Bio:
 The great designer, Operating under the philosophy that good design can change lives, Amanda/Ad Astra Design seeks to be a part of projects whose aim is to create a positive impact on the world around them. Her passion for making good design available to anyone, challenging the status quo and being genuinely curious about the world led her to start her own firm in 2016. She is determined that architecture and design can be used for the greater good and is crafting her business to have this as its core focus.

How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
Growing up, my father, a general contractor, used to take me to the brewery district in Columbus to imagine what the old buildings could become. I fell in love with old buildings and have ever since been passionate about adaptive reuse projects. 

What do you do?
I am a sole proprietor, new mom and architect, so I do a little bit of everything.

What excites you in the work you do?
I love working in historic neighborhoods, helping to renovate existing buildings or design new ones to fill in the missing teeth within the urban fabric. Reinvesting in existing neighborhoods is both sustainable for the environment and communities.

Who or what inspires you professionally?
My daughter. I am inspired to help make the world a better place for her, her children and her grandchildren. I think that architecture and design, by helping to improve the lives of others, can be a tool to help realize this.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
Taking the leap to go out on my own. It has not been an easy road and there are constantly new things to either learn or improve on, yet I am proud that I am working through the hardships to make it happen.

Featured Project Name: 
East Public
 
Featured Project Location: 
Columbus, Ohio
 
Featured Project Completion Date: 
2019

Role in Featured Project: 
Architect 
 
Featured Project Description:
East Public is an adaptive reuse development and was most recently home to an adult bookstore, a tire storage facility and a church. The project includes four renovated buildings and a two-story addition, which together house four offices, a brewery and a restaurant. Design considerations included connectivity between the tenant spaces throughout the site, shared use and views of the courtyard as well as reworking all of the interiors to accommodate and elevate the new uses. 

Photography Credit:
Amanda Dunfield (pre-construction); Grant Smucker (after construction)