Omarys Vasquez
Associate, Svigals + Partners
Age: 37
Industry experience: 15 years

Omarys Vasquez looked for a support network in Connecticut for women of color in architecture when she took a job at a Connecticut firm. Finding none, she decided to start one herself. An associate at Svigals + Partners in New Haven, Vasquez co-founded the Connecticut chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). A New York City native, Vasquez has helped design multifamily, hospitality, institutional, commercial, academic, transportation and municipal buildings during her seven years with the firm.

Q: What initially sparked your interest in architecture?
A: I’ve been in the industry for over 15 years now and just got licensed in 2018. To put that in perspective, I’ve been a little bit of a late bloomer when it came to getting licensure with some of the obstacles and challenges I faced as a minority, not having the cultural and socioeconomic advantages. Fortunately, working at Svigals, they provided a lot of support and nurturing and they were able to sponsor my licensure exams which really helped propel me. Initially, I had an interest in architecture at the age of 8 and mostly it came from my dad. I’m a first-generation American. My parents were from the Dominican Republican and came here. A lot of people from the Domincan Republic emigrate here because of the exchange rate. They can send money back to the families and they can fund their retirement home in a sense. This is their retirement plan. He came home one day with a foam board model and a plan for a dream home on a parcel of land he owned at the time. He never got it built, but it was my first engaging moment and it propelled me forward to building houses out of cardboard boxes.

Q: Which projects at Svigals and Partners gave you the most satisfaction?
A: I’ve been with them for seven years now and I really enjoy the details and getting to know the clients. Having a hand to help with the Sandy Hook School project was one that really stood out to me. I jumped on to the project to help with some of the detailing. That is what gave the project its personality. I helped with a lot of the millwork designs, the wood tree designs along the corridor, all of that fine detailing. It’s nice to give back and create that design element for the children and the teachers who were going to use that space. The other was the new Ronald McDonald House across from the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. It hit home for me. I’m really an empathetic designer and the choice of colors and materials we use were really about uplifting the people who use it.

Q: How did the idea for the NOMA Connecticut chapter emerge
A: I had been looking for an organization that provides mentorship and networking and support for minorities. I’m originally from New York City and I was looking for the support and community, and the closest NOMA chapters were New York City or Boston. Moving to Connecticut, it felt in a sense very lonely and isolating and I was looking for professional support from people who looked like me. Once I got licensed, that freed up a lot of my time. I heard [AIA Connecticut] Executive Director Gina Calabro talking about how they were looking for a new chapter. She connected me with Jose Hernandez at Newman Architects and we had coffee in April 2019 and it exploded from there.

Q: What are the group’s goals and focus for 2021?
A: It’s a combination of networking and professional development. It wasn’t until January of this year we officially became a chapter of NOMA. Now we’re really honing in on our goals for this year and next year. One of our primary focuses are increasing awareness of the disparities we face as minorities. We have launched a new mentoring program and we are trying to connect not just associate-level individuals with leaders, but also leaders to leaders. We’re also starting a new pipeline for K-12 initiatives. This year University of Hartford has launched their first summer architecture program, a three-week course, and we’re going to be providing a full scholarship of $3,000 for a high school student to attend that.

Q: Who do you consider an inspiration professionally or a mentor who’s helped your career?
A: I’m an unconventional person. I’ve never really been the type of person to idolize any one person. I’m more of an observer and I absorb information and other people and their qualifications, personally and professionally. I have one friend and colleague who’s really been my advocate through my entire career in Connecticut: [Svigals Associate Principal] Ron Cooper. He’s always been one to teach me a lot about not just the profession, but as someone coming from a disadvantaged background, there were a lot of things I had to learn socioeconomically, and he’s been a great resource and support.

Q: What advice do you give to women of color considering an architectural career?
A: To really follow your passion and your voice and don’t take no for an answer. Being a woman of color, I had to challenge the norms, at least for me culturally. Make your own path and challenge those norms and make your own way.

Five Latest Books Vasquez Has Read:

• “Eat that Frog” by Brian Tracy
• “Atomic Habits” by James Clear
• “The Color of Law” by Richard Rothstien
• “Rising Strong” by Brene Brown
• “10% Happier” by Dan Harris