May 14th, 2026

Generations in Practice: A Conversation with URBAHN on Equity, Experience, and the Architectural Profession

This seminar brings together a dynamic, multi-generational group of women of color from the architecture firm URBAHN for an open and reflective conversation on their experiences within the profession. Spanning perspectives from Gen X to Millennials and Gen Z, the discussion explores how differing cultural backgrounds, career stages, and personal histories shape each participant’s path in architecture. At the center of the dialogue is a shared inquiry: how have conditions evolved over time?

Grounded in over 25 years of experience, Ijeoma’s perspective reflects on the forces that have shaped her expectations and perceptions, including the critical career phase in which many women of color are pushed out of the industry. Framing the conversation with a direct and urgent question—is it any better? She invites the next generations to respond, while also asking how the profession can collectively move toward meaningful change.

From a late Millennial perspective, Ciera brings insight from both real estate and architecture, examining how intersectionality plays out across different leadership demographics. Her reflections question whether the industry is truly setting itself up for success.

Liliana, also a late Millennial, reflects on the evolution of her career, from early notions of productivity as a measure of self-worth to a more expansive understanding of leadership. She discusses the challenges of navigating a longer and often more complex path to leadership as a minority, including confronting impostor syndrome, and considers how new pathways can be forged.

Offering a Gen Z perspective, Ruonan Du shares her experience as an immigrant and non-native English speaker, exploring how professional clarity and personal boundaries can help build authority. She reflects on the transition from academia to practice, and raises important questions about how “invisible work” is valued.

Ijeoma D. Iheanacho, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP — URBAHN

With a career spanning a quarter century, Ijeoma D. Iheanacho has become known for innovation, passion, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Her diverse portfolio is a testament to her extraordinary versatility, encompassing transportation facilities, K-12 schools, healthcare, residential developments, and urban infrastructure projects. Each of her projects bears her indelible mark: an edifice that speaks to the heart and soul of the community it serves, that was built successfully and within budget despite any impediments thrown in the way. Because of Ijeoma’s meticulous approach to complex challenges, she is sought after to lead Design-Build projects.  She has an uncanny ability to break down projects with accelerated schedules and byzantine regulatory approval processes into discrete design packages and clear work tasks for her staff and engineering teams.     

Ijeoma’s gifts lie not just in her ability to lead multi-disciplinary design teams, but also in her mission-driven initiatives to cultivate the minds and spirits of those around her. She is a staunch advocate of the next generation of architects, nurturing skills, knowledge and confidence. Through her work with nycoba/NOMA (including co-founding the OnSite Program), Ijeoma has created a legacy that extends far beyond the walls of any building. She has fostered a community of young professionals who are not just skilled in their craft, but who are empowered to dream big, to push the boundaries of what is possible, and to create a world that is more beautiful, more functional, and more equitable than ever before.

Ciera Long-Corley, NOMA — URBAHN

Ciera Long-Corley earned her undergraduate degree from New York Institute of Technology in 2019 and began her career at Urbahn Architects that same year. She started on the DCAS team, supporting the roof recovery and replacement at 1 Centre Street. She surveyed the roof, gathered data for energy models, and helped produce construction drawings and details. That early experience grounded her in technical work and gave her a clear understanding of how public projects move from design into construction.

Since 2021, Ciera has focused on capital-funded design-build projects. She worked on DDC’s BBJ Queens garage and community center, where she supported construction administration and coordinated closely with the broader project team. She expanded her experience through projects including the DOT Harper Street Administrative Building, the Roy Wilkins Recreation Center pursuit, NYCHA Todt Hill pursuit, and the Woodhull L&B Unit Renovation.

Ciera has built her career around strong project administration and disciplined document development. She takes ownership of her work, supports team coordination, and helps keep projects organized and moving forward.

Liliana Torres, AIA, NOMA — URBAHN

Liliana Torres is a licensed architect in New York and an Associate at Urbahn Architects. She holds a B.Arch. and a Master in Infrastructure Planning (MIP) from NJIT. As a project architect and design leader, she explores how public architecture shapes social outcomes and champions inclusive, people-centered infrastructure. Over the past eight years, has participated in the design and construction of more than 14 NYCT stations, advancing accessibility across New York City. She served as lead architect for the recently completed ADA upgrades at Mosholu Parkway and Church Avenue stations, where her work emphasized accessibility, resilient systems, and intuitive wayfinding to improve daily experiences for transit riders. Her contributions to public transit design earned her recognition in NJREJ’s “2024 Professionals to Watch: Ones to Watch Industry Leaders.”

An active member of AIA and IAC (Immigrant Architect Coalition) and Secretary of NJ NOMA, Liliana advances diversity and inclusion in the profession. She supports licensure candidates as an NCARB advisor and leads her firm’s ARE study sessions. She also directs Urbahn’s Volunteer Initiative, which implements tactical design interventions to upgrade NYC homeless shelters as well as coordinating community-focused efforts such as Canstruction at Urbahn. Liliana’s practice blends technical rigor and a passion for advancing equitable, community‑centered design.

Ruonan Du, LEED AP — URBAHN

Ruonan Du holds a Master of Architecture from Columbia University GSAPP and dual bachelor’s degrees in Architecture and Sociology from Tsinghua University. Her education shaped how she approaches architecture as both a design discipline and a social responsibility.

Ruonan focuses on design documentation, data analysis, and visualization. She studies site conditions, program needs, and community context, then translates that information into clear drawings and visual tools that guide decision-making. She believes strong documentation strengthens teams, clarifies intent, and supports successful project delivery.

Her work has earned several recognitions. At Tsinghua University, she received the Best Visual Art Award, Academic Scholarship, and Excellence in Social Practice Award. Her project Permeable City won the 2025 Architecture Master Prize Best of Best in Landscape Architecture and Urban Design in the student category. Her project Garden of Release was named a finalist in Tactical Urbanism Now! 2025. These honors reflect her focus on public space, environmental awareness, and thoughtful urban design.

Ruonan leads through preparation, research, and clarity. She asks questions, studies context, and supports teams with strong analysis and visual communication. She connects design decisions to social impact and long-term value.