When did you first learn about Arup? Why did you choose to join the firm?

Many of my college architecture courses referenced Arup, but I had only known of us as an engineering firm. As I started looking for internships that blended my interests and skills I learned about our consulting practice, specifically Theater Planning. I joined the company as an intern last summer and continued working part-time while finishing up my senior year before joining the New York office full-time after graduation.

What’s your favorite part about being an Arupian?

There’s a lot of things I like, but if I had to pick one, I would say the freedom to explore. Watching my classmates and friends go into similar fields, it seems like a lot of other firms get constrained into specific bubbles of thought. Here at Arup, I can come up with ideas and not only run with them but also get support from colleagues. And it happens in many ways, not just projects but also operations and professional development.

For example, while I was interning, I worked on a project where the team wanted to take a different approach to present the design, so we decided to create a Virtual Reality (VR) experience for the clients. I’ve always been interested in VR, and this project presented an opportunity to learn to create 360-degree renderings that can be accessed through headsets. This became a stepping stone for me to learn more about VR, which led to me helping to run our Experience Lab here in New York.

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I wasn’t expecting the camaraderie. I’ve become close to my coworkers both in and out of work. Arup is a large firm, but it’s not isolating or overly corporate like many other large companies. ”

What has surprised you about working at Arup?

I wasn’t expecting the camaraderie. I’ve become close to my coworkers both in and out of work. Arup is a large firm, but it’s not isolating or overly corporate like many other large companies. People are very friendly and helpful, which creates a really nice work environment.

How do Arup’s goals and values align with your career goals and your own personal values?

Several of my values overlap with Arup’s, and that is a big reason why I joined the firm. It’s important for me to leave a positive impact through my work and at Arup we are constantly thinking not only about how we can improve ourselves and our work but also how we can improve the communities where our projects live.

Sustainability is a key topic for me, so I’m proud that we support sustainable development. I’m also proud to be part of a firm that champions equality, diversity, and inclusion. I got to walk in the Pride Parade with coworkers in New York last year, and it made me happy to be able to represent a company that supports inclusivity and LGBTQ members.

What are you most excited about the future?

Arup is committed to digital transformation, and I’m interested to see how my skills in VR and AR, or augmented reality, can play into this shift toward a more digital culture. I see myself growing my skills in VR and AR, as well as coding, and continuing to apply that knowledge to my work as a consultant.

It’s important to learn new technology and adapt to changes in the industry, and it’s equally important to give clients something unique that sets us apart from everyone else. That’s how we continue to work on world-changing projects. VR and AR are great tools for collaboration, especially as it’s difficult to explain design ideas to people who don’t have the same skills and experiences. So it’s amazing to have this communication tool that allows people to share designs, talk, and collaborate. It’s a good way for multidisciplinary teams to work together.

If you could meet one designer, engineer, or architect, living or dead, who would you want to talk to and why?

I would’ve loved to meet Paul Revere Williams. He was one of the first big African American architects, and designed thousands of projects, many of which shaped the landscape of Los Angeles - if you’ve ever seen the Theme Building while driving into LAX, that was him. The AIA recently posthumously awarded him the Gold Medal in recognition of his work. I’m inspired by every obstacle he overcame, the mark he left on the LA landscape, and mostly how his story gives visibility to me and other designers of color.

If you could let your imagination run wild and money was no issue, what would your ideal project be?

I have a big dream of creating a sustainable, LEED-certified venue space. Event and performance venues are traditionally not very sustainable – they require large amounts of energy to power equipment and often use non-sustainable materials. I would love to collaborate on a project to create a space that is both excellent for performance and sustainable in its construction and maintenance.