Showing Up: Henning Larsen's Sydne Nance on Adaptability, Community, and Taking up Space
Portrait of Sydne by Deirdre Plaus and Elena Toumayan.
By Julia Gamolina
Sydne Nance is a Business Development Coordinator at Henning Larsen’s New York studio and an Editorial Assistant and Archivist at Madame Architect. She was awarded the AIA NJ Associate of the Year and holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Passionate about diversifying architecture, Sydne was involved in the American Institute of Architecture Students as a chapter president and AIAS Honor Awards juror. In college, she also competed for NJIT’s track & field team.
JG: You were just honored with the AIA NJ Associate of the Year Award. Congratulations! What does the honor mean to you, and what are you most focused on for 2024 with your career?
SN: The award honors an associate AIA NJ member who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the architecture profession. I’m grateful to have been nominated by Andrew Thompson, the President-Elect of the AIA NJ chapter, and that I am able to give more visibility to the advocacy efforts I have been a part of, including my involvement with the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). I was able to bring exposure to some of the programs on the chapter level through AIAS NJIT, like our Freedom By Design parklet build, a completely student designed and built public structure meant to spark societal discourse over the excessive amount of space we allocate to cars.
For 2024, I am really focused on continuing to grow in the industry. My current professional role allows me to be a sponge and continue to develop a wide range of skills. I am also focused on both being a mentee and mentor to others. I have aspirations to teach and be a resource to youth interested in design in the future.
Sydne Nance, Associate AIA, with (L-R) Michael Herbert of Whitehorn Financial Group, the award sponsor, AIA NJ President, Brian Penschow, AIA, and President Elect, Andrew Thompson, AIA. Photography by Jay Mayer.
Let's come back to the beginning now. How did you choose where you studied architecture? You were also a college athlete — what did you learn from your time on the Women's Track and Field team that you apply to your career in architecture?
In the summer of my sophomore year of high school, I participated in NJIT’s week-long Introduction to Architecture pre-college program, led by NJIT professor and close mentor of mine, Darius Sollohub, which helped spark my interest. After an intense week of design iterations, I ended up being awarded runner up for Best Design at the completion of the program. I left with a new passion for design and a positive perspective on what architecture school would be like.
Tangentially to my architecture school dreams, I was a pretty strong track and tennis athlete throughout high school, and I was not ready to end my athletics career. I spoke to numerous architecture schools and college athletics departments about my plans to study architecture and run track and NJIT’s athletics department was open to my ambitious plan. College athletics was mentally and physically demanding, but taught me how to take on complex challenges and handle time management. The nature of track and field helped me feel balanced operating as a team and individually in work environments. In many ways, business development often reminds me of athletics — both are about winning, losing, and strategy.
“The nature of track and field helped me feel balanced operating as a team and individually in work environments. In many ways, business development often reminds me of athletics — both are about winning, losing, and strategy.”
How did your focus on business development come about, and how do you do this at Henning Larsen?
My focus on business development surfaced out of pure curiosity. Prior to my time at Henning Larsen, I was working at a mid-sized firm in New Jersey as an architectural designer. I had spent a great deal of time in the firm’s materials library meeting with various consultants in business development roles and learning about their products and services. I admired what the consultants did and wanted an opportunity to better understand the industry. I was also eager to understand where projects came from and the many factors behind the procurement process.
At Henning Larsen, my role focuses on surveying tenders and qualifying new leads, managing client relationships, and curating press and communications material. I am lucky to also work closely with our global communications team based in Copenhagen and execute methods to expand our brand visibility in North America.
One of many things I think is really special about Henning Larsen is our open and welcoming approach to business development and outreach. We allow anyone with an interest to get involved in outreach efforts and bring forward new leads that reflect their interests. We’re also a very young office, which I believe allows us to be really flexible and open to change. Adaptability is such a vital skill especially in an ever-changing industry climate, and we are lucky to have so many younger leaders in our office who are willing to bring new ideas to the table.
Why did you want to get involved with Madame Architect? What have you learned from your years with us?
I learned about Madame Architect while you were speaking at the AIA Conference in 2022. I had recently finished my undergraduate and was seeking to better understand the industry. That time was really the best moment for me to learn about Madame Architect; I wasn’t sure if the traditional architecture path was what I wanted to pursue, but I also did not really know of any alternatives. Seeing you speak about so many different women of diverse backgrounds, careers, and mindsets really sparked my interest. I had never seen a platform like this one, so deeply focused on women’s journeys in architecture.
Over my time with Madame Architect, I have felt so inspired by the sense of community Madame Architect has created and the way we are able to reach different people all over the world. A key moment that stands out to me was volunteering with you for the workshop with the River Fund and Kids Worldwide. For many of the kids at the workshop it was their first time learning about what architects do. I also think the reach of this platform beyond architects is incredible! I have met many individuals at our Madame Architects Presents events who are not involved in the AE industry at all and still find so many insights in the media we publish.
Sydne as a college athlete running the 400m dash at the Metropolitan Championships, Icahn Stadium, NY. Courtesy of Sydne Nance.
Sydne as a college athlete. Courtesy of Sydne Nance.
Looking back at the entirety of your career so far, what have been the biggest challenges?
Being heard as a young black woman has been a huge challenge. Navigating the corporate architecture spaces while black has been hard and can feel very isolating. In speaking with other young women with the same identity as me, they have expressed similar challenges feeling heard and understood in their workplaces. One of the most saddening conversations was talking to young black women who have had difficulty getting their firms to sign off on their NCARB hours properly. It's disheartening hearing how misunderstood other black women feel in this industry, but I maintain hope that things will continue to change.
I attend many nycoba NOMA events, and hearing from women like Roberta Washington about how far black architects have come has remained a source of hope for me. I look forward to understanding more about the history of black architects and what we can do to improve the state of the industry for the next generations of black designers.
What have you also learned in the last six months?
I have learned just how important it is to have a community and mentors you can rely on. In making the switch to my role at Henning Larsen, I had a few trusted individuals I turned to for advice. I also received resounding support from close industry friends; they saw how passionate I was about this new stage in my career and encouraged me to keep going. The work I do has been incredibly fulfilling, but can be incredibly fast-paced and complex. I have learned to be really open and receptive to competing voices and cater to the needs of each pursuit.
“My advice specifically to young women would be to show up! Go to events, conferences, lectures, everything. The world needs to hear your voice and needs you in the room to move forward, so please don’t be afraid to be present and take up space.”
What are you most excited about right now?
I am looking forward to the AIA Conference this summer. I am excited to expand my industry knowledge through the sessions, and I can’t wait to reconnect with friends I’ve made at past conferences, as well as make new ones.
I’m also very excited to run my first half marathon. I was a sprinter in college and truthfully never imagined myself running more than a 5k. I am proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and transitioning into distance running after a decade of solely sprinting. I am still in the process of choosing my first big race! Hoping to get a few recommendations from you since you’re a fellow runner!
Hands down, the women’s half marathon that takes place in Central Park in late April early year. Who are you admiring now and why?
I greatly admire an architect friend of mine, Grete Grubelich. We worked together previously, bonded over our love for architecture and running, and I am always inspired by her unwavering kindness and confidence. She recently made a cross country move for her career — her leap of faith reminds me how quickly you can change your life for the better.
I also greatly admire Kendall Nicholson, Senior Director of Research, Equity, & Education for the ACSA. His research pertaining to equity and justice in the space of architecture is deserving of so much attention. I enjoy reading through the “Where Are My People?” series to better understand the history and current statistics of different races and identities in architecture.
Finally, my AIA NJ Associate of the Year Award is even more special to me because one of my first mentors, Melissa Nieves, was the recipient of the award the year before me. Melissa was my cohort’s architectural tutor during NJIT’s Educational Opportunity Program Summer Academic Enrichment Program, which helps underrepresented and economically challenged students prepare for their first year of college. I later went on to mentor two cohorts of first year architecture students through the same program. It’s a great honor to follow in the footsteps of another young woman of color in architecture.
Sydne Nance and Julia Gamolina leading a workshop on architecture for kids in collaboration with Kids Worldwide and River Fund NY. Courtesy of Kids Worldwide.
AIAS NJIT Chapter at the Grassroots Conference, Washington DC. Courtesy of Sydne Nance.
What is the impact you’d like to have on the world? What is your core mission? And, what does success in that look like to you?
I’d like to make impact on my local communities and imagine that my life’s work will be rooted in my passion for contextuality. My core mission also aligns with one of my favorite quotes hanging in my bedroom, “Here’s to strong women. May we know them, be them, and raise them.” I strive to improve each day at uplifting the women around me. I suppose we will see what success in that looks like a few decades from now, but I feel like being a part of Madame Architect is a great start to this mission.
Finally, what advice do you have for those starting their career? Would your advice be any different for women?
Don’t be afraid to go against the grain. For those starting a career in architecture, I think this industry is still really attached to the story of one path and that’s not necessarily the one you have to take. I like to think there’s space for architectural thinking everywhere. We have the ability to take so many different paths, and Madame Architect is a reflection of that. I also think it's important to diversify your communities and expand your circle to individuals outside of your industry. Your career is important, but being well-rounded will allow you to understand perspectives beyond your own and live a more fulfilled life.
My advice specifically to young women would be to show up! Go to events, conferences, lectures, everything. The world needs to hear your voice and needs you in the room to move forward, so please don’t be afraid to be present and take up space.