Fernando Villa, FAIA, NOMA,
LEED AP BD+C
Principal
Fernando Villa has more than 25 years of international design experience focused on sustainable, affordable and supportive housing and mixed-use developments.
As MAP’s lead designer, Mr. Villa has worked on a wide range of projects, including AIA National Housing Award winner MLK Plaza and AIANY Design Award winner St. Augustine Terrace. His Creston Avenue Residence was included in the NYC Public Design Commission’s “Designing New York: Quality Affordable Housing”. Mr. Villa is currently overseeing Highbridge and Carmen Villegas Apartments, both passive house developments that recieved NYSERDA Buildings of Excellence awards as well as Blue Ribbons for Design Excellence through the program.
He has elevated the standards for affordable and supportive housing, linking design quality to the missions of his clients, empowering residents and challenging the stigmas of this typology.
Mr. Villa is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and served as the co-chair of the New York Chapter’s Housing Committee. During his tenure as co-chair, the committee’s work was recognized twice in five years with the AIANY Vice Presidential Citation for Design Excellence.
He is a member of NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects), is involved with the New York Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, The Architectural League of New York, Society of American Registered Architects and the Municipal Arts Society, and he is an international juror in design competitions.
Mr. Villa holds a B.A. from the Pontificia Bolivariana University in Medellin Colombia and attended graduate programs at Pratt Institute, The New York School of Interior Design, and the Institute of Classical Architecture.