ANKITA CHACHRA LEED GA ankitachachra@hotmail.com M: +1 917-940-7334
Awards and Achievements
Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize GSAPP, Columbia University, for best final semester design problem, Spring 2013. Mansingh Rana Gold Medal for Best Architectural Thesis Sushant School of Art and Architecture, IP University, New Delhi National Awards of Excellence in Architectural thesis, NIASA Top 10 finalists Winner, North Zone, for National Awards of Excellence in Architectural thesis. Secured Rank 1, Final Year, Sushant School of Art and Architecture, IP University, New Delhi
Published
Spatial Mixology. MSAUD Fall studio 2013 To be Published in Abstract 2012-2013 GSAPP/Columbia University A Divided Township Urban Magazine,Spring 2013, Volume 16 : issue ii GSAPP / Columbia University
Rethinking Maplewood, NJ Transit Growth and Density Report Prepared by Urban Design Lab, Columbia University Available:http://issuu.com/urbandesignlab/ docs/ Inhabiting the Margins – Design Thesis, College Year Book 2010 -11 Archiving 2012 Council of Architecture India Top 10 Architectural Thesis in India
Skills and Languages
Auto-CAD, Revit and Maya Rhino Arc GIS Adobe Creative Suite Microsoft office Languages - English, Hindi, and Punjabi
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design,May 2013
SUSHANT SCHOOL OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE Bachelors of Architecture, May 2011
Experience
Design
SKIDMORE,OWINGS AND MERRILL Urban Designer, November 2013 - July 2014
Regional and feasibility studies and master planning. Conceptualization, making drawings, and presentations. DADA AND PARTNERS
Architect , August 2011-April 2012
Urban scale and architectural projects. Conceptualization, making drawings, and presentations. Co-ordination with contractors and consultants.
DRONAH Intern Architect, July-December 2009
Conservation projects. Worked on detailing of master plan proposals. Compilation and organization of various reports, presentations and exhibition works.
VIR.MUELLER ARCHITECTS Intern Architect, July-August 2008
Architectural projects. Worked on schematic design drawings. Prepared presentation documents and design models. Research
RETHINKING MAPLEWOOD September 2012 -February 2013
For the Township of Maplewood,New Jersey. Focused on Transit oriented Development and changing identity of the downtown through an urban intervention.
URBAN DESIGN LAB, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Research Assistant , September 2012-May 2013 Research and compilation. Presentations work. Teaching
SUSHANT SCHOOL OF ART & ARCHITECTURE Assistant Professor- Urban Design, August 2014 -December 2014 Studio faculty for Urban Design
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Teaching Assistant Urban Design, January -May 2013
Assisting Professors with class assignment. Archiving work and organizing events, juries etc.
Teaching Assistant - Seminar, January - May 2013
Studio Instructor with Prof. Geeta Mehta Seminar: Asian Urbanism & Public Space Now
Research Assistant, June 2013 - September 2013
Research of Northeast US Region and urban health. Compilation of the Urban Design Fall 2013 Coursework. Guest Critic for multiple reviews during the semester.
ANKITA CHACHRA LEED GA ankitachachra@hotmail.com M: +1 917-940-7334
Perkins Eastman 115 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10003
I am following up on our telephone conversation and reinstate my interest in working with Perkins Eastman. Their international platform and focus on urban design are very appealing to me. The work in India and China has most intrigued me. In addition to my newly acquired urban design skills from Columbia University, my background education from India helps me to understand urban design challenges in the Asian context. I feel that I could be a valuable asset to your urban design studio. Before completing my Masters degree at Columbia, I gained a year of professional experience at DADA and Partners in New Delhi. I worked on a township Master plan in Bhiwadi, India (pg 52-55) and two high end residential projects. Being part of a small team of seven, I was directly exposed to projects from design conceptualization and client presentations to co-ordination and site implementation. Please refer to http://issuu.com/ankitachachra/docs/portfolio_july13_print to review a series of my work samples which demonstrate my experience and capabilities. I have also attached my current resume for your reference. I am also interested in transit oriented development and deeply appreciate ‘The Interchange’ project in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which bears resemblance to my undergraduate project. ‘The Missing Realm’ (pg 42-45) provides a cultural and mixed-use development along a newly proposed station on the Delhi Metro line. My recent research with the Urban Design Lab at Columbia University focused on T.O.D. in the Township of Maplewood, New Jersey (pg 22-25). This project not only added to my previous understanding of transit systems and their relationship to growth of cities but also has provided me with indepth knowledge of the Northeast Region.