BOSTON, MA  Margulies Perruzzi Architects (MPA), one of Boston, Massachusetts,' most innovative architectural and interior design firms, welcomes eight new design professionals to the firm. Valya Trupos, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C, joins MPA as a Senior Interior Designer, and Kara McGuane and Shannon Ponce both join the firm as Interior Designers. Mark Diethelm, LEED AP, Sarah R. Farrell, Associate AIA, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C, Sampada Pulekar, LEED AP BD+C, Matthew Simon, and Cristina Zupcu join MPA as Architectural Designers, responsible for design development, programming, and project management and coordination.

"This talented roster of design professionals adds their respective talents and strengths to our design team, and they understand the importance of creating design that supports our clients' business objectives," said Dan Perruzzi, AIA, LEED AP, Principal at Margulies Perruzzi Architects. "We are also delighted that these individuals have recognized that MPA is a great place to work, and we are confident that they will contribute to the unparalleled service we deliver to our clients."

Joining MPA as a Senior Interior Designer, Valya Trupos, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C, is a seasoned and highly creative Interior Designer with more than 18 years of experience working on corporate, healthcare, and hospitality projects. She brings a strong knowledge of design processes, a commitment to client service, and an ability to mentor team members. Prior to joining MPA, Trupos was a Designer for several Boston-based architecture firms where she was known for the use of elemental colors and schemes in her designs. She received a Bachelor of Science in Town and Regional Planning from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and a Professional Designation in Interior and Environmental Design from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Kara McGuane joins MPA as an Interior Designer, bringing experience working on a variety of projects for corporate, retail, and higher education clients. Previously, she worked as a Project Designer for two design firms in Boston where she assisted in designing and drafting projects from schematic design through construction documentation. McGuane earned a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, with a concentration in Sustainability, from Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Joining MPA as an Interior Designer, Shannon Ponce is a recent graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston where she received a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. Her academic design work included commercial, residential, educational, and hospitality projects, including work on the National Parks Lodge in Quincy, Massachusetts. Ponce was a member of the Student Association of Interior Designers (SAID), and an NCAA Division 3 athlete and captain for the Wentworth Women's Volleyball Team.

An Architectural Designer at MPA, Mark Diethelm, LEED AP, brings eight years of experience working on institutional, laboratory, mixed-use and hospitality projects. Previously, Diethelm held Project Designer positions at two Boston-based architecture firms. His experience includes concept development and schematic design through construction documentation and administration. He received a Master of Architecture from Northeastern University and is currently pursuing his architecture license.

Sarah R. Farrell, Associate AIA, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C, is an Architectural and Interior Designer with more than 10 years of experience working on a diverse range of projects for commercial, healthcare, multi-family residential, and retail clients. Her prior experience also includes design for the renovation or new construction of real estate development projects, as well as the development of standards and facility management through building information modeling for clients. Farrell received a Master of Architecture from Boston Architectural College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York.

Sampada Pulekar, LEED AP BD+C, joins MPA as an Architectural Designer with experience in all project phases from design development through construction administration. Prior to joining MPA, Pulekar held Architectural Designer roles at several architecture firms in Boston where she worked on high-end residential and resort projects. She received a Master of Architecture with a specialization in sustainable urban natural environments from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a Bachelor of Architecture from Mumbai University in India.

An Architectural Designer at MPA, Matthew Simon received a Master of Architecture from Roger Williams University and a Bachelor of Science in architectural engineering, with a minor in civil engineering from the University of Hartford. Simon completed a graduate internship at a Boston-based architecture firm where he developed drawings for LEED accreditation documentation. He previously worked as a draftsman for two architecture firms in New York, as well as a contractor's assistant for roofing and contracting projects.

Cristina Zupcu brings 10 years of design and project management experience to her role as Architectural Designer at MPA. Her portfolio includes a variety of projects for corporate, institutional, laboratory, mixed-use and residential clients. Her previous positions include Project Designer and Project Manager roles for architecture firms and a design/build contractor. She received a Bachelor of Architecture from Boston Architectural College and is actively pursuing her architectural licensing.