3.5YR & INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS A CONVERSATION

helped me get to know people and get support from them. The professors are very kind; the problem I have is with English. Working with the International professors has been very helpful to ease me into everything.

MSS: Given the range of previous university experience that many of the 3.5-year and international students have, how has the transition been into the UB community?

MS: Coming from India, the biggest culture shock was not American culture, as we are quite exposed to it from movies and TV, but actually how teaching takes place. In India, criticisms are much more pronounced when you present your work or discuss something. Coming to the United States, I had to get used to the teachers being very gentle with me, even when they’re pointing out something negative.

MSS: In a studio setting, we tend to form tight-knit relationships. Can you recall any moments where these bonds have influenced your creative process?

Students: Moderator: Lindsey Bruso, Ehler Htoo, Behnoush Nikparvar, Mayank Sharma

Madeleine Sophie Sutton

Adjusting To New Environments

Diverse backgrounds in planning, environmental design, liberal arts, social sciences, mathematics, history, and even music collide in this program to form a group of students with no architectural background. Some are familiar with the City of Buffalo and UB through previous degrees. This cohort of students takes a sequence of four studios, from ARC501 (Good Neighbors) to integrated design studio ARC504 (City Arts). After this sequence, students enroll in the Graduate Research Groups, or option studios, or decide to go into the thesis track.

Design studios provide a platform to develop an open dialogue between professors and students. Responses from the students illustrate how they adjust to life in Buffalo, while discovering new design ambitions in architecture school. Care is important in the context of this program, particularly as students transition from other degrees, cities, and cultures, and adapt to Buffalo and UB.

Learning From Each Other

Madeleine Sophie Sutton: Care seems particularly important in the MArch program. Where have you seen themes of care progress during your time at UB?

Lindsey Bruso: The professors really care about the projects we’re given and are enthusiastic about them, which makes students care more and become excited to work on them.

Mayank Sharma: When we are working on a project, they make sure that we do think of inclusivity and equity. We care about the people living near our site and the context.

Ehler Htoo: This semester, when reading through one of my course syllabi, I noticed the professor stated she has a lot of respect for others who have to care for other people. Throughout the semester, the professor consistently accommodated those ideas. In studio this semester, the professors stated from the beginning that they don’t condone all-nighters, and insisted that we not implement that into our life. They reminded us to eat, exercise, and stay healthy.

MSS: The schoolwork we do here is really rigorous, particularly in studio. It comes down to that relationship between the students and their own studio environments, but also to the communication with the professor.

"Working with other people gives you a different set of views and values you would not normally have. It brings people's ideas together and allows me to open up my mind more."

- Lindsey Bruso

LB: I don’t feel that the stigma of the studio is competitive between students. I don’t feel that with anyone. I see everyone willing to help each other.

Behnoush Nikparvar: At first, it was very helpful to work in groups because I didn’t know anyone or anything about studio work at UB. Teamwork has

EH: Being comfortable with everyone in the studio is specifically important. Sometimes you have a question and you may feel afraid or nervous to ask it. When you form these relationships first, you can ask questions without thinking about it. This peer question-and-answer dynamic can help to generate your design process.

MS: When you have an idea in architecture, you become possessive over it. Whether someone gives you a positive or negative opinion on it, that doesn’t matter. That comment helps you chisel away at that idea. It’s important to discuss ideas and show work to each other because it helps you get out of your comfort zone and open up your mind. An incremental flow of opinions coming from all around the studio is really important along the way.

BN: The process is so fast; it can cause some imitation seeing others’ work. Our studio last semester was divided into three sections separate from the others. Being part of the conversation between students and professors from other sections in the studio was most valuable.

LB: I think the connections even go past school work and architecture. I’m from Buffalo, so I get a lot of questions about Buffalo. The other day, Mayank asked me where a good place to get sushi was. It is simple things like these that push the relationships we’ve formed even further.