FK Women in Architecture
Kimberly Hellekson
Tell us about the moment you knew architecture was the career you wanted to pursue.
When I was young, my mom would clean houses to bring in extra income and keep herself busy during the week. She would sometimes bring me along when the homes were empty (when houses were selling or between renters), and I always loved exploring each house, running from room to room, and discovering and understanding the flow of each one. At that age, I thought it would just be so cool to sell these homes and be a realtor, but when my sister was in sixth grade, her math teacher gave her class an assignment to draw a house plan. I remember her talking about it and explaining the process, and it made perfect sense to be able to put these spaces together in a plan. I drew a few on my own (probably laying out our own house plan first), then I would study the plans I saw in the Homes Section of the Sunday paper. As a third-grader, I spent many weekends lying on our carpeted floor in the living room, drawing up floor plans my own. It was around this time that my dad mentioned I could go into architecture and do this as a career. I didn’t realize this could be a career choice until he said that. Over the next several years, I created so many plans and collected them in a three-ring binder that I still have today.
Can you walk us through your education journey?
In high school, my love for space planning was still growing, so I knew that architecture was the field I would pursue. I never had a doubt. I hadn’t yet considered college, but when my dad had mentioned that it was something I could do, that immediately became my goal: to go to college and get my architectural degree. Growing up in Houston, the University of Texas and Texas Tech were my top two choices. My dad and I flew up to Lubbock to tour Texas Tech and learn about their architectural program. Once I was accepted there, it was a done deal. They offered a five-year master’s program (with no undergrad degree), and I knew that was my path. The next five years were both challenging and rewarding. Architecture is subjective…one professor may love your project and the other two make you wish you chose a different career path. Many students don’t make it past the first year or two, but similar to most things in life, if you want something bad enough and have that passion for it, you stick with it. And that’s what I did. Five years later, I learned so much about the field of architecture and about myself.
Maybe there is a person you want to thank for your success. Let us know who that person is.
I have always been surrounded by supportive family, friends, and teachers, but I don’t know if I would have pursued architecture if not for my dad. He opened my eyes to the possibility and gave me that gentle push to go do it in the first place. His support and encouragement kept me focused and got me through those tough college years. Even in my forties, about once a year, I get an ‘I’m proud of you’ comment from him that makes me thankful that he believed in me.
If you could give one piece of advice to young female professionals, what would it be?
For any young professionals, not just females, I say that if they have a professional goal and know that it’s what they are meant to do in life, they have to go for it. If the path is not clearly laid out in front of them, they have to find a way to get there. It’s possible. They have to stick with it and not listen to any self-doubt in their head or from anyone who is not supportive. This is their journey and at the end of the day, they have to live with their choices. But for females specifically, my experience as a young professional is that the seasoned male leaders seemed to have all the answers and confidence in all aspects of the field. However, as I’ve been in the industry for 20+ years now, I see that they have the same insecurities, and doubts, and questions that plague all of us. At the end of the day, rather you are male, female, just starting out in your career, or working towards retirement, we are all the same, and all of our voices and ideas matter. We are all just trying to make a positive contribution to this world and our profession, so be authentic, speak up, be honest with yourself about what you want out of your career and then go for it!
Elizabeth Benitez
Tell us about the moment you knew architecture was the career you wanted to pursue. Maybe there is a person you want to thank for your success. Let us know who that person is.
I was about seven years old when I knew I wanted to study architecture. My father was my inspiration. He is a licensed electrical engineer, a hard-working person, and always believed in learning something new. He had some building design magazines at the house that I would sit and review for hours.
Past or present, name three women that you would invite over for a dinner party?
I would invite Paula Pant from the “Afford Anything” podcast, Suzy Orman and Oprah Winfrey.
Kelly Dawson
Tell us about the moment you knew architecture was the career you wanted to pursue.
My path to architecture really comes from my father. As a little girl, I would sit in the dining room with him, where he would lay out plans to do estimates for sprinkler systems. He had complete sets of drawings that were fascinating to me, and I always would ask him questions. He taught me how to read the drawings, showed me which lines were walls, and asked me to help him by coloring them in. He was so sweet, and I looked up to him! I always wanted to be just like him.
What is your favorite project you have worked on so far, and why?
Newberry Park is my favorite project so far because I was involved from schematic design through to construction. I absolutely love to see a project from start to finish! There’s no better feeling than that for an architect. We are currently working on a project in Austin, Texas, and I am looking forward to the project's competition. I love the city of Austin, and it was nice to see two big brands mend together to get an urban look.
What is one architectural trend you see right now?
My answer to this is not a trend but a wish. Because of everything we’ve been through, safety needs to be studied as we look to design in the future. I know that this is already in the works, but how we design for people should not be political, it should be practical.
Stephanie Miller
What is your favorite project you have worked on so far, and why?
I enjoy any project where I can learn more about my profession and be challenged.
What are some of the traits that you admire most amongst other female leaders you’ve worked with?
I admire women who can “keep their cool” and professionally speak their minds.
Past or present, name three women that you would invite over for a dinner party?
Eleanor Roosevelt, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Kamala Harris
Sabrina Marano
Can you walk us through your education journey?
I received my five-year in Architecture in 2001 in Brazil. I worked as a registered architect until 2017 when I came to the U.S. to attend a Master in Architecture Program at the University of Florida City-Lab in Orlando, I finished this program in 2019.
Were there obstacles that you faced? How did you overcome those obstacles?
I definitely faced some challenges. It has been an adjustment to change countries, adapt to a different Units System and different practice standards. Now I need to pass six Architectural Registration Exams to get my license in the U.S.
Maybe there is a person you want to thank for your success. Let us know who that person is.
I am extremely grateful to my family, my husband Daniel who is always very supportive, and Professor Frank Bosworth, my thesis chair and mentor in the U.S.
Amanda Velazquez
Tell us about the moment you knew architecture was the career you wanted to pursue.
Since middle school, I have known I wanted to study architecture. I was always interested in art and math and found architecture a good fit for my interests.
Can you walk us through your education journey?
I started at Valencia College back in 2006 and transferred to Florida International University in 2009, where I completed my Master in Architecture. During the last year of my degree, I was a TA for History of Architecture, Theory of Architecture, and Structure classes.
Were there obstacles that you faced? How did you overcome those obstacles?
My biggest obstacle while in college was juggling work and school at the same time. Thankfully, I had great bosses that helped me.
Maybe there is a person you want to thank for your success. Let us know who that person is.
I have many people that have helped me in my career. Two of my professors, Shahin and Elysse, were great mentors in college. Once out of college, I found great mentors, Kevin, Laura, and Carlos, at my previous job. They took the time to teach me how to do so many tasks, and I will always be grateful for that.
What are some of the traits that you admire most amongst other female leaders you’ve worked with?
Confidence, leadership, and the ability to teach others and be good mentors.
Past or present, name three women that you would invite over for a dinner party?
Ruth Bader Ginsburg because she made sure her voice and the voice of many other women were heard. Zaha Hadid because she was able to stand out in a male-dominated profession. Elysse Newman, my Theory and History of Architecture professor because she challenged every students’ mind, including my own, and knew how to push us while teaching us simultaneously.
Jesy Acosta
If you could give one piece of advice to young female professionals, what would it be?
The one piece of advice I would give to young female professionals would be to not allow the demographics of a particular discipline to sway you from your passion in whatever facet of architecture you want to pursue. Every day is a learning experience in the field of architecture; keeping an open mind, understanding critical thinking and problem solving, plus sharing knowledge with others will help you traverse the ebb and flows of your pursuits.
Tell us about the moment you knew architecture was the career you wanted to pursue.
My interest started in college with my architecture history courses, and again after I started my first project with the understanding of what I was working on would someday affect others, it became real and conscious.
Maybe there is a person you want to thank for your success. Let us know who that person is.
I want to thank both my parents for encouraging my passion for architecture, art, and design.
Past or present, name three women that you would invite over for a dinner party?
My grandmother, mother, and Michelle Obama.
Lucy Yussuf
Tell us about the moment you knew architecture was the career you wanted to pursue.
My mom worked in an engineering department and I used to go with her to campus as a child. I loved seeing all the students’ working in their studios and classes to finish their projects. I wanted to be an architect since middle school, perhaps even before.
Can you walk us through your education journey?
In Egypt, there are many differences. College is provided after high school at no cost so you don’t have to worry about how to pay for your education. However, you need to get higher than 99% to join medical college and around 93% to go to engineering college so the standards are very high.
Past or present, name three women that you would invite over for a dinner party?
Saint Mary, my mother, and my sister.
What do you want to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered for being cheerful and kind.
Lois Hanna
Tell us about the moment you knew architecture was the career you wanted to pursue.
I previously specialized in urban planning, in Egypt, with only a few projects focused on architecture. When I moved to the U.S. I continued in urban planning for a bit but knew there were more opportunities for me in architecture. I found myself in love with architecture on a wide urban scale. This helps me see the function of the building from the inside and the outside.
Were there obstacles that you faced? How did you overcome those obstacles?
In Egypt, I faced many obstacles due to my gender & religion. During my undergrad years in college, I was supposed to be the salutatorian of my class, but because of the college staff protests surrounding Christian women not having this honor, I was not recognized. I graduated 6th in my class. But thankfully, I was rewarded for my hard work and hired in a position that was sought after and based on merit.
After graduating, I still found it a challenge to receive equal opportunities and treatment in the workplace. Few people can support your achievements and give you opportunities to grow. When I moved to the U.S., it was less challenging.
At FK, I can feel the equality. I see successful women leaders like Kimberly and many other leadership roles that are not gender-specific. I find our company culture to portray a healthy environment that I hope continues to support and help me reach my professional goals in the architecture field.
Karolin Sharoubim
Tell us about the moment you knew architecture was the career you wanted to pursue.
When I was in high school I realized I wanted to be an architect and was specifically drawn to interior design. I’ve always loved to play with colors, and my path into architecture allows me to turn what I was passionate about into a career.
Can you walk us through your education journey?
Most of my education was in Egypt. I moved to the U.S. in 2013. I began my career in NY.
Were there obstacles that you faced? How did you overcome those obstacles?
My greatest obstacle was learning the specifics of construction in the U.S., it is totally different here. I then had to focus on learning building codes and how to layout or read construction documents to ensure they meet code requirements and deliver for the client.