Applauding Students’ Architecture and Design Work
Several School of Architecture and Design students have been recognized for their work on and off campus, with some succeeding in the Reality Hack at MIT and others named to Metropolis magazine’s Future100.
“These remarkable accomplishments reflect the strength, creativity, and forward-thinking mindset of our students across disciplines. From architecture to digital art and design, their work demonstrates a deep commitment to innovation, sustainability, and inclusive design—values that are central to our educational mission,” says Dean of the School of Architecture and Design Maria Perbellini, M.Arch. “Their recognition by leading platforms such as Metropolis and MIT is a testament to their talent. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and excited to see the impact they will continue to make as the next generation of designers shaping our world.”
Undergraduates Among the Country’s Top Students
Undergraduate architecture students Khaoula El Jaabak and Sivapriya Janakiraman were named to Metropolis magazine’s Future100, celebrating the top 100 graduating students from architecture and interior design programs in the United States and Canada.
The prestigious recognition honors exceptional talent, creativity, and commitment to advancing the fields of architecture and interior design, reflecting El Jaabak’s and Janakiraman’s bold and thoughtful approaches to design, grounded in innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity.
“At the core of my practice is a commitment to designing spaces that empower communities, foster inclusivity, and respond meaningfully to their social and environmental context,” El Jaabak says. “I am drawn to projects that challenge me to think critically about equity, access, and the cultural narratives embedded in the built environment.”
With this honor, El Jaabak and Janakiraman are eligible for recommendation to top firms, recruiters, and design leaders nationwide, as well as a feature in the magazine’s spring 2026 print issue and all digital and social media platforms. The future architects join a community of more than 600 who have received the Future100 recognition, offering professional connections and peer support, and will be invited to Metropolis events and programs with opportunities to network among industry leaders and resources.
View Khaoula El Jaabak‘s portfolio.
View Sivapriya Janakiraman’s portfolio.
Graduate Students at MIT Hackathon
In January, UX/UI design and development students Megan Jouelle Cortes, Sharodiya Dutta, Nazeli Sayra Kurtoglu, Casey Losinski, Roshan Pereira, and Bryana Rodriguez were in Cambridge, Mass., for MIT’s annual Reality Hack, a hands-on event focused on artificial intelligence , machine learning, extended reality, immersive systems, and entrepreneurship.
Joined by Kevin Park, M.F.A., chair and associate professor of digital art and design, who also served as an event judge, the students were among hundreds of like-minded peers and professionals from top institutions and companies, such as MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, Meta, Google, Samsung, and Apple. After splitting up to form interdisciplinary teams with other Reality Hack participants, the students were tasked with designing and prototyping real-world immersive solutions. Industry leaders mentored the participants as they worked under intense deadlines.
First place was awarded to Pereira’s team for their project Attune. Along with his teammates, Pereira developed software for use with Raven Resonance smart glasses. Raven Resonance glasses—releasing for testing in 2026—provide similar functions to a smartphone through the glasses’ lenses. Attune is an augmented reality meditation system designed to support calm, focus, and sleep, supporting nervous system regulation in different contexts.
Cortes’ team received an honorable mention for the project ClearCue. With her teammates, Cortes developed another software for Raven Resonance glasses. ClearCue uses a cloud-based AI model to analyze audio and visual input, helping users with autism spectrum disorder reduce ambiguity during live conversations.
More News
NOMA Competition: Reimagining Kansas City
Twelve architecture students competed in the 2025 Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition sponsored by the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) to propose a model for housing that prioritizes those vulnerable to racialized disinvestment.
Community Building
Working on the Institute for Public Architecture’s Modeling Community Visions for a Future Without the BQE project, Marcus Wilford (B. Arch. ’16) turned to his alma mater for support.
“Envisioning” More Inclusive Eyewear
As part of a collaborative initiative between New York Tech and the global eyewear company Marcolin, students from the School of Architecture and Design and NYITCOM teamed up to develop potential eyewear solutions for neurodivergent populations.
FRIENDS Sets New Fundraising Record
On October 30, the School of Architecture and Design celebrated its 17th Annual Alumni and FRIENDS Reception, raising a record-breaking $550,000 in support of student scholarships, technology upgrades, lectures, study abroad, and new initiatives.
Startup Tech Central Officially Opens
Members of New York Tech and the local community gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Startup Tech Central, a resource for students to transform ideas into real-world impact.
Intern Insight: Shikha Gandhi
Architecture student Shikha Gandhi’s internship with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection offered everything she hoped for as an aspiring sustainable and community-centered architect.