Carlos Turrubiartes, who earned his Bachelor of Architecture with Magna Cum Laude honors in 2022, is currently a Job Captain and Designer specializing in multi-family residential and mixed-use architecture at Starcon Industries in San Diego. He chose Newschool for the opportunity to learn from an exceptional faculty in a dynamic downtown environment, where new projects were actively shaping the city. Reflecting on his experience, he advises students that while time management is essential in the architecture program, it’s equally important to occasionally slow down and appreciate the studio experience and the moments that come with it. He encourages students not to fear critiques or pin-up reviews, emphasizing that the insights and perspectives gained from them are crucial for growth and success. By applying what they learn and building on that momentum, students can set themselves up for a strong start in their careers and, as he adds, don’t forget the coffee.

Marija Stancic, who graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Architecture in 2023, is currently working as a Design Professional at Onyx Creative, a nationwide firm headquartered in Cleveland with multiple offices across the United States, including Los Angeles, where she has been based for over two and a half years. Her work primarily focuses on retail tenant improvements, especially in fashion retail, while contributing to a broader portfolio of architectural projects. Marija chose NewSchool of Architecture & Design for its flexibility and its ability to build on the foundation she developed at the University of Belgrade, where she earned her initial degree. She values how the program prepares students for real-world practice, making it especially impactful for emerging professionals. Reflecting on her early career, Marija draws inspiration from Frank Gehry, emphasizing that “architecture isn’t just a form it’s an act of care.” She encourages students to embrace this perspective, understanding architecture as a responsibility shaped by its users and the environments it serves.

Director and Architect, FREE NYC

With more than 19 years of experience, Armando has lived and practiced in 4 different countries and 7 different cities. He is an architect with experience as a designer, developer, sales and marketing director, and business development and BIM coordinator. His expertise involves the design, execution, and coordination of international projects of widely varying scales. Armando’s main interests are new building design and delivery methods, and searching for new solutions that promote the interaction of cultures, building bridges between them.

He has explored prefabricated construction systems, social housing, and the cultural relationships and the social impacts surrounding each.

In a globalized world, collaboration is essential to any project – the rules have changed in how we design, deliver, build and manage projects. Recently he has devoted energy to understand and try to change how architects and designers interact with one another in an industry that has been somewhat left behind in our technological era. He thinks our design culture does not seem to fully take advantage of all of the new technologies available to us. We have the tools, now we need to develop the know-how and the culture.

“Every single project, you’re thinking of something that’s never been done. You’re starting the project from zero. You’re trying to communicate about all these components, sometimes with people that you’ve never worked with before. Try to get as much experience as possible in every single part of our field. Be flexible — don’t stay in one place. Do everything that you can, from model making to drafting to 3D work to parametrics to roles like marketing and business development, project management. It’s a very complex career. And you get to be good at all these things.” — Armando Ramos