I AM AIA
Shweta Sinha AIA
As an architect who first came to the US for graduate studies, I bring influences from Indian culture, spaces, and architecture. I have worked In Los Angeles and Princeton on a wide range of projects from museums to community schools and was founding principal of an architecture firm in Bangalore, India. My most recent experience in the PNW focuses on housing projects that provide affordable, innovative living in urban neighborhoods. I am an active member of the AIA Racial Justice Working Group, where I work towards creating a more equitable architectural practice and ultimately, a rich and diverse built environment.
What relationships have I created?
Through my work at the AIA Racial Justice Working Group for Culture Change in Practice and as a member of the most recent Leadership Development Survey Course (LDSC) cohort at the Housing Development Consortium, I have met some phenomenal human beings who are quietly and steadily moving the needle towards an equitable profession and built environment. They have become allies who I can reach out to in my work as an architect and a champion of equity and diversity.
If I could sum up my outlook on life in a bumper sticker, it would say…
Today is a new day – let’s get this done.
What do I hope to contribute through my work?
Architecture has traditionally not been a diverse profession. Through my work I hope to bring marginalized voices to the forefront to incorporate unique perspectives and life experiences into the buildings and spaces we design.
My favorite Seattle-area structures are…
The soaring arches at the Pacific Science Center by Architect Minoru Yamasaki – so delicate, it is hard to believe they are made from concrete. I love the fact that they were to be a temporary structure but have been standing for over 60 years. They represent diversity in the profession and a successful collaboration between architecture and structural engineering.
