Our team

John is a Partner at BSA and has 30 years of experience in design and construction in New York City. He received a BFA and BArch from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Master’s degree in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute, where he taught as an Adjunct Professor. Beyond design, he has experience with carpentry, building systems and infrastructure. Interests include sailing and everything involving boats.

Emilio was an associate at Boddewyn Gaynor and Associates since 2008. Over a career that has spanned more than 35 years, Emilio has served as project manager for a wide variety of commercial design projects, ranging from college facilities to commercial offices to retail showrooms. He is an acute listener who gives full attention to what clients say and takes the time to understand their needs.

Leyani was born and raised in Havana City, Cuba. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, and Ms.C in Building Conservation and Renovation. She has experience in Urban Architecture, Restoration, and Interior design in Cuba, and has worked on retail, hospitality, commercial, and residential projects in New York City. She is always looking for challenges that will allow her to utilize her knowledge with opportunities for advancement; based on one of her favorites phrases: “the sky’s the limit”.

Emmanuel joined Building Studio Architects in 2018, with 5 years of professional experience and a Bachelor of Architecture from Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE). Emmanuel has always been drawn to complex problems that require elegant and unique solutions. He brings technical rigor and passion for optimization and expertise in BIM design.

Donia joined BSA in 2022 with over a decade of experience in the design and construction of residential, commercial, and landscape projects for both the private and public sectors. She received a BARCH from the University of Miami and an MS in Facilities Management from Pratt Institute. Her broad range of experience enables her to contribute to projects from the trained perspective of a designer, project manager, and owner’s rep. Donia is driven by the potential for the built environment to enrich and support communities.

Lori received Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Architecture from Tongji University, Shanghai, as well as Master of Historic Preservation from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn.

She has 2 years’ professional experience focused on historic preservation in Shanghai and 5 years’ experience in NYC which covers: residential and commercial, new and renovation, private and public funded projects. She is an amateur soccer player and freelance in sport photography.

Reinaldo is a native New Yorker, born and raised in Harlem, who received a Bachelor’s in Architectural Technology from New York City College Of Technology, 2008. His love for construction and design is expressed in various ways: as a Project Manager for several boutique residential/mixed-use architecture firms; a freelance drafter/designer; as well as a custom furniture designer for clients throughout the city and nationwide. Working behind the desk and on-site has helped to give Reinaldo a broad understanding of many aspects of the design process.

As one of the newest members to the firm, Reinaldo has immersed himself in several of Building Studios’ large-scale commercial projects. Including interior design and construction documents for complete office renovations and construction administration for several of our synagogue projects.

Beyond architecture, Reinaldo’s interests include creating art and finding inventive ways to mix the two. Creating multi-functional pieces of art, building furniture and décor items that bring brightness to a space, but still serve a purpose.

Annemarie is the office manager of BSA. A graduate of NYU Steinhardt, her leadership, communication and organization skills help strengthen the office’s foundation and the staff’s well-being on a daily basis. Annemarie grew up in an environment of building and construction, her father leads a successful development company based in Queens, NY.