Lucía Peña-Banda

Lucía Peña-Banda is Project Assistant for the City of Boston Planning Department's Development Review Division, where she supports the review of urban development projects across Boston—from mid-sized affordable housing to large-scale master plans. She helps coordinate proposals, organize project materials, and collaborate with teams across the city in order to approve new development. She also hosts public meetings to engage the community in this process and get a behind-the-scenes look at how Boston is growing and evolving. Lucía ear bachelor's degrees landscape architecture and sustainable community development from UMass Amherst in 2023.

While at UMass, Lucía: 

• Was active in the UMass BSLA Student Chapter
• Served as a coordinator for the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) committee
• Conducted an independent study on the future of Main Street in downtown Greenfield, Massachusetts through The Future of Small Cities Institute. Lucía's final project was exhibited in the John W. Olver Design Building Gallery from March 17th to April 14th 2022.
• Worked for the Water and Sanitation Board in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico through the SBS Scholarship for Summer Internships

"After stepping into the Design Building, I knew I wanted to be part of those studios. Now, what drives my passion for Landscape Architecture is the constant opportunity to learn, the creativity that keeps work exciting, and a deep appreciation for the environment—both as it exists and as it could be."

Lucía Peña-Banda