January 18th, 2023
Nina Kinoti-Metz Founder, Studio Parallel
Nina Kinoti-Metz was raised in numerous countries in Africa. One of her favorite past times of visiting the open air markets exposed her to the concept of color and pattern which gave rise to a keen interest in painting and birthed her love for art and design. She undertook a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from Binghamton University with specialization in Printmaking and Drawing and later she went for a master's degree in Interior Architecture from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn NY. With tenures at some design giants such as FXFOWLE Architects, Clodagh Design and then Dattner Architects, she honed her design skills and quickly worked her way up to project manager while working on many different project types from commercial interiors to high end residential, civic/educational projects to luxury hotels and retail.
In 2004, along with her life and work partner Christopher Metz, AIA, founded Studio Parallel which is a Brooklyn based full-service Architecture and Interior Design. The firm developed a distinct work methodology that involves a project-by-project ramp up or down in team size, which enables SP to keep overhead generally lower and thus can meet very specific and tight budgetary, schedule or phasing requirements through different scales of project. This feature has been of particular benefit in the post pandemic normalcy of remote working, ever tightening budgets, travel, and supply chain restrictions. Plus the ability to bring different expertise to the table specific to each project.
With their collective and extensive experience in hospitality, commercial, residential, and educational building types, together with clients they often work from business conceptualization to real estate selection, branding, architectural design, construction and to the opening party! The design is done along a narrative with one main concept and just like in any good story, the space, its characters, and visuals support this vision. With that in mind, Studio Parallel leverages their diverse experience to stimulate exchange of ideas that translate clients’ needs and culture into unique environments that are thoughtful, expressive, and timeless.
Creating Your Own Opportunities and Path to Success
As young female designers and architects the trajectory of our career is often not clear. We are taught and trained as a professional that if we put in our time and gain experience we’ll naturally progress and eventually take over the reins ourselves. But unfortunately, that often isn’t the case.
Female professionals often have to shape our careers and make our own opportunities in a way our male colleagues do not. But what are the best paths and experiences to help us get there? How do we know we are ready to start out on our own?
In this seminar, we will discuss experiences and opportunities that Nina has found are common with young female designers and architects, that led her to push past what was happening around her and became more effective on her projects while she worked at firms, and later when she started her own practice.
Julie Nelson AIA, LEED AP BD+C, GRP, Partner, BKSK Architects
Julie Nelson possesses a keen interest in uncovering the potential of existing conditions, revitalizing neglected spaces, and designing places where the built and the natural coexist. On all projects, which range from institutional to residential to commercial, she promotes design and construction approaches that give back more than they take.
Julie’s connection to nature is clearly seen in the LEED Platinum Queens Botanical Garden Visitor and Administration Center, winner of an AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten Award and a NY State AIA Award of Excellence. In Washington Heights, Julie’s project for the Community of the Holy Spirit also promotes stewardship to the earth and society, through two rooftop gardens among other strategies. Herself an avid gardener who implements sustainable strategies at home, Julie recently worked with her husband to convert a 19th century Scottish church into an energy-efficient residence.
A committed educator and advocate, Julie regularly speaks and writes about sustainability and has been featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post, in addition to previously serving on AIANY’s COTE Policy Committee and as Sustainable Design Critic at City College. She holds Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees in Architecture from the University of Virginia.
Things My Students Taught Me
Julie started teaching at City College Spitzer School of Architecture in the Spring semester of 2020. In the Design studios that she has led, the projects have shadowed BKSK projects and Julie has worked to integrate the studio into the office and foster office involvement with the studio. Coming from an architectural education in the late ‘80s, which was very top down, she has been energized by having a more collaborative working relationship with her students. This experience has provided a mid-career spark and provided a new perspective, which was particularly needed during the pandemic.