Veronica

Verónica Mansilla

(she, her)
Associate

Veronica (Vero) joined KMA as an Associate in 2019 after working in inclusive design for 15 years in Spain and Argentina. In addition to her design projects, Vero contributes to multiple project types such as ADA Self-Evaluation & Transition Plans, cultural facilities, K-12 schools, and higher education. She also helps organize KMA’s monthly speaker series as well as being the keeper of the firm’s archive of inclusive design and accessibility resources.

In addition to her Master of Design, Art, and Public Space from the Elisava School of Design and Engineering of Barcelona, Spain, Vero also earned an undergraduate degree in Architecture and Urbanism from the National University of Tucumán, Argentina – her hometown. Her creative and collaborative spirit is nurtured by her deep passion for creating immersive and educational experiences for people of all ages.  Vero has lectured on inclusive design and urban environments in Colombia, Mexico, Austria, Argentina, and the US, and her work has been recognized through international awards from the Bernard van Leer Foundation, Walk21 Vienna, and the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development.

Vero is an aspiring “curator of connections” who enjoys trips back to Tucumán, but whose kids are just fine living here in the US – thank you very much.  When Vero is not at work, you can find her dancing, riding her bike, or singing karaoke with her family and friends.

#inclusivedesigner #publicspaceadvocate #caregiver

Education:

  • Master of Design, Art & Public Space, University School of Design & Engineering of Barcelona [ELISAVA], Spain, 2006
  • Degree in Architecture & Urbanism, School of Architecture and Urbanism, National University of Tucumán, Argentina, 2003

Community Service:

  • Advocate, PlacemakingX Boston, 2021-Current
  • Volunteer Advisor, Red Ocara, Latin American Network, 2016 –2019
  • Volunteer, Jane’s Walk network, 2015 –2019

Teaching:

  • Collaborator & Advisor, GDIRC – Global Design Initiative for Refugee Children, 2024 – current
  • Co-Director, “aUPA Project”, Urban95 Program, Bernard van Leer Foundation and School of Architecture and Urbanism, National University of Tucumán, Argentina, 2016 – 2018
  • Co-Director, “Building the Void” Outreach Program, School of Architecture and Urbanism, National University of Tucumán, Argentina, 2013 -2015

Selected Awards:

  • aUPA Project, Urban95 Challenge: Designing Cities That Support Healthy Child Development Award, Bernard van Leer Foundation, 2016
  • Watch your Step, Walking Visionaries 2015 Awards, category Liveable Planning and Design for Public Spaces, Walk21 Vienna, 2015
  • Building the Void, DIY Studio, Creative Solutions for Development, Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development Rosario – Argentina, 2009
  • DeLaCalle Manresa, Production of Projects Award, IDENSITAT07 Home/Away, Catalunya –Spain, 2007

Selected Presentations:

  • Urban Micro School “Children in the City”, Virtual Meeting, TransLAB.URB Collective/ Porto Alegre City Hall, 2021
  • Reimagining Common Cities Workshop, Common Cities 2020/ Placemaking Latinoamérica, Annual Virtual Conference, 2020
  • Caring Cities, Tuesday Talk. Department of Architecture. Massachusetts College of Art and Design. MassArt, 2018
  • The aUPA Project: Tactical Urbanism for Young Children, Boston Society of Architects. Access, 2018
  • 1st Latin American Pedestrian Forum, Fundapeatón & Latin American Pedestrian Network and Walk21, Medellin, Colombia, 2017
  • 3rd Pedestrian Conference Mexico, México Pedestrian League & World Resources Institute, Annual Convention, México City, México,2016
  • Walk21 Vienna. Stepping Ahead, Walk21 and City of Vienna, Annual Convention, 2015

Selected Publications & Interviews:

  • Rosario from 0 to3, ANTP Magazine – Associação Nacional de Transportes Públicos – Brasil, 2.016
  • How can we take care of our children in a city?, Urban 95 Program, Bernard van Leer Foundation , 2018
  • Activism is a way to build small utopias, ark ARKKITEHTI journal, 2023
  • Repository 49 Methods and Assignments For Writing Urban Places, interview with Verónica Mansilla, 23 January 2018, on Storying Stories. Socio-spatial practices and their meaning by PhD Researcher Milián Bernal, D. School of Architecture, Tampere University
  • Emerging Citizens: Veronica Mansilla, interview for Ciudad Emergente NGO, 2014