Alumni Profile: Farrah Désir
Major: Architectural Technology
Current Position: Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Creative Form Development
An Unexpected Career Path
At first, Farrah Désir (B.S. ’99) never intended to work in construction. Architecture was always her dream, so she came to study at the School of Architecture and Design.
“Since high school, I wanted to major in architecture,” says Désir, who also took interior design classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology while she was in high school but decided to major in architecture and went to New York Tech, where she could study both.
Several years after graduating from New York Tech, Désir met a former classmate who told her about a position at their company JR Construction. “It was something I never thought I would do,” shares Désir. “[When] the company called me [about] an opening for a general contractor, I initially turned it down and said, ‘No way, I love architecture. I’m an architect.’ Eventually, I was motivated to consider other career options besides architecture because drafting behind a computer all day for 10 hours was exhausting, which did not fulfill my interest in designing projects.”
Désir later took on the role of project manager at JR Construction in New York City and never looked back. “At first, I thought I would do it briefly while looking for an architectural position and had no intention of staying,” admits Désir. “But I eventually fell in love with construction management.”
After stints at the YMCA, construction management and engineering company URS/AECOM, and Gilbane Building Company, where she oversaw construction projects around New York City, such as libraries, schools, and commercial spaces—Désir started to build the foundation of her company, Creative Form Development, by working part-time on residential projects.
The company soon expanded into something more significant and is now a full-service construction management company. “There aren’t many Black-owned female construction companies in the industry,” says
More Profiles
An Explorer, Through and Through
Associate Professor of Management Kevin O’Sullivan, D.Sc., teaches skills so students can adapt to change with agility.
A Head Start in Architecture
Architecture student Satish Doobay’s ongoing internship with an alumna’s firm is helping prepare him for a future in the field.
New York Tech To Be Ranked Among National Universities
For the 2027 U.S. News & World Report annual rankings, New York Tech will be included in a new ranking category—National Universities.
Convocation 2026: Success in a Time of Change
At the annual faculty and staff convocation, New York Tech President Jerry Balentine reflected on the accomplishments over the past year and presented his vision for the future.
A Passion for Games, a Vision for Business
College of Engineering and Computing Sciences student Cody Ortiz helps his father run a florist shop, an endeavor that inspired him to become an entrepreneur, too.
Intern Insight: Brandon Vasquez
This summer, architecture student Brandon Vasquez interned with Gensler, a globally recognized architecture, design, and planning firm.