Kristen Giannattasio, AIA

Co-founder and Principal of Atelier et Alia, Kristen brings a broad range of architectural project experience in commercial, residential, and institutional projects as well as in furniture design and selection, art installations, and hands-on construction experience to the et Alia team. This diverse experience fuels the cross-pollination of ideas and methods underlying her work.  

Her design approach encompasses the tangible and intangible, focusing on the craft of architecture and the positive impact that design can have on psychology, health, and well-being. She is passionate about the art and craft of architecture and finds joy in the construction details. Simultaneously, she is deeply invested in the end user and is a proponent of biophilic design, which aims to connect people with nature and the environment for its wellness benefits.  

Before co-founding Atelier et Alia in 2016, Kristen worked for over 15 years at some of Boston’s most respected architecture firms, including Machado + Silvetti Associates, Office dA, Schwartz/Silver Architects, and Merge Architects. Among the many stand-out projects on which she served a key role include the Grable Center at the Frick Art & Historical Center in Pittsburgh, the Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center at Brown University, and the fit-out of a 53,000 square-foot office space for a global tech company in Cambridge, MA.  

From the early days of her career, Kristen believed that in-the-field construction training would make her a better architect, and she was thrilled to acquire that experience while gut-renovating three single-family homes with her contractor husband, and being involved in every aspect of the process from demolition to finish trim and everything in between. Her hands-on construction experience has facilitated and informed her architectural design process and her ability to remain calm under pressure. 

Kristen is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and co-chaired the Boston Society for Architecture’s Small Practices Network from 2018 to 2022. She taught architectural design studios at Northeastern University, was the first principal drawing instructor for Harvard University’s Career Discovery program (renamed Design Discovery), and has served on the selection committee for BSA and AIA design awards. 

When not architecting, Kristen remains immersed in all things creative, including gardening, self-publishing a guidebook on houseplant care, and experimenting with the art and science of baking gluten-free pastries and desserts. Kristen and her husband live in a Campanelli ranch on the north side of Framingham, and enjoy long road trips and the pursuit of a simple life.