Press Releases December 2, 2025

Yanel de Angel Receives the Boston Society for Architecture’s Women in Design Award of Excellence

A visionary leader recognized for driving global resilience, social advocacy, and mentorship within the architecture profession.

BOSTON—Global architecture and design firm Perkins&Will proudly celebrates Yanel de Angel, FAIA, recipient of the prestigious Women in Design (WiD) Award of Excellence from the Boston Society for Architecture (BSA). De Angel is the managing director of Perkins&Will’s Boston studio, where she has fostered a culture of mentorship and inclusion, inspiring designers to rethink the built environment and its role in shaping positive social and environmental outcomes worldwide.

“Receiving the WiD Award of Excellence is an incredible honor, and it reinforces the importance of creating access and opportunity within our profession,” says de Angel.” For me, this recognition is more than individual achievement: it reflects the collective progress we’ve made toward building teams that bring diverse perspectives to the table. When people feel truly included and engaged, innovation thrives, and that is what drives meaningful change in design and in our communities.”

De Angel has held leadership positions within the BSA, including serving on the Board as Vice President of Practice, co-chairing the WiD Excellence Awards Committee, and co-founding the Mid-Career Mentorship Program to support women navigating the mid-point of their careers. Now in its eighth cycle, the initiative centers on professional growth, including self-advocacy, time management, leadership, communication, and career trajectory. Her work spans design innovation and social advocacy, shaping a more diverse and accessible future for architecture and allied professions.

Creating a More Resilient and Sustainable World

Following Hurricanes Irma and María, which devastated Puerto Rico, de Angel mobilized relief efforts. She focused on long-term recovery by forging partnerships with academic institutions, and with support from Perkins&Will’s AREA Research, she formed resilientSEE-PR, a global alliance providing pro bono resilient design and planning for communities of all scales.

Using a social, environmental, and economic approach, resilientSEE-PR has advised Puerto Rico’s government, municipalities, and NGOs, delivering critical solutions and empowering local leaders. The framework has since expanded to other regions, including work with Indigenous communities.

“Yanel gives back to our design community in a uniquely broad way,” says Carole Wedge, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the AIA. “She connects the dots for individuals in her firm by focusing on both their needs and the strategic and pressing challenges facing the built environment. She leads with compassion and commitment and is a role model for all of us in the design profession. I learn from her every time we get together and continue to be inspired by her contributions as a force for change in the world.”

Emergency shelter capacity diagram that show flexibility for: blue skies, natural, and post-natural emergencies.

Guánica Emergency Preparedness Plan & Shelter Design

Yanel helped lead the design of a year-round community center that can seamlessly transform into a safe, fully supported shelter during hurricanes, earthquakes, or other disruptions.

Yanel de Angel and team collaborating on design project with boards in background.

resilientSEE-PR Working Session

Yanel serves as a project leader, resilience strategist, and housing expert.

Yanel de Angel presenting at an AIA conference on stage.

As National Co-Chair, AIA/BSA Co-Representative, and member of the 2023 Advisory Group, Yanel helped shape and co-introduced the opening presentation for Women’s Leadership Summit in Boston.

Yanel de Angel speaking into a microphone at a conference.

Yanel is an advocate for advancing women and minority leadership in the profession and among its allied organizations.

Yanel de Angel and group of women at Arquiectos Inc event booth smiling together.

Yanel with National Latinx Architects Coalition (NLAC) members at AIA25.

Driving Advocacy and Leadership in Architecture

Originally from Puerto Rico, Yanel maintains strong ties to the Island and her Latinx heritage. From 2008-2012, she co-hosted the NAMI Latino Metro Boston live radio show, which addressed mental health challenges in the Latino community—tripling chapter participation and leading to the creation of the annual Latino Mental Health Fair. She continues her civic engagement as a board member of Sociedad Latina, fostering leadership among Latino youth, and promotes diversity in higher education through affordable housing strategies and inclusive campus design.

De Angel’s impact resonates across many scales, a reflection of her steady commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable future for the design profession. She is invested in her professional network and serves on committees for the Women Who Build Summit, CREW Network, and the National Latinx Architects Coalition (NLAC). She is also on the advisory boards of several organizations and institutions, including PROTECHOS, Sociedad Latina of Boston, Syracuse University School of Architecture, Perkins&Will’s Board of Directors, and the Wentworth Institute of Technology School of Architecture Dean’s Advisory Group, where she is a trustee.

Yanel de Angel Receives the Boston Society for Architecture’s Women in Design Award of Excellence

Related Content