MEET OUR NEWEST TEAM MEMBERS!
Please join us in welcoming our four newest team members, Adeola Okubadejo, Praddy Banerjee, Daniel Seidman, José Castellanos, our interns, Beyza Kastan, John Gomez, Hannah Yaron, and our extern, Rae Marino—all of whom passionately believe in the power of design to positively shape the world.
ADEOLA OKUBADEJO
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
M.Arch | University of Maryland
B.S. in Architecture | University of Maryland
From: Lagos, Nigeria
Adeola has spent many years as lover of craft, design, and people – both in creative pursuits and in working in teaching roles at the University of Maryland. She enjoys crafting and photography in her spare time, with her favorite pastime being strolling around a museum. Growing up in Nigeria, her eye for design led her to the University of Maryland with a drive for design that centers around her love for community engagement and her view of design as working for the people.
PRADDY BANERJEE
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
Master of Urban Design | Carnegie Mellon University
B.Arch | IIT Kharagpur, India
From: Bangalore, India
Praddy brings 5 years of experience working on many mixed-use and multifamily projects in the DMV area as well as Boston and Texas. Some of his completed projects include an 8,000 capacity Amphitheater in Huntsville, Alabama, and a restaurant in Southlake, Texas. In his free time, Praddy is a photographer and musician. He sings and plays the keyboard, drums and djembe. He has held leadership positions in the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC and volunteered in community outreach events with DCBIA and Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.
DANIEL SEIDMAN
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
M.Arch | University of Michigan
B.A. in Physics & Studio Art Minor | Kenyon College
From: Washington, D.C.
Originally from Washington, DC, Daniel Seidman transitioned to Architecture from a Physics background by combining his passions for science and art. After graduating with an M.Arch degree from the University of Michigan, Daniel worked to remodel and preserve historic homes in Massachusetts. He learned classical details and proportions in this role and then moved on to work at a design build firm where he could draw plans with the builder’s specific expertise in mind. After completing several single-family home projects, Daniel moved back to DC and is now working as a multifamily designer.
JOSÉ CASTELLANOS
MARKETING COORDINATOR
M.S. in Marketing | American University
B.A. in Advertising | University of Texas at El Paso
From: Guatemala
José was brought to the DC area to attend the Kogod School of Business at American University, where he received his M.S. in Marketing in the summer of 2021. However, DC is hardly his first home – José has lived in 4 different countries and credits this multicultural influence with expanding his creativity. Prior to graduate school, he received his B.A. from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and worked as the marketing manager for several restaurants in the Dallas metropolitan area.
Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS Interns + Extern
BEYZA KASTAN
M.Arch, 2023 | Virginia Tech – WAAC
B.A. in Architecture | Yeditepe University
From: Istanbul, Turkey
Beyza Kastan is currently pursuing a Master of Architecture degree at Virginia Tech’s Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC). She received her B.A. in Architecture back home in Istanbul from Yeditepe University. Always curious and prone to produce – her goal is to advance herself by always learning new skills and information to add to her knowledge in architecture and continue to improve and grow.
JOHN GOMEZ
M.Arch, 2023 | University of Virginia
B.Des in Architecture | University of Florida
From: Miami, Florida
John W. Gomez is a current graduate student at the University of Virginia’s School of Architecture pursuing his Master of Architecture, having graduated with honors from the University of Florida in 2021. Originally from Miami, Florida, John developed a keen interest in the built environment through working at his family’s construction company during the summers and traveling to various cities around the world throughout his life. Following his graduate studies John plans on becoming a registered architect to eventually open his own practice. When not in his studio, John enjoys field sketching, film photography and being with family.
HANNAH YARON
B.Arch, 2023 | California Polytechnic State University
From: Los Angeles, California
Hannah Yaron is a fourth-year architecture student based in California. Currently an exchange student, she is studying at the Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC) and is a proud intern at Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS. Next year, she will travel back to Cal Poly, SLO to complete her thesis year.
RAE MARINO
M.A. in Architecture, 2025 | University of Edinburgh
From: Silver Spring, Maryland
Rae Marino is currently a student at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and just completed her first year. Originally from the DMV area, Rae graduated from Wheaton High School, Engineering Magnet, in 2021. There, she was president of the Society of Women Engineers club and had the opportunity to speak in front of the Maryland House of Representatives to promote Women in STEM through various outreach projects. Rae has always been interested in developing and designing responsive and environmentally conscious projects – most recently involved in revamping a local community center outside the Edinburgh City Centre. Rae is also an active member of the Architecture Society, is an avid explorer, and enjoys studying city designs – both abroad and in the US.
