Alex Ellien founded fullBRANCH in 2006 with husband David Ellien. Alex, a Colorado native, has over 18 years of professional experience working at well-respected firms such as Kanner Architects and Shubin + Donaldson. During her seven years as an associate at Kanner, she focused primarily on high end residential and commercial architecture and was Project Architect on the award winning Houses at Sagaponac.
Alex graduated from University of Colorado school of Architecture and Planning and studied at the Art Institute of Florence, Lorenzo di Medici. She has two beautiful sons with her husband.
David Ellien’s professional experience began with Moore, Ruble, Yudell Architects & Planners before moving on to Kanner Architects where he spent 8 years working alongside Stephen Kanner evolving the firm’s approach to solving design challenges. His pursuit of design that recognizes and embraces the connection between architecture and the natural environment led him to Elysian Landscapes where he managed both design and construction of landscape projects. Founding fullBRANCH with his wife Alex provided David the opportunity to draw on his interdisciplinary background in architecture and landscape design in pursuit of the firm’s mission to design solutions addressing both site and building.
David received his Master of Architecture degree from the UCLA School of Arts and Architecture in 1998 after completing Bachelor degrees in Economics and Political Science. His work has been published in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Architectural Digest, Dwell, GQ, Trends, Residential Architect and LA Architect.
Daina Swagerty is a senior designer at fullBRANCH with experience in residential and commercial architecture and interiors. For as long as she can remember, she has been inspired by the inherent beauty of natural materials and their innate complexities. She accredits this fascination to her background as an artist, youth in New England, and international travels. Prior to joining fullBRANCH in 2019, she worked with Shubin Donaldson, MASA Studio, and Maryann Thompson Architects in addition to her private practice in design and consulting. Daina has taught for the LA architecture program at the University of Tunis Carthage and has exhibited work at the LA Forum, AIA DC, and the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University.
She received her BA in Studio Art from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her M.Arch from Syracuse University School of Architecture with extended studies in Japan and Italy.
Aris Keshishian joined the fullBRANCH team in early 2020 as a Project Manager. His appetite for architecture was ignited in high school when he attended the USC Architecture Summer Program. This growing passion then led him to pursue formally studying Architecture at both the University of Buenos Aires as well as Woodbury University, where he would complete his degree. He then sharpened his skills in design and project management through working for several Los Angeles based Architecture firms including Hodgetts + Fung, Johnson Fain, and AUX, where he collaborated on several noteworthy projects such as, the Robert Frost Auditorium Renovation and the Constellation Park Towers. His aptitude for different building typologies includes Single & Multi FamilyResidential, Mixed-Use, Government Facilities, High Rise Commercial, K-12 Schools, and Hospitals. Aris recently completing his architecture licensure. In his spare time he enjoys mountain biking, watching horror films, and exploring National Parks.
Eridani Reyes is a project designer at fullBRANCH who specializes in residential and commercial spaces. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, she lived in Mexico City for 7 years during which time she studied architecture at The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and worked at the firm A-001 Taller de Arquitectura. She traces her love of design back to her childhood in Cuernavaca, Mexico, a city defined by its vibrant culture and integration of natural spaces into its urban environment.