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Colleen Erraihani

Colleen Erraihani

Colleen was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts and began her academic studies at the Boston Architectural Center, pursing her BARCH. In Boston, Colleen gained a great deal of architecture and planning experience while working fulltime in an award winning design firm, Goody, Clancy & Associates. Colleen worked at GCA for a little under 3 years as a project support intern and managed a total of 13 various projects. These projects range from: Healthcare Facilities, Academic Buildings, Affordable Housing & Senior Centers, National Parks Service, Adaptive Reuse, Neighborhood Revitalization, Waterfront Development, and Corridor Planning. During this time she acquired a vast knowledge of architecture and planning processes and honed her abilities as a practicing architecture student. Colleen is actively involved as a student member of the Boston Society of Architects (BSA), Community Development Society (CDS), American Institute of Architectural Students (AIAS) and the American Planning Association (APA). Colleen has also earned the Unbuilt Architecture Award (BSA) 2003, and is a recipient of the American Architectural Foundation Scholarship (AAF) Recipient 2005. Her academic works have been published in Intersight a UB publication as well as The Center for Health Design and the BSA.

Colleen transferred to the University at Buffalo in 2003 to focus solely on her academic studies. During her time at UB she discovered her passion for both Urban Planning and Architecture and decided to pursue her Bachelors in Environmental Design and a minor in architecture; graduating in May of 2009. After moving to Buffalo Colleen interned at Shepley Bulfinch Richardson & Abbott, a well-renowned design firm in Boston and at BHNT, architecture and planning firm located in Buffalo. At both firms she oversaw the construction administration process, and provided drawing and presentation skills to her team.

Colleen is currently working on her MUP at the University at Buffalo. Her passion lies in the complex relationships among the physical design of spaces and the way in which people are impacted by these design choices. For Colleen it is critical for planning and architecture to occur simultaneously, since the two disciplines are deeply interconnected, which is why she has chosen to specialize in Urban Design. Colleen has completed 12 architecture studios and 4 planning studios, through her academic studies and has acquired a great deal of professional skills that she brings here to the Urban Design Project.