Columbia GSAPP's Morgan Reuther on Projects that are Loved, Equity, and Big-Picture Goals
By Julia Gamolina
Morgan Reuther is pursuing a Dual Masters degree in Real Estate Development and Urban Planning at the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. Prior to entering graduate school, she worked as a Proposal Coordinator at FXCollaborative and as an Architectural Designer at VMDO Architects. Morgan holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia with a minor in Architecture and has completed coursework at the Harvard Business School and the University College of London Bartlett School of Architecture.
Why did you decide to study architecture?
Growing up, architecture was always interesting to me, but at an arm's length. No one in my family worked in design, and I never contemplated pursuing a career in the field until my senior year of high school when I took an AP Art History class. I had never taken a class that I was excited not only to attend, but also study for, and the architectural component of the class was fascinating to me.
What was the favorite project you worked on in school? Favorite paper you wrote? Favorite extracurricular?
During my freshman year of undergraduate school, I traveled to El Cantón, Honduras as a part of the Global Architecture Brigades design-build initiative. El Cantón is a rural community in the mountainous region of Teupasenti and home to approximately 450 people. At the time, the nearest medical center was only accessible by walking two hour and thirty minutes to the city of Teupasenti. The brigade’s goal was to further the construction of a new health center in El Cantón that had been designed in collaboration with the local community.
Words like “charity” and “service” were taboo—the project was a hands-on learning experience with students working under the instruction of skilled, local masons to bring the community’s vision to life. As someone new to architecture, there was so much to learn. We were taught local building techniques and worked with project leaders to resolve construction issues as they arose. I was amazed at how the use of manual construction methods, local materials, and design-build collaboration were used to create a vital resource for the entire region. This project also gave me my first glimpse of the power of community engagement and the necessity of this participation in order for a project to be fully embraced, utilized, and loved by those for whom it is built.
Construction image of the El Canton Health Center project in Teupasenti, Honduras. Photography by Aya Obara.
What are some of the initiatives you’ve focused on in school, and why?
While in college, I gravitated toward sustainability-focused design initiatives. These included serving as a Sustainability Advocate to promote sustainable practices on campus and as the Fundraising Chair for UVA’s chapter of Freedom By Design. However, the most formative initiative I was involved in was with a group called Sustained Dialogue. The program brought together students from a diversity of majors, grade-levels, and backgrounds to discuss social issues affecting the campus. These conversations had nothing to do with architecture or planning, but were eye-opening in so many ways. They were an impetus for me to more deeply consider how my field of study related to issues such as racism, gender bias, affordability, and others, and to more fully comprehend the need to create healthy, equitable, and inclusive spaces.
When searching for internships and jobs, what are you looking for?
The first thing I’m looking for is mentorship. I’ve had the privilege of working at two great architectural firms that both prioritize the growth of younger employees. There is so much to be learned from the experiences of others, and being surrounded by people who are enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge has been critical to developing my own skillset and motivating me to explore my own interests.
“I gained a new understanding of the developer’s role in setting these big-picture goals, which include sustainability and M/W/DBE participation targets, affordability, and accessibility. I realized I wanted to be involved in establishing these parameters and determining not only what was being built, but why, and how, and for whom.”
Tell me about your decision to pursue your masters in real estate. Why this field, why Columbia, why now?
After working as an Architectural Designer early in my career, I realized I was most interested in the beginnings of a project’s lifecycle when big-picture goals are set that dictate the overall purpose for a project’s design. I shifted to the marketing and business development side of the industry and, in my most recent role, was responsible for assembling RFP responses for future project commissions. Working on many proposals across a range of typologies, I gained a new understanding of the developer’s role in setting these big-picture goals, which include sustainability and M/W/DBE participation targets, affordability, and accessibility. I realized I wanted to be involved in establishing these parameters and determining not only what was being built, but why, and how, and for whom.
What’s important to you? What inspires you?
I’m inspired by the ability of the built environment to touch everyone and everything. It’s a fundamental determinate of how we experience the world, both physically and mentally, and has the power to dramatically improve people’s lives. There’s extensive research on the critical role physical environments play in sustaining physiological and psychological well being, fostering social connections, and building community. It is important to me that this knowledge remains at the forefront and that projects be aligned with the idea that everyone has the right to inhabit healthy, well-designed spaces.
A place that inspires Morgan—New York City. Photo by Morgan.
What do you hope to do in your career?
I get a lot of blank stares when I tell people I’ve decided to pursue a career in real estate development. The developer’s archvillain reputation is not always undeserved and, hand-in-hand with urban planning, the professions’ histories are fraught with exploitation, displacement, corruption, and racism (see Richard Rothstein’s The Color of Law).
In my career, I hope I can contribute to reversing this and bring the guiding principle of equity to the planning and development of the built environment. I’m hopeful that pursuing these two degrees will be my first step in doing so. There’s so much to learn, but I believe that now more than ever it is imperative that projects, especially those within tight urban fabrics, come to symbolize progress for the people they are meant to serve.
“...it can be difficult for students, especially female students in male-dominated fields, to see professional growth and vertical advancement as separate things...But I’ve found horizontal transitions—to new fields of studies, jobs, and industries—to be the most valuable.”
Who do you look up to? Both in terms of women in architecture, and in general.
In terms of women in architecture, someone I look up to is Sarah Williams Goldhagen. Like me, she is not an architect, but has made many contributions to the field through her writing. Her book Welcome to Your World was pivotal in my understanding of the capabilities of planning and design. It explores principles of environmental psychology—how design can be leveraged to create sustainable, healthier human behaviors—and presents an intersection of cognitive neuroscience and architecture that I find fascinating.
What advice would you give to those in high school now, choosing their field of study?
My advice would be to try everything that interests you and don’t worry about what you look like on paper. I think it can be difficult for students, especially female students in male-dominated fields, to see professional growth and vertical advancement as separate things. There’s a lot of pressure to make decisions early, to get ahead, to start building an impressive resume, and I think this discourages exploration. But I’ve found horizontal transitions—to new fields of studies, jobs, and industries—to be the most valuable.