We are a team of curious creatives working to tackle design challenges within our community and around the world.

Chicago
Logan Square
3231 West Armitage Avenue

Ciudad de Panamá
Sta. Maria Business Park
PH Prime 507

Interested in working together? Email is usually the best way to reach out ... hola@viachicago.co ←

Partners

Cristina Gallo, AIA
Architect + Owner
Left Brain

A proud native of Cali, Colombia, Cristina Gallo has spent more than two decades immersed in the culture and construction landscape of Panamá. This cross-cultural perspective continues to shape the studio’s work across Latin America and the United States.

As co-founder of Via Chicago, Cristina leads the execution and delivery of projects across the firm’s portfolio, ensuring that strong ideas are translated into durable, well-built architecture. She is known for building lasting relationships with clients, collaborators, and communities, and for keeping projects moving forward with clarity and confidence.

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Cristina also holds a Master of Science in Real Estate from Roosevelt University. She is a licensed architect in both Illinois and Panamá — and never, ever runs out of words.

➜ cristina@viachicago.co

✖ Licensed Architect - Illinois
✖ Arquitecta - Panamá
✎ University of Notre Dame (B. Arch)
✒ Roosevelt University (MSRE)

Marty Sandberg, AIA
Architect + Owner
Right Brain

Marty Sandberg is an architect and co-founder of Via Chicago, where he leads the creative direction of the firm’s design work and encourages thoughtful debate among the studio’s talented team.

Curious by nature and deeply visual in his thinking, Marty is known for translating complex ideas into clear sketches and compelling design narratives. His path to architecture was an unconventional one, including summers building log homes in the Rocky Mountains and working as an electrical apprentice on high-rise construction sites in Denver — experiences that continue to shape his practical approach to design.

Marty maintains an active NCARB certificate and is licensed in several states. He is a tragically-optimistic Cubs fan, never gets lost, and is always up for trying a new local beer.

➜ marty@viachicago.co

✖ Licensed Architect - Illinois, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Wisconsin
✎ University of Notre Dame (B. Arch)

Via Chicago

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Via Chicago ❌

Team

A resident of Panamá with deep roots in the Midwest, TONY WAY brings more than 20 years of experience in architectural and urban design across Panamá, Costa Rica, the Bahamas, and the United States. His work is grounded in a careful reading of context — how buildings respond to urban form, climate, and local culture — and how thoughtful design can strengthen the places people call home.

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Arquitecto - Panamá
University of Notre Dame

A proud lifelong resident of Panama City, ANDREA QUIJADA thrives on complex architectural challenges and solving them with creativity and precision. She plays a central role in coordinating Via Chicago’s growing portfolio of high-end residential work, bringing clarity to the process and a disciplined approach to detailing, spatial planning, and project organization.

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Arquitecta - Panamá
Universidad de Panamá

Hailing from southern Patagonia, CARO ARECHETA brings a thoughtful perspective on the relationship between architecture and the natural world. Her enthusiasm for design — and for life in general — adds a steady sense of energy to the studio, encouraging collaboration and curiosity as new ideas take shape.

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Arquitecta - Chile
Universitat de Barcelona
Universidad Finis Terrae

OLIVA BARQUERO is motivated by the opportunity to transform ideas into spaces that respond naturally to their surroundings and to the needs of the people who inhabit them. She focuses on the everyday user experience—from first impressions to daily routines—while integrating sustainability and energy efficiency from the earliest stages of design.

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Arquitecta - Panamá
Universidad Veritas (Costa Rica )
LEED GA / EDGE Expert

Driven by curiosity and a genuine sense of wonder, EDGAR FERNÁNDEZ-RÍOS approaches architecture as a continuous search for meaning through careful refinement of details. He values collaboration as an essential part of the creative process, believing that strong teamwork leads to thoughtful solutions and emotionally resonant spaces.

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Arquitecto - Panamá
Universidad de Panamá

MARÍA del PILAR CABRALES specializes in custom millwork shop drawings and precise installation coordination. Her work connects design vision with practical execution, translating ideas into clear instructions for fabricators and installers. She takes pride in craftsmanship and consistency, helping ensure that finished spaces meet the high standards our clients expect from Via Chicago.

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Arquitecta - Colombia
Universidad Piloto de Colombia

MAGYORI RUÍZ is always looking for ways to strengthen the performance and livability of the studio’s residential projects in Panamá. With prior experience working directly in the field, she brings a practical understanding of construction that supports thoughtful decision-making and careful refinement of details — resulting in spaces that are both functional and visually cohesive.

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Arquitecta - Panamá
Universidad Interamericana de Panamá

GILBERTO ECHEVERS is driven by a deep interest in construction documentation and coordination across the full project team. He enjoys staying closely involved in each phase of the process, from early design through final construction. Seeing a project fully realized is one of his greatest professional rewards, and he values strong collaboration as the foundation for successful outcomes.

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Arquitecto - Panamá
Universidad de Panamá

Growing up between Panamá and Ecuador, JUAN DAVID MORENO learned early that every place carries its own story. That perspective continues to shape his work today, as he draws lessons from travel and observation to inform each design. He approaches projects with curiosity and respect for local character, balancing new ideas with the identity of each site.

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Arquitecto - Panamá
Isthmus - Escuela de Arquitectura y Diseño de América Latina y el Caribe

AMBAR ASHRAF brings a hands-on approach shaped by direct engagement with materials, communities, and the act of building itself. Her experience designing and constructing a mass-timber bathhouse and managing a small-scale farm at Auburn’s Rural Studio continues to inform her interest in projects that connect design, sustainability, and everyday life.

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Auburn University

MARÍA ALEJANDRA MARÍN brings a refined design sensibility supported by a strong technical foundation. With experience in residential architecture and interior design, she contributes to the development of interior elements with careful attention to materials, coordination, and documentation — helping ensure that design intent is clearly communicated and faithfully carried through construction.

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Arquitecta - Panamá
Universidad de Panamá

Inspired by the contrasts of Panamá, LILLIAN PEREA MORALES sees each project as an opportunity to connect ideas, disciplines, and details into a cohesive whole. Her approach combines precision with sensitivity, aiming to create architecture that not only looks good, but feels right and contributes to the well-being of the people who use it.

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Arquitecta - Panamá
Universidad de Panamá

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