Empowered to Design

^{Pictured: Teaching Associate Professor and Chair of Architecture Gertrudis Brens submitted student Yulissa Luciano’s project, “Luxurious Harmony,” to AIA Bronx, earning her the chapter’s Student Empowerment Award.}

Yulissa Luciano thought she would become a firefighter, or perhaps a doctor or lawyer, or maybe a brain surgeon or a marine. Finally, after finding old design notebooks as she approached her senior year of high school, she decided to pursue architecture and hasn’t looked back—especially since she’s become an award-winning architect.

On May 1, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Bronx chapter hosted its AIA Bronx Scholarship Awards event. Luciano attended the formal evening, where she received the AIA Bronx Student Empowerment Award, a $1,000 scholarship honoring college architecture students living in the Bronx for their creativity, dedication, and commitment to improving the field.

Gertrudis Brens, M.Arch., teaching associate professor and chair of architecture, submitted Luciano’s third-year fall semester project to AIA Bronx. “Luxurious Harmony,” as the Bachelor of Architecture student named her work, is a residential building featuring approximately 40 apartments on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, N.Y. The design, which sealed Luciano’s fate in receiving the award, restores the balance between work and family for new and established families within a fast-paced community.

“Opportunities like this don’t just appear,” Luciano says. “Being recognized for my dedication both in school and beyond is truly meaningful. This award reaffirms that my effort, perseverance, and commitment are all worthwhile.”

Over the years, Luciano has worked on several projects, each presenting new challenges to anticipate and adapt to, but it’s architecture’s “ever-changing nature” that she loves most. “There’s always something that keeps me engaged, constantly learning, and pushing forward,” she says.

Her most recent project, “The Community Theater,” creates a place where light and movement shape an experience and dissolve programmatic barriers. Located on Essex Street and Houston Street in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the building’s design comprises three large disks. The ground floor accommodates a public audience of about 400, while the third floor houses private spaces, including administrative offices, classrooms, and a small dance studio. In between is the theater, serving as a unifying space where individuals from both the public and private sectors converge.

“Working within the constraints of building codes and the urban context, I’m learning to design a functional and thoughtful community theater tailored to its environment,” she says. “This process allows me to engage with architecture’s nonlinear nature, refining my ability to navigate and master its complexities.”

Outside the classroom, Luciano is a producer for the Creative Impact Consultancy, a multimedia production team that supports nonprofit organizations in amplifying their impact. As producer, she works with the group’s director in overseeing personnel, logistics, and workflow. By the end of a project, the team will have crafted a compelling narrative showcasing the mission and work of the nonprofit.  

Though she still has two years before graduating, Luciano is certain of the path she’s meant to follow. After building a strong foundation of experience, refining her skills, and expanding her understanding of the field, she hopes to establish her own architecture firm. “One that not only shapes spaces but also contributes meaningfully to society, leaving a lasting impact,” she explains.