The 397th African American Female Architect

People constantly interact with architecture. From sidewalks to workspaces, architecture is not a hidden field. An architecture career path may be what feels like a mystery when there’s no personal connection to the field. The public, especially youth, can form a more personal connection to architecture through representation.

Welcome to the inaugural season of Architecture 5 10 20! I’m your host, Guy Geier, Managing Partner of FXCollaborative Architects in New York. Guests from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences related to the built environment will come to share their thought leadership. Our conversations will start with understanding how they arrived at what they’re doing now. More importantly, we will focus on discussing their vision for the future, looking out 5, 10, and 20 years.

Today, we’re joined by Samantha Josaphat and Luis Medina, presidents of STUDIO 397. STUDIO 397 is an architecture and interior design firm located in Brooklyn, NY. The firm gained national recognition for their design collaborations, industry leadership, and their larger message of equal representation in architecture. STUDIO 397 is very intentional about authentic collaboration and makes socially-conscious decisions in how they engage projects.

Listen to Samantha and Luis speak about learning to handle operations as their business scales. With quality work, Samantha and Luis are attracting more collaborations and projects. They share how they approach work, how they keep a work-life balance, and why it’s important to communicate this career path to minority youth. Samantha and Luis intend on not staying in a bubble and aim to increase the awareness of architecture.

STUDIO 397 sets a precedent for minority-owned firms to demand true representation through equal design collaboration. The firm is reaching eyes and ears beyond the industry through the creation of beautiful spaces that are rooted in sustainability and community. Learn how this team’s design and leadership legacy is inspiring self-advocacy for future architects and creating a future in which architecture is a more proactively inclusive space for all.

 

Time stamps:

[01:26] - Samantha Josephat and Luis Medina share what inspired STUDIO 397.

[04:04] - Samantha talks about honoring her commitments.

[05:43] - Resources and action can change the landscape of DEI in architecture.

[08:19] - STUDIO 397 is very intentional about authentic collaborations.

[09:58] - Samantha and Luis speak about learning to handle operations as their business scales.

[12:36] - Luis explains details of what it takes to adapt to the architecture field and the ways to be mindful of work-life balance.

[14:21] - How can more people outside of architecture, especially youth, be exposed to the field?

[17:14] - Architecture is all around us everyday. 

[19:07] - Samantha and Luis talk about making socially-conscious decisions in their architecture practice.

[21:25] - Your design is your advocate.

[23:10] - Samantha and Luis are thinking of developing projects, and later, expanding into a variety of spaces.

[25:45] - What are some ideas of presenting digital concepts in architecture?

[28:32] - Samantha and Luis explore the benefits and challenges of communication around renderings.

[31:30] - How are Samantha and Luis dealing with the virtual work culture? How do they think things will develop?

[34:26] - Thank you Samantha and Luis for adding to a future in which architecture is a more proactively inclusive space for all.

Links / Resources:

Guy Geier

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Samantha Josaphat

Luis Medina

 

STUDIO 397

Instagram

LinkedIn