810.

DIANE BORYS

Founding Principal and Lighting Designer Noctiluca

Diane Borys, founding principal and lighting designer, Noctiluca, has a passion for bringing light to the world—both literally and figuratively. As an entrepreneur leading her own architectural and landscape lighting design firm, she has experience not only in lighting design and consulting, but is also involved in her company's team and project management, HR, business development, marketing and more. As a designer with an engineering background, she serves as a translator between the engineering, design and ownership teams. Her creativity and detail-oriented passion for lighting design has resulted in a wide variety of accomplishments and accolades.

Borys is a member of CREW San Diego and helps create all marketing graphics used by the commercial real estate organization. Borys also founded the San Diego chapter for Women in Lighting + Design (WILD). She teaches Lighting Design at the Design Institute of San Diego. She can be reached at diane@noctilucalighting.com or 858-531-6813.

TRUPTI AMIN

Associate Principal MW Steele Group

Trupti Amin, Associate Principal at MW Steele Group, has nearly 10 years of experience in architecture and project management. She brings a passion for community and her trade that is centered on teaching and creating architecture through her professional pursuits. After receiving her Master's Degree in Architecture from NewSchool of Architecture and Design, Amin began her career teaching youth about architectural design, and promoting cutting edge industrial standards. Prior to her promotion to leadership at MW Steele Group, it was still important to Amin to assist Junior Staff in growing their roles and providing them opportunities to excel and realize their own strengths within the profession.

Being a first-generation American college graduate, Amin has a strong work ethic that comes from being raised by hardworking immigrants. Now nearing the end of her licensure journey, Amin is excited to leave her stamp on the industry. She can be reached at trupti@mwsteele.com.

TAPATI BOSE

Western Region Architectural Lead CRB

Tapati Bose, Western Region Architectural Lead, CRB is an architect with 20 years of experience. She is known for her strategic design leadership with a passion for sustainability. She has been integral in establishing an overarching vision and growth strategy for the region. Bose and CRB believe great architectural solutions are beyond just a building; rather, they entail the creation of purposeful, high-performance spaces that have a positive, lasting impact on people, work and community.

Bose has been closely involved with projects that deliver vaccines, medicines and therapies to billions around the globe. She successfully led time-sensitive projects through the COVID-19 pandemic. She graduated in architecture with a bachelor's degree from India followed by a master's degree from Texas A&M, College Station, along with a Business Certification. Bose is LEED and AECPM certified, a member of the AIA and has licenses in multiple states. She can be reached at tapati. bose@crbgroup.com or 979-204-8280.

MATHILDA BIALK

Principal Studio E Architects

Mathilda Bialk, Principal at Studio E Architects, has served as Project Architect and design team member on several of notable projects since joining the firm in 2007. She brings thoughtful problem solving, attention to detail and engaging design talents to her projects. She is currently managing and designing urban mixed-use projects in San Diego, a college master plan, and an animal adoption and kennel campus in Thousand Palms. Bialk has carefully integrated the work of large teams of consultants and expertly managed the in-house production of complex projects.

With over 15 years of professional experience in California in all phases of various project sizes and types, she is able to balance strong organizational and technical skills with a deep commitment to art and design. In 2020 she was honored with the Young Architect of the Year Award from American Institute of Architects, San Diego Chapter. She can be reached at mbialk@studioearchitects.com or 619-235-9262.

CADIE BROWNE LEE

CEO Parisi Portfolio, Inc.

Cadie Browne Lee, CEO of Parisi Portfolio, Inc., is a dynamic woman, a successful and innovative business leader, and a role model. Her work ethic and professionalism are admirable. She and her team have won several hundred local and national awards within the building industry. Browne Lee is a sought-after speaker on design trends and developments. As a lobbyist, she has served and spoken on behalf of the multifamily housing industry at local, state and federal levels. She has also advocated for the building industry by working with the Building Industry Association.

Browne Lee has a passion for giving back, and she has been engaged in philanthropic efforts for many years and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various charitable organizations, including the Challenged Athletes Foundation and Semper Fi Fund. She has her certification as a Certified Interior Designer, Commercial from the California Council for Interior Design. She can be reached at cadie@ parisiportfolio.com or 858-259-0031.

VIVECA BISSONNETTE

FIIDA, CID, NCIDQ, LEED AP Founder and Design Principal Hollander Design Group

Viveca Bissonnette is Founder and Design Principal at Hollander Design Group. With over 30 years of experience in the fields of Cultural Anthropology and Interior Design, she leads the firm's Workplace Strategy practice employing ethnography to inform design.

Bissonnette is actively involved in the design community. She is Past President of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and is currently IIDA's Chair of the College of Fellows. She was recently honored with IIDA's Circle of Excellence Award. Bissonnette is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and the holds the role of Chair of the Building Committee which just saw the museum through the design and construction of the expansion of their La Jolla Campus which opened in April. She is also a member of the NewSchool of Architecture's Interior Design Program Advisory Board. She can be reached at viveca@hollanderdg.com or 858-699-0784.

DANIELLE BUTTACAVOLI

Principal Miller Hull

Danielle Buttacavoli is a Principal with Miller Hull bringing 20 years of experience designing dynamic and equitable spaces. Her roles as architect, urban designer, and community planner have equipped her with a design approach that is both holistic and user-centric. Her work reinforces connections, be they between people, indoors and outdoors, or communities. Her projects span an array of sectors such as affordable housing, education, multifamily residential, civic, and mixed-use; and she has led many projects that are exemplars both in their service to humans and their respect for the environment. Buttacavoli integrates systems into her projects to meet economic, social, and physical sustainability goals.

She received a Bachelor of Architecture & Urban Studies from Yale University, and a Master of Architecture at the University of Sydney. After serving as San Diego AIA COTE chair between 2014 and 2016, Buttacavoli is now an active member of SCUP and the San Diego Housing Federation.