Natasha Espada, Principal
Natasha Espada, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP BD+C, is the founder and Principal of STUDIO ENÉE architects, a diverse woman and minority firm in Boston dedicated to design, equity, and environment. She has over 30 years of design and construction experience with cultural, civic, higher education, housing, and commercial clients. Natasha was the 2020 President of the Boston Society of Architects (BSA)/AIA and co-chair of the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice Task Force. In addition to practice, Natasha was an Adjunct Professor at Northeastern University and a design critic/lecturer at Harvard GSD, MIT, Wentworth, Princeton, Roger Williams, UF, MassArt, Yale, Auburn University, and the BAC. Natasha is the current chair of the Town of Needham's Planning Board. She is a graduate of the University of Florida, holds a Master’s degree in architecture from the University of Virginia with a certificate in American Urbanism, and, in 2021, was awarded an honorary doctorate from Wentworth Institute of Technology.
Susan Crowe Knight, Associate Principal
Susan Crowe Knight, AIA, is a talented architect and design leader with more than 14 years of experience in higher education, institutional, and public projects. A registered architect, Susan has worked on many projects from the pre-design & programming phases through construction administration. She is particularly interested in the site, landscape and context of projects and the opportunity for design to create a sense of community as it connects to people and place. Most recently, Susan has led the design of the 2 Boylston Street 5th Floor Renovation, the MassBay Community College Enrollment Center, the Ray Flynn Marine Industrial Park Parking Garage and the Addition. Susan is current leading the renovations to the Mattahunt Community Center and to the MBCC New Health Science Bldg. Susan has served as the co-chair of the Membership Enrichment Committee of the Boston Society of Architects, as well as a member of the Architecture Boston Task Force. She has been a guest critic at both Northeastern University and the Boston Architectural College. Susan is a graduate of Princeton University and holds a Master of Architecture from Rice University.
Jose Soliva, Senior Associate
Jose Arias Soliva, AIA, is a registered architect with over 30 years of experience in design and construction. He has provided design leadership and overall project management from Planning/Pre-design to Construction Administration for a multitude of projects of various sizes, complexities, and types. His portfolio of projects includes a mix of commercial, academic, performance, worship, civic, mixed-use, adaptive reuse, and housing.
Mr. Soliva has navigated his career as a generalist architect and attained experience in all project phases. Utilizing an expansive skillset, he takes concepts through to fruition while effectively managing all resources. His design approach is centered on three main themes which transcend any specific project type: 1) Collaboration and open dialogue among all stakeholders are vital to the success of any project, 2) Challenges should be seen as opportunities to think outside the box and adopt unique solutions and 3) Ultimately, the goal of any project is to design the best possible structure for those individuals destined to utilize the space.
Passionate in mentoring younger designers, Mr. Soliva is generous in sharing his experience and guiding the next generation of architects. He believes that mentorship is an essential component within the architectural community. A firm supporter of volunteerism and community service, Mr. Soliva has served as a guest design critic at Wentworth University and Mass Art. He has volunteered his time and talent to multiple committees within his hometown of Wellesley. He chaired the town’s Design Review Board for five years and is currently a member of the town’s Permanent Building Committee which oversees multiple town projects in construction.
Elena M Maltese, Director of Human Resources and Administration
Elena M Maltese, MFA, is a project manager and has 20 years of experience working with corporate, academic, start-up and non-profit companies. Her work is diverse and it includes the oversight of the restoration of The Music Hall in Portsmouth NH and serving as the Managing Associate of Sageworks, the production team for August Wilson in NYC. Most Recently, she served as the Senior Academic Administrator of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health for the UMass Memorial Medical Group. Elena’s work focuses on how teams work best together with strong administrative and HR support. She received her SHRM-CP certification in 2016.
She has a BA in project management from the University of Massachusetts and holds a Master of Fine Arts in Management from Yale School of Drama.
Catherine Barsoum, Associate
Catherine Barsoum, AIA, RA in New York, is an exceptional designer and has over 12 years of experience designing buildings for public and private institutions. Her work is diverse and it includes the design and construction of high rise towers in New York City and all over the world. She also has an interest in interior design and health science projects. Prior to joining STUDIO ENÉE, Catherine was an Architect at Sasaki, KPF, and Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in the Netherlands. Most Recently, she has led the design of the MassBay Community College Student Center, Mattahunt Community Center, studies for the MassBay Health Science Building, and for 2 Harbor Innovation Center. Catherine is an accomplished painter and has recently exhibited her work at Galatea Fine Art Gallery on Harrison Avenue in Boston. She has an AB from Duke University and holds a Master of Architecture from Harvard University Graduate School of Design.
Nathan Vice, Senior Architect
Nathan Vice, AIA RA in Texas, is a registered architect who enjoys designing and building at all scales. Nathan’s desire to learn through making led him to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) where he graduated in 2014 with a Bachelors of Architecture (B.Arch). After graduating Nathan worked at a nationally recognized firm in Houston, Texas coordinating the production of corporate headquarters while moonlighting as a "maker." In 2018 Nathan moved to Boston, Massachusetts to work at a leading design firm on institutional and municipal projects focused on design excellence. As an architect, Nathan values sustainable design and climate resiliency. He is particularly interested in applying building science principals during design to achieve enhanced energy performance. Nathan lives in West Roxbury with his wife and dog, Kiki.
Danniely Staback Rodríguez, Senior Architect
Danniely Staback Rodríguez, RA, is a Puerto Rican architect and academic. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Environmental Design from the University of Puerto Rico School of Architecture (‘13), where she graduated Summa Cum Laude.
She was admitted to MIT SA+P for a master’s in architecture as a Graduate Fellow, and served as fabrication shop and teaching assistant for multiple courses. After graduating (‘18), she was a Teaching Fellow for graduate and undergraduate studios and workshops in the Department of Architecture. She has been involved in various design-build projects, including a post-hurricane reconstruction effort in Puerto Rico that she continues to develop. She received the Pierce / Emerson Fellowship, the Schlossman Research Travel Award for her thesis, the Alpha Rho Chi medal for leadership and merit, and also obtained a Kaufman Teaching Certificate.
She has accrued a broad range of experience through her work at Muuaaa Design Studio, Díaz Paunetto Arquitectos, Block Research Group, Snøhetta, MIT, and Kennedy & Violich Architecture, where she worked on the MIT Hayden Library renovation and courtyard. She is currently an adjunct lecturer at The Cooper Union, RISD, and has taught at the University of Illinois and MIT. She is also part of ResilientSEE-PR, the Voluntariado de Ingenieros y Profesionales de Puerto Rico, and sits on the advisory board of PRoTECHOS.
Whitni Irving, Senior Architect
Whitni Irving, AIA, NOMA, LEED Green Associate, NCARB, is an architect passionate about the intersection of architecture and diversity. Her mission is to uplift marginalized communities by crafting spaces that inspire and foster connections.
Although originally hailing from the quaint town of Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina, Whitni's fascination with urban landscapes and a commitment to enhancing user experiences have been guiding forces throughout her career. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at Clemson University, followed by a Master of Architecture and Master of Urban Design at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her career has consisted of diverse projects ranging from installations and corporate interiors to Life Science fit-outs and luxury high-rise hotels.
Drawing on her wealth of experience, Whitni has actively contributed to her community through volunteer work with BosNOMA, serving as a Communication Committee CoChair for three years. Her dedication to uplifting marginalized communities will persist as she assumes the role of President for the chapter in the 2024-2025 term.and out
Claudia Casadei, Project Manager
Claudia Casadei is an Italian architect, and she obtained a Master's degree in architecture and urban Planning from the University of Florence in 2005. In the same year, she obtained the Italian professional license to practice as an architect. After working in Italy for 7 years in residential and hospitality projects, she moved to Qatar in 2012, where she worked as Lead Interior designer and architect for commercial skyscrapers, hospitality, etc.
Prior to joining STUDIO ENEE, she worked in several studios in Qatar and Dubai, participating in all stages of design, from concept development to construction. She directed the interior design of some iconic projects such as the Burj Almana Tower and coordinated the design of the JW Marriott Hotel in Doha, Qatar.
Tan Tran, Senior Designer
Tan Tran is a very talented designer and has been very involved in both academic and civic projects at STUDIO ENÉE. His intuitive design and computer skills have led to innovative massing development and material use in several projects including the Tufts University Maintenance Garage Building and the Mattahunt Community Center Renovation. He has also been very involved with Needham Commercial District Zoning and Planning project where he created site plans and 3D models of proposed zoning revisions to a very high profile site with a significant amount of community process. Tan has an architecture degree from Ho Chi Minh City Architecture University and has practiced architecture in Vietnam. He holds a Master of Architecture from the Boston Architectural College.
Andres Jimenez, Designer
Andres Jimenez is a Designer interested in Urban Planning and Restorative Community Design. He received his Master of Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT 23’) and his Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree (22’).
At Wentworth, Andres was the Co-President of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (WITNOMAS), where he developed Conversations, Speaker Events, and Professional Development Days bridging underrepresented voices in the student body with faculty. He helped develop a Materials Fund for students to afford architecture supplies. Additionally, Andres collaborated in the Design For Life Exhibition at WIT, a proposal that addressed spatial inequalities in Caracas, Venezuela, by providing interconnected social infrastructure. He also received a Design Excellence award for his Thesis and the Dean’s Award for Design Excellence.
Before joining STUDIO ENÉE, Andres was an intern designer at Harvard Business School Operations Department and at the Architecture firm Studio Luz, where he worked on Community presentations, Proposals, and Construction Documents.
Zahra Ali, Designer
Zahra Ali received her Master of Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT 23’) along with her Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree (22’) with a concentration in Urbanism.
From a young age, Zahra grew up culturally diverse and found herself captivated by the intricate geometric patterns, mesmerizing domes, and grand arches of Islamic architecture. These awe-inspiring structures became more than just buildings to her; they represented a reflection of cultural identity, history, and values. Through this lens, Zahra discovered her true passion – to use architecture as a tool for social change and representation, making the built environment inclusive and diverse. She is also a painter and a poet which further became a means to advocate for social justice causes, raising awareness about the struggles faced by marginalized communities and emphasizing the importance of diversity and representation in Architecture. As a designer, Zahra hopes to utilize her skills and creativity to build a more equitable, compassionate, and inclusive society.
Prior to joining STUDIO ENÉE, Zahra was an assistant project manager at Integrated at Work, and an intern designer at Sustainable Comfort while simultaneously remotely working closely with the owner and architect of WA Architecture + Design as an Intern. She has been exposed to extensive experience ranging from fieldwork to design work.
Malvin Wibowo, Designer
Malvin Bunata Wibowo (he/they) is a designer and videographer fascinated by the convergence of architecture, design, and film. They hold a Master of Architecture II from Harvard University Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture with Distinction. Malvin also received the Blythe and Thom Mayne Undergraduate Thesis Prize, which reflects the institution’s core mission in pushing the limits of architecture.
Malvin's work delves into diverse perspectives on design: cultural, social, material, and political. They are dedicated to using design as a catalyst for nuanced discussions on contemporary issues. Additionally, Malvin is enthusiastic about music, performing arts, and film.
Before joining STUDIO ENÉE, Malvin was one of 49 young professionals selected for the Venice Biennale Architecture 2023 program, where they co-founded Monsters of Radical Empathy. This collective aims to integrate empathy into design practice and pedagogy. Malvin is also collaborating with vague.space on "arc of arc," an architectural interview series featuring renowned architects from Mexico, Japan, India, Europe, and the United States, including Kengo Kuma, Junya Ishigami, Kazuyo Sejima, Tatiana Bilbao, Victor Legorreta, Marina Tabassum, and more.
Malav Mehta, Designer
Malav received his Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture (B.S Arch) from Northeastern University in May of 2024.
For Malav, the most exciting part of architecture is how it exists at the intersection of fields such as economics, philosophy, politics, and culture. Thus it is able to make statements about, and enhance our understanding of, dynamic phenomena in these fields. In thinking about architecture along these lines, Malav hopes to create spaces wherein the layering of larger concepts is channeled to center the human experience. Alongside his studies at Northeastern, Malav competed as a Division I long-distance runner and was a staff writer for the "Infra-Structures" student architecture magazine.
Prior to joining STUDIO ENÉE, Malav was a intern at Bruner/Cott Architects.
Wrileidy A. Lopez Burgos, Designer
Wrileidy A. Lopez Burgos is a current design intern, and artist. She is currently pursuing her Master of Architecture and received her Bachelors of Science in Architecture and a minor in Art History at UMass Amherst (23’).
Her interest in leadership and community engagement began early as a Sergeant for the Lancer Battalion Civil Affairs Officer's Assistant (JROTC). Continues her effort by being actively involved with UMass Amherst Chapter of AIAS and is a participant of the Tau Sigma Delta Architecture Honor Society and leader of UMass Amherst's first Architecture Graduate Governance Group. She was recognized as the national Chapter Leader of the Month in August 2023, and was awarded the prestigious Alpha Rho Chi Medal.
Before joining STUDIO ENÉE as an intern, she gained experience as an architectural Teacher Assistant at UMass Amherst and was an architectural intern at the LYF Architects. She is enthusiastic about using design to positively influence the world.