PBN 2021 Business Women Awards
Technical Services Woman to Watch: Andrea Baranyk, Northeast Collaborative Architects
With her own French-Canadian and Irish ancestors having ties to Newport, Andrea Baranyk has always loved genealogy research.
It makes sense then, as a principal with Northeast Collaborative Architects in North Kingstown, that historic preservation of structures and the stories that emerge from that work resonate with her as well.
“I found my calling in the transformation of historic buildings,” she said. “I enjoy discovering what was built and why.”
While she appreciates what modern technology can accomplish, such as lasers that sense where water damage is located so that it can be addressed without having to rip apart the wall of an aged structure, Baranyk still has a healthy respect for traditional approaches, such as talking and listening to people.
“I’ve got my iPhone, but it’s also good to have tactile connections. With historic redevelopment, it’s all about how it needs to function by the end user,” she said. “We must ask the best questions, and listening is key. We need to understand what clients are looking for – not what they are told they need.”
Baranyk began a five-year Roger Williams University architecture degree track in 1994 but switched her major to historic preservation, graduating with a minor concentration in architecture. She gained work experience at a Connecticut architectural firm, later returning to RWU to complete the bachelor’s degree in architecture, finishing up the remaining requirements.
Baranyk became an owner at Northeast Collaborative Architects after just five years as an architect with the company. In 2018, she and three new partners took over full ownership from the founding partners. Baranyk is a licensed architect in five states.
An award-winning architect known for her sustainability focus, Baranyk’s portfolio includes office space, residential projects, municipal structures, educational facilities and luxury hotels. But her favorite is The Arcade in Providence, the nation’s oldest indoor mall.
Baranyk had just started with Northeast Collaborative when she took on the landmark’s transformation as a project manager, overseeing work from design to construction.
“I’ve enjoyed getting it through its code challenges and delays to see it continue to be successful,” she said.