Bio
Emily Mathes is a Designer at Rothschild Doyno Collaborative who developed her passion for community-centered design during her architecture graduate studies, which focused on urban design. She aspires to create work that transforms not only the built environment but also the lives of clients and surrounding communities. Emily believes designers hold a responsibility to foster positive change and ensure every voice is heard in the design process. She earned a Master of Architecture with a focus in urban design from Kent State University’s Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture with a minor in construction management. Emily serves as the AIA Pittsburgh Board of Directors Associate Representative and Young Architects Forum Co-Fellowship Chair.
Interview
What sparked your interest in becoming an architect? Earliest Memory of Architecture? When I was young, my dad was an engineer. My earliest memory of an architecture-related field was when I would watch him work on his drawing sets that he had rolled out on the floor at home. Throughout high school, I loved all the math and science classes, but I also elected to take all the art classes. When I was applying to colleges for engineering and architecture programs, it was a tour at the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Kent State University that sold it for me. I had finally found the perfect fit for my interests, and I was hooked.
How has your experience training to be an architect in the office/field (AXP experience) served you in your volunteer and community service? …Why is it important for emerging professionals to get involved in their communities and give back? How did you get involved? The most transformative mentor/volunteer experience? How do you balance volunteer, professional, and personal time? It is important for emerging professionals to get involved in their communities because it gives them a chance to share their unique skills and passions while also providing opportunities to listen and learn. I became involved with serving on the local AIA Pittsburgh Board of Directors due to a transformative mentor experience. My career mentor elevated me as a candidate for the Associate Representative position, and without them thinking of me for this opportunity, I would have missed out on so much growth in my career and connections within the architecture community. In that role, I represent the voices of associate members in our region. I am staying in tune to what associate members need by also serving on our local Young Architects Forum board. Outside of AIA, my husband and I serve at our local church and partake in volunteer opportunities with non-architecture organizations. It has been so rewarding to give back and make connections with people who may or may not be in the AEC industry. I am able to share how architects are making a difference with design in our city and learn more about the people and organizations that are doing such meaningful work in our community.
What would you say to those young professionals in the architecture field that are on the fence about joining AIAS or AIA? How have you found value in membership? To young professionals in the field on the fence about joining AIAS or AIA, I would tell them to dive in. For me, the true value of getting involved is gaining an amazing community. It provides a great support network of professionals and students outside of your firm or classes that are working towards similar goals as you. It also provides a great opportunity for mentorship from others with different perspectives and levels of experience to grow in your career. You get out of it what you put into it, so don’t hold back!