Immigrant Architects Coalition Podcast

🎙️ Listen to the IAC Podcast Episode #09: Balancing Acts: 

Mentorship, Goals & the Immigrant Experience with Saakshi Terway, Assoc. AIA.

We are thrilled to announce the release of our new episode, where we delve into the inspiring world of immigrant architects. 

Originally from New Delhi, Saakshi Terway is a licensed architect from India currently working at Quinn Evans in Washington DC. As a design professional, she has contributed to many featured mixed-use, multi-family, senior living, and adaptive reuse projects. After working in India for 2 years, Saakshi graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a master’s degree in architecture and a certification in sustainable landscape design. Her interests lie in responsible and sustainable architecture that has a social impact on local and global communities.

Additionally, she spends a lot of her energy volunteering with the architecture community and actively advocating for JEDI within the industry. Ms. Terway is also the founder of the “Terway Inclusivity Student Scholarship'' at the University of Cincinnati and a recent recipient of the 2023 DCCEAS Young Architect Award and 2022 AIA|DC Emerging Architects’ Award. She is also serving as the DC Representative at AIA National Associates Committee, an Advisory Board member for the Women’s Leadership Summit, and recently joined the Board of Directors at the IAC non-profit organization. 

Tune in to The Immigrant Architects Coalition Podcast and don't miss out on the fascinating conversations that shed light on the triumphs and resilience of immigrant architects and designers. Subscribe now and join us on this incredible adventure! 

Listen here: IAC Podcast , and available on all major podcast platforms.

#ArchitecturePodcast #DiversityInArchitecture #InclusiveCommunity #ImmigrantArchitects #EmpoweringVoices #ImmigrantArchitectCoalition #Architects #IACTalks

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Gabriela is originally from Brazil, and is also a citizen of Italy and the United States. Gabriela is an Associate Principal and the Strategic Practice Manager at Utile, where she treats the practice like a design project. In her role, she works to formalize and advance architectural and planning processes in relation to firm-wide management, strategy, and culture. Prior to joining Utile, Gabriela worked for over ten years as a project architect for academic spaces. Gabriela is also an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She has taught studios at the Boston Architectural College and the University of Minnesota College of Design.

Consistently involved with professional organizations in both local and national levels, Gabriela is an outspoken advocate for equity in architecture. In 2020, she was honored with the American Institute of Architects Young Architects Award for demonstrating exceptional leadership during her early career. She holds an M.Arch from North Dakota State University School of Design, Architecture, and Art.

Her story of coming to America was featured in the 2022 book “City Shapers: Stories of Immigrant Designers”, by Graciela Carrillo, Shahad Sadeq, and Yu-Ngok Lo.

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Born and raised in Venezuela, Christian studied architecture at Universidad Simón Bolívar. After three years as a partner in his own firm, he traveled to Ithaca, New York, to attend Cornell University and obtain a master’s degree in History of Architecture.

His family left Venezuela the following year, so Christian needed a job as an architect to remain in the US. He was fortunate to be hired in the summer of 1987 when he also started the ARE process to become licensed, which he accomplished in 1991, the same year he met the woman who would become his wife. They married a year and a half later, had two sons, and lived happily ever after.

After more than 30 years working in four different firms, mainly designing multi-million-dollar public school projects, Christian is now semi-retired, working as a consultant to other architects, young and old, helping them with Quality Control reviews of drawings and writing technical specifications. He also works as a translator and proofreader in both English and Spanish. He recently published his first book about the history of teaching architecture between the 1920s and 1950s, when schools transitioned from the classical Beaux-Arts to Modernism.

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Oyuki is originally from Merida, Mexico, and she relocated to Pittsburgh in 2012. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Architecture from the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Facultad de Arquitectura. She is a licensed architect in Mexico and is currently in the process of obtaining her architectural license in Pennsylvania. Additionally, she holds a certificate degree in Green and Sustainable Building Design. Oyuki serves as the 2021-2023 PA State Associate Representative (STAR) and is also on the board of directors and serves as the social media coordinator for the Immigrant Architect Coalition (IAC). Passionate about sustainability, commercial design, and helping other international architects, she dedicates her time to mentoring and guiding them through the licensure process.

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Kun Lim is the President of Kun Lim Studio LLC in Seattle, USA, and Principal Designer of Kun Lim Architect in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His portfolio encompasses a wide range of project types, including mixed-use, multifamily, commercial, athletic, campus, worship, medical, recreational and township planning across Asia and the United States. His concept master plan proposal while working for BEP Architect, won the invited design competition for Putrajaya, the new Administrative Capital City of Malaysia, in 1994. He then served as the lead planner for the master planning of Putrajaya from 1994 to 1996 with the multi-disciplinary consortium Kumpulan Perunding Kota Bistari Sdn Bhd, in which BEP Architect was a member.  Kun Lim and his projects are featured regularly in architectural and mainstream media, including TV in Asia. He speaks regularly about his projects and practices at conferences and forums in Asia, Europe, and USA, and he is a board member representing design professionals with the City of Seattle Design Review Board.

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Jack Ossa is a versatile professional known for his roles as an architect, designer, and podcaster. Originally from Medellin, Colombia, he earned his architecture degree in Bogota before immigrating to the United States shortly after graduating. As a first-generation immigrant, Jack possesses the unique combination of bilingualism and biculturalism, which he leverages to foster positive change at the nexus of design, strategy, and technology.

Jack's journey led him to accumulate valuable experience at national and international design firms. Ultimately, he took a bold step toward realizing his lifelong dream by founding Ossa Studio, an Architecture and Brand Design Firm headquartered in Charlotte, NC. Through Ossa Studio, Jack and his team harness the transformative power of design to craft impactful experiences across various disciplines, including architecture, interior design, and branding.

In addition to his design endeavors, Jack hosts the podcast "The Power of Design." This podcast delves into the ever-evolving dynamics and trends that shape the vibrant world of architecture, construction, and real estate.

Join the IAC and Jack for an inspiring conversation about inclusivity, leadership, and creating a positive change.

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Willy Zambrano, FAIA, is the Founder and Design Principal in Charge at Zambrano Architectural Design, an award-winning multidisciplinary design studio in Freeport, Long Island. Willy’s studio focuses on designing for diverse clientele and building typologies for the past 23 years. 

A graduate from City College of the City of New York and a first-generation immigrant, Willy began practicing in 1999 as partner at AHF Architects LLC, his former employer. In 2005, he established his own studio, Zambrano Architectural Design LLC, where he began focusing on health care facilities, multi-family, institutional and commercial design. His award-winning studio enabled him to pursue international projects such as the Lima 2019 Pan American Games (COPAL), to visualize the “look of the games” and envisioning a venue cluster for an Olympic events plaza. 

Willy has been a long-standing, active AIA member, participating and leading at the local, state and national levels to improve the quality for his fellow architects, elevate the role of the AIA at the grassroots levels and helping change the face of the next generation of professionals. He is the 2015-2016 AIA Queens Chapter President, 2017-2018 AIA NYS Chapter Vice President Knowledge, 2019-2021 AIA Strategic Council NY Region Representative, and the 2024 AIA NYS President Elect. He is the current President of the Queens Foundation for Architecture, the scholarship arm of the AIA Queens Chapter he helped stablished, to assist undergraduates and postgraduates’ financial restitution as well as creating K-12 programs.

Join the IAC and Willy for an inspiring conversation about inclusivity, leadership, and creating a positive change.

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Gloria Kloter, AIA, NCARB, CODIA, is an award-winning architect, founder and CEO of Glow Architects, a bestselling author, and a keynote speaker. Gloria has been a practicing architect in her home country (Dominican Republic) and the United States since 2004. She has dedicated much of her career to helping other young architects grow. As a leader in the architecture community, she founded Foreign Architects, a private online community where she mentors young and aspiring immigrant architects on how to obtain their architect license in the United States. 

Join the IAC and Gloria for an inspiring conversation about architecture, motherhood, leadership, and resiliency.

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

In this captivating episode of the Immigrant Architects Coalition Podcast, join hosts Graciela Carrillo, Shahad Sadeq, and Yu-Ngok Lo as they delve into the inspiring stories of fellow immigrant architects who have overcome adversity and made their mark in the field. Through candid conversations and thought-provoking discussions, the hosts will shed light on the unique experiences and challenges immigrant architects face while exploring the transformative power of architecture in shaping communities. In this episode, they shared their experience founding the Immigrant Architects Coalition and talked about the group's upcoming projects.

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn