Sohanna Srinivasan

Sohanna is an architect and urban designer with over a decade of experience working on complex mixed-use projects for public sector clients. Passionate about using design as a tool for social equity, she is an expert in community-led design and puts engagement at the heart of every project. Before joining the Spring Cohort 2024, Sohanna was an Associate at Karakusevic Carson Architects, where she led Selby Urban Village - a community-led regeneration project for one of Haringey’s most deprived wards.

Sohanna is actively involved in teaching and mentoring and works closely with organisations such as Blueprint for All to promote more excellent representation within the industry. She has led BA design studios at Kingston University, which explore the relationship between post-colonial identity, the diasporic experience and the potential of architecture to create a sense of belonging.

She was shortlisted for the RIBA Rising Stars Award in 2021 and is a member of the Greenwich Design Review Panel.

North Herts Council

As part of our Spring Cohort 2024, Sohanna is worked as a Principal Planning & Urban Design Officer at North Herts Council. With a newly adopted Local Plan allocating large edge-of-settlement sites, the Council experienced a major shift in how development was delivered.

During her placement, Sohanna’s team focused on two key areas: improving design quality and placemaking through close collaboration with Development Management, and preparing councillors and officers to engage effectively with strategic sites.

One of her most significant achievements was running a series of workshops with councillors, covering topics such as design codes and masterplanning. Over the course of the year, it was fulfilling for her to see debates at Full Council meetings become more well-informed, thanks to a deeper understanding of these previously unfamiliar processes. Since the beginning of her posting, five out of six masterplans for strategic sites were endorsed—all taking place during her time at the Council.