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about peoplemedia

celeste umpierre

is a Princeton-educated architect whose career has included the design of public and private spaces for architectural firms Gwathmey Siegel Architects and Diller Scofidio + Renfro before starting her own firm. Umpierre’s unique minimalist style is heavily influenced by her youth in the tropics, surrounded by interior courtyards, reflecting pools, floating stairs, and the efficiently gorgeous design of the sailboats she admired on sailing trips in the U.S. Virgin Islands. CU–A has completed numerous residential projects, including a brownstone in Park Slope, a townhouse residence on the Upper East Side, and several garden apartments in Jackson Heights. CU–A is currently working on restoring the Gwathmey family house in Amagansett and a Manhattan townhouse rooftop. Umpierre combines professional practice with teaching architecture design. She has taught design studios at the NYIT School of Architecture and the NJIT School of Architecture. She has also been a guest reviewer at Parsons, Pratt, and City College.

Victor viera

is a Latino architect from Guayaquil, Ecuador. He studied architecture at the Cooper Union in New York City, where he was trained by John Hejduk and Sue Gussow. His early education in postmodernist thought and art was later complemented by the influence of I.M. Pei, with whom he worked for a decade. During his time with Pei, Victor collaborated with James Freed on several notable projects, including the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., the Buck Center in California, and the San Francisco Main Public Library. Later in his career, he worked with Pei’s sons on projects such as the Leon State Public Library and Limitless Dubai, continuing with Pei Architects until joining CU A in 2010.Before joining CU A, Victor honed his expertise in architectural interiors, designing the Grant Selwyn Fine Arts Gallery and contributing to high-end residential projects in Dubai and Japan. Together, Victor and Celeste foster excellence in architectural ethics, aesthetics, and empathy, taking an approach that emphasizes design, social equity, feminism, and human empowerment.

current and past collaborators

Nina Koscica, Candido Gude, Sophia Lai, Kathy Dunne Structural Engineer, Amy Barkow Photography, Polise Consulting Engineers, Nat Oppenheimer Structural Engineer, & James Gainfort Architect.