Profile: Arturo Arroyo Assoc. AIA

Name: Arturo Arroyo Assoc. AIA
Job title and company: Design technician at JCJ Architecture
Degree(s): Bachelor of Science, MArch from the University of Hartford
Professional interests: Professionally, I enjoy working on projects that enrich, support and engage the local communities. I’d also like to get to a place in my career where I could merge architecture with graffiti. The relationship of letters, the distortion, the textures and the layering of forms all fascinate me.

What are you working on now?

I just finished working on a proposal for a middle school and starting CA on an addition to [Dr. Elmer S. Bagnall] elementary school in Groveland, Massachusetts. In between, I’m assisting with a firm initiative and developing a DD set for an addition to the Tripp Athletic Center at UMass/Dartmouth.

How do you explain to your mom what you do for a living?

I tell her that I help my clients develop the relationship of spaces and the aesthetics of a building.

What inspired you today?

Music; it’s my secondary life source.

What architectural buzzword would you kill?

Tectonic

When you’re working, do you discuss or exchange ideas with your colleagues?

Yes, all the time. I think it’s critical in the role of an architect to share ideas. In some cases, I think you should give away ideas only so you could generate new ones.

What are you reading?

The Building Design & Construction Systems study guide.

Do you sketch by hand or digitally?

I do both, although I enjoy sketching by hand a lot more. I find it quicker and easier to concentrate when sketching by hand rather than being distracted by commands, pen sizes and zooming that comes with a digital format.

Has your career taken you anywhere you didn’t expect?

Absolutely; I never thought it would bring me to Boston.

Where is the field of architecture headed?

I think it’s heading in a direction of consciousness. Architecture today is much more than a structure with an associated function. The public is starting to understand that architecture has a larger role in society. One of the best examples is the World Trade Center. The events that occurred highlighted the symbolism of freedom that was associated with those structures. In addition, the push for environmentally conscious buildings has developed an awareness between the relationship of architecture and its surroundings.

Can design save the world?

Yes. In a way, design is already saving the world. I see design in everything we do, and it stretches way beyond architecture. The most interesting thing is that design can be used as a platform to resolve issues.

What do you hope to contribute from your work?

I hope to contribute meaningful and timeless architecture that complements its surrounding environment.

Who or what deserves credit for your success?

Sherwin Yoder of Career Beginnings. He was a mentor I had throughout my later years of high school [who] persuaded me to attend college. He not only encouraged me to think about the big picture but also suggested that I pursue architecture. My family and friends took it from there.

Your least favorite college class?

Architectural history, only because it was an 8:00 am class on Mondays and Wednesdays.

If you could give the you-of-10-years-ago advice, what would it be?

To invest in traveling because this world has a lot to offer.

Your favorite Boston-area structure?

I have seen only a fraction of this city. But I do enjoy walking over the Northern Avenue bridge. I like the relationship between the rustic steel, the smooth ocean water and the newly developed structures that introduce you to the skyline of Boston.

Who would you like the BSA to interview next?

A Latina architect.

If you were on a late-night TV show, what would your 30-second plug be?

Lambda Theta Phi is the first and largest Latino fraternity that raises the social and cultural conscience of the Latino college student. To learn more, visit Lambda1975.org.

If you could sum up your outlook on life in a bumper sticker, what would it say?

I’m on the road to success. I don’t think it's ending any time soon, and there always seems to be construction ahead. So stop honking your horn!