Sara Jazayeri earned her Master’s degree in Architecture from L’Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris La Villette in Paris, France before starting Studio 360, an architecture and interior design firm based in New York City. Sara Jazayeri is also the Bronx chapter President of the American Institute of Architects, the first woman to hold the position since the organization was formed in 1931. Sara has recently joined the BLT Built Design Awards Jury panel.
Can you tell us a bit about your background? Where are you from?
I was born in Ahvaz, Iran moved to Paris, France as a young teenager in the 1980’s, and moved to NY, the USA as an adult in the 1990’s. If there was a Global Citizen’s passport, I would be eligible to get it!
What has inspired you to work in the Architecture and Interior Design fields?
I never thought of becoming an architect! When I was a child, I was the one playing the doctor and nurse, and my brother the one who played with Legos building tall buildings. Now, I am an architect and he is a
doctor! Go figure! I did 2 years of premed in college before telling my dad who is a physician that I hated medicine and didn’t want to continue the family legacy. He was shocked and asked me why it took me so long to talk to him. Actually, he was the one who suggested architecture. I was always interested in art, drawing, design, activities that combined creativity with practicality and problem solving for as long as I can remember. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else.
You graduated from the L’Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris La Villette in Paris. what has inspired you to move to NY to open Studio 360?
My husband wanted to continue his higher education in the united states. We moved to New York with our 1-year-old son initially for two years but fell in love with New York. I started to work for the United Nations and then design firms. In 2007, I was working in an architectural firm as their head of the interior design department. A higher position in your career equals longer hours at the office, and less time with your family. Life became even more complicated with the birth of my second child and having a life-work balance for me became like traveling to the moon. An unachievable dream that some people can have it but not me, for sure! Necessity is the mother of invention! I wanted to have control over my life, my time, and my 200 miles an hour life. I had only 2 choices, starting my own firm or starting my own firm. I chose to start my own firm!!! That is how my 3rd child, Studio 360 was born!
What are you working on at the moment, and do you have any upcoming projects or collaborations that you’re able to tell us about?
I am working on the renovation of a few residential projects that include the interior design in New York City and Westchester (a suburb of NYC). Today, I am going to visit my furniture maker, checking a home office desk area that I designed for a fortune 500 CEO that needs another new home office with an impeccable zoom background! On the commercial side, we are going to collaborate with a famous Norwegian design firm on a building in The Bronx. The South Bronx has one of the highest rates of poverty and crime but is also known for its hip hop culture and graffiti. The neighborhood is changing and we want to be part of the positive change. Our project will include artist studios, music performances, a garden, and a restaurant with a 5-star chef that will offer free meals to the community.
You have been named the Bronx chapter President of the American Institute of Architects, AIA Bronx; congratulations! Can you please share what are your main involvements and responsibilities?
Thank you so much for the kind words. I am very excited about my new role. To be an architect, a woman, an immigrant, and a leader is a privilege that so few people have the opportunity to experience. In 2021, my goal is to inspire and motivate the young generation of future architects. “You can’t be what you can’t see.” For that, we will continue our children education program in the disadvantaged and minority communities of the Bronx and for our student and recent graduate members, we will start a mentoring program to create an environment that encourages them to pursue their dreams and find their voice.
Last, do you have any tips for aspiring Architects?
Don’t wait until you graduate before getting your first job/internship. Be good with marketing yourself. If you feel miserable, never play the victim, do something about it.
“COVID-19 was a wake-up call”, a sentiment shared by a lot of people in the construction industry where the current pandemic has halted or slowed down the progress of a lot of construction projects across the globe.
Lockdowns and restrictions continue to bring large losses to the varying sectors and economic and policy uncertainties. In the global construction industry alone, a sharp decline from USD 11,217.4 Billion to USD 10,566.8 Billion is projected in early 2021. However, data also shows that it will reach a market size of USD 11,496.7 billion, projecting a CAGR of 1.2% between 2019 and 2021, where the residential is the primary construction sector. These figures are a part of the Construction Market Report by a research firm Markets and Markets.
Construction Impacts – Globally
Among construction sectors that were totally put off during the lockdown are the hospitality and retail projects which are deemed unessential in most published guidelines. Others are in slow progress if not put-on hold, where 27% of construction firms laid off clients and 59% have a variety of problems. If there are continuing construction activity these are mostly covering residential and health construction sectors.
The added extra costs, balancing inflation productivity, and deflationary market conditions are other hurdles for contractors especially for smaller firms.
Aside from the issues on capital liquidity, the blocked cash flow from developers equates to reduced investments. The degree of this crippling varies in the locality, the legalities and implementations of each region. In retrospect, the impact of COVID-19 in the construction industry is inconsistent and evolving.
A Silver Lining – Positive Inclination
Though amidst the continuing economic and policy uncertainties, an overview of the data projections sees that the construction industry will pick up the pace once the easement on restrictions starts. As early as September 2020, there are 26000 construction jobs added, and the construction industry has recovered approximately 64% of the jobs lost since the start of the pandemic.
A Catalyst for Change – A unique form to reform and innovate
Project Management Leveraging on Experience
According to a survey of project managers across North America, 89% of states and provinces deemed construction an essential service. This presents a need for national governments to provide flexible guidelines that allow construction projects to continue to operate. Though some construction sectors were allowed to continue an operation that is with some restrictions, project managers experienced furniture delays, supply chain delays, decreased labor abilities and permitting delays.
As projects vary in scope and from region to region, OSHA’s Pandemic Flu Guidelines, released way back in February 2007 is a sensible guideline to be adapted when creating risk management plans for construction projects. With the onset of the pandemic, it is evident that the front liners from the safety and health departments on a project site are crucial in the implementation of existing risk management programs. Health and safety departments on-site together with the project management team are likely to be more active in developing counter-measures in anticipation of any similar project risks.
Update Skillset and Learn New Skills
The current pandemic poses unique challenges making it essential for the project managers to do an upgrade or upskill. New skills will need to be learned, primarily in the world of digitization. These new skills will include communication tools, creating emergency plans, and working with software and data. At this point, it is no longer an option but a requirement to acquire a variety of skill-based opportunities.
Adjustments will have to be made in terms of project management and standard operating procedures (SOP). The need to break away from traditional construction policies and systems is a must, to be able to mitigate any risks of budget, schedule, and scope will improve.
Flexible and Long-term Solutions are Keys
The pandemic situation has certainly forced a majority of employees and even employers to work at home, leading to the realization that some departments can operate remotely. The industry has seen an unprecedented change in how work is done since flexible work schedules can be implemented this way. Furthermore, there is a huge saving in fuel costs and time. There’s a great chance that many organizations and firms might consider continuing to some degree when it comes to the remote working of their employees.
Now, this is not to say the shift is resulting in pure benefits like increased productivity. Certain tasks that require spontaneous collaboration is more difficult to manage. A group of people that are connected remotely will have to throw ideas at one another while facing potential technical difficulties. This will certainly bring a new challenge to the management.
Predictions and Possible Trends that will Stay
Lockdown will accelerate a lot of trends, moving away from traditional systems. Though, before lockdown, a lot has already been established. Such as cashless payments and delivery services.
Keeping construction projects going is essential in the economy, in so many ways. The construction industry is a significant driver for economic growth. On a global scale, construction is more than USD 11 trillion industry with residential as the largest sector and 13 percent of the global GDP. Moreover, it is essential in providing employment, building the economy, and just recently held an important role in providing the essential infrastructure for health and safety. With these, project management after the pandemic has actually gained an invaluable lesson and pointed out adjustments and much-needed improvements within the industry that are essential in being prepared in such similar situations in the future.
Architects make good project managers, where they can bring considerable value to projects with their wide-range of skillset and extensive experience in overseeing projects. As natural strategic problem-solvers, architects who are genuinely passionate about project management will sensibly want to go to the next level of managing large projects.
Transitioning to a project management career looks brighter for architects. The need for project managers is in high-demand. A PMI-commissioned report shows 33 percent growth by 2027 or about 22 million new jobs in project management. This data shows the importance of project managers in organizations, where there is a need to fill in the talent gap and shortages in the profession. This shortage is a pressing issue for both the construction and business sector.
What does it take to be a project manager?
The prospect of moving forward with a project management career can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Though not without challenges, it is a routine transition. Project management requires an understanding of the basics, where project architects are no stranger to the design and construction process. The difference is that project management and leadership increase in importance as the project becomes more complex and integrated.
Design and Field Experience
Most construction firms take construction experience as a determining factor to promote or assign potential candidates as a project manager. But what defines an experienced architect? Although this question can be subjective, most large companies prefer project manager positions to be filled by someone who has gained five years or more commercial construction experience as a project architect. According to the Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice by the American Institute of Architects, project managers should have more than ten years of experience.
Most Sought Out Qualifications by Most Firms in a Construction Project Manager Include:
Certification
More than experiencing the real-world, aspiring project managers, with formal training, have the edge where you can learn the methodologies, strategies, and how to utilize the other project management tools. While not required, getting certified is proven to provide invaluable benefits to potential or present project managers. Moreover, having been certified demonstrates competence that can lead to job security and higher salary rates.
At the onset, many may see project management as mainly delegating others, attending meetings, and taking notes. But, the breadth of knowledge, requirements, and skills of a project manager goes beyond. Examples of issues are understanding and mitigating risks, leveraging opportunities in a project, and spotting signs that your project will go over-budget. Learning basic strategies with creative solutions is highly likely to lead to successful project management and completion.
Project management certifications that you should consider are PMP® certification, the PRINCE2 Certification, and Scrum certifications.
Project Management Tools
Leveraging project management tools have mainly benefited small firms. The non-development teams’ flexible methodologies are put to use in their project execution. Scrum, which is one of the frameworks teams and companies use to instill Agile (an iterative project management approach) values into their daily operations, has grown to 49% users. Kanban (which is an emerging PM methodology) users increased to an astounding 300%.
Architects who want to transition to the project manager can benefit from knowing the latest management methodologies to project management software. Many technological innovations in design, materials, and construction methods can result in significant changes in construction costs, where the most dramatic new technology applied to construction has been the digital advancements.
Beyond the Office
Project Managers will need to interact with numerous external consultation firms, trade contractors, subcontractors from different disciplines, and most importantly, with the client. Young aspiring architects should observe how project managers operate in their respective firms to get a feel for how project management works in real life.
If you love people, value good and clear communication, and value the importance of good project management, then this profession is feasible for you.
Bottom line, a project management position is an ideal career leap for experienced architects as there are similarities and overlapping qualities of an architect and a project manager. Furthermore, architects have always been used to overseeing the project, starting with the planning and design phases making project management a fitting choice for the next career path.
The BLT Built Design Awards is one of the most comprehensive Annual Award dedicated to Architecture and Construction. BLT Built Design Awards has 4 programs Architecture – Interior Design – Construction Product – Project Management that allows every successful company located anywhere in the world, to enter great projects to this prestigious award.
Becoming a BLT Built Design Award winner will set you apart from the competition. Whether it’s your design credential or a sustainable concept, by carefully selecting the category you enter, you can create a niche to make you stand out from your competitors. The BLT Built Design Awards is an independent endorsement and an outstanding indicator of success.
Give your project the recognition it deserved, BLT Built Design Awards is pleased to present the official “Certificate of Achievement” given to Winners and Honorable Mention.
BLT Built Design Awards gives 6 winning titles/Trophies per year to Professionals and Students:
Selected by our esteemed jury of architects, designers, manufacturers, and leaders in construction and architectural fields, the annual winners will receive the BLT trophy, extensive publicity showcasing their designs and project to an international audience, and more.
Los Angeles, CA – Renowned Farmani Group is pleased to announce the official launch of its highly anticipated BLT Built Design Awards.
Farmani Group is a leading organization that curates and promotes photography, design, and architecture. Since 1985, the company’s key mission is to discover and promote talent in these areas through competitions, awards, exhibitions, developing artist communities, and provide education and networking opportunities.
In the company’s most recent news, Farmani Group has established its annual BLT Built Design Awards. These awards recognize the expertise of all professionals involved in the realization of outstanding global projects, from architecture firms, interior design experts, construction projects, and project management.
“Through the BLT Built Design Awards, we aim to focus on celebrating projects, people, and their passion for the industry,” says the founder of Farmani Group, Mr. Hossein Farmani. “During our rigorous judging process, we will recognize those who have gone above and beyond in the last five years and raise awareness to all professions involved in the realization of new infrastructures.”
Currently, the BLT Built Design Awards is seeking entries for its latest program in the areas of outstanding projects, innovative processes, sustainable initiatives, and disruptive companies in one or more of the following categories:
Registration for the BLT Built Design Awards closes on September 19th, 2021. Those who register before February 28th, 2021 will receive an early-bird discount of 10%. Winners of each category will receive the BLT Trophy, extensive public showcasing of their designs to an international audience, and more. BLT Awards is open to professionals and Students.
For more information about the BLT Built Design Awards, or to register, please visit www.bltawards.com.
About the company:
BLT Built Design Awards was assembled by the Farmani Group as the sister initiative of the IDA International Design Awards, which has been recognizing and celebrating smart and sustainable multidisciplinary design since 2007.
Farmani Group organizes the International Design Awards (IDA), Architecture Masterprize, DNA Paris Design Awards, London International Creative Awards, Prix de la Photographie in Paris, and the Annual Lucie Awards for Photography, which has emerged as one of the world’s most prestigious awards.
Contact Information:
People define spaces as evident on how mixed-use buildings came about and are now eyed by investors and developers as the future of property development. Millennials are at the core of this campaign, and as it addresses the burgeoning urban population, mixed-use buildings are becoming a mainstream solution.
From Skylab Architecture’s Sideyard Mixed-Use Building in Portland to Arquitectonica’s Mixed-Use City Block Porte de L’Europe, the concept of mixed-use is alive and thriving.
What defines a mixed-use building?
Simply put, a mixed-use building is a single building that has three or more businesses such as residential, mercantile, institutional, and office that incur revenue-producing businesses. Unlike office buildings that house several types of businesses, mixed-using buildings are more diverse in use. It includes entertainment, sports and fitness, religious spaces, and hotels. Related terms include compact use building or multi-functional buildings.
The two general forms of building massing for mixed-use designs these are vertical and horizontal developments. Vertical mixed-use is a multi-level, single building where typically residential living is at the upper levels, and lower floors are leased for office and retail uses. Parking and transportation, meanwhile are housed on the basement floors.
What spaces are integrated into mixed-use buildings?
Current trends in mixed-use building design are not simply bringing together different uses in a stand-alone building but instead, designers seek to integrate the whole structure in a neighborhood setting. Surrounding development such as access to transportation, work, home, and shopping are considerations for the design and planning of mixed-use buildings. Modern sustainable mixed-use buildings aim to flexible to function as times change and as seen as an urban solution as it reduces pollution and use of transportation.
Common Occupancies:
Occupancy Combinations:
The versatility of buildings is instrumental in shaping metropolitan spaces to be more efficient by saving resources from the use of sustainable materials. With this construction methodology in mind, buildings can be designed to be diverse for a single building that can serve multiple purposes. And thus, urbanization can be a road to societal progress rather than a hindrance.
The fundamentals of interior design will never change as they are what brings the elements together into a cohesive, definable, and aesthetically pleasing visual medium.
Some people do have that innate talent of transforming a room into a jaw-dropping interior space. Bringing in mixes and matches of great finds from thrift stores and even from bargain home depot shops, these talented people can bring together the elements into a stunning and tasteful interior.
Although there’s no magic when it comes to interior design, instead, it’s how one makes use of these basic principles. Much like professional designers, where following these fundamentals are paramount in creating aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces.
But, note that creating harmony doesn’t mean designing without variety. There should be a balance between the two to create a vibrant and cohesive interior design.
A worth-mentioning type of harmony in interior design is color: Color Harmony. A room’s color or hue is probably the first thing we notice in a room and as a universal language that can convey a myriad of emotions and meanings. As an essential and fundamental principle and the element of interior design, it can affect the overall look of a room. As bright and neutral colors bounce off light, it can make a room look seem larger while dark hues, on the other hand, can make a room cozier and smaller.
Ways to Create Balance: Symmetrical Balance. Usually has a focal point. It is where assigning a central point where elements are used similarly to each side. This is demonstrated on one-point perspectives in painting and visual graphics. Asymmetrical Balance. Unlike symmetrical, the form, color, and other basic elements may not be duplicated, but instead, use different elements but still have the same perceived weight or intensity. This still achieves balance from the center point.
For instance, for a Savanah themed interior, you can use leaf-patterned wallpaper with green shades. Taking a cue from this pattern, you can choose to have similar leaf prints on your throw rugs or even on your sofa covers. Add sculptural vases with avocado green hues on reddish wood oak center tables and embellish the ceiling with black chrome-plated drop pendants to finish the look.
Contrast is an essential aspect of creating designed spaces. In an interior designer’s book, contrast is an effective way to emphasize a focal point or how to showcase, say sculptural furniture. Repetition and similarity can be blunt, and with contrast, it can make elements pop.
Even the best successful designers do break the rules when it comes to principles of design. But, if ever they do so, typically, a commendable quality is at stake. Unless you have gained extensive experience in interior design, it is still best to follow these fundamentals. If you’re ready, then you may bend a rule or two!
Designing your rental property is more than just bean bags and wallpapers, you’ll need to pull together all the elements to work harmoniously into your living space. Creating a cohesive design should not only be aesthetically pleasing but even more so, offers a comfortable, functional, and unforgettable experience for your clients.
Great design means better opportunities. The look and feel of your rental property can either upscale or stale your investment. Know more about what you can out of your efforts for a strategically designed rental space with the following benefits.
Most property managers and homeowners will try every trick in the book and incorporating a sound design that guarantees to attract more clients, get more bookings, generate excellent reviews, and increase your property value. Whether you are listing for short-term furnished apartments or modern vacation homes, there are many ways to transform your rental property into a high-class and enthralling home-away-from-home asset.
Plan and invest in a good lighting scheme that’s adaptable to your location and features of your Air BnB. Make sure you have enough lights outdoors to guide your clients when finding the place. Check your street lights and entry porch lights during the night.
If you have a beautiful garden to feature, you can choose solar LED illumination to highlight landscape features such as waterfalls, trees, flower beds, or sculptures.
Just like your outdoors, your lighting temperature for your interiors depends on your location, current time of the year, and existing color scheme. For adaptable lighting, you can choose adjustable ambient lighting to change the desired mood for your interiors. Don’t forget to add accent lighting and bedside lamps.
Neutral and earth-tone colors are safe choices when it comes to the color scheme, but splashing unusual and vibrant colors can also make an impressive statement to your rental property.
Though, always match your hues with the current season and location. If you live in a gloomy area, bright and light Scandinavian-inspired elements can uplift the mood of your property. On the other hand, if you have a hotter climate, deep cool gray or marine tones can make your interior more relaxed and refreshing.
When doing a staging or renovation of your rental property, be sure to take before and after pictures of your property. Documenting the transformation is not only reliving the satisfaction of your achievement but can be an invaluable record you can show to potential clients or an appraisal officer.
Farmani Group assembled BLT Buil Design Awards as one of the most comprehensive Award programs in the Architecture and Building fields regrouping: Architecture, Interior Design, Construction Product and Project Management.
BLT Built Design Awards is the sibling Award of International Design Awards (IDA), DNA Paris, Architecture MasterPrize all focusing on Architecture and Interior Design.
The Farmani Group, established in 1985, is responsible for many successful awards around the globe. Farmani Group organizes the International Design Awards (IDA), Architecture Masterprize (AMP) DNA, Paris Design Awards, London International Creative Awards (LICC), Prix de la Photographie in Paris (PX3), and the Annual Lucie Awards for Photography, which has emerged as one of the world’s most prestigious awards. Learn more about Farmani Group here.
