University of Miami's Samantha Nowak on the Challenges and Rewards of the Study of Architecture
Portrait by Sam Peene
By Julia Gamolina
Originally from Cheshire, CT, Samantha Nowak is currently a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Miami with a Minor in Sustainable Business and Art. In her interview, Samantha talks about what she looked for in selecting where to study architecture, and what she looks for now for her internships and future employment. She advises those considering studying architecture to tour the schools they are interested in to get a feel for the studio culture.
JG: Why did you decide to study architecture?
SN: Throughout my childhood, I was always drawn to creation, problem solving, and exploration; I naturally gravitated to architecture. I feel that my mind has always had a constant reveling in the "why" things work, and this curiosity in the built environment has kept me energized. My attraction to STEM, art, and woodworking classes in high school made me realize my passion.
I would like to credit the Maier Design Group in Hartford, Connecticut as well for my decision to pursue architecture. As an interested junior in high school I reached out to David Arai, President of the firm, who generously welcomed me as an intern and mentored me, along with advice from other co-workers, through the first steps of entering architecture school.
I’m so glad to hear you had this kind of mentorship early on. How did you eventually choose where you wanted to study architecture?
My way of choosing an architecture school may have been a bit unconventional, but I do believe that it could resonate with younger people and influence them to make conscious choices. The main factor I considered is whether the University is NCARB accredited, which allows you to obtain your B.Arch degree in the quickest track of five years. In spite of my initial goals to obtain my degree as quickly as possible, I have grown such a love for both architecture and learning, and I would be lying if I said that masters programs have not peaked my interest.
Nonetheless, if I could go back, I would give myself a few recommendations in considering schools. First off, touring the architecture school and understanding what atmosphere you like and what you don’t like will tell you a lot about the studio culture, and that is the most important. You are going to make relationships that will last a lifetime, so it is important to surround yourself with people that resonate with you. For some reason I really did not like touring schools, so I only toured two. If you are like me — research! Look up your university's architecture website, and ask yourself, what resources do they have to offer? What additional programs will aid your schooling, like study abroad? What has the faculty accomplished? Don’t be afraid to reach out to current students as well and ask questions, find them on LinkedIn or ask the school to put you in touch with a student ambassador.
Treasure Island Youth Center, North Miami Beach, Florida. With the increasing demand for accessible public space and synergistic activities to connect the surrounding community, this space will encourage physical activity and social ability.
That’s great advice. Looking back on your time in school then, what was the most significant project to you that you worked on?
It’s hard to pinpoint one project as the most significant because I feel like they are all pivotal to my development in their own ways. If I had to choose, there are two projects that stand out to me for very different reasons — the first bringing out my vulnerabilities and the second being my most rewarding. The first was in my second year, fall semester final project and our prompt was to reimagine the Library with a supplemental program for the historical Brownsville, Florida. Improving community advocacy was considered in the design. The difficulty in this project came from an overwhelming amount of new knowledge in my early studio. Though looking back, this studio set me up to better understand methods and elements of design in a more conscious way. Naturally, from this I ran into other issues with design and thinking critically about structure for the first time. I faced many challenges in this studio, but it was a turning point in my time as an architecture student. I feel that this studio was essential to become a better designer and think more critically about my process, concept, and efficient production.
A year after my most challenging semester, my partner Hailey Scarantino and I were given the task to design a youth center with strict programming in North Beach, Miami. This was a semester-long endeavor with thorough research and in-depth understanding of mechanical strategies. This is a significant project for me because it introduced me to the knowledge of HVAC, lighting, sprinklers, solar panel calculations, fixture counts as well as detailed structural design. Going into this project, I knew the prompt was centered on integrative design, so I wanted to emphasize that in our final deliverable. Hailey and I decided to focus on the concept of hierarchy, to emphasize parts of the building and site that were of importance. Elements that told this story would be to raise our building 25’ to respond to sea-level rise and create a comfortable skateboarding experience on the ground-level. Our structure was also emphasized through this concept by designing a truss system on the front, which wraps around the gymnastics hall, to also emphasize this program, and switching to columns in the back to designate secondary programming. Altogether, the concept and conscious decisions made from the beginning of this project to the end made it really successful and I am so pleased with how it turned out, it’s my favorite so far.
“Look up your university’s architecture website, and ask yourself, what resources do they have to offer? What additional programs will aid your schooling, like study abroad? What has the faculty accomplished? Don’t be afraid to reach out to current students as well and ask questions, find them on LinkedIn or ask the school to put you in touch with a student ambassador.”
What are some of the initiatives you’ve focused on, and why?
As a freshman I looked for more ways to get involved on campus, specifically focusing on sustainability groups because it is something I’m passionate about. I found the US Green Building Council Students organization, but due to COVID the club had lost its momentum and it was no longer active. I technically signed up to be a member, but I was unsatisfied with the fact that sustainability is something so important architects need to consider, and there was no group on campus enabling our growth in this area. As a sophomore, I finally reached out to several existing members, advisors, and the UM Sustainability Director trying to see how I could help bring this back, but nothing seemed to be working. Finally, my junior year one of the previous members reached out and asked if I wanted to take over the club as President. I was so excited to bring this club back and lead a group of students who are equally as passionate about sustainable architecture.
More recently, I became a Research Assistant in the engineering department, and I’ve been studying coastal resilience. This interdisciplinary experience introduces me to new concepts that will mitigate our risks to climate change, most specifically in coastal regions. I have been able to take on independent tasks that will aid research in multiple teams to better understand sea-level rise, storm surge and structural resilience. I have also looked deeply into small-scale urban strategies that could be implemented in cities to adapt to spaces and encourage environmentally friendly responses.
Reinterpretation of Brasilia's Superquadra 413 and 414, designed as Dinâmico Quadra. This “utopia” would juxtapose the existing urban fabric as a critique to Brasilia's emphasis of the car, which hinders sociability and overall wellness.
When applying for and thinking about internships, what are you looking for in an architectural company?
My experience minoring in Sustainable Business and seeing the activity on LinkedIn has influenced my career searches. Companies that focus on environmental, social, and governance strategies will truly be successful long term and this is usually something you can observe just through the ways they treat their employees and the resources they may provide.
Asking questions during interviews are important in revealing these ideals. What does employee interaction look like, for example, between intern and other levels of expertise? Are there positive team relationships, and voices heard across all areas? What is the path to leadership? What does individual growth look like in this position and what could it lead to in the future? What types of resources does the firm have available for you, and how will this aid you as an employee?
I argue the most important aspect when applying for an internship is how I will contribute to the firm. I know that I’ll gain experience anywhere I’m accepted, but what’s more important is how the company may gain experience from me, and how they would value that. How could I have a larger impact and leave a legacy? For myself, finding an internship that includes a research program is a good way to feel like I am creating a larger impact on the future of the firm.
What do you hope to do in your career in general?
I hope to keep up my ambitions, discover new things, and continue to ask questions. I want to be deeply rooted in the culture of architecture and find myself making a difference in our society. I want to give back to struggling communities, and give them better opportunities in the way their lives are influenced by architecture. I want to contribute to sustainable design, perhaps by discovering innovative strategies that unlock knowledge others will adopt.
“I know that I’ll gain experience anywhere I’m accepted, but what’s more important is how the company may gain experience from me, and how they would value that.”
What have you learned in the last six months?
Architecture school has taught me, and will continue to teach me so much about architecture, but also so much about life. As for architecture, I’ve learned about urban planning, and how city design impacts our daily lives along with the importance of fighting against suburban sprawl. I’ve learned a lot about structure, the methods of choosing different structural designs and how to apply them. I’ve done a lot of reading on open web joists, beam sizing, column spacing, and girders to name a few. I now understand how an HVAC system works, along with implementing effective passive design strategies. I can compute fixture counts and how many toilets a certain room capacity may require.
Together with this new knowledge, I’ve also learned about the importance of networking and the magic that happens when you are bold and confident even when you feel intimidated. Staying active on LinkedIn has allowed me to stay up to date with current conversations in architecture and keep in touch with professionals. I’ve also learned the importance of taking an occasional break, that everything can get done step by step. Taking time for yourself and being mindful of your well-being will sustain your energy and ability to showcase your skills. Remind yourself that you are worthy of your accomplishments, even if it was just getting through studio class this week and advancing your initial designs.
Who do you look up to? Both in terms of women in architecture, and in general.
I find myself mesmerized by so many of the women I encounter in architecture — their poise and confidence in conversations captivate me. I always want to get to know everything about all the women I have met in internships and classes, by hearing their background and what led them to where they are today.
I particularly look up to Carie Penabad and Kate Orff. Carie Penabad is an Associate Professor at the University of Miami as well as Principal and Co-founder of Cúre & Penabad. Although I’ve never been fortunate enough to have her as a professor, I’ve been able to observe Carie and all her accomplishments, which inspires me to model her leadership. Recently, Carie created a new podcast called OnCities where she interviews distinguished people in the field, which also encourages me to gain a deeper understanding and question distinguished professionals in a similar way.
Kate Orff, the Founding Principal and Partner at SCAPE, has also captured my attention in the world of architecture and designing places that will make actionable change. Kate Orff was named as one of the 100 most influential people of 2023 in Time Magazine, and this major accomplishment is even more profound in my eyes because it shows that figures dedicated to combat climate change are being recognized, which further promotes sustainability worldwide. Not only does studying Kate’s work inspire me, but seeing her success gives me motivation to continue my efforts to make a difference through design in an impactful way that improves our ecosystems.
Shotgun Revolution ¼”=1’ physical model made with plywood and featured at the Architectural Visions for the West Grove Model Exhibition.
What advice would you give to those interested in studying architecture? Or those just starting their architectural education?
I love hearing about others who are interested in studying architecture! It’s exciting getting to know others who share similar interests, and know that joining this field you’ll be a part of a community. The beginning of an architectural journey is so transformative and you don’t realize how much of every aspect of life goes into architecture. Architecture is fantastic because, even if you decide architecture specifically isn’t something you want to pursue, the field of architecture is vast, you don’t have to feel tied down to one particular thing.
To note, architecture is so much more than buildings or drawing. Architecture is also the theoretical knowledge that involves forms, psychology, the environment, social justice, equity, and history. So if you’re looking for a creative and multifaceted career, architecture is definitely right for you. As you’re beginning your architectural education I suggest digging into some history and backgrounds of architecture. Find styles you like and learn more about them — who were the architects behind the legacies, what makes certain projects famous? Read books, sketch as much as you can. Immersing yourself in architecture through meaningful activities will help you develop a deeper appreciation for the field along with gaining a deeper understanding. The school of architecture is a challenging, yet a rewarding journey.