Our Team
RUPAL ENGINEER, RA
Architect... Designer... Educator... Mentor... Catalyst... Dancer
Rupal Engineer is the Principal-in-Charge and Project Architect for Design Plus, LLC. She has been in continuous practice for over 25 years, possesses a diverse portfolio of project and programming experience in New Mexico, and has experience working throughout the country. She has extensive technical expertise in resource management, building systems, innovative design solutions, sustainable design practices, building life-safety and fire codes, ADA regulations, and universal accessibility standards.
She is also the founder of Indigo Moose, the design research, strategy, and educational studio, which focuses on specialized educational facility research and the design of custom, innovative, and hands-on educational programs that use design thinking while integrating STE(A)M concepts, Common Core, NAEYC program and accreditation standards, 21st Century Skills, and Connected Learning principles.
Rupal possesses research and practice-based expertise in developing sensitivity calibrated built environments whereby each student finds their optimal learning potential, whether they are students enrolled in early childhood programs or students with severe and profound social, mental, and physical disabilities. She also has in-depth knowledge of universal design practices and experience with applying evidence based research into program requirements for educational facilities.
LAURA STAMATKIN, RA
Creator... Planner... Organizer... Gardener... Chocoholic
Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Laura grew up exploring a city rich in architectural history. Her grandfather, a retired architect in Detroit, shared his love for art and the built environment throughout her childhood and teens, which inspired her to become an architect.
Laura studied architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology's historic Mies van der Rohe campus in Chicago. After graduation, Laura worked in Chicago for a couple years before meeting Rupal and deciding it was time for a change in scenery. She packed her bags for Albuquerque and now enjoys the New Mexico sunshine, green chile, gardening, playing with her dogs, and exploring her state.
BRITTNEY ATKINSON
Planner... Maker... Traveler... Eclectic Creator
Born in rainy Washington, Brittney has lived on both coasts and many places between, but loves the distinct seasons in the Land of Enchantment. Her background includes bookkeeping, fabrication, and hospitality. She loves to create order from chaos.
HALEY JOHNSON, PCP (PROFESSIONAL COLOR PICKER)
Designer... Painter... Skier... Traveler... Momer
Haley was born in Colorado and has been doing design all the way back to her childhood bedroom - think mauve paint with dancing clown wallpaper... eek! Haley has a BA in Interior Design from the Design Institute of San Diego and has almost 20 years of design experience.
Haley enjoys being in the great outdoors, crafting, spending time with her family and friends and still has an affinity for the color mauve.
ALIX HERRERA
Designer… Dreamer… Writer… Traveler… Learner
Alix is an El Paso native who has been interested in architecture most of her life – when playing The Sims, building the houses was always the best part of the game! She moved to Washington DC to attend The Catholic University of America and received her B.S. in Architecture. During her time at CUA, she participated in The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness walks and became interested in the intersection between mental health and architecture.
After spending four years away from the Southwest, Alix decided to return to the area for her graduate education at The University of New Mexico. She now loves to explore the beautiful state of New Mexico and is working towards her licensure.
NU FERGUSON
Designer… Organizer… Painter… Adventurer… Sunshine Lover
Born in Vietnam and adopted at the age of 3, Nu grew up traveling with her family while on vacations and fell in love with buildings. Her fascination to discover how buildings are designed drew her to architecture. Most of her childhood was spent in snowy New Hampshire and she studied for her undergraduate degree in cold Vermont.
After her four years of college she was drawn to New Mexico, where some of her father’s family resides. The open skies and sunshine kept her in New Mexico where she can keep doing her outdoor activities. While in New Mexico she studied to get her master degree in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of New Mexico. She helped start the UNM student chapter of Women in Design. This led her to join the Women in Design professional group. She enjoys working with a small office that cares about all aspects of architecture and being part of a caring design family.
DAWN OTTEN, RA
Designer… Creator… Adventurer… Visionary… Enthusiast
Dawn was born and raised in Colorado where she gained an appreciation for the built environment and a passion for good design. She became interested in architecture at an early age realizing the potential and impact of the places we inhabit. She has an adventurous spirit and enjoys exploring New Mexico’s landscape during her free time through mountain biking, hiking, and camping.
SANCHI ENGINEER
Artist… Designer… Dancer… Photographer… Metalhead
Albuquerque native Sanchi Engineer is Design Plus’ in-house artist and graphic designer (and yes, she is also Rupal Engineer’s daughter). She began working at Design Plus when she was a junior in high school as an intern, and has moved her way through being a project assistant to now spearheading graphics projects and being a part of the interiors team.
Sanchi completed her high school degree in Albuquerque before eventually moving to Chicago for college, where she attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to pursue a BFA. There, she quickly fell in love with interior architecture, architecture history (which she minored in), and graphic design. She completed her BFA in design in May of 2022.
Now, Sanchi’s passion lies in bundling her fine arts background with her architectural knowledge to help create unique and inspiring interior spaces.
SYDNEY CRANE
Learner… Adventurer… Designer… Optimist… Passionate
Sydney is a Southern California native who grew up traveling around the country with her family. Seeing the various cultures and mediums within the buildings and cities around her sparked her initial interest in architecture at a young age. After graduating high school in 2020, she decided to move out to Albuquerque to grow her love and enjoyment for architecture and is now almost complete with her BAA degree at The University of New Mexico.