Women in the Built Environment Spotlight: Haley DeNardo

DesignForce met with budding Architectural Designer, Haley DeNardo, to discuss the efforts and importance of the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), how to lessen the barriers of entry into the industry, and her advice for architects just entering the industry. Haley is an Architectural Designer at Niles Bolton Associates (NBA) in Alexandria, VA working on multifamily and student housing projects. Haley holds a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Arts and Sciences from Penn State. Through the marriage of these degrees, she works closely with clients to help achieve their goals and for the project’s duration to see her designs come to life. She manages the ARE mentoring program at NBA and serves on her firm’s Young Professional Forum board. In 2020, Haley completed a two-year term as a Director of the NAAB and continued to work on committees and future visiting teams. She is also an associate member of the American Institute of Architects, nearing completion of her licensure.

Why do you love architecture? 

I love architecture because it’s the perfect marriage of many things I enjoy – public speaking, education, design. Further, involvement and outreach are really important to me. Being an architect is reaching out to the stakeholders and ensuring I am providing them with the best product possible.  I like to think that the built environment is something that everyone touches, and it informs their lives, and it’s a significant, but exciting, duty to be a part of that we’re shaping people’s lives – how they live, how they feel, and how they form communities. 

You worked on the National Architecture Accreditation Board (NAAB) Board of Directors for two years and have now transitioned into working on various committees with the Board. What is the importance of NAAB? Why did you choose to get involved? 

NAAB is one of the five collaterals within the architecture community. The five collaterals are NAAB, the American Institute of Architecture (AIA), the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA). These collaterals include professors, teachers, students, professionals, and they all control architectural accreditation, examinations, and licensure. The other dimension is the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), not formally thought of as a collateral. However, we are currently making moves to include them moving forward. 

NAAB oversees the accreditation processes for all schools in the United States – meaning NAAB sets the conditions and procedures for what educational materials need to be covered in school and decides if programs meet those criteria. NAAB also completes international certifications for schools abroad to become internationally certified, allowing easier portability of credentials as a licensed architect in the United States. 

I chose to get involved in NAAB at the recommendation of someone in AIAS at Penn State. After my first accreditation visit, I was really drawn to NAAB’s mission as I have always seen the importance of education and continuous learning. 

Over the two years you sat on the NAAB board, what were you and the board able to accomplish? 

This initiative started before I joined, but a significant accomplishment was the Accreditation Review Forum of 2019 (ARForum19) and, consequently, the 2020 conditions and procedures. Every six years, we rewrite or edit the conditions and procedures – it just so happened that in 2020 we undertook a complete revision to move forward and reimagine what architectural education looks like. We wrote new documents outlining new conditions and procedures for both accreditation and international certification. 

I also spoke at the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA) conference and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) conference. For both conferences, the Associate Director of NAAB and I spoke on how including recent graduates and young professionals on the Board of Directors can provide great insight and another voice to an already strong Board. Young professionals can offer invaluable information and act as untapped voices for organizations.

When COVID started, we decided to change accreditation visits to completely virtual, which had never been done before. I was on the team that wrote the virtual site visit guidelines and updated the conditions and procedures. NAAB has undergone a significant transformation in the last five years, and I think these changes will be beneficial for many people. 

On the education side of things, architecture has been known to have high barriers of entry, including education, cost, and industry awareness. What are some of your suggestions for an emerging senior, whether it be high school or college, wanting to learn more about the architecture industry – what are some avenues they could potentially go down to learn more? 

The sooner you can start to get your toes wet, the better. Reach out to local firms to shadow to get an idea about the day-to-day of the architectural profession. There are also a lot of universities that have summer architecture programs specifically for high school students. These programs usually have some financial assistance as well.  

As a college student, everyone is looking for internships to see the office culture, and gain experience. The oxymoron of needing the experience to gain experience drives me a little bit crazy because we must foster and support young students who haven’t had any experience.

Make sure to reach out to every contact you might know at a firm; getting the first internship is always the hardest. Ask a family friend, your professors, school, or even ask your peers at school if they know of anyone who can help get your foot in the door. If pre-existing connections are not available, there are many ways to get involved and create them. In college, join architectural associations such as AIAS or NOMAS and attend conferences to make connections. If you don’t have the option to go to a conference because they are costly, you can network within your institution. Get to know your professors or work on special projects. It doesn’t have to be in architecture; you can still make connections that can take you places through another program or a gen-ed course. I’d like to think there are many people out there like me who are willing to help.

Transitioning to your experience as a budding architect, what has your experience been like as a female in the architectural industry? 

Niles Bolton Associates has allowed me the opportunity to grow at a rate that I did not think was possible with three years of experience. They support me; I run meetings and manage jobs with the help of my boss and other colleagues. Sometimes, it can be a little daunting to get on phone calls or sit at tables where, if I’m lucky, there is another female face. As a woman, I am probably more aware of it than men are. But I think my company trusts me to do my job, so I am put there for a reason. The same goes for all the clients and consultants I work with. I don’t think they ever question me as a young woman. I haven’t run into too many experiences where it was an issue. 

I know imposter syndrome can be something that significantly affects young professionals, both men, and women. Have you seen or experienced imposter syndrome? 

Absolutely; I think it’s part of the job, unfortunately. I’ve said before that there is power in admitting what you don’t know. Especially in architecture, if you are not learning every day, you might be in the wrong profession. We should all strive to learn new things, and it is ok not to know something. That’s the mantra that goes through my head when I have those thoughts of, “Am I experienced enough to do this. ”When surrounded by people who believe in you, trust you, and support you, it is much easier to get rid of those thoughts. 

What are your thoughts on what firms can do to support emerging architects? 

Firms must prepare emerging architects to lead groups and prepare them for uncomfortable situations because they’re bound to happen. Firms can also support young professionals by changing the way we title them. For example, the title Intern Architect is excellent for a collegiate summer intern. However, when a graduate is working full time labeled as an intern, it can be challenging for them, clients, and others in the industry to see past it. This title is something firms across the country still use and collaterals still accept. We must set people up for success by giving them a title that people won’t question but accurately depicts where they are in their careers. The title could just be as simple as “Designer” or “Architectural Professional.” 

Something you have focused on is educating and supporting people who are just entering their careers. What do you think a strength is of an emerging architect, say with 1-5 years of experience? 

Even without years of experience, one still brings value to the table. When starting your career, don’t let the number of years of experience define your worth and ability. There is strength in knowledge, but your character, drive, and ideas are equally as important. Emerging professionals often bring new and fresh ideas or skills to the table. There are unlimited possibilities of pushing and thinking in different ways right out of school; years of experience are not a prerequisite for great ideas. And when you are part of a great team, those ideas will be heard and used.