Career Path of an Architect at a Boston Architecture Firm
Initially drawn to car design for its "merging of form and function," Nima's diverse undergraduate background in computer science, economics, and art, combined with internships in transit planning and sustainable engineering, ultimately led them to architecture. A summer design program solidified this path, culminating in a Master's of Architecture from Harvard and a current role at William Ron Associates, complemented by teaching positions at Boston Architectural College and RISD.
Career Exploration, Interdisciplinary Studies, Design Thinking, Higher Education, Architectural Design
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Nima Shariat
Architect
Boston Architecture Firm
University of California, Santa Cruz
Harvard University, Graduate School of Design, Master of Architecture 2022
Computer Science, Economics, Fine Arts, Music
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Architecture, Construction & Design
Creative
Video Highlights
1. Nima's exploration of diverse fields (computer science, economics, and art) before focusing on architecture demonstrates the value of interdisciplinary studies and how seemingly unrelated passions can converge.
2. Nima's participation in internships, such as transit planning and working with Sustainable World, highlights the importance of practical experience in shaping career direction and building a strong portfolio.
3. Nima's decision to attend a design discovery summer program before committing to a Master's in Architecture underscores the value of testing one's interests and ensuring a good fit for a demanding career path.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
I came into the world of design really liking car design. Growing up in California, I saw an abundance of cars driving around and viewed them as almost sculptural objects.
I realized I was interested in the merging of form and function, and the multitude of disciplines that came into it. In undergrad, I studied a few different things and took a range of disciplines. I triple-majored in computer science, economics, and art.
I liked things that operated on the mix of disciplines and would hop around between them. Through some internships, like transit planning at the Santa Cruz Metro, with fleet services, or with the engineers for Sustainable World, those pieces built up to understanding that design was the through line. It merged all my passions rather than having to be separated stars; it actually made them into a constellation.
I did a summer program at Berkeley in my last year at Santa Cruz, which was a design discovery equivalent. You spend the summer in a design studio and see if a master's of architecture or any related design field is appropriate for you. Doing that, it felt like a really nice, intense click.
It was a lot of late nights and all-nighters, and I realized it was for me because I was excited and happy throughout that entire process. That built up into going to the Graduate School of Design at Harvard the following year to do a master's of architecture. Throughout that time, I started doing internships that were tangential or related, either in architecture offices or research for faculty.
I discovered my passion is somewhere in between the two. That has led me to where I am now, working as an architect in the city of Boston at a Boston-based firm, William Rawn Associates. I'm also teaching at a few different institutions, like the Boston Architectural College or RISD, the Rhode Island School of Design.