Leonardi Aray Architects

LAA focuses on:

• Inclusive, high-quality housing in urban and neighborhood settings
• Residential, multi-family, and public projects
• Creating urban places that are attractive, less pretentious, and human oriented

Values and design philosophy

• Communicating clients' values through design – projects are shaped around each client's goals, needs, and insights.
• Inclusive housing for all – the firm envisions housing that serves diverse communities in both urban and neighborhood contexts.
• Responsibly original and high performance – designs aim to be original while remaining functional, efficient, and practical.
• Community-informed design – LAA relies on community outreach, research, and active engagement with stakeholders to inform each project.
• Civic and community focus – the firm aims to help create greater communities and civic landmarks through architecture and urban design.

LAA integrates architecture, planning, and urban design to support thriving, accessible, and welcoming neighborhoods.

• Multi-family residential buildings
• Mixed-use buildings with housing over ground-floor commercial or community spaces
• Housing developments that integrate site-specific infrastructure and tailored services

Housing work can incorporate non-residential uses such as:

• First-floor commercial spaces
• Community centers
• Other neighborhood-serving facilities

Focus on affordable housing

Creating and preserving affordable housing is a major component of LAA's practice. The firm works with both public and private housing proponents and brings:

• Community engagement and outreach to involve residents and stakeholders
• Pre-development support and understanding of socio-economic factors
• Familiarity with housing finance considerations

LAA processes feedback from stakeholders and permitting agencies to advocate for, design, and help advance housing for a diverse population of individuals.

Role in communities and cities

Housing is described by LAA as its "design and planning motivation." Through its housing work, the firm aims to:

• Support the long-term quality and legacy of urban settings
• Strengthen partnerships among housing proponents, stakeholders, and permitting agencies
• Deliver housing that is inclusive, context-sensitive, and responsive to community needs.

Public and commercial projects

LAA works on public and commercial projects that create places for temporary occupancy and community use, including:

• Commercial spaces
• Community and gathering places
• Other public or semi-public facilities, whether privately or publicly owned

Public projects are locations where neighborhood residents and visitors enjoy various uses but may not permanently reside.

Urban design and integration of uses

Through its urban design work, LAA integrates:

• Residential and multi-family housing
• Public and commercial components
• Transportation facilities
• Plazas and open spaces
• Vegetation, water, and other natural features
• Urban furniture and supporting infrastructure

The goal is to create thriving, safe, and inviting communities and memorable civic and commercial spaces.

Collaboration with partners

LAA collaborates with:

• Public agencies
• Developers
• Property owners and other stakeholders

These collaborations aim to produce:

• Landmark public spaces
• Successful and productive commercial projects
• Cohesive neighborhoods that connect housing, public space, and infrastructure.

Residential architecture services

LAA's residential work focuses on single-family and two-family projects, including:

• Additions and renovations to existing homes
• New single-family or two-family structures
• Residential projects for individual homeowners
• Residential projects for developers and investors delivering single-family or two-family housing in a specific market

Approach to residential projects

• Client-driven goals – homeowners, developers, and investors provide their needs and objectives; LAA shapes designs around these.
• Technical and practical support – the firm offers technical expertise and practical design solutions that respond to clients' desires and insights.
• Context-sensitive design – projects are designed to fit their neighborhood and urban context while reflecting each client's values.

Residential work ranges from small-scale additions to complete new homes, always with an emphasis on comfort, functionality, and thoughtful integration into the surrounding community.

If you have project inquiries, housing or planning questions, or would like to discuss a potential collaboration, contact the firm by email.

Office location

Leonardi Aray Architects is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Office address:

1035 Cambridge St.

Suite #1

Cambridge, MA

If you need directions, accessibility information, or details about visiting the office, please reach out by email for the most up-to-date guidance.

Hours and appointments

The website does not state fixed opening hours. To confirm availability or schedule a meeting, please contact the firm directly by email.

Other team members

LAA works with a multidisciplinary team that includes:

• Craig Kelley – attorney and experienced politician, with a JD from Boston College Law School and a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, focused on the intersection of urban resiliency and local democratic governance.
• Stephany Medina – architectural and interior designer with a background in urbanism, holding both Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Wentworth Institute of Technology; fluent in Spanish.
• Anne McKinnon – Senior Planner with over 35 years of experience in transportation, housing, and public projects for cities and neighborhoods; holds a Master's in urban and environmental policy from Tufts University; co-founder and leader of the annual "Boston by Bike At Night" cultural bicycle tour.
• Ryan Chemali – architectural and urban designer experienced in affordable housing, commercial projects, and private residences; graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology.
• Jen Pell Gordon – construction and program management professional with experience in housing authority projects, homebuyer education, and process optimization; Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry.

LAA also collaborates with additional designers, architects, and consultants on projects, forming teams tailored to each project's needs.

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