2026 Senior Exhibition Artists 2026 Senior Exhibition Artists: Heather Cachia

About Heather Cachia

Heather Cachia is a senior in the Interior Architecture and Design program at UMass Dartmouth. Her design is driven by creating purposeful and meaningful environments that  an positively impact the community. She is inspired by spaces that thoughtfully address user needs and create a strong sense of connection and experience. Outside of her interior design coursework, Heather enjoys spending time with her dog, Juni, which influenced her thesis work to advocate for dogs in shelters.

Statement

My thesis reflects the renovation of an office and restaurant space transformed into a dog adoption promotion center and restaurant. The project addresses the reuse of an existing building by reimagining it as a community hub that promotes shelter dogs in a new and engaging way. Within this space, guests have the opportunity to enjoy the restaurant while also interacting with community shelter dogs. The design encourages a sense of movement within life itself, reflecting both the rhythm of daily activity and the journey toward a second chance for these animals. Whether guests are looking to adopt or simply visit, the space allows the community to bring sheltered dogs out of the traditional shelter setting and into a more visible, welcoming environment that supports their adoption. 

Email: hlcachia@icloud.com 

Heather Cachia

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