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Where are you from?  

Broomfield, Colorado.

What inspired your decision to come to Environmental Design at CU Boulder?  

I chose to attend ENVD because of the program's unique position for me to focus on Architecture while still being close to the beautiful natural environment around Boulder. I decided to pursue a program that would allow me to support my ethical design goals while still teaching me relevant and applicable skills. 

Did you know right away that you wanted to major in architecture? How/when did you know?  

I knew right away that I wanted to major in architecture. However, it was still beneficial to experience each of the four majors, see different areas of overlap, and develop my design skills beyond only architecture. I was fortunate enough to know I wanted to do architecture since I was very young, but that was only the case for some of my friends. I saw first-hand how helpful it was to experience all facets of design we teach in the program to decide on a career path students will enjoy pursuing. 

Do you have a favorite project that you're currently working on/have worked on in the past? 

This is a tricky question for me to answer since I have enjoyed so many of the projects. One of my favorite completed projects up to this point was a second-year architecture project called the Athenaeum. We were tasked with designing a new building for CU’s campus that would help unify the campus' existing art and design areas. The building would be positioned outside of CASE and in front of the art building. This project was my first large-scale architectural project and allowed me to explore interior and exterior spaces created by the building form. I also really loved how my final project turned out. I am excited to see what comes next with the skills I learned through that assignment. 

What has the program taught you about yourself as you’ve taken on your educational career?  

The program has taught me much about what I can achieve with hard work and passion. For much of high school, I did not feel passionate about any of the classes I was taking and that led me to put in just enough effort to get good grades instead of learning or caring about why I was going to school. Once I started taking classes in ENVD, I found a deep passion for design and was able to put a lot of effort into projects. The effort dedicated to projects showed me that finding learning opportunities rather than focusing on grades was much more valuable. 

What would you like to do upon graduating from Environmental Design?  

I want to continue my education first and foremost, get my M.Arch degree and open the path to get licensure quicker. I want to work for an architectural firm that designs public spaces or bespoke residential projects. I am still unsure what my path after graduation will look like, but I am excited to see where my design knowledge takes me. 

What tips or advice would you give to future design students?  

It is challenging to balance everything in school, regardless of what program or path you take. There is pressure for design students to feel like they must commit all their time to work, and I do not believe that should be the case. I urge future design students to find a balance of work and play that makes them happy!