As Space Travel and Manned Missions become a new reality, architecture needs to evolve to meet the unique requirements of new frontiers, that span orbital missions, lunar and Martian habitats, and extreme terrestrial environments.
Pranita Khedkar, our next pathbreaker, Critical Facilities Architect at HKS Inc (Chicago), works in the Mission Critical practice at HKS, responsible for desiging high-performance environments that support essential infrastructure across sectors like healthcare, defense, finance, and cloud computing.
Pranita talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about her MS in Space Architecture at SICSA, University of Houston where she collaborated with engineers on orbital vehicles, lunar habitats, and human performance research.
For students, Architecture isn’t just about form and function, it’s about systems, psychology, and the impact your work has on human life.
Pranita, can you share your background with our young readers?
I grew up in Mumbai, India, where my early drawings led my parents to enroll me in art classes at age four. That spark of creativity soon became a passion for imagining and building, guiding me toward architecture. Raised in Anushaktinagar, a scientific community where my father worked at NPCIL and my mother nurtured our growth, I was surrounded by curiosity and innovation. I attended Atomic Energy Central School, where academics, Bharatnatyam, and sports shaped my childhood. I competed in table tennis at the district level and actively pursued swimming and handball, with a schedule that balanced intellectual and creative development. My mother ensured my brother and I explored every opportunity. Today, my wardrobe in Mumbai still holds cherished art books and stationery reminders of a vibrant, formative past that continues to inspire my journey in design and architecture.
What did you do for graduation/post graduation?
At age 10, I became fascinated by how things are built, which led me to pursue architecture. I earned admission to L.S. Raheja School of Architecture, Mumbai University, and graduated with distinction. Early on in first year of college, I joined NASA (National Association of Students of Architecture), traveling to Himachal Pradesh to document a remote settlement. Our team’s hand-drafted drawings earned a top 20 spot across SAARC nations. Later, my thesis focused on reconnecting Pune with its riverfront, designing a sustainable intervention to restore biodiversity and engage communities. This exposure to extreme environments inspired me to pursue an MS in Space Architecture at SICSA, University of Houston. I also received Dean’s Scholarship for my master’s. Arriving in the U.S. during COVID, I collaborated with engineers on orbital vehicles, lunar habitats, and human performance research. My work earned recognition and was exhibited at the Russian Museum of Cosmonauts, reinforcing my commitment to designing environments that elevate human life in the most challenging conditions.
What inspired you to choose a career in Space Architecture?
Growing up in a community shaped by pioneers like Dr. Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai, I was surrounded by a culture that celebrated science, design, and cosmic exploration. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I began researching and writing about architecture and technology, which helped refine my voice and deepen my purpose. During this time, my passion for resilient design evolved beyond aesthetics and it became a tool to elevate human life. Architecture transformed into a form of activism, rooted in impact and intention. Collaborating with students and engineers from around the world expanded my perspective and strengthened my belief that architecture must respond to both environmental extremes and human needs, blending technical innovation with empathy and systems thinking.
How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path.
After completing my B. Arch, I joined BLARROW Online Services Pvt. Ltd., authoring over 160 articles and mentoring 15 architecture students as Head of Content. That role deepened my leadership skills and emotional intelligence, especially in guiding aspiring architectural journalists’ students. My architecture journey began with an internship at Integrid Design in Pune, followed by full-time work at Planquadrat India, where I learned speed and efficiency through their design-build approach. I was able to work on 12 projects in a duration of a year.
The transition from architecture to space architecture felt like a natural evolution, an intersection of my passion for extreme environments, precision, and purposeful design. The Sasakawa International Center for Space Architecture (SICSA) at the University of Houston offers a groundbreaking program that merges architectural design with aerospace engineering, human factors, and systems thinking. Its focus spans orbital missions, lunar and Martian habitats, and extreme terrestrial environments. Though not conventionally science-intensive, the curriculum is deeply interdisciplinary, demanding fluency in environmental control systems, human physiology, mission planning, and design innovation. As architecture evolves to meet new frontiers, pursuing this degree expands your perspective and equips you to reimagine how built environments can adapt, inspire, and thrive anywhere in the universe.
After earning my MS in Space Architecture from the University of Houston, I joined HPA, applying sustainable material strategies to fast-paced, technical projects. Now at HKS, I’m part of the Mission Critical team, designing high-performance facilities that demand resilience and reliability. My goal is to shape architecture that transcends Earth crafting environments that are not only technically resilient but also emotionally and socially enriching for future human habitation.
How did you get your first break?
My first break came through a mix of preparation, curiosity, and creating the right conditions rather than relying on luck. Each opportunity built upon the last, but the real turning point was realizing that architecture could be a tool for impact, not just aesthetics. I was selected to join HPA, Humphrey’s and Partners Architects during my college career fair, where my technical skills and deep understanding of building systems and software stood out. Working on a range of projects gave me hands-on insight into building material selection and its relationship to performance, context, and design intent. That experience sharpened my ability to connect technical decisions with broader architectural purpose, reinforcing my belief that thoughtful design can shape how people live, work, and thrive. This mindset opened doors for collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and eventually, my next role at HKS. It was not just a job switch but a shift in purpose and where critical environments design would take me. Architecture has taught me to be a master of many disciplines blending art, engineering, creativity, science into one cohesive vision. It demands not only creativity, but coordination, foresight, and empathy.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
One of the key challenges I faced was transitioning from traditional architecture to space architecture: a field that demands not only technical rigor but also a deep understanding of human psychology, systems thinking, and extreme environmental conditions. It wasn’t just a shift in scale; it was a shift in mindset. I had to unlearn Earth-bound assumptions and relearn how to design for environments where gravity, atmosphere, and even time behave differently. Another significant challenge was entering the U.S. during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic to pursue my master’s degree in Space Architecture. The first few months were shaped by remote learning, limited interaction, and ongoing uncertainty. Adapting to online classrooms in a field that thrives on collaboration and hands-on engagement was difficult, but it made me more resourceful and self-driven. I broadened my perspective, deepened my understanding of interdisciplinary teamwork, and stayed focused on my purpose, designing environments that elevate human life in extreme conditions.
Where do you work now?
I work in the Mission Critical practice at HKS, where we design high-performance environments that support essential infrastructure across sectors like healthcare, defense, finance, and cloud computing. These facilities like data centers, secure government buildings, and tech-driven campuses are engineered for nonstop operation 24/7, demanding absolute precision and resilience. As a multidisciplinary architect, I navigate complex challenges that fuse advanced technical systems with human-centered design. While these critical environments require minimal human intervention, the few who do work within them often face sensory fatigue from constant noise, confined administrative spaces, and limited daylight. My role involves not only optimizing performance and uptime but also advocating for the well-being of those behind the scenes. Our clients include leading tech firms, financial institutions, and government agencies, all engaged in highly confidential projects that form the digital and operational backbone of modern society. My day at office involves strategic coordination with engineers, refining layouts to ensure equipment fits seamlessly and operators have safe clear access. Their basis of design often depends on my spatial planning. This role allows me to merge my passion for machines and science with architecture and designing not just around technology, but for it. It is a space where innovation meets reliability, and every decision contributes to environments that quietly power the world.
How does your work as a Multidisciplinary architect benefit the society?
My work supports the evolving technological infrastructure by designing resilient, high-performance environments that meet the demands of mission-critical operations. These facilities must function flawlessly to protect data, enable essential services, and support industries that shape daily life. I focus on balancing technical precision with human-centered design to ensure long-term social impact. Collaborating with my team, I integrate sustainability standards into every phase of the project, prioritizing energy efficiency, adaptive reuse, and carbon-conscious strategies. Our goal is to make these buildings as green and future ready as possible, aligning with the 2030 carbon footprint. Through this work, I help shape infrastructure that operates behind the scenes yet plays a vital role in powering society driven by purpose, precision, and responsibility. Beyond the professional sphere, I actively engage with Aerospace and Architecture communities, staying connected to emerging ideas, interdisciplinary dialogue, and the evolving future of design.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is remarkably close to you!
I deeply enjoyed working on my master’s thesis, which explored Human Performance and Architecture in Extreme Environments. The project was set in Ladakh, where I discovered striking parallels between its geological and microclimatic conditions and those of Mars 400 million years ago, when the planet may have supported life. The astrobiology, site evolution, and environmental patterns made it an ideal analog for extraterrestrial research. Over the course of a year, I immersed myself in this context and developed a design intervention for a habitat tailored to human analog missions. The proposed facility included comprehensive systems to support isolation studies, enabling research on psychological and physiological resilience, spatial behavior, and operational performance in remote, high-stress conditions. It was a fusion of science, architecture, and human adaptability. It was incredibly rewarding to see my project feature on SICSA website and shared with a broader audience about the importance of architecture in space exploration.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
My advice to students entering architecture or any interplanetary field is this: think beyond buildings. Architecture isn’t just about form and function, it’s about systems, psychology, and the impact your work has on human life. Whether you’re designing a mission-critical facility or a Martian habitat, remember that your spaces shape how people live, work, and thrive. Always stay curious, challenge assumptions, and keep questioning because that’s where true innovation begins.
Future Plans?
Currently I am pursuing, MS in Project Management concentration in Human-centered design and my future plans will revolve around deepening the integration. I aim to design systems and space that not only meet technical demands but elevate human performance and psychological safety. Ultimately, I want my work to redefine what architecture can be: resilient, empathetic, and transformative across worlds.