Archinect
Ankita Chachra

Ankita Chachra

New York, NY, US

 

About 

Ankita joined NACTO in 2015 as Program Associate for the Global Designing Cities Initiative. She is currently assisting in the development of a Global Street Design Guide that will address street and public space design challenges, which cities around the world are currently facing.

Prior to joining NACTO, Ankita worked as an Urban Designer for the planning studio at Skidmore, Owing and Merrill in San Francisco, where she primarily contributed towards mixed-use planning and transit-oriented urban projects. Her work experience varies greatly from detailed architectural design projects to large scale planning efforts throughout India, China, Malaysia, and the United States.

She has been actively involved in academia and research with Columbia University, New York and Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Gurgaon, India. Ankita also volunteers for Asia Initiatives, a non-profit committed to poverty alleviation and sustainable development through the use of Social Capital Credits.

Ankita received her Masters in Urban Design from Columbia University and her Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the Sushant School of Art and Architecture. She was a recipient of the Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize in 2013 at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation for best design project and received the ManSingh Rana Award for best thesis during her undergraduate studies.

Elsewhere:

Employment 

National Association of City Transportation Officials, New York, NY, US, Program Associate at Global Designing Cities Initiative

Mar 2015 - current
 

Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Gurgaon, Haryana , Adjunct Professor

Aug 2014 - Dec 2014
 

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), San Francisco, CA, US, Urban Designer

Worked in the Planning studio on projects in China, Malaysia and the US West Coast.
Master Plan Projects.
Feasibility and Vision Plans.

Nov 2013 - Jul 2014
 

Columbia University, New York, NY, US, Research Associate

Research and compilation for the Urban Design Fall studio 2013.

Jul 2013 - Sep 2013
 

Columbia University, New York, NY, US, Teaching Assistant

Assisting Professors with class assignment. Archiving work and organizing events, juries etc.

Jan 2013 - May 2013
 

DADA Partners, Gurgaon, IN, Architect

Worked directly under the Principle.
Urban scale and architectural projects.
Conceptualization, making drawings, and presentations.
Co-ordination with contractors and consultants.

Jul 2011 - Apr 2012
 

Dronah, Gurgaon, IN, Intern

Conservation projects.
Worked on detailing of master plan proposals.
Compilation and organization of various reports, presentations and exhibition works.

Jul 2009 - Dec 2009
 

Vir.Mueller Architects, New Delhi, IN, Intern

Architectural projects.
Worked on schematic design drawings.
Prepared presentation documents and design models.

Jul 2008 - Aug 2008
 

Education 

Columbia University, New York, NY, US, Masters, Ms. Architecture and Urban Design

May 2012 - May 2013
 

Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Gurgaon, IN, BArch, Bachelors of Architecture

Aug 2006 - Jun 2011
 

Awards 

Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize, 1st Place

For best final semester design problem, Spring 2013.

2013
 

Mansingh Rana Gold Medal, 1st Place

Best Architectural Thesis

2011
 

Winner, North Zone, for National Awards of Excellence in Architectural Thesis, 1st Place

2011
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills