Alena Parunina RA, CPHC

I’m from  Novosibirsk, Russia

My education  B.S. in Architecture and M.Arch from Northeastern University

Any notable accomplishments/awards?  I am a registered architect and a CPHC!

Any community service?  Back in the day, I volunteered at Habitat for Humanity in Boston. I was an assistant to the site supervisor and helped manage groups of volunteers in the construction activities to help make homeownership a reality for families.

Why PCA?  I love that everyone here is so big on culture and mentorship/growth and people relationships! And, a focus on sustainable and human centric practices is a huge bonus.

My earliest architectural / interior design memory  When I was little, my older brother and I used to play a lot with plasticine. We would create different worlds and creatures, and part of that was making "houses"/ 3D extruded rooms for our creations.

I’m drawn to design because  ... it is a method of communication and it affects how people perceive the world. Design is everywhere - digital media, physical environments, and it really comprises a big part of human experience - so let's make it a good one!

Materials that excite me are  natural materials that are sustainable/ lower in carbon footprint and have a "biophilic" element to them - structural engineered bamboo, timber, etc.

What's the most inspiring part of your job?  Seeing the projects come to life and shape the city or community.

On Saturday mornings, you can usually find me  ...doing something active! I am always learning new things I like - recently it was rock climbing, but in general I would be either biking outdoors or working out at the park with my friends!

Coffee or tea?  I usually prefer some tea with milk (a very Russian thing), chai latte or matcha latte, but sometimes I just crave the coffee - it really depends on my mood.

The craziest thing I’ve ever done is  got my motorcycle license and got a bike! Vroom vroom!

My best vacation...  Recently I visited Medellin in Colombia and it was as close to my best vacation as possible! The perfect weather everyday (80s year round, low humidity), beautiful nature, hip cafes. And I got to practice my Spanish there too! I definitely want to go back one day or do the whole South America backpacking trip!