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Year Joined: 2004

Education and Certifications:

• School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba Argentina
• Licensed architect in Argentina

Professional Background: Alejandra was born and raised in Argentina and has always had a passion and talent for design. After graduating she became very active in the Architect’s Center in Rio Cuarto, Argentina and began taking on projects designing houses and commercial structures, before becoming principal of her own firm. In the late 1990’s Alejandra moved to the United States and settled in Florida, where she began to take on freelance work designing houses and interiors. In 2001 she moved to New York to continue working as a freelance consultant, and was hired by several firms across the Westchester area to share her expertise in designing various projects.

Position: Alejandra first began working for Aufgang in 2004 as a part-time consultant and accepted a full-time position in 2005. Her 25 years of experience in the architecture field are an invaluable asset to the Aufgang team. Alejandra is one of our lead designers, applying her talent and vision to a range of projects including large mixed-use structures, smaller residential units, retail spaces and rehabs.

Personal Life: Alejandra loves to visit her family in Argentina, many of whom are also architects.

Year Joined: 2014

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelors of Architecture, Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of New York 2014, graduate with honors
• Licensed Architect in state of NY
• Member: Architectural Review Commission for the City of Newburgh

Professional Background: Michael joined Aufgang in 2014 and brings over a decade of experience in the development of multi-family residential, commercial, and community facility projects. Throughout his career, he has led the design and execution of numerous developments across New York City and its surrounding areas, working on both new and existing structures. His portfolio encompasses a range of building types, including wood frame construction, community facility spaces and high-rise developments. Michael’s comprehensive expertise spans all phases of the architectural process, from initial concept through project completion.

Position: As an Associate at Aufgang, Michael plays a key leadership role in client relations and project oversight. He is responsible for managing projects from schematic design through construction documentation, ensuring seamless coordination across teams and consultants. His duties also include overseeing agency filings and approvals, as well as providing hands-on supervision during construction. Michael’s commitment to achieving client objectives and his ability to manage multifaceted project demands make him an essential part of the team. Additionally, he is deeply committed to fostering the growth and development of his colleagues, helping to mentor and support the next generation of architects within the firm.

Personal Life: Outside of work, Michael enjoys traveling and although he admits he’s not much of a cook himself, he loves exploring the local food scene wherever he goes, always seeking out the best spots to try.

Adra is of Albanian descent having moved to New York at age 11 and holds a professional degree in architecture from The City College of New York where she studied the expansions of waterfront cities on a modular floating grid. During her undergrad years, she spent her summers working for an architectural restoration firm in Rome, Italy.

Upon completion at CCNY she earned her Master’s degree in Urban Design studying under distinguished professors Michael Sorkin and Marshall Berman in developing her thesis for sustainable floating cities in Tianjin China. She then continued to work in Landscape Architecture where she spent her time designing waterfront parks, plazas and rooftop gardens.

With meticulous attention to detail and many years of experience in the design of dynamic and interactive spaces, Adra embraces each project as a unique opportunity for study, discovery and inspiration.

Year Joined: 2006

Education and Certifications:

• Architecture, Orange County Community College, NY
• Master’s Degree in Construction Project Management, Pace University Continuing Education
• Certifications in project management, blueprint reading, architectural engineering, and Sigma construction project management, Pace University
• Candidate: Architectural Registration Examination
• Working towards obtaining New York State Architectural License

Professional Background: Joe started his career as a draftsperson, and worked his way up through several firms in Westchester and Rockland Counties.

Position: Joe brings over three decades of experience to the team. He has extensive knowledge and experience in planning, coordination, design, and interfacing with project architects, clients, consultants, and government agencies, in addition to conducting field inspections and project budgeting. Joe’s expertise is used to carry a project’s development from start to finish, including construction drawing development, on-site supervision, and client interaction.

Personal Life: In his spare time, Joe enjoys working on classic cars and motorcycles.

Year Joined: 1998

Education and Certifications:

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
  • Bachelor of Science in Building Technology 2001
  • Bachelor of Architecture 2002

• Licensed Architect in NY, NJ, CT, TX, FL
• President of the Board of Directors : Rockland Community Foundation
• Member: American Institute of Architecture, American Planning Association
• Board Member: New York State Association for Affordable Housing: NYSAFAH
• Board Member: Habitat for Humanity, Chair of the Advocacy Committee
• Board Member: JDRF International

Professional Background: Born in Buenos Aires and educated in the United States, Ariel joined the firm at 18 while still a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He quickly rose to Partner upon completing his studies and in 2012, he became Principal of the firm.

Position: As a close, personal consultant to Aufgang clients, Ariel provides a full range of services including land use consultation, peer review, design services, planning, and construction administration. His involvement in a project can begin with advising on the feasibility and land use possibilities of potential acquisitions and can end with the successful occupancy of tenants in a completed structure. In the past 20 years Aufgang has designed over 20,000 units of safe, comfortable, and appealing affordable housing in the five boroughs of NYC that strengthen the social and economic fabric of their neighborhoods.

Personal Life: When he’s not at work, Ariel enjoys spending time with his children and family. He is also the driver of the Aufgang #13 Porsche GT4 Clubsport car and competes in racing events around the country.

Year Joined: 2022

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, University of Hartford, 2004
• Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC)

Professional Background: Nick brings 17 years of MEP experience to Aufgang. He has extensive knowledge in all aspects of MEP design for hospitals, outpatient facilities, compounding pharmacies, office buildings, residential apartment buildings, schools, religious institutions, hotels, restaurants, and government agency spaces. As an MEP engineer, Nick prepared construction documents for filing with the NYC DOB, and is extremely knowledgeable in NYC and NYS Codes including Building, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, ASHRAE Guidelines, and FGI Guidelines/AHSRAE 170 for Article 28 spaces. He designed numerous projects in accordance with NYSERDA, Enterprise Green communities, and LEED. Nick has a passion for high performance buildings, including passive design, high efficient mechanical systems, and indoor air quality.

Position: In his position as Project Manager, Nick oversees all elements of a project’s development, from schematic design through construction documents, guiding consultants, and coordinating with the owner and contractors.

Personal Life: In his spare time, Nick enjoys spending time with family and is an avid NY hockey and baseball fan.

Franco received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of the Philippines and his local licensure shortly thereafter. As a second-generation architect, he comes to Aufgang with nearly 30 years of design and building experience including single family homes to notable high-rise luxury skyscrapers.

Franco’s expansive experience provides our clients with hands on knowledge of building systems, familiarity of construction materials and their applications, project documentation with an acute awareness of prevailing building codes, zoning laws, green building practices and handicap accessibility guidelines. He appreciates all planning evolved from sound and altruistic concepts, as well as, forms dictated by constructive elements.

Year Joined: 2024

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelors degree in Architecture, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Professional Background: While in school, Jude and a team of students entered a design competition in Princeton, New Jersey centered around the Jewish holiday Sukkot. Their design of a sukkah, a temporary dwelling structure, won and his team had the opportunity to build and display it for the length of the holiday.

Jude also worked for Brian Murphy Architecture for two years prior to joining the Aufgang team.

Position: Jude is working with the Rehabilitation and Preservation Team. Current projects include rehabilitation and preservation SD drawings and permit sets of existing residential buildings in the New York area.

Personal Life: Jude enjoys hiking in the woods near his home, where he explores his interest in photography by capturing landscape images.