Nearly five years after graduating from UB’s Master of Architecture program, Garima Gupta (MArch ’20) finds herself immersed in and inspired by her work as a project designer with the R. Michael Cross Design Group in Washington, D.C., a small firm offering boutique design services for multi-family, mixed-use and education projects throughout the U.S. capital.

“Design is therapeutic for me. When I am working on schematic designs, I get completely engrossed in the process,” says Gupta, who embraces the autonomy of the small-firm environment. “I work on projects independently from start to finish. As soon as the contract is signed, the designer is involved in the client kickoff meeting and is responsible for preparing design options for their review.”

Looking back, Gupta, who came to UB from New Delhi, India, says her path has been anything but direct.

She recalls her experience growing up in the capital city of India and the center of Indian empires dating back more than a thousand years: “Even though I was always fascinated with the structures around me and found it mind-boggling how buildings could stand so tall or bridges could span so far and wide, pursuing architecture never crossed my mind. I would always say that I wanted to be a doctor if anyone asked me about my future goals.”

“It just so happened that I was connected with the right people at the right time and ended up enrolling in the Bachelor of Architecture program at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in New Delhi,” Gupta says. “As an undergrad, I explored so many ideas and learned so much about massing, spatial proximity and perspective. It fueled my curiosity and I wanted to learn more.”

Suddenly, the bustling streets of New Delhi came to life in a new light.

Gupta landed a job at a large firm in New Delhi right out of undergraduate school. “My experience at this firm was eye-opening. As an intern architect, I started out on a 500-acre university project in the State of Punjab. Of course, I was guided by a senior architect, but had the chance to work on construction documents first hand. Then, as an architect with that same firm, I took on multi-disciplinary projects.”

“To be honest, I had no intention of coming to the States,” she continues.

But it was Gupta’s openness to opportunity and her determination to grow that turned her view outward, across oceans and to the United States.

“After a couple of years, I decided to pursue my long lost dream of getting a Master of Architecture. I looked at options within India and abroad, but someone recommended UB,” she says.

And, just like that, she found herself on the western edge of New York State, in Buffalo, N.Y.

She says UB has a distinct intellectual rigor and academic intensity. “Being an architecture student, everyone can relate to those file crashes, last-minute laser cuts and endless nights. All of that teaches us something. There are so many avenues to pursue in architecture. At UB, I was able to find most of these integrated into the curriculum.”

“My time at UB was also a steppingstone to assimilating into the culture of the United States,” says Gupta, noting that the international student experience can be overwhelming at times. “The UB experience prepared me academically, socially and mentally.”

She continues: “As an international student, you are not only in a completely foreign land, away from your friends and family, but you are also required to work on a lot of documentation, which you are absolutely unprepared for. But UB and the School of Architecture and Planning have the right tools to assist new students – international or national.”

During her time at UB, Gupta found herself wanting to give back. First, she served as a teaching assistant for the undergraduate structures course. Then she offered advisement services to international students as a Student Ambassador for the School’s graduate recruitment office.

“It made me happy and gave me a sense of pride when the students came back to tell me that my assistance was appreciated and well received," she says. “Taking on these roles pushed me out of my comfort zone. The experience filled me with a confidence I didn’t know I needed. It also instilled soft communication skills that I continue to use every day.”

Gupta was recognized by the School of Architecture and Planning for her efforts as she approached graduation in Spring 2020 – at the height of the pandemic – as part of a “socially distanced” take on the School’s celebrated annual Awards Day. In April 2020, a caravan of academic leaders, faculty and staff traveled to student apartments throughout Buffalo – including Gupta’s – to safely deliver their awards. With a package of prizes and a certificate of appreciation dropped curbside by a caped “Sir-Prizes” (aka Gregory Delaney, a faculty member known by many architecture students), Gupta was recognized for her service as a teaching assistant and source of support to her fellow students.

Still, the culmination of her studies was shrouded by a dark moment.

“I graduated at the worst time, in the middle of the pandemic. It was a challenging time for everyone.”

Yet, seemingly drawn here for a reason, Gupta quickly found her place, securing a position with R. Michael Cross within just a couple of months.

Among the most rewarding of her endeavors at the firm is finding the delicate balance between design aesthetic and adherence to the strict building, energy and preservation codes of Washington, D.C.

“To create viable options, it is important for the designer to have a good grasp on the building codes and zoning regulations. Sometimes, it would be easier to just comply with the code. But as designers, it is important to be critical and design spaces that are efficient, feasible and aesthetically pleasing.”

Navigating these project aspects takes a lot of work, says Gupta. “Since we are a small firm, we do our permit expediting in house and work with the DC Department of Buildings to get permit approvals,” she says, adding that this often requires presenting to neighborhood committees to win support or working with the Board of Zoning Adjustment for variances. “There is a tremendous amount of research involved when working with code interpretations.”

Such an environment can challenge the work-life balance, of course. In response to that, Gupta says, trust your instincts.

“It has to be a constant, subtle goal; you need to know your boundaries. I am not saying that those boundaries don’t need to be pushed, because they do if you want to grow and move out of your comfort zone. But not every time.”

Ever generous and introspective, Gupta has this advice to offer to students working through their studies and the early stages of practice.

“I’d say one thing – be you. Enjoy your time at UB to the fullest, but also utilize it to find what you want to do. UB’s School of Architecture and Planning is a great platform to experience and experiment. There are many resources available. As the saying goes, ‘help will be given to those who ask for it.’ So, go ask for it, and work on your passion and achieve your dreams, because it’s possible.”