Leppanen Anker Arquitectura

Our Team

Leppanen Anker specializes in creating architectural spaces that consider the needs of their clients, under their economic, environmental, cultural and contextual influences. The aim of our design office is to generate creative answers with the latest technology available for the comfort of its customers, design and construction. Allowing us push our own limits. Leppanen Anker has worked across multiple scales, programs and cultures. Has a strong interest in developing spatial experiences through a merger of contextual, cultural, sustainable and formal influences. Creating evolution studies with parametric parameters and applying them to construction techniques. Leppanen Anker has diverse background with experience in Residential, Commercial, Cultural, Educational and Health Care projects both in the public and private sectors. We have architects and designers from several countries including Sweden, the United States and Ecuador, who constantly keep the team updated on the latest world trends. The office is located in historic Quito, Ecuador since 2012.

  • Gabriela Anker, LEED AP / Principal & Founder / b. Quito, Ecuador

    Gabriela Anker holds a Masters degree of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) and a Bachelors of Architecture from the University of Virginia. Gaby has worked for the offices of Rafael Viñoly Architects, Daly Genik Architects, and Naga Studio Architecture Dubai and held an Associate position while at LBL Architects.
    She was an invited panel speaker during the “Dialogue por contemporary Latin American Design is shaping our own cultural fabric in food leisure and creative gathering places” Washignton DC. USA. A juror for the national competition of “Sacha Pavillion” held by CAE in Ecuador.

  • Aaron Leppanen / Principal & Founder / b. Marquette, Michigan

    Aaron Leppanen holds a Master’s degree of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) in Los Angeles and a Bachelor’s of Architecture from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor Michigan. During his career Aaron has worked on a number of award winning institutional, educational, residential and commercial projects across the globe.  Aaron has worked at Greg Lynn FORM in collaboration with Gehry Partners in Los Angeles, Naga Studio Architecture in Dubai, McIntosh Poris Associates in Detroit and Belzberg Architects in Los Angeles amongst others. During this time projects included; Sentosa Island Casino Proposal in Singapore, Oqyana – “Australia” (Part of the World Development) in Dubai, Saadiyat Museum Pavilion no. 3 in Abu Dhabi and the Bill and Melinda Gates Discovery Center in Seattle. While at Belzberg Architects Aaron was the Project Manager/Project Designer for The Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, which has been recognized both nationally and internationally for design and sustainability. Aaron has reviewed at University of Southern California, Art Center College of Design, Northern Michigan University and Universidad Católica in Quito.

     

  • Gabriela Anker, LEED AP / Principal & Founder / b. Quito, Ecuador

    Gabriela Anker holds a Master of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Virginia. She has worked for Rafael Viñoly Architects, Daly Genik Architects and Naga Studio Architecture Dubai and held an associate position while at Lee Burkhart Liu Inc. She was also a panelist during the “Dialogue for Contemporary Latin American Design” Washington DC. She has been invited to exhibit her projects at CTBUH Shenzhen China and Chicago. Gabriela was Invited to the Latin American Summit of “Mixed Use Development” Bogotá Colombia. Additionally, she was an invited jury for Trama magazine for “XX International Call for Projects publication in Trama magazine”. Also “Sacha Pavilion” made by CAE in Ecuador. She was an Invited jury for end-of-semester projects for Art Center College of Design, UIDE, Georgia Tech. Gabriela completed the “GIC IX Innovation Executive Program” course, winning “Best Startup Progress”, where she became involved in the management of enterprises for women.

  • Aaron Leppanen / Principal & Founder / b. Marquette, Michigan

    Aaron Leppanen holds a Master’s degree of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) in Los Angeles and a Bachelor’s of Architecture from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor Michigan. During his career Aaron has worked on a number of award winning institutional, educational, residential and commercial projects across the globe.  Aaron has worked at Greg Lynn FORM in collaboration with Gehry Partners in Los Angeles, Naga Studio Architecture in Dubai, McIntosh Poris Associates in Detroit and Belzberg Architects in Los Angeles amongst others. During this time projects included; Sentosa Island Casino Proposal in Singapore, Oqyana – “Australia” (Part of the World Development) in Dubai, Saadiyat Museum Pavilion no. 3 in Abu Dhabi and the Bill and Melinda Gates Discovery Center in Seattle. While at Belzberg Architects Aaron was the Project Manager/Project Designer for The Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, which has been recognized both nationally and internationally for design and sustainability. Aaron has reviewed at University of Southern California, Art Center College of Design, Northern Michigan University and Universidad Católica in Quito.

  • Sofía Chávez / Associate / b. Quito, Ecuador

    Sofía Chávez holds a professional degree from The Universidad Católica in Quito Ecuador. She developed numerous construction techniques in which efficiency and aesthetics met in harmony. Leading various construction and design projects, Sofia has pushed the envelope in how to use conventional construction techniques in unconventional ways to achieve the demands of the project.

  • Kevin Aragón / Associate / b. Quito, Ecuador

    Kevin Aragón holds a Master’s degree in City and Technology from the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), where he specialized in the design of digitally enhanced, eco-friendly and human-centered urban environments through the intersection of the disciplines of urbanism and data science. He also holds a professional degree in Architecture from the Universidad de las Américas in Ecuador, where he was UDLA’s representative for the Panamerican Biennial of Architecture of Quito 2018 in the category of architectural design, in which he was a finalist for the gold medal, as the best final carrear year project. He has had the opportunity to collaborate in several international and academic projects in Mexico, Spain and Italy.

  • Belén Acurio / Associate / b. Quito, Ecuador

    Belén Acurio holds a Master in Architecture in Urban Design from the Bartlett School of Architecture in London, where she specialized on the research of conventionally negative urban elements used in constructive strategies for a healthier and sustainable urban landscape. She also holds a professional degree from the Universidad Católica del Ecuador, where she developed a new strategy for rural school design. Her work experience includes projects like Scala Shopping in Cumbaya and the government platform in Quito.

  • Carolina Rodriguez / Associate / b. Loja, Ecuador

    Carolina Rodriguez holds a degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. Additionally, she also holds a Master’s in Urbanism with a mention in Governance and Urban Planning with a focus on climate change from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. She is responsible for integral management of medium and high complexity projects. She has vast experience in planning, design and economic feasibility analysis of national and international projects. Her work experience expands from Dubai to Moscow.

  • Rafael Tobar / Associate/ b. Quito

    Rafael Tobar is an Architect from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and holds a Master degree in Business Administration and Senior Management from the Italian University of the Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”. He is a specialist in comprehensive management of highly complex projects. He has vast experience in construction and team management, leadership and productive and technological coordination.

  • Pedro Rodriguez / Associate/ b. Quito

    Pedro Rodríguez is a Mechanical Engineer from the Salesian Polytechnic University. He has held public and private positions, which has allowed him to gain experience in: Design and installation of air conditioning, ventilation, plumbing and fire protection systems; Selection and specification of materials/equipment; Preparation of budgets; Construction process execution schedules and architecture/engineering integration, through BIM.

  • Estefania Mino / Designer / b. Quito, Ecuador

    Estefania Mino holds a B.A degree in architecture from De Montfort University in the United Kingdom. Upon graduation she attended an architectural landscape high level training course at the YAC academy in Bologna. During her studies she had the opportunity to explore a range of architectural typologies in various climates and scales around different countries. Her final year studio project incorporated sustainable principles and also paid heritage to the history of the Berlin Wall, it was nominated for the AJ 100 student prize and the RIBA Bronze medal.

  • Alejandra Espindola / Designer / b. Quito Ecuador

    Alejandra Espindola is an Interior designer from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. She holds a diploma in interior architecture from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá and a Master’s degree in Industrial Design for Architecture from the Politecnico di Milano where she specialized in the design and production of micro and macro components for the construction industry. She was also the winner of the fourth edition of the “Convivality 4 Kitchen and Modern Living” contest. She has had the opportunity to work in design studios in Colombia, Ecuador and Italy.