Meet Rachel

Rachel Ghindea first joined MKC in 2018 after receiving her Bachelor of Science in Architecture from The Ohio State University, where she was awarded accolades including Honors in Research Distinction and 1st place in the capstone Gui Competition. She worked with professors from OSU on several award-winning projects, including the 2018 Ragdale Ring installation, Noodle Soup. During her first tour at MKC she helped with a range of projects, from developing designs for a university recreation center, to co-authoring and publishing a research paper with president, Matthew Teismann. Ghindea went on to continue practicing and researching in New York City, where she worked with Studio Ames. She earned her Master in Architecture from Princeton University in 2023, and decided to return to Columbus and rejoin the MKC family thereafter. While originally from rural eastern Ohio–not far from MKC’s original location–she considers Columbus her home and is excited to have a hand in its development as a burgeoning city in the Midwest. 

Ghindea prioritizes human experience in her designs and related research endeavors, with a particular interest in sociology, anthropology, and phenomenology. This is reflected in her thesis at Princeton, titled Architecture for Protest and advised by Liz Diller, which designed infrastructure to aid peaceful protestors and provide protection from police-initiated violence. 

Outside of the office, Ghindea enjoys continuing her independent research and creating art across a wide range of media, including painting, collage, montage and other digital works. She can often be found tending to her many plants, hanging out with her partner and their cat, or exploring new places both in and out of the city.