Elaine Y. Chow, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, is a clinical assistant professor of architecture at the University at Buffalo. In addition to her teaching of the undergraduate junior design studio and portfolio seminars at the graduate and undergraduate level, she serves as director of student professional development and NCARB licensing advisor for the Department of Architecture.

She graduated with honors from UB with a BPS in Architecture followed by a MArch from Columbia University GSAPP, where she received the AIA Eleanor Allwork Portfolio Grant and Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize for studio design.

Chow is dedicated to the design profession as well as the larger community, serving on the AIA Buffalo/WNY Diversity Committee, Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation Design Review Committee, and local town public library board vice president. At UB, she is the AIAS faculty advisor.

In her role as Director of Student Professional Development, Elaine provides career advisement for students including the review of portfolios, resumes and other job preparation, networking and job opportunities (including the UB Architecture Virtual Career Fair), as well as scholarship and competition announcements. Elaine also organizes the PERSPECTIVES speaker series which highlights diverse career trajectories and work experiences of UB alumni.

Chow is a Registered Architect who has worked internationally and on U.S. government buildings including an embassy annex in Athens, Greece and courthouse with Kallmann, McKinnell and Wood Architects in Boston. In Shanghai, China, Elaine worked with zerolaboffice on large-scale commercial and mixed-use projects as well as a villa located in Ordos, Inner Mongolia.

With her private practice, proj.eyc, she hopes to continue working on retail spaces and private residences with an emphasis on sustainability/Net-Zero and modern design aesthetics. Elaine was honored to receive the AIA Buffalo/WNY Design Award 2021 for 4+2 House, an addition and renovation in Medina, NY.