Vaani Vedula

Vaani joins Studio VARA as a recent graduate from the University of Texas School of Architecture. Highly creative and visually skilled, she brings a strong graphic sensibility to the team.

For Vaani, the most compelling parts of a project are its bookends. She enjoys the initial conceptual phase, where abstract ideas begin to take shape, and the tail end of the process, where concepts are translated into refined design details.  

Bruce Hancock

With extensive experience in architecture, Bruce brings a sophisticated design sensibility and technical skill to the Studio VARA team. He specializes in streamlining design and drawing workflows to foster collaboration and efficient iteration. While Bruce’s experience spans various typologies, he particularly enjoys working on multifamily and commercial projects with an emphasis on landscape.

Bruce earned an undergraduate degree in architecture from Princeton University and a Master of Architecture from Yale University, where he served as a teaching fellow for Peter Eisenman’s Formal Analysis course. He is a licensed architect in the State of New York and holds an NCARB certificate.  

Hannah Su

Hannah enjoys working at VARA alongside creative and diverse individuals who share her core values. A Dean’s List graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Creative Writing, she leverages her administrative background to excel in both communication and organization.⁠ 

As an emerging artist and writer, Hannah enjoys creating in her spare time. Her artwork has been featured in shows around Arlington and the Bay Area. Her writing is also published in the Global Insight: A Journal of Critical Human Science and Culture, Poet’s Choice, and the San Francisco Bards Poetry Anthology.

Helena Cardona

Helena finds architecture deeply rewarding because it shapes our environment, influences daily life, and reflects our cultural values. She enjoys how the work blends creativity with problem solving.⁠ 

Helena earned her master’s degree in architecture from California College of the Arts and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of New Mexico. 

Helena grew up on the Texas/Chihuahua border and is bilingual. Outside of work, she volunteers with Galería de la Raza and the ACE Mentorship Program. She was awarded the Leadership in Arts and Social Impact Award in recognition of her leadership in promoting the arts and making a meaningful social impact through architectural and community initiatives at Galería de la Raza.

Dana Manea

As a passionate architect, Dana is committed to sustainable design principles, leveraging advanced building systems and technologies. Growing up in Europe profoundly shaped her perspective on architecture and urbanism, which continues to influence her vision and passion for creating a beautiful and sustainable built environment. 

Dana has extensive experience working on various project typologies ranging from multi-family housing, restaurants and educational spaces to office tenant improvements. She earned her Professional Bachelor of Architecture Degree from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, with a Summa cum laude distinction and attended École Nationale d’Architecture Paris Val de Seine, furthering her studies in urbanism and history. Recently, she also got certified as a Passive House Designer.  

Marco Aiello

Marco is a passionate architect who truly believes in the role of design to improve the world. He is particularly drawn to how architecture shapes daily life, transforms cities, and enhances environments—creating beauty and bringing joy to communities.

Before moving to California, Marco lived in Italy and Germany, gaining experience in office buildings, low-energy homes, and prefabricated platform frame technology. He earned his master’s in architecture from the University of Florence and studied abroad at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University in Lithuania. Known for his positivity and problem-solving skills, Marco approaches each project with enthusiasm and a keen sense of curiosity.  

Ephraim Mayrena

Ephraim is highly skilled at producing renderings and graphics and possesses a keen eye for photography. He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Before entering the field of architecture, Ephraim spent three years as a barista in Sacramento’s vibrant coffee scene, where he discovered a passion for photography alongside his coworkers and friends. Photography has influenced Ephraim’s architectural work, providing him with a deep understanding of light and composition. These skills have enhanced his renderings and deepened his comprehension of spatial experience.  

Rioka Anne Kanazawa

Anne joins us as a recent graduate from Cal Poly SLO where she participated in both the LA METRO and Rome Study Abroad Program.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a Minor in Sustainable Environments.  Her passion for designing a space that impacts the user physically and mentally, aligns with Studio VARA’s design approach of human-centric experiences. Anne hopes to inspire people with her creativity.

Gail Avila

Gail joins our Interiors team as an industry change from her years in retail e-commerce and home furnishings. Gail is a problem-solver with a growth mindset, and is excited to have the opportunity to learn from, and be around, the creative people of VARA.  

Andrea Mein

Andrea joins us as Studio VARA’s Operations Manager. She brings 12 years of experience in residential construction projects, with strong skills in project management and creating productive, positive teams. Andrea’s favorite parts of a project are figuring out how to execute unique design elements and seeing the owner’s happy faces when they walk into their finished home.