About
Andrea is a designer specializing in complex urban systems. She is currently an Associate at Utile in Boston, MA, in the urban design and planning team. She previously held a position as Innovation and Development Director at Contexto Urbano in Bogotá, Colombia. Andrea is passionate about actionable innovation, with a systems thinking approach, contextual sensibility and stakeholder engagement.
She obtained a Master of Architecture from MIT and a cum laude BS in Industrial Engineering from Universidad de los Andes.
Andrea embraces a cross-disciplinary approach, merging design research, architecture, urban design, system dynamics, engineering and business strategy in order to address urban, environmental and social complexities. She has applied her design work across numerous contexts: Colombia, Spain, India, Mexico, France, Brazil, Italy, United States and Chile.
Andrea currently teaches the System Dynamics Course within the Master in Strategic Architectural Management at Universidad de los Andes.
Contact
abaena@alum.mit.edu
Experience
Associate, Urban Design and Planning | Utile | 2020-Present
Innovation and Development Director | Contexto Urbano | 2019-20
Lecturer Systems Dynamics | Master in Architecture Project Management | Universidad de los Andes | 2019-Present
Housing and Territory Director | Alcentro Think Tank | 2019-20
Architectural Design Intern | Oualalou + Choi | 2018
Advisor | Plan Cerro | Valparaiso Planning Office | 2017
Teaching Assistant | Undergraduate Studio | MIT SA+P | 2017
Design Collaborator | Fundación Metrópoli | 2016
Business Development Director | CMD Ingenieros | 2012-13
Teaching Assistant | System Dynamics | Universidad de los Andes | 2010-12
Teaching Assistant | Public Systems | Universidad de los Andes | 2010
Intern | Emmedue Advanced Building Systems | 2009
Education
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Master of Architecture | 2019
4.7/5.0 GPA, Full Tuition Fellowship, honorable thesis
Universidad de los Andes | B.S. Industrial Engineering | 2012
4.6/5.0 GPA, Cum Laude, graduated 2nd out of 212, honorable thesis
Southern California Institute of Architecture | Architectural Studies | 2016
Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble | Academic Exchange | 2011