Elena Baranes

Elena brings experience in a unique combination of engagement, storytelling, and design to the Childers team. She is committed to a process that elevates multigenerational voices, aligning communities, partners, and teams around a shared project vision. Her design philosophy centers on establishing shared cultural understanding early in every project, honoring the varied experiences of all collaborators as the foundation for creativity and innovation.

Elena earned her Master of Architecture from Yale School of Architecture in 2015 and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Boston University in 2011. Over the course of her career, she has contributed to projects that prioritize community-led goals, most recently including a Civil Rights Memorial in Austin, TX, a Tribal library in New Mexico, and a commissary kitchen supporting local food entrepreneurs in Albuquerque, NM.

She believes the most valuable lesson in her career is that projects move at the speed of trust. Outside of the office, Elena enjoys vaulting and spending time at her family’s gym, where her community comes together in support of one another.