OFICINA DESIGN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Joana Torres.
We create multi-disciplinary teams tailored to the needs of each project (engineers, agronomists, artists, farmers, sociologists, etc).
Founder & president
Joana is Portuguese architect with one foot in NYC and another foot where work calls for. She graduated in 2004 with a masters in Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences from the Technical University of Delft, the Netherlands.
Joana has managed architectural projects in the realm of community design but also in more conventional residential and commercial projects. She previously worked with EOA, Merge Architects, JDWA and Jorge Mario Jauregui.
Joana is involved on all aspects of the projects from pre-schematic design to end of construction phase.
Board member - Treasurer
Lisa Weisinger Manne is a performing arts and film producer whose work spans the fields of dance, theatre, opera and media. She has worked with leading international arts organizations, production companies and individual artists for over 30 year, including American Ballet Theatre; Evidence, A Dance Company; The Metropolitan Opera; the Spoleto Festival/Italy; Mikhail Baryshnikov, Pina Bausch, Alessandra Ferri and Alfredo Arias, among others.
Lisa is a founding board member of Oficina Design and En Avant Foundation and supports a number of educational and performing arts organizations.
Lisa lives in Riverdale in the Bronx with her husband, son and apricot labradoodle.
Photo credit: Chris Maggio
Board member - Secretary
Board member
Braulio Amado is a Graphic Designer and Illustrator from Portugal, currently living in New York City. Braulio was amongst the first people that gave us a hand when we weren't even a formal entity, and he has been involved in our fundraising efforts since then. His generosity and get-stuff-done attitude is instrumental at Oficina.
Braulio draws everyday, his vibrant work has appeared in the New York Times, Businessweek, WIRED, and more, and he’s collaborated with artists including Beck, Frank Ocean, Róisín Murphy, and Robyn. He also co-runs the NYC multi-purpose art space Sixth Street Haunted House (SSHH).
Photo credit: Chris Maggio