Yanitza Brongers-Marrero

Moody Nolan
Housing Practice Leader

28 Years
in the Industry

What inspires you to design? Do you incorporate any unique perspectives or values into your designs, and how do you think your experiences as a woman influence your work?

I find design to be a creative and artistic way to solve problems and present opportunities to make things better. Yes, my experience as a woman influences my work as I experience the world through my own personality but also social norms and biases. For example, my experiences as a woman, professional, mother, someone raised by a single mother allows me to speak and consider issues related to child daycare, work life balance, street safety, self-sufficiency and self-advocacy among others. When diverse perspectives and experiences are considered in design it yields a more universal design that is inclusive and addresses more needs.

For example, when I design student housing projects, I do my best to understand the culture of different colleges and what is important. My questions to the client will be framed through my own personal experiences as a woman (and also through my education and interests). This experience allows me to consider and talk about spaces to meditate and worship, security walking through campus at night, counseling services with privacy from other students, how mothers find a place of belonging (mother rooms or other), food banks, and spaces that can only be imagined and brought to discussion because of my experience as a woman.

Who have your role models been? Have you had any mentors throughout your career, and how have they shaped your journey in architecture?

My mother and other people who have demonstrated leadership with passion and empathy have been my role models throughout my life and career.

I am also thankful for several mentors both men and women, including teachers, architects, ministers, and friends. They have taught me different aspects of the profession, the business and leadership in general, all of which have helped me get to this point in my career.

How do you think architecture can help address social issues, and how have you seen women lead the way in creating inclusive, equitable spaces?

Architecture shapes the way we want to function in the world. It establishes the character of spaces; it inspires us and determines how day-to-day functions are organized and how we interact. Women architects and leaders bring critical thinking and solutions. Women lead the way in creating inclusive and equitable spaces by being thoughtful in the way that they present ideas that account for multiple perspectives and look to solve the right problems.

How do you see the conversation on sustainability going in our industry?

It is moving forward but it is limited as we do not always have the project construction budgets, the time or the interest of clients to investigate solutions or conversations in more depth. However, we continue to make progress.

What has been the most fulfilling moment of your career so far, and how did it shape your professional journey?

The most fulfilling part of my career thus far is seeing our projects provide more affordable housing for residents in the communities where we work. It’s also rewarding to see the projects that I worked on age over time but continue to be relevant and meaningful for the users.

Tell us about some of your favorite projects you’ve worked on.

Morgan State University Thurgood Marshall Hall Student Housing and Poindexter Place Senior Housing Project, Bridge Park Mixed Use and Redevelopment.

Thurgood Marshall Hall was an amazing experience as we worked with a client that deeply cares about creating the best environment for students. We took the time to investigate the program, the interior environments, and the site to connect to the main campus and welcome students.

Poindexter Place was a transformational project of multiple blocks of outdated housing into a vibrant community supported by many community assets. Through time I have been able to hear from residents that have been deeply impacted by having access to affordable housing and in that same way allowing them to seize new opportunities.

Bridge Park is a new mixed-use residential project and is a walkable livable neighborhood that is much more sustainable.

What advice would you give women just entering the industry?

Invest time to learn the technical aspects that no one is able to teach you. Say yes when you are asked to do something even if you are not sure that you have all the answers. You can figure it out if you work hard and it will pay off as it is building towards the next step in your career. Work with people that you can learn from and inspire you.