Q. What motivated you to choose the field of architecture?
A. At some point, I realized I was fascinated by the assembly of the world around me: how buildings, spaces, materials, systems, and details come together. I wanted to work in a field that required deep thinking about how those assemblies meet real-world constraints while still creating something thoughtful, beautiful, and functional. Architecture felt like the most logical and immersive way to engage with that.
Q. What type of work are you most interested in?
A. Residential design has always been my passion. I find it especially rewarding to work toward something that feels intentional, personal, and deeply connected to the people who will live in it.
Q. What has been your biggest challenge since obtaining your architecture degree?
A. My biggest challenge has been keeping design at the forefront of my work. Once the pressures of real projects, schedules, budgets, and coordination set in, it can be easy to lose some of the freedom to generate new ideas and follow unexpected design paths. I’ve been working to hold onto that sense of exploration while becoming more grounded in practice.
Q. What did you like about architecture school?
A. I enjoyed the freedom of design and the opportunity to explore without so many restrictions. Studio gave me room to test ideas, iterate, refine, and often restart entirely. The projects were varied and energizing, and each semester pushed me to think in new ways and stretch different creative muscles.
Q. Any criticisms of the architecture education experience?
A. I think architecture education could do more to prepare students for the realities of practice. Topics like running a business, finding work, communicating ideas clearly and efficiently, understanding clients, and navigating the broader profession should be more integrated into the curriculum. Architecture is such a wide-ranging field, and the education should reflect that breadth.
Q. What are your professional goals?
A. I want to stay in a position where I am always learning, using new tools, refining mistakes, sharing knowledge, and staying excited about the work in front of me. Whatever path continues to lead me there is the one I want to follow.
Q. Who do you consider to be some of your favorite architects?
A. I’ve recently been very interested in the work of Suárez Santas Arquitectos in Pamplona.
Q. Do you have a favorite building or city?
A. I.M. Pei’s East Building at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Q. What do you hope to get out of your AIA Brooklyn Chapter membership?
A. I hope to meet others in the field, gain more insight into local events and advisory work, and learn from the broader knowledge of the AIA Brooklyn community. I’m excited to be part of a group that can help me better understand the profession locally and continue to move my own work forward.
