“Going into architecture was unexpected when I was entering undergraduate university, taking a congressional fellowship to work on domestic policy related to anti-hunger work was another unexpected turn.”
Vanna Whitney
LMS Architects

Overview

Area of the Commercial Real Estate Industry do you specialize in
Architecture (with and for under-resourced communities)

Description of the goal of the company you work for
Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects share a common belief in the transformative power of architecture to help lead the way to a just, healthy, and regenerative future for all. We work with leading non-profit organizations to marry poetry with performance, creating sustainable new environments that advance important social missions.  We aim to design beautiful, welcoming, and warm, healthy, environmentally sustainable, location and community-appropriate buildings to fit the project budget.

How you started your career in Commercial Real Estate
While an undergraduate in architecture at the University of Virginia, I got involved in a volunteer organization, Charlottesville Housing Improvement Project, and started leading crews. We repaired houses for low-income families in the area—it might be a screen door, or a roof, or a window installation. Later, as a Congressional Hunger Center Fellow,  my work turned toward addressing domestic food insecurity. These combined to crystalize my passion for under-resourced communities, impatience with the pace of policy work, and passion for great design.   That led to getting my Master of Architecture at UC Berkeley, focusing on affordable, sustainable housing.

What personal goals did you set for yourself?
My goal was to use design to collaborate with and contribute to under-resourced communities; create a great design by means of actively listening to the people we work with and for, and the surrounding communities; and through design bring beauty and structure to the needs, desires, goals, and aspirations, while also tackling the brass tacks of durability, sustainability, and affordability. 

Approach

Examples of how you feel your company makes a difference in the industry
LMS Is a mission-driven practice contributing to our communities through design.  We design with and for communities to create just, healthy and regenerative spaces that bring together communities and further our client’s missions. 

Examples of how your role impacts the success of the company
While LMS Architects is a mission-driven architecture firm and we work in a variety of typologies, I have specialized in affordable housing for communities with a variety of different needs for 16 years.  Having this focused experience allows me to use this depth of experience from past projects, concurrent projects, and completed project post-occupancy evaluations to inform our work going forward. 

Steps have you taken to grow in your position   

Over time, I’ve been fortunate to both have successfully sought out taking on different roles and responsibilities as well as having been offered opportunities for growth (for which I am very grateful). Each new role was a stretch and a challenge that fostered growth. From project roles to office-wide ones to be on the board of terrific non-profit EBHO (East Bay Housing Organizations).

Results

Examples of unexpected changes that occurred in your growth experience
Going into architecture was unexpected when I was entering undergraduate university, taking a congressional fellowship to work on domestic policy related to anti-hunger work was another unexpected turn.  Having little patience for the legislative process, and still holding a passion for great design, returning back to architecture with a focus on working with under-resourced communities seemed like a natural outcome.

Result of planning your progression
Finding my focus on affordable housing took the exploration of various fields in college, a trial year in congressional policy work, time working in small firms (to understand the whole business model), then moving to mid-sized firms where I got to work on the type of projects that I am passionate about. All of this led down a fairly logical, if winding, the path toward finding LMS, deepening my experience in my area of expertise, and growing into a leadership position at LMS.