Emerging New York Architects

On Jul 7, 2025, the AIANY Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) was pleased to host our monthly committee meeting, featuring a career-focused talk for recent grads about “Bridging Education and Practice: What to Expect in the Architecture Profession” at AIA New York and the Center for Architecture.

We are heartily grateful for our distinguished speakers, Nika(Mo) Mo, AIA, PMP, Project Architect at Moody Nolan; Huanyu Chen, Associate Urban Designer and Assistant Studio Director at Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects; and Luna Zhou, AIA, Project Architect at Gensler, for sharing their insights to our members.

The talk focused on nine topics about the practice of architecture, exploring the transition from academia to practice, and covering the challenges, surprises, and growth opportunities. Firsthand experiences from the early stages of the speakers’ careers were a great inspiration.

We’re grateful to those of you who joined us in person at the Center for Architecture, and to those attendees who joined us online as well. We received positive feedback from attendees about this session, and we’re glad our members had fun!

Special thanks to Nika Mo for advocating for this collaboration, and Karen Rose Cover, Associate Director of Coumbia GSAPP Career Services, for promoting it to the GSAPP community.

The event was moderated by Hao-Yeh Lu​​, Co-Chair of AIANY Emerging New York Architects, ​​with photography by ​Chia-Han Lin.

Thanks again to everyone who attended—you’re welcome to join future ENYA events!

On Jun 25, 2025, the AIANY Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) was honored to collaborate with the Architecture Research Office, for the panel discussion “Architecture Research Office (ARO) on Insights for Practice” at AIA New York and the Center for Architecture.

This flagship event was inspired by the firm’s recent book, Architecture. Research. Office. (2024, Artbook | D.A.P. . and DelMonico Books) and began by introducing the firm’s diverse projects across three decades, and the principles that guide ARO’s work, which seeks a more responsible practice of architecture grounded in both people and process.

We are heartily grateful for our distinguished panelists, Stephen Cassell, FAIA, ARO Principal, Megumi Tamanaha, AIA, ARO Studio Director, Neil Patel, ARO Project Director,​ Elizabeth Levy​, ARO Designer, and Jane Lea​, Principal of Lea Architecture, formerly of ARO, as they came together in conversation on varied professional trajectories, from student to practice, to leadership, to hiring, to starting a firm, and diversity of works, research based practice, and office culture.

The panel discussion was followed by an interactive breakout group with attendees, led by our panelists, for better communication and engagement. We received very positive feedback, and we’re glad our attendees loved this session.

Special thanks to Kim Yao, FAIA​, for advocating for this collaboration with emerging professionals, and Alex Caban, for the logistics coordinated and brilliant panel discussion question brainstorming.

This event was moderated and coordinated by ​Hao-Yeh Lu and ​Fahir Burak Unel, RA, AIA, Co-Chair of AIANY Emerging New York Architects, and supported by AIANY Program and Event Manager ​Salmata Kaba, with photography by Chia-Han Lin.

Thanks again to everyone who attended this event! We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at future ENYA events.

On May 2, 2025, the AIANY Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) was pleased to organize the Beyond the Boards building tour of the newly completed award-winning New York City Police Department 40th Precinct, designed by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group. The project is an excellent showcase of the NYC Department of Design and Construction’s Design and Construction Excellence program for public works.

The tour was led by Aran Coakley, Associate and Project Architect at BIG, and New York City Department of Design and Construction representative, Amanda L. Miller Amankona, Senior Strategic Planning Coordinator, Office of the Commissioner, and Owen Xie, Junior Project Manager, shared their efforts and insights to achieve this astonishing works.

The tour was a great chance to experience firsthand how the city works in partnership with creative and experienced design professionals to deliver high-quality public buildings. We also shared some emotional moments, with the Bjarke Ingels Group design architects who reunited and revisited work they were devoted to.

The AIANY ENYA committee’s heartfelt thanks goes to each firm and city agency’s advocacy and support, to BIG—Bjarke Ingels Group partner Kai-Uwe Bergmann, FAIA, Global Communications Manager Alyssa Snyder, New York City Department of Design and Construction Associate Commissioner Jeff Margolies, Chief Strategy Officer Becky Yurek, and New York Police Department Capital Construction Unit Director Amr Eldin.

This tour was organized and photographed by Hao-Yeh Lu, the co-chair of ENYA.

Thanks to everyone who attended this workday afternoon event. We’re looking forward to seeing you at future ENYA events!

On April 22, 2025, the AIANY Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) was pleased to host a lecture from NYC Department of City Planning titled “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity: Insights for Emerging Architects.” The event was presented by NYC Department of City Planning’s Frank Ruchala Jr, Director of Zoning, and Christopher Hayner, Deputy Director of Zoning, who shared their insight with the emerging professionals community.

The largest zoning amendment since 1961 makes it possible to build more homes across the city, alleviating the ongoing New York housing crisis. This program was a great opportunity for professionals to better understand the zoning intent directly from policymakers, and to help them embrace new opportunities.

We would like to thank Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) for hosting this event in their New York office, Daniel O’Shaughnessy for his support, introduction and post-event office tour, Shivani Agarwal for advocating for this collaboration, and Yvette Gonzalez for organizing the the event and its catering.

This session was moderated by Hao-Yeh Lu, Assoc. AIA and Co-Chair of ENYA (’25-present). With coordination from Salmata Kaba, Program and Events Manager at AIA New York, Danyel D. Hueyopan, Assoc. AIA and ENYA Marketing Team (’24-present), with photography by Chia-Han Lin, and Diana Erazo Garcia‘s reception.

Thanks to everyone who attended this event during a workday afternoon. We look forward to seeing you at future ENYA programming!

On January 30, 2025, the AIANY Emerging New York Architects (ENYA) and Tooba Jalal, Assoc. AIA and Co-Chair (’22-’24), were awarded and recognized among a talented group of architects across the state of New York.

To the surprise of ENYA, the recognition came after a fruitful year of events across New York City. The event took place at the Crowne Plaza Albany – the Desmond Hotel, on a Thursday afternoon. Fahir Burak Unel, Assoc. AIA and Co-Chair (’19-present), traveled to Albany to personally receive AIA New York State’s Local Chapter Emerging Professionals Committee Award on behalf of AIANY ENYA. The recognition as a local chapter highlights our efforts and commitment to cultivating a community of future architects. The submission for the award recognized our previous events and series such as Beyond the Board, Arch Sandfest, and seasonal ARE Study Groups.

As for the second recognition, Tooba Jalal, Assoc. AIA & Co-Chair (’22-’24), received the 2025 Associate Award. Tooba Jalal’s contribution to the AIANY ENYA and abroad New York as a professional has left an imprint worth noting. Whether it be her monthly round-up email, significant effort towards new media and communication (co-establishing the Marketing Team), or with her presence and energy at each committee meeting, Tooba’s contribution has left ENYA in a position of ongoing prosperity. ENYA will always welcome her to any and all future monthly committee meetings!

All said, the AIANY ENYA committee has started the year with a great deal of introspection. Thank you to AIA New York State for this opportunity! We’ll take this forward, as we transition towards a new year and Co-Chair.

Acknowledgements: F. Burak Unel, Assoc. AIA & Co-Chair (’19-present) & Tooba Jalal, Assoc. AIA & Co-Chair (’22-’24). The Marketing Team: Brad DeBose, NOMA, Assoc. AIA (’24-present), Danyel D. Hueyopan, Assoc. AIA, (’24-present), and Ziani Rodriguez, AIA, (’24-present).