about arbor plans

Arbor Plans is dedicated to combining sustainable practices with excellent design. With a focus on residential architecture plans, the small team at Arbor Plans provides home and Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) plans, bringing you a customizable architectural plan at a fraction of the cost of hiring a firm. Personalized design services are available to each individual project.

By incorporating green building principles into thoughtful plans, we seek to improve our environment ecologically and aesthetically with every structure. Arbor Plans is the sister company to Restructure Studio, a full service architectural design firm located in Austin and serving the Central Texas area.

meet our team

Carina Coel

Carina Coel is the Founder and Principal Architect of Arbor Plans. She has worked in the architectural field in Austin since 2003. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree as well a B.A. in Architecture and Art History from Rice University in Houston. Sustainable living has been a passion of Carina’s since she started studying architecture. Carina loves dancing, listening to live music with her husband, trying to keep up with her two kids, and pretty much everything about Austin.

Andrea Brown

Trained in journalism and art history, Andrea began her career in communications with a large tech firm. Having always appreciated architecture and all things space-related, she now feels blessed to have found a work-home serving as Office Manager for Arbor Plans and Restructure Studio. When she’s not at work, Andrea can be found spending time with her husband or running her three active children to swim, gymnastics or ball games.

Alexandra Chaves

Venezuelan born, Alexandra initiated her Architecture studies in Caracas, Venezuela at Universidad Santa Maria. In 2002, she came to the US to complete her degree. She holds a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts majoring in Architecture and Masters in Architecture from SCAD. In 2006, She moved to NYC where she worked in different boutique Architectural firms dedicated to residential design. Alexandra finally moved to Austin in 2018 to be closer to family. She is happily married and proud mom to her son, Santiago.

Maite Nino Gil

Maite was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. She studied Architecture at Universidad Politecnica de Madrid. While there, she spent one year abroad at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois. Shortly after her time in Chicago in 1999, Maite moved to Austin, Texas.

Melissa Hargis Villanueva

Melissa was born in Princeton, NJ but grew up a Third Culture Kid, moving all over the world, from Saudi Arabia to Beijing. She completed her undergrad in Architecture from the University of Texas. After graduating, she returned to her hometown (Pamplona, Spain) for grad school. Upon completion of her degree, she moved back to Austin, where she lives now with her husband and son. They love the outdoors, animals, travel and adventure!