My first exposure to architecture was when I was in elementary school. My parents decided to build a new house and, unlike my brothers, I willingly went with them to the meetings with the Architect. I immediately took interest in the design process, and would go to open houses with my dad and take the brochures home so I could re-invent and improve the floor plans. In high school I interned at a local architecture office and took a weekend architecture class at MOCA. This early exposure led to my career in architecture. After high school, I ventured outside of Southern California to experience New OrIeans where I earned a B.Arch and an M.Arch at Tulane University. Humidity and hurricanes helped persuade me to move back to Los Angeles and all of its opportunities. When researching architecture firms, I was drawn to KFA from the comments about the firm’s culture and commitment to staff for professional development. I interviewed and the rest is history. It’s ten years later and I’m proud to be an Associate at KFA.
The renovation of WHCHC’s Hayworth House was the first project I worked on from start to finish. The low-rise apartment building had been vacant for five years and was in rough condition, the only residents in the units being pigeons. In the end, it was incredibly rewarding to bring the building back to life and transform it into a beautiful home for low-income seniors.
The Micropolitan at Urban Lights, a market-rate apartment building near LACMA, was the first new construction building I worked on from conceptual design through building completion. The experience of walking through any completed building is an amazing moment and this one will always be a little treasure for me.
I currently have the pleasure of serving as project manager for several affordable housing projects. In a city faced with the challenge of ending homelessness and unaffordability, it’s inspiring to be part of the solution and impacting people’s lives. The Pico Robertson Senior Community apartments, developed by Mercy Housing of California, will provide homes for seniors and formerly homeless veterans. I am also looking forward to the grand opening of West Hollywood Community Housing Corporations’ Blue Hibiscus project this fall where residents will be moving back to a beautiful new building, replacing the dilapidated bungalow court where they used to live. In addition to affordable housing, I manage multiple market-rate housing projects that focus on development near rapid transit, which is a refreshing step away from the urban sprawl of Los Angeles. As an L.A. native, it is remarkable to see the many buildings KFA has brought new life and purpose to throughout the City, especially in the revitalization of downtown. L.A. is a city that is ever changing, and it’s awesome to be part of the City’s “reshaping” with the work we do at KFA.
