Maia Muniz Moreno’s motivation is rooted in her belief that social sustainability and ecological resilience are paramount in a rapidly urbanizing world. To achieve both, she strikes a balance between building efficiency, aesthetic appeal, and indoor health.

A Swiss-Argentinian architect who is licensed in Argentina, Maia honed and developed her versatile skillset while working internationally—and at her own firm—before joining Spacesmith in 2020. Since then, she has applied 15 years of experience in client interface, site feasibility, and construction administration to complete projects that required creative solutions to large-scale obstacles.

For the American Museum of Natural History, Maia used her project management skills to facilitate the renovation of the museum’s sprawling education department, which was previously dispersed across multiple buildings. To create the new centralized offices, she collaborated with several consultants to resolve issues presented by years of piecemeal renovations and updates that had left the building disjointed. Her designs for the United Nations’ Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) include a representational space and flexible dwelling units that can be easily adapted for various family configurations, prioritizing durability over transience.

Maia earned her Master of Science in architecture and urban design from the Pratt Institute. With an understanding of both ground-up construction and interior renovations, she incorporates sustainable frameworks in all project phases and for various elements, including building envelope and façade.