2024 Summer Scholars

Collaboration, creativity, and innovative thinking are fundamental to our practice. Our Summer Scholar program embodies these principles, offering a holistic design experience each summer. This year, we are excited to welcome 13 exceptional students from varied academic backgrounds across our offices, engaging in a program that blends education, mentorship, and practical application within a research-driven framework.

The unconventional curriculum is designed not just to educate but to inspire, pushing the boundaries of traditional design practices while challenging participants to investigate the impact of design on community and environmental well-being through scholar-led research initiatives. By combining hands-on practice with theoretical exploration, we encourage scholars not only to refine their skills and interests but also to envision and propose ideas that meaningfully engage with the human experience.

Yongxiao Liu (Cornell University): Specializing in regional planning, Yongxiao focuses his research on the sustainable development of historical and cultural urban spaces.

Atheeni Eacharath (University of Virginia): Atheeni, an artist and registered architect from India, combines her expertise in urban planning and architecture to design projects that focus on the shared narratives between places and people.

Vivienne Shi (Harvard Graduate School of Design): With a background in architectural history and publication, Vivienne is interested in designing and programming cultural institutions, focusing on their relationships with the public and local infrastructures.

Phillip Becher (Virginia Tech): Phillip has served the AIAS Virginia Tech chapter for three years and is skilled in fabrication technologies. With a strong background in both research and practical applications, he aspires to design beautiful spaces for the benefit of the community.

Carley Parsons (Virginia Tech): Carley spent the past semester studying abroad in Switzerland with a focus on urbanism and sustainable building practices, specifically learning how to apply sustainable timber technologies in urban contexts.

Jonathan Chamblee (Virginia Tech): Returning from studying Sustainable Scandinavian Design in Copenhagen, Jonathan is distinguished by his academic and competition honors, with an interest in CNC and additive manufacturing processes research.

Martina Terry (Virginia Tech): Martina is involved in developing educational tools for interior design students and serves as a School of Design Ambassador, focusing on research and immersive learning experiences.

Aishwarya Patil (NC State): A Master’s candidate with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Mysore in India, Aishwarya has a thoughtful approach to design. She is proficient in various drafting, modeling, and 3D visualization software, which she frequently uses to complement her interests in digital art, photography, and parametric modeling.

Evan Cage (Morgan State University): Known for his academic achievements and community service, Evan actively integrates his architectural studies with his commitment to community engagement.

Rilia Li (Harvard Graduate School of Design): Rilia brings a diverse skill set in architecture and landscape architecture, using design as a narrative to address social issues and employing various software to craft unique spatial experiences.

Grand Rapids:

Melissa Santjer (Clemson University): Integrating design with a passion for preservation and craftsmanship, Melissa’s experience starting a non-profit to salvage and reuse Emerald Ash trees influences her approach to sustainable communities. Having spent the past semester studying in Genoa, Italy, she is excited to apply what she has learned to future projects.

Leigh Kadlec (Illinois Institute of Technology): With a background in both civil engineering and architecture, Leigh brings a keen eye for site relationship, materiality, and tectonic strategies to her work. Passionate about the environment, she strives to design with sustainability and occupant wellbeing in mind.

Tyler Smith (Kendall College of Art and Design): Tyler brings an artistic flair to architectural design, enriched by his study abroad experience in London, UK. He is interested in the pedestrian experience and how architecture's interaction with public spaces shapes individual perceptions.