Interview Archive | AIA Brooklyn

2026

INTERVIEW WITH MATTHEW MORGAN

INTERVIEW WITH MARIANA TORRES

INTERVIEW WITH SAM ESHAGHOFF

INTERVIEW WITH ENRIQUE GARCIA

INTERVIEW WITH ALYSSA DURAN

INTERVIEW WITH YI WANG

INTERVIEW WITH LEAH KIREN SOLK

2025

INTERVIEW WITH DEANNA BARIS

INTERVIEW WITH ANDRZEJ BRATKOWSKI

INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL FARRIS

INTERVIEW WITH LUKAS KLERTIASHVILI

INTERVIEW WITH ELLIOT SLOVIS

INTERVIEW WITH CASANDRA JONES

INTERVIEW WITH GENE DASSING

INTERVIEW WITH SADIE NOONE

INTERVIEW WITH MERYEM ESSAOUDI

INTERVIEW WITH CHIWA YEUNG

INTERVIEW WITH MAGDALENA ZINK

INTERVIEW WITH DAVID LING

INTERVIEW WITH SIYU XIAO

INTERVIEW WITH SELIN DEMIRBAS

INTERVIEW WITH EMILY NELSON

2024

2023

Interview with Angeline Jacques

Interview with Andrew Hong

Interview with Jimmy Counts

Interview with Japheth Aleyakpo

Interview with Davis Owen

Interview with Chris Aniftos

Interview with Ana Cubit

Interview with Eric Safyan

Interview with Nicholas Barrera

Interview with Manish Vasan

Interview with Yitzy Shine

Interview with Patricia Semmler

Interview with Christoper Nelson

Interview with Rob Leising

Interview with Hans Maarten Wikkerink

Interview with Charles Lent

Interview with Shreekumar Kale

Interview with Jing Lui

Interview with Ivan Himanen

Interview with Can Vu Bui

Interview with Saakshi Aundhkar

Interview with Jesus Chavez

2022

Interview with Ana C Monteverde

Interview with Onica Leitch-Edinboro

Interview with Adam Wiesehan

Interview with Ryan Hansen

Interview with Emma VandeWater

Interview with Fernando Fisbein

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Featured Events

Mar 19, 2026 • BKEP and WIA

AIA Brooklyn "Ask Me Anything": March Mentoring

6:30 pm–8:30 pm

CityTech Voorhees Hall, 186 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Join AIA Brooklyn’s WIA (Women in Architecture Committee) and BKEP (Emerging Professionals Committee) to learn about models of mentoring and opportunities for connection.

Mentorship is essential at every stage of the architectural journey—from K–12 to higher education, young architects to seasoned practitioners, firm leaders to the College of Fellows. At each step, mentors and mentees help guide growth, navigate transitions, and champion one another’s success.

In this forum, speakers representing four stages of the professional pipeline will share perspectives on the value and impact of mentorship. Where does mentorship happen? How can you find—or become—a mentor? Join the discussion, bring your questions, and explore how mentorship can shape your career. After the conversation, learn how to get involved in AIA Brooklyn’s new mentorship program – Mentoring Architectural Pathways (MAP) launching Spring 2026.

Attendees earn 1.5 LU

Panelists:

Osaruyi Amadasun, LEED GA, NOMA – Bone/Levine Architects

Kedishia Joseph, Assoc. AIA, NOMA

Bo Lee, AIA, LEED AP – Bo Lee Architects

Courtney Morgan, Assoc. AIA, NOMA – SCRD | Studio for Collaboration, Research, and Design

Panelist Bios:

Osaruyi Amadasun, LEED GA, NOMA

Osaruyi Valerie Amadasun is a recent graduate of NYC College of Technology, where she earned her Bachelor of Architecture degree. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, she moved to New York City to pursue her architectural education. This experience profoundly shaped both her creative perspective and personal growth.

She currently works as a junior architectural designer and is on the path toward licensure. Passionate about sustainable and people-centered design, Osaruyi earned her LEED Green Associate credential and is committed to creating spaces that are both environmentally responsible and deeply functional.

Throughout her academic journey, she served as a teaching assistant and peer mentor, roles that strengthened her leadership skills and reinforced her belief in the power of mentorship. Inspired by the guidance she received as a student, she remains dedicated to supporting and uplifting emerging designers.

Beyond architecture, Osaruyi views creativity as a lifestyle, expressed through design, fashion, and an active, balanced life. She is excited to continue shaping spaces that inspire, empower, and serve communities.

Kedishia Joseph, Assoc. AIA, NOMA

Meet Kedishia Joseph, Caribbean American Architectural Designer and founder of KTJ Architectural Services, specializing in specification writing, risk management, and project closeout support. Kedishia approaches architecture through the lens of resilience, cultural memory, and belonging, recognizing that displacement and underrepresentation transcend borders.

Her journey into the profession was no small feat. Despite educational and financial barriers, she forged her path through faith in God, persistence, determination, and sacrifice. Shaped by a culture defined by strength, and adaptability, her nontraditional path fuels her commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices, through involvement with NOMAS, NYCOBA, and AIANY, where she works to transform barriers into opportunities and clear pathways for the next generation.

She is committed to creating spaces rooted in culture and belonging and champions adaptive reuse, legislative advocacy, and affordable housing. Guided by her mantra, “Be Proud, Be Bold, and Be Deliberate,” Kedishia leads with cultural identity, conviction and purpose for all.

Bo Lee, AIA, LEED AP

Raised in Seoul, South Korea, Bo immigrated to the US at age 14, later earning a B.Arch from Cornell University’s School of Architecture. She has over 25 years of experience, practicing many different types of architecture in NYC. She’s worked at the offices of SOM, Handel Architects, 1100 Architect, and the NYC Department of Design and Construction. She is a registered architect in the State of New York, and a LEED Accredited Professional.

Bo established Bo Lee Architects in 2016 with the goal of creating a strong and nimble team of experts at their craft, that would lead the complex process of transforming concept designs into physical spaces with equanimity, thoughtful attention to detail, and fun. Her team’s work ethic and standards are unpretentiously high while day-to-day interactions are collaborative and warm. She is excited every day to be a part of the incredible team, culture, and process she has cultivated, and for each opportunity to create a unique space that has a personally meaningful and consistently positive impact on people’s lives.

Courtney Morgan, Assoc. AIA, NOMA

Courtney Morgan brings 10 years of strategy, community engagement and facilitation experience to the team as the owner and President of SCRD. Some notable projects of SCRD include the 5-year strategy plan for the Highlandtown Arts and Entertainment District, Maryland’s largest arts district, Reconnecting Communities in West Baltimore Coalition strategy plan and Owens Park. As a practitioner Morgan utilizes new and known technologies to vision alongside communities. For Courtney that means making new AI technologies accessible, coupled with archival practices of oral storytelling. She is drawn to projects that pose an opportunity to embed marginalized perspectives into the built environment and urban fabric to create a city shaped by multiculturalism.

Morgan’s work seeks to alleviate pain points by making community engagement the foundation of the design process. In this way community voices are centered in the narrative, thereby empowering them to redesign their spaces on their own terms. Courtney is a design strategy professor at Parsons Design School.

Courtney’s professional activities include:

BlackSpace Urbanist Collective Board Member | 2024 – present

Brooklyn Queens Land Trust Board Member | 2024 – present

Brooklyn Community Board 8 Board Member | 2024 – present

American Institute of Architects Associate Director mid-Atlantic Region | 2020 – 2022

National Organization of Minority Architects Community Engagement Chair + Charter Member, Baltimore Chapter | 2017 – 2022

Savannah College of Art and Design Guest Design Critic and Guest Speaker | 2020 – 2022

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Upcoming Events

March
Mar 19, 2026 • BKEP and WIA

AIA Brooklyn “Ask Me Anything”: March Mentoring

6:30 pm–8:30 pm

CityTech Voorhees Hall, 186 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Join AIA Brooklyn’s WIA (Women in Architecture Committee) and BKEP (Emerging Professionals Committee) to learn about models of mentoring and opportunities for connection.

Mentorship is essential at every stage of the architectural journey—from K–12 to higher education, young architects to seasoned practitioners, firm leaders to the College of Fellows. At each step, mentors and mentees help guide growth, navigate transitions, and champion one another’s success.

In this forum, speakers representing four stages of the professional pipeline will share perspectives on the value and impact of mentorship. Where does mentorship happen? How can you find—or become—a mentor? Join the discussion, bring your questions, and explore how mentorship can shape your career. After the conversation, learn how to get involved in AIA Brooklyn’s new mentorship program – Mentoring Architectural Pathways (MAP) launching Spring 2026.

Attendees earn 1.5 LU

Panelists:

Osaruyi Amadasun, LEED GA, NOMA – Bone/Levine Architects

Kedishia Joseph, Assoc. AIA, NOMA

Bo Lee, AIA, LEED AP – Bo Lee Architects

Courtney Morgan, Assoc. AIA, NOMA – SCRD | Studio for Collaboration, Research, and Design

Panelist Bios:

Osaruyi Amadasun, LEED GA, NOMA

Osaruyi Valerie Amadasun is a recent graduate of NYC College of Technology, where she earned her Bachelor of Architecture degree. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, she moved to New York City to pursue her architectural education. This experience profoundly shaped both her creative perspective and personal growth.

She currently works as a junior architectural designer and is on the path toward licensure. Passionate about sustainable and people-centered design, Osaruyi earned her LEED Green Associate credential and is committed to creating spaces that are both environmentally responsible and deeply functional.

Throughout her academic journey, she served as a teaching assistant and peer mentor, roles that strengthened her leadership skills and reinforced her belief in the power of mentorship. Inspired by the guidance she received as a student, she remains dedicated to supporting and uplifting emerging designers.

Beyond architecture, Osaruyi views creativity as a lifestyle, expressed through design, fashion, and an active, balanced life. She is excited to continue shaping spaces that inspire, empower, and serve communities.

Kedishia Joseph, Assoc. AIA, NOMA

Meet Kedishia Joseph, Caribbean American Architectural Designer and founder of KTJ Architectural Services, specializing in specification writing, risk management, and project closeout support. Kedishia approaches architecture through the lens of resilience, cultural memory, and belonging, recognizing that displacement and underrepresentation transcend borders.

Her journey into the profession was no small feat. Despite educational and financial barriers, she forged her path through faith in God, persistence, determination, and sacrifice. Shaped by a culture defined by strength, and adaptability, her nontraditional path fuels her commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices, through involvement with NOMAS, NYCOBA, and AIANY, where she works to transform barriers into opportunities and clear pathways for the next generation.

She is committed to creating spaces rooted in culture and belonging and champions adaptive reuse, legislative advocacy, and affordable housing. Guided by her mantra, “Be Proud, Be Bold, and Be Deliberate,” Kedishia leads with cultural identity, conviction and purpose for all.

Bo Lee, AIA, LEED AP

Raised in Seoul, South Korea, Bo immigrated to the US at age 14, later earning a B.Arch from Cornell University’s School of Architecture. She has over 25 years of experience, practicing many different types of architecture in NYC. She’s worked at the offices of SOM, Handel Architects, 1100 Architect, and the NYC Department of Design and Construction. She is a registered architect in the State of New York, and a LEED Accredited Professional.

Bo established Bo Lee Architects in 2016 with the goal of creating a strong and nimble team of experts at their craft, that would lead the complex process of transforming concept designs into physical spaces with equanimity, thoughtful attention to detail, and fun. Her team’s work ethic and standards are unpretentiously high while day-to-day interactions are collaborative and warm. She is excited every day to be a part of the incredible team, culture, and process she has cultivated, and for each opportunity to create a unique space that has a personally meaningful and consistently positive impact on people’s lives.

Courtney Morgan, Assoc. AIA, NOMA

Courtney Morgan brings 10 years of strategy, community engagement and facilitation experience to the team as the owner and President of SCRD. Some notable projects of SCRD include the 5-year strategy plan for the Highlandtown Arts and Entertainment District, Maryland’s largest arts district, Reconnecting Communities in West Baltimore Coalition strategy plan and Owens Park. As a practitioner Morgan utilizes new and known technologies to vision alongside communities. For Courtney that means making new AI technologies accessible, coupled with archival practices of oral storytelling. She is drawn to projects that pose an opportunity to embed marginalized perspectives into the built environment and urban fabric to create a city shaped by multiculturalism.

Morgan’s work seeks to alleviate pain points by making community engagement the foundation of the design process. In this way community voices are centered in the narrative, thereby empowering them to redesign their spaces on their own terms. Courtney is a design strategy professor at Parsons Design School.

Courtney’s professional activities include:

BlackSpace Urbanist Collective Board Member | 2024 – present

Brooklyn Queens Land Trust Board Member | 2024 – present

Brooklyn Community Board 8 Board Member | 2024 – present

American Institute of Architects Associate Director mid-Atlantic Region | 2020 – 2022

National Organization of Minority Architects Community Engagement Chair + Charter Member, Baltimore Chapter | 2017 – 2022

Savannah College of Art and Design Guest Design Critic and Guest Speaker | 2020 – 2022

RSVP

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Mar 26, 2026

Save the Date: Film Screening and Director Talkback at CityTech

6:00 pm–8:30 pm

CityTech Voorhees Hall, 186 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Save the date for a screening of Changing Lanes, followed by a panel discussion and talkback with director Ben Wolf. AIA Brooklyn has coordinated a panel of architects and community leaders to participate in the discussion.

Documentary synopsis:
When a beloved teacher is tragically killed in a hit-and-run crash in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a grassroots movement emerges to transform a notoriously dangerous four-lane boulevard into a safer, two-lane street with protected bike lanes.

Click here to view the trailer.

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April
Apr 2, 2026 • AIA Brooklyn

Brooklyn NOW! Exhibition Opening and Panel Discussion

5:30 pm–8:00 pm

L10 Arts & Culture Center, 10 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Brooklyn NOW! 26 is an exhibition about how design shows up in everyday life.

Where we live. Where we work. Where we gather and play.

Opening April 2026, Brooklyn NOW! 26 marks five years of architectural creativity across the borough.

The exhibition highlights the work shaping Brooklyn right now: adaptive reuse that gives old buildings new purpose, community spaces that bring people together, housing ideas that respond to real needs, and public places reimagined for shared life.

What it is

Brooklyn NOW! 26 welcomes built projects, works in progress, and unbuilt ideas. Because Brooklyn is never finished.

Every submission will be published on the AIA Brooklyn website, creating an open digital archive of design across the borough. A curated selection will be exhibited at the Brooklyn Public Library L10 Library for Arts and Culture, alongside a month of public programs, talks, and events in April.

This is Brooklyn beyond the glossy spreads. Real work. Real people. Real impact. Brooklyn NOW! 26 captures the ingenuity, resilience, and care that define the borough.

Celebrate

Join us for an opening reception and panel discussion on April 3.

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Apr 13, 2026– Apr 17, 2026 • AIA National

Architecture Week Virtual Read-Alouds

Zoom

It’s never too early to start thinking like an architect! Architecture Week is a nationwide celebration recognizing the power of good design, with a goal of inspiring hopeful architecture and design professionals and K-12 students.

Gather your students and join architecture and design children’s book authors throughout Architecture Week for a virtual read-aloud followed by Q&A. All times noted are EST. Click the book image to register for your favorite session(s). Groups are welcome.

Fourteen read-alouds will be held between April 13 and April 17, 2026.

RSVP

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Apr 18, 2026– Apr 19, 2026 • AIA Brooklyn and CityTech

AIA Brooklyn Architecture Week: Two-Day Architecture Studio for Brooklyn High School Students (Registration Required)

9:00 am–4:00 pm

NYC College of Technology (CityTech), Voorhees Hall, 186 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Brooklyn, in collaboration with City Tech, is pleased to launch the first annual Architecture Week, a celebration of the architecture profession with programs designed to inspire students and the community. This two-day workshop is free and open to all Brooklyn high school students who are curious about architecture, design, or how cities are shaped.

The Program –

Reading the Block is a hands-on architecture studio hosted at City Tech’s Architecture Department. Over two days, students will explore a real Brooklyn city block, learn how architects study neighborhoods, and understand how design decisions impact daily life.

What Students Will Do –
Students will work in small groups alongside architects, college mentors, and design professionals. Activities are modeled after real architecture studios and include:

sketching and observing an urban block

learning how architects analyze buildings, streets, and public spaces

collaborating as a team to redesign a real city block

creating drawings and models

presenting their ideas in a supportive “pin-up” review, just like in architecture school

What Students Gain –
The workshop builds confidence, creativity, and leadership through:

design thinking

problem-solving

storytelling and presentation skills

craft and model-making

constructive feedback and collaboration

Students leave with a deeper understanding of how architects shape communities – and with new skills that support future academic and career pathways.

Dates: April 18–19
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Final Presentation: 4:00 PM (Families Welcome)

PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Please register your High School student below.

Registration Form Here

RSVP

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Apr 18, 2026– Apr 19, 2026 • AIA Brooklyn and CityTech

AIA Brooklyn Architecture Week: Call for Volunteers

9:00 am–4:00 pm

NYC College of Technology (CityTech), Voorhees Hall, 186 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

AIA Brooklyn Architecture Week – Volunteer Opportunities

AIA Brooklyn is excited to launch Brooklyn’s inaugural participation in AIA National’s Architecture Week! Brooklyn’s Architecture Week will take place on April 13-19, focusing on educating the community, especially the K-12 children on architecture and career pathways in the built environment. As a part of this initiative, AIA Brooklyn is hosting educational architecture “studios” for high school students at the Brooklyn College of Technology (City Tech) on April 18-19 (Saturday and Sunday).

JOIN our Mentoring Architectural Pathways (MAP) Committee to help facilitate educational workshops for high school students, lead firm tours, provide lunch and learn firm tours, teach sketching, demonstrate how to study an urban block, instruct how to build basic models, coach a framework for public speaking to present your pin-up, and many more opportunities to shape the future architect leaders.

This two-day workshop will be held at City Tech’s Vorhees Hall on April 18th and 19th (Saturday and Sunday), from 9AM-4PM starting with a welcome address and ending with a celebratory “pin-up”.

All participants will earn CEU certificates based on half day participation. We encourage facilitators for the architecture “studios” to sign up for both full days to build the mentoring with the high school students.

Program Overview:

Architecture Week centers on hands-on learning experiences for students, facilitated by volunteer architects, emerging professionals and college students. Approximately 100 high school students are invited to participate; organized into “studio” groups of 5-7 participants each with 3 leaders+assistants. Our goal is to open the architecture profession’s pipeline to students, many of whom have limited access to architecture or design classes in their high schools.

We all play key roles in educating and inspiring the next generation of architects. Let’s build the pipeline together.

Firm tours on 4/18/26 would begin as early as 11AM and end by 2PM. Please select from the menu options below.

Click Here to Sign Up to Volunteer!

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