I was staring out of my hotel window at the old stone streets and buildings of Orvieto, Italy. I felt such peace and relaxation, and I thought about all of the history that those walls have seen throughout the centuries. It was the most beautiful city I had ever visited, that is until I found myself in Venice a few days later. The beauty, majesty, and history surrounding me in St. Mark’s Square filled me with awe. Experiencing Europe with my family when I was thirteen had a tremendous influence on me and my plans for the future. I had always been aware of and fascinated by the feelings that buildings and spaces have produced in me, so I wanted to learn how I could use design to create those feelings in others.

Growing up in the Chicago area introduced me to the grandeur and limitless potentials of a world class metropolis. As a child, I loved to sketch floor plans of my dream bedroom and imagine a retreat where I could go to be surrounded by things that made me happy. I used to have more fun building a house for my dolls than I did playing with the actual dolls, and I would even prefer to play with my brother’s Legos or Lincoln Logs instead. It became clear to me and everyone around me, that I needed to be an architect and designer.

It is important for me to have options, and I have found just that in the path I have chosen. When I was awarded the honor of Chancellor Scholar as I began my college career, I realized that such a wonderful blessing was also a confirmation of my decision in the path of architecture. That honor has kept me focused, working hard every year to better myself and move towards my goals. I cannot wait to use my knowledge to give clients a design that not only fulfills functional needs, but also reflects a unique and personal relationship to its users. I want to give people an environment that responds intelligently to the way we live and inspires us on a daily basis.

Ideally, as I pursue my licensure and after I achieve it, I would like to explore the world, discover other kinds of cultures, and learn how they build. Going from one end of the earth to the other to gather the stories that can be told by architecture would be a fascinating adventure for me. I plan to take full advantage of any study abroad opportunities that are presented to me. I was able to begin this aspect of my goals last summer when I returned to England. I stayed in Oxford for four weeks, expanding my understanding of how different architecture throughout history has impacted its environment or reflected its context. When I visited Ireland on the same trip, I saw medieval castles that were surprisingly intelligent in design. These castles were built with a consciousness that I believe to be lost in modern day building and design practices, and I can help bring it back to light. Furthermore, writing about architecture and theory is yet another aspect that I hope to integrate into my future career. Being able to put into words how or why we respond to a building or space can allow others to discover architecture in new ways and celebrate it as the most human of art forms.

Although I cannot know what the distant future holds for me, I do know that architecture speaks to me in a way no other subject ever has. One day or the next, I will accomplish my goals and become a licensed architect and more.

suzanne renee abell

Architectural Portfolio