ADINA S. BANAYAN

Portrait courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

Adina is an aspiring architect, who is dynamically passionate about the field of architecture, its direct effect on the needs of people, and of our planet. She pioneered to double major in Architecture (B.Arch) and in Studio Art (B.A.) from the Spitzer School of Architecture at CCNY in December 2019. Adina’s career goal is to reinvent public spaces to invite community engagement and deliver sustainable ideas to the wider population. She is a proactive professional that takes initiative to be a part of the future of interactive public spaces and sustainable architecture in her community. Currently, she is involved with Open Air’s advocacy for the Low-Carbon Concrete LECCLA bill and Instagram account and is on the AIA WHV Sustainability Committee.

Discovering My Identity Through Art, Architecture, Community, and Advocacy

What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture?

I believe that I didn’t choose to pursue the field of architecture, rather, it chose me. As a kid, my favorite hobbies always included math, art, and puzzle-solving, but I adamantly did not want to be an architect. I was under the impression that architects were overworked and underpaid. A family friend told me to look into architecture when she saw the classes I was taking at my community college. I was taking classes in law, accounting, art, and architecture, but the courses in the latter held me captivated. I barely noticed the passing time in my architecture-related courses. If you love your work, she said, you will never work a day in your life. She introduced me to her husband, Walter Litvak, who was a recently retired architect that was one of the first architecture graduates from City College. After a chat in his studio, I was convinced to apply to City College’s architecture program and to start interning at a local architecture firm. Worst case scenario, I thought, I can always drop out if I didn’t like it. How wrong I was… On the first day of my architecture studio with Professor Fabian Llonch in City College, I was smiling from ear to ear- my passion and my purpose were finally aligned. There was no turning back. I was already in love with the profession that enticed me to use my talents to solve the puzzle of the world- architecture.

Adina's first semester at Spitzer School of Architecture with Prof. Fabian Llonch, Fall 2014. Photo Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

Congratulations on being the first student to graduate with a dual degree in Architecture and Art! What was your experience in gaining both degrees? How did the art education help you become a better designer and create unique projects for the studio?

Thank you! I have always seen architecture and art as interconnected fields, especially since I got introduced to architecture through Walter, who is both an architect and a sculptor. The main difference I experienced through my education is that art is more forgiving than architecture. Architecture critics can be very harsh and demanding, in a way that may stump your individual creativity. The critique style in the art world allowed me to explore and play with the form and the texture more fluidly than I would have done had only have taken architecture courses. I feel as if they are the perfect duo and balance each other out. In my architecture studios, I found myself playing with textures and materiality for the sake of exploring something new. In my art courses, I became more critical of scale, movement, and dimensions. In the end, they inspire each other’s sculptural qualities and promote a rich project. Now, my passion for exploring materiality evolved into research for sustainable building materials.

Adina's third-year presentation for the Oasis project with Ina Dajci, Spring 2017. Photo Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

Adina's exploration with surface and texture for the Pavilion for Iona Island project with Professor Jeremy Edmiston, Spring 2019. Photo Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

Site Model for the Revitalizing Jefferson project with Prof Alberto Foyo, Summer 2019. Photo Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

How do you believe your architecture experience helped shape your cultural identity during school and now, post-graduation?

Before I went to City College, I was actually embarrassed of my multifaceted culture, which included Jewish, Persian, and Brazilian. Being that the Jewish sect is passed through the father, I identified as a Persian more than I did as a Brazilian. Although I have always been proud of my supporting family and my family name, Banayan, (derived from the Hebrew word boneh, to build,) I often felt like the odd one out in my high school, especially with such an interesting last name. City College changed that for me. I was encouraged to explore my roots further, to rediscover, and to personalize my heritage. Because of their culturally diverse student and faculty body, Spitzer became a safe place for me to express myself. I was constantly inspired by my college friends who were proud of their cultures and promoted me to own my Brazilian heritage. In my search for cultural identity at college, I realized that my bubbly, positive, poetic nature was due to my mother’s culture, and I finally started to appreciate the Brazilian side of me. Academically, I used my architecture and art courses to further expand my cultural knowledge. One of the most inspiring classes was the Urban Reconstruction-Resilience course with Professor Lance J. Brown. I did a research report regarding the mainshocks and stresses that affect Rio de Janeiro’s society, and economy. In my report, I learned about a nonprofit organization named, Catalytic Communities, that helps the people who live in Rio’s favelas with sustainable community development. At the completion of the course, Brown encouraged me to get in contact with Theresa Williamson, the founder of the organization, to volunteer at Catalytic Communities after graduation. This is a dream I hope to still fulfill when traveling becomes a norm again. My search for cultural identity has strengthened my desire to give back to my community and to my heritage.

Adina celebrating her second major with her family, December 2019. Photo Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

Nedjine, Jenn, Adina, and Carme at the Architecture Graduation, May 2019. Photo Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

Adina's art project that explored her cultural identity, Fall 2019. Photo Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

During your studies, you received the Castagna scholarship, which pays for you to study abroad. What is the value of studying abroad? Tell us about your experience and how this trip to Amsterdam introduced you to the importance of climate change.

My study abroad experience in Amsterdam was career-changing for me, and I am honored to have had the opportunity with the Castagna grant. I chose to study the master’s course Governing Climate Change and Sustainability at the VU Amsterdam because I wanted to further my education in the practicality of the sustainable concepts that I had previously learned in the studio. Surprisingly, I was the only architecture student and the only American student. The rest of the class was filled with highly inspirational activists of different professionals who wanted to make a change in their industry. It was an intensive summer course that responded to climate change denialism, the proof and effects of climate change, and climate governmental policies. One of my favorite workshops was impersonating a country leader at a World Climate Conference, as we tried to meet the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 2-degree Celsius. We also had bike tours to various sustainable and low carbon projects and climate advocacy groups in Amsterdam. The course has heightened my global awareness of the effects of climate change, and my duty, as an architect, to respond to the critical needs of our cities and of our planet. This is why I am now working with policy. I also met great motivational friends, who all share the same dream as I do, and I am excited about the future we are aiming to achieve together.

Adina with other professionals who care about the planet from VU Amsterdam, Summer 2019. Photo Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

Since you grew a passion for climate change throughout your education, tell us about your current project revolving around low carbon concrete.

I got involved with OpenAir by attending an AIA lecture on sustainability, and I realized that this was my architectural calling. OpenAir Collective is an advocacy, research, and mission approach group that delivers sustainable options to the wider public. There are plenty of ongoing projects that are happening within OpenAir, but I am primarily focused on their low-carbon concrete projects. LECCLA is a low-carbon concrete policy that is being introduced to NYS. I have been promoting the bill through social media, creating content, and contacting my local government. I have also been involved in the OpenSource Sidewalk Project, which is a targeted mission for low-carbon concrete sidewalk projects. We are working with concrete manufacturers and educators in creating these low-carbon concrete mixtures per area. I recently co-interviewed Stacey Foreman about her successful pilot project in Portland, where they tested out the strengths and curing times of different concrete mixes. It is definitely an inspiration for a New York Sidewalk Project!

I strongly believe that if you want to make a change, you must start within your own community. This is why I recently got involved with my AIA chapter and have joined the Sustainability Committee. Together, we work on lectures that cater to our community needs and set the example for our AIA chapter to make sustainable choices.

OpenAir Advocacy Meeting, December 2020. Photo Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

AIA WHV Sustainability Lecture Series, Jan 2021. Photo Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

As one of the only two public architecture schools in New York City, the Spitzer School at The City College of New York is known for its network and close community. What is the importance of having this network? How does it help you and your peers evolve into great architectural designers today?

In my final year at Spitzer, I took a Co-Op course with Professor Venesa Alicea, who really emphasized the power of community and networking within the field of architecture. I didn’t recognize how strong Spitzer’s network was until after I graduated when I was exposed to the CCNY Architecture Alumni Group and the biweekly Rise Chats- where Venesa Alicea is the president. I believe that I have had certain opportunities because of these connections, and I encourage my peers to get more involved with our alumni. The CCNY Alumni Group is a close-knit community that can be extremely helpful to help you secure a good job, a great resume, and fantastic connections.

The professors I had in college evolved into my career mentors. For example, Professor Ahu Aydogan was the professor that introduced me to sustainable designs and to her green-wall project, BreAthe, and I still contact her for expert advice on the topic. Additionally, the friends I made in college continue to vouch, support, and refer me. I am so blessed for their constant support, and they know they can count on me, as well.

Adina with Prof. Ahu Aydogan at Graduation, May 2019. Photo Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

Adina's fourth-year presentation for the Archive of Dreams projects with Ina Dajci, Fall 2018. Photo Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

Interestingly, you mention Spitzer as a close community. As a result of the prevailing circumstances, a few recent graduates created a platform, Ad Hoc Cooperative, to tackle current issues through design. What inspired you to participate in Hoc Cooperative as a team leader? Tell us a bit about your project.

I saw the project prompt for the “Millennial Playground” on the Ad Hoc Instagram and I could not get my mind off the topic since. After doing two study-abroad in Europe, (I also did some urban planning courses in Barcelona,) it became very evident to me that it is an American culture to avoid taking proper breaks to rejuvenate, in comparison to my European peers. It was as if I was trained to overwork until I burned out. The Millennial Playground challenges that stereotype and proposes a playground designed for adults during working hours to promote productivity and creativity in the workplace. Our research has concluded that anxiety and anxious tics are more evident in adults now than ever before. The typical adult does not have a socially accepted space to physically release tension and express movement, which causes a build-up in internal energy- anxiety. The Millennial Playground dares adults to play again. It is an exciting and revolutionary project that I had such a pleasure working with other talented designers from City College. It was my honor to be a team leader in this project, and I have learned a lot from my designers. I hope we keep in touch.

Millennial Playground Section Proposal design with Aaron Morgado, Jan 2021. GIF Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

Millennial Playground Midterm, November 2020. Photo Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

Wow! As an active student, and now, an architectural designer, how do you manage your time? What is one piece of advice you'd give to the younger generation to keep pushing to achieve their dreams and goals?

Managing my time has always been a conscious effort for me. I find that I am most productive with lists. I make daily, monthly and even yearly to-do lists. Every few months, I revisit my lists and reprioritize them. If you’re just getting started with lists, I suggest that you first track your day by the hour to see how long it takes you to do specific tasks, and yes, include breaks! This helps you plan out your day more efficiently, so you’ll be able to successfully finish your tasks of the day as planned.

One piece of advice I would like to give over is from my former professor, Alberto Foyo. After my graduation he told me, Don’t rush to work. Know your worth, your talents and your passions, and find work that values those things, as well. If you love it enough, You will never work a day in your life.

I would also like to note that it is up to us, the future architects, to bring up the architects’ worth as professionals. For generations, architects are the only professionals that have given into the insanity to work and compete for free. We are so used to discrediting our work from the harshness of studio critiques that we constantly find fault in other architects’ works. How can we expect non-architects to value something we cannot? I believe that we can change that- and it starts with valuing our own work, as well as, our fellow architects, and seeing the greatness in it. We have the power to determine the prestige of the profession.

Thankful. Photo Courtesy of Adina S. Banayan.

ADINA S. BANAYAN

Discovering My Identity Through Art, Architecture, Community, and Advocacy

LEERON CARMI

SARA D. JAZAYERI