November MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 2026
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Dasanie Peña
Dasanie Chea Peña, NOMA, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NOMAS
DESIGNING FOR SUSTAINABILITY, CULTURAL IDENTITY, AND COMMUNITY
Dasanie Chea Peña, NOMA, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is an emerging architectural designer, sustainability advocate, and community leader whose work reflects a commitment to creating environments that are both environmentally responsible and deeply connected to the people they serve. With experience spanning healthcare, education, civic, and community-centered design, Dasanie brings together technical expertise, cultural awareness, and a passion for advancing a more inclusive architectural profession.
Currently practicing as an Architectural Designer at Wilmot Sanz, Dasanie supports healthcare projects through design development, construction documentation, and technical coordination. Her professional journey also includes experience at Maginniss + del Ninno Architects and WLC Design, where she contributed to projects of varying scales and complexities while developing a strong foundation in architectural design and project delivery.
A three-time graduate of The Catholic University of America, Dasanie earned her Bachelor of Science in Architecture with a Minor in Sustainability, Master of Architecture, and Master of Science in Net Zero Design. Her academic background reflects an ongoing interest in how sustainable design strategies can respond to environmental challenges while improving the quality of spaces and communities.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dasanie brings a deeply personal perspective to architecture. As a first-generation college graduate from a Dominican-Cambodian immigrant family, her understanding of design is shaped by questions of cultural identity, memory, migration, and belonging. These experiences inform her belief that architecture can do more than provide shelter or serve a function; it can preserve histories, strengthen cultural connections, and create spaces where communities see themselves reflected.
CONNECTING SUSTAINABILITY, CULTURE, AND DESIGN
Dasanie's approach to architecture is grounded in the belief that environmental responsibility and human experience should work together. Her academic training in Net Zero Design has equipped her with a foundation in sustainable building strategies, energy performance, and environmental analysis, while her professional experiences have allowed her to apply these principles within real-world design and construction processes.
Her interest in the relationship between sustainability and cultural identity was especially evident in her award-winning research exploring how architecture can help address historical trauma within the Cambodian diaspora in Lowell, Massachusetts. Through the integration of sustainable and biophilic design principles, her research examined how spaces can support healing, preserve cultural memory, and strengthen connections between people and place.
This work earned Dasanie the 2024 ARCC King Medal for Excellence in Architectural and Environmental Design Research, recognizing her ability to connect architectural inquiry with meaningful social and environmental questions.
Her commitment to cultural preservation also extends beyond academic research. In May 2026, Dasanie authored The Spaces We Carry: Khmer Heritage and the Architecture of Migration for DC NOMA, reflecting on her Cambodian heritage, family history, and the ways immigrant communities carry cultural traditions into the spaces they create.
Through personal storytelling and architectural research, she explored how migration, memory, and cultural identity shape the built environment, emphasizing the importance of recognizing architectural histories and experiences that have often been overlooked within mainstream design discourse.
Together, these efforts demonstrate Dasanie's growing design philosophy: one that recognizes sustainability not only as environmental performance, but also as a responsibility to preserve cultural knowledge, strengthen communities, and create spaces that support belonging.
GROWING THROUGH PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
Dasanie's professional journey reflects a commitment to continuous learning, technical development, and design excellence. Through her work at WLC Design, Maginniss + del Ninno Architects, and now Wilmot Sanz, she has gained experience across multiple project types, including healthcare, educational, civic, and community facilities.
At Maginniss + del Ninno Architects, Dasanie supported projects ranging from smaller community developments to large-scale educational facilities. Her responsibilities included design and construction documentation, consultant coordination, permitting, and project delivery, providing her with valuable insight into the collaborative processes required to bring architectural projects from concept to completion.
Her current work at Wilmot Sanz builds upon that foundation through healthcare design, where she contributes to the development of technically complex environments while navigating specialized building requirements, life-safety considerations, and construction coordination.
Dasanie's dedication to professional development has also been recognized through several significant honors. In 2026, she earned her LEED AP BD+C credential, strengthening her qualifications in sustainable building design and construction. She was also selected as one of only 20 recipients nationwide of the AIA Emerging Professionals Grant, supporting her attendance at the 2026 AIA Conference on Architecture & Design in San Diego.
Her additional recognitions include the 2026 AIA Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship, 2026 AIA Sho-Ping Chin Women's Leadership Summit Grant, and the 2024 Art of Principled Entrepreneurship Innovation Prize. These accomplishments reflect her continued pursuit of architectural licensure, professional growth, and opportunities to expand her impact within the design profession.
BUILDING CONNECTIONS THROUGH LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE
Leadership and community engagement have remained important parts of Dasanie's journey. During her time at The Catholic University of America, she served as President of the university's NOMAS chapter after previously holding the role of Marketing Chair. Through these positions, she contributed to student engagement, professional development, and efforts to strengthen connections between minority architecture students and the broader design community.
Today, Dasanie continues that commitment through her involvement with DC NOMA's Communications Committee and Blueprints & Brushstrokes Committee, supporting initiatives that bring members together, celebrate diverse perspectives, and expand opportunities for emerging professionals.
Her contributions to DC NOMA extend into storytelling and knowledge-sharing. Through her involvement with the chapter's newsletter and blog initiatives, Dasanie has helped elevate member experiences and create opportunities for conversations around culture, identity, and architecture. Her writing on Khmer heritage and migration demonstrates how professional organizations can serve as platforms for sharing perspectives that deepen the profession's understanding of the communities it represents
Dasanie also serves as a mentor with the ACE Mentor Program of Greater Washington, supporting students exploring careers in architecture, construction, and engineering. Her involvement reflects a belief that strengthening the profession requires investing in the next generation and ensuring that students have access to guidance, encouragement, and opportunities for growth.
Whether through mentorship, community programming, or professional advocacy, Dasanie continues to demonstrate how emerging designers can contribute meaningfully to their organizations while building supportive networks for those who will follow.
DESIGNING A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE FUTURE
Dasanie's journey represents a generation of emerging architectural professionals who recognize that the future of design must address environmental responsibility, cultural identity, and social impact together.
Her experiences across sustainable design research, professional practice, and community engagement have shaped an approach to architecture that considers not only how buildings perform, but also how they connect people to their histories, cultures, and communities.
As she continues to pursue architectural licensure, develop her professional expertise, and contribute to DC NOMA, Dasanie remains focused on creating meaningful change through both design and service. Her accomplishments demonstrate the importance of combining technical knowledge with cultural understanding, professional curiosity, and a willingness to invest in others.
Through her research, storytelling, and commitment to sustainability, Dasanie is helping expand the conversation around what responsible architecture can achieve; environments that respond to the challenges of today while preserving the identities, memories, and connections that communities carry into the future.
DC NOMA is proud to spotlight Dasanie Chea Peña and celebrate her continued dedication to sustainable design, cultural preservation, mentorship, and community engagement. From her award-winning research and growing professional accomplishments to her leadership within NOMAS and service to DC NOMA, Dasanie exemplifies how emerging designers can use architecture to connect people, honor cultural identity, and create a more equitable and environmentally responsible built environment.