MARTINA BACARELLA
Martina was born in Italy and immigrated to the United States when she was 6 years old. She grew up in Queens and Long Island, New York. Her father was a general contractor and mason by trade in Italy and New York and she worked for him writing his proposals when she was a teenager. She has lived in 3 of the 5 boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn), and now lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania with her husband and 2 cats in a home that they restored.
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Martina Bacarella is an AIA, and NCARB member and is the founding principal of Martina Bacarella Architect, a firm she founded in Brooklyn, NY in 2001. She has lived and practiced in northeast Pennsylvania since 2004 and serves as the president of the board of the Architectural Heritage Association of NEPA, as a trustee of the Waverly Community House, and as board member of the NEPA American Institute of Architects.
​Martina has been in the architecture field since she graduated from the University of Virginia School of Architecture in 1990. She is licensed to practice architecture in New York and Pennsylvania and has experience in every aspect of the planning, design and execution of new construction and historic building restoration.
She has a true appreciation and love for classical details, proportion and order and this informs her own approach to design and technical detailing. She has extensive experience specializing in historic preservation and high-end residential design that focuses on traditional and classical detailing.
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Martina works with developers, hotel owners, co-op, non-profit community oriented organizations, condominium boards, and private clients both in Northeast, PA and NYC always paying special attention to the details and the client's input, whether the project was traditional or modern in design.
VINCENT SGARLATA
Vincent was born on Long Island but grew up and spent most of his life in Northeast Pennsylvania. From young age he was fascinated with building and construction, playing in his sandbox with toy construction vehicles and building things with his Lego sets, mostly Star Wars related.
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He began studying architecture in high school while taking hand drafting, AutoCAD drawing classes and 3D modeling classes using Revit and Rhino. In his college studies, he continued to apply his knowledge of drawing and modeling while learning the fundamentals of architecture and spacial design through physical and technological drawing and modeling. While working at MBA he has broadened his knowledge and understanding of architecture and has been exposed to different aspects of architecture including building construction and project management.
Vincent graduated from Boston Architectural College in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. He also holds an Associates in Architecture degree from Northampton Community College.
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Prior to joining Martina Bacarella Architect full time in summer of 2020, he interned during his summer and winter college breaks. He has also worked on the Boston Architectural College's Gateway program on a number of real-world design projects including Norfolk County Agricultural School and the Friends of Fellsmere Heights.
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While working for Martina Bacarella Architect he has gained an appreciation of historic preservation, classical details and methods of construction.
LAUREN SMITH
Lauren was born in South Central Pennsylvania who now lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania. From a young age, Lauren was fascinated with architecture and construction. Her father is a carpenter who specializes in custom cabinetry and home renovations which inspired Lauren to pursue her interests in architecture and design.
Lauren began taking drafting classes in high school where she first developed skills in AutoCAD and Revit. In her early years of college, she practiced hand drafting and model building. She then took a special interest in lighting design and adaptive reuse classes. In 2022, Lauren traveled to Italy for a semester abroad where she learned to design in the heart of Florence. There she learned about many different aspects of Italian culture, architecture, and traditional villa and garden design.
Lauren will graduate with her Bachelor’s of Architecture from Marywood University in May 2023. She is passionate about adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and sustainable design. She began working for Martina Bacarella Architect in December of 2022. As the newest member of the team, she enjoys learning about the historic preservation process and has deepened her appreciation for classical detail and traditional building methods.
BRIANNA FELTCH
Brianna is a recent graduate in architecture with a strong interest in human-centered design and a growing focus on historic preservation. During her education career, she focused on designing spaces that support accessibility and uplifted the those who inhabit them. Brianna has a strong foundation in research and contextual design. At MBA, she contributes to the early stages of project development. Such as assisting with preservation reports, preparing design proposals and markups. Brianna is well versed in various design software that allow her to play a hands-on role in communicating design intent clearly and accurately.
SUNNY SUNSERI
Sunny grew up in Ohio and later relocated to Pennsylvania. He brings a fresh perspective to the Martina Bacarella Architect team while while intentionally learning and contributing to the firm’s culture and growth. As Director of Business Development, Sunny oversees invoicing, payroll, certifications, compliance and assists in proposal support, and research for new project opportunities. While not formally trained as an architect or designer, he provides the operational structure and strategic
support that allow the design team to focus on excellence in architecture. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and a Master of Divinity, blending financial strategy with people-centered leadership.
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His background includes serving as Assistant Director of Financial Aid, assistant basketball coach, and church leader, where he developed lay leadership and coordinated community outreach. He is most energized by helping people thrive in areas aligned with their strengths and passions. Sunny also developed a deep appreciation for historic preservation while living in and renovating a 130-year-old Victorian home. That hands-on experience strengthened his respect for architectural heritage and thoughtful restoration — values that closely align with the firm’s work.
