Aurora Riopelle

Legend has it that Aurora’s passion for architecture began at a very young age. While in diapers, she would hand nails to her dad as he refinished the floors of their beautiful American Foursquare home in Central New York. The child years that followed were filled with awe-inspiring visits to her hometown’s art museum, a building designed by the famed Philip Johnson, and walks along the historic, architecturally-diverse Rutgers Street. By third grade, Aurora knew she was going to be an architect. 

What she didn’t know was that her passion would lead her into the complex, critically important world of healthcare design. From her first projects remodeling an ICU unit atrium and a pediatrics clinic to her work today bringing large hospitals and medical office buildings to life, Aurora has become one of our region’s leading healthcare architects. While codes, compliance, and technical details keep her interested, it’s the long-term human impact of her work that truly motivates her.