Adriana De Giuli”s interest in architecture started with Legos as a young girl. Now, De Giuli, 22, is a graduate student working toward her master”s degree at the University of Idaho. She graduated from high school in Pocatello, but moved to Moscow for the architecture program.
“I have always really liked creative fields, but I also enjoyed puzzles and math,” De Giuli said. She said she remembers a friend telling her that architects are the people who get to design buildings and she has been hooked ever since.
De Giuli is also the president of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) at UI. She said that the main goal of the organization is to prepare students majoring in architecture for the professional world.
“Architects have to have three years of experience before they can even be licensed, so we try to expedite that process,” De Giuli said.
De Giuli planned an upcoming trip to Spokane for AIAS members to visit different architecture firms, and said the trip will allow students to be able to gain insight on what architects do. She said the trip will also give older students the chance to drop off their resumes.
De Giuli said she is in charge of planning the schedule for the group as well as assisting any members that are struggling.
“It”s really nice to know that you have helped someone,” De Giuli said. “Being able to see their eyes light up when they understand something is really cool.”
As president of AIAS, she said her position makes it easy for her to get other architecture students involved in the organization.
Aside from being a full-time student and president of AIAS, De Giuli spends her time as the graphic designer for the architecture department and works a second job in downtown Moscow. She also serves as a teacher”s assistant at the university.
“Time management is something I have had to become good at,” De Giuli said.
She said her weekends mostly consist of studying and homework, since she spends the weekdays at school or work.
“The overall amount of time architecture takes is absurd,” De Giuli said. “I didn”t know when I got into architecture school that it isn”t uncommon to not sleep for several days to work on projects.”
Though the workload can be overwhelming at times, De Giuli said being a student in the College of Art and Architecture has been a great experience. The small size of the department gives her a feeling of community and closeness with her peers and professors, she said.
“I know every single person in architecture and so I feel really connected to everyone,” De Giuli said.
De Giuli said she still finds the time to participate in artistic hobbies, such as sketching and painting. She said having those creative outlets is a nice way to de-stress. De Giuli said she finds herself sketching things when she”s walking around campus or while sitting in class.
De Giuli hopes to become an architect at a large firm after graduate school and has an interest in repurposing old buildings.
Even though projects can seem too difficult at times, she said first and second-year students should remain determined.
“Don”t worry about it so much,” De Giuli said. “Nothing”s ever going to be perfect the first time.”
Jessica Gee can be reach at [email protected]