BEHIND THE DRAFTING BOARD

 

When I was 12 years old, my family moved from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the small ski town of Durango, Colorado. We made several trips back and forth during the move, but one building always caught my eye. I would wait for it to come into view, and then crane my neck in the car until it was no longer visible. So strong was my reaction to this beautiful beacon of the city life we were leaving behind, that I swore to myself I would someday design buildings that people won't want to tear their eyes away from. Stay tuned...

 

Througout my short life, I have worn many hats, but one factor has remained constant: the desire to become an architect. I began my undergraduate career at the University of Colorado in Boulder as an architectural engineering student, but after two years, I decided to streamline my education and transferred to the Architecture department. During my studies, I had the opportunity to study under Ranko Ruzic in Rome for a summer through the university's graduate program in Denver. This experience opened my eyes to the world beyond and I was determined to return to Europe. The next summer after graduation, I packed my bags and moved to Munich, Germany for two years. I took intensive German courses during the first year while working as an AuPair, and the second year was spent working in a German architecture firm, Albrecht und Partner. After learning about German code, and laws, I worked as a project manager for several small renovation projects across Germany, in Milan, Romania, and Spain. 

 

The only force strong enough to tear me away from Germany was my acceptance letter into the Masters of Architecture Program at the Univeristy of Washington in Seattle. Once again, I packed my bags and moved my life to a new city. This program has further added to the rich tapestry of knowledge that I has been influenced by so many different cultures and countries. During my two years at UW, I had the opportunity to study under Glenn Murcutt in Australia as a part of a design studio, and I once again traveled to Germany for a quarter long studio in Berlin under the inspired guidance of Nicole Huber. I have also worked throughout my Graduate program, first as a Design Studio Consultant at Pottery Barn, and later at atelierjones, LLC, in downtown Seattle. I have been working towards the completion of the Master's Program since 2013, and will graduate this December, 2015 with a focus in Sustainable Systems and Design and a Lighting Design Certificate.