Interview by Vaishnavi More, Founder and CEO at Archslate
Edited by Sidhanth Thomas
Studying philosophy and architecture at Princeton University and receiving many laurels during her time there, Valerie Schweitzer received her Masters of Architecture from UCLA’s Architecture and Design Department. Looking to specialize in structures that deepen a sense of place and bring joy, she has completed many design projects from New York to LA. Principle at the female-run firm Valerie Schweitzer Architects, Valerie and her team explore the overlap of Art and Architecture.
Archslate: Valerie, not many architects have reached the point where you are today. That moment where they dare to start their own practice. You have kind of broken out of that notion. Tell us how it all started.
Valerie Schweitzer: It all started back when I was an undergrad at Princeton. I was studying philosophy without much direction but I loved art and the world of ideas. I took a couple of architecture classes but what ended up planting the seed, was studying Art History at CUNY in New York City. I decided I did not want to spend my life researching in a library. I wanted to try to make something of myself. That was a pivotal moment for me because it gave me direction.
After I plotted along the normal, somewhat conventional course of large and tiny firms, I was at SOM. It sounded prestigious, although it was not. I did not learn a lot because as a woman in the early 90’s I was relegated to a basement room, building plastic models. The moment when I felt I had the courage even financially to hang my own shingle, I moved out. The project of mine people loved the most was one of my earliest. It was a backyard studio, where I was living while raising two girls in Connecticut. I was being a mother and freelancing when I began thinking that I could do this. So I left the firm and started a family. Something that most women know is extremely hard to do.
“It sounded prestigious, although it was not. I did not learn a lot because as a woman in the early 90’s I was relegated to a basement room, building plastic models. The moment when I felt I had the courage even financially to hang my own shingle, I moved out.”
Archslate: In today's time, we can have honest discussions about topics that we might have been uncomfortable talking about a couple of years ago. Being one of the strong women who took that path, what are some of the things you think you could have done differently?
Valerie Schweitzer: Sometimes I wonder if I had stayed at a place like Gruzen Samton or SOM, I might have been given opportunities to work on large-scale public projects. It is still a dream of mine to get to build structures where I am affecting the public more. However, it is very hard to come by those conditions when you run a small practice. I still grapple with thoughts of where I would be by now if I had played by the rules and stayed at one of those big firms.
The Tides Brentwood apartment by VSA
Archslate: I read that you have projects that are published in over 18 countries worldwide. How do you manage to accomplish that while being a team of just 3 members? What are some of the obstacles? Or what are some of the real-life struggles that you see?
Valerie Schweitzer: Thankfully, I have a team of three amazing people. I need to keep my overhead low and everybody financially happy at this point. I am not quite ready to grow too much, although I do see that happening later on. We live in such a visual culture, with Instagram and similar platforms. The avenues they create are simply crazy. If you produce something that captures the imagination of the younger generation out there, it spreads.
Archslate: Would you attribute some of the things that play a big part in getting firms visibility today to social media platforms?
Valerie Schweitzer: There is a smart, sophisticated group of people out there who are constantly hungry for something new. It is exciting, although there is a pitfall to constantly having to innovate. My best work starts off by being very personal to me. Later it happens to coincide with something universal.
Archslate: How has the past year been for you? How have you navigated your firm’s practice and your studio culture during the pandemic?
Valerie Schweitzer: I lead a firm small enough that the pandemic did not affect me quite a lot. Although my associate is in China, we are getting a lot of work done with FaceTime. I miss the in-person meetings with clients because I rely on their energy and usually end up playing off that.
We just finished a carriage house in Brookline and I was very involved in the project. We were able to get a lot closer with the client and that helped the project in a big way.
“In my time at SOM, we were marginalized. It was the embodiment of an old boys club. The catch twenty-two was that if they took a chance on women that weren't necessarily as talented, they were still giving some women a chance. I am glad that big firms are going out of their way to hire more women and women of color making it slightly more inclusive.”
Moody Tulip - A micro pavilion and courtyard water harvester inspired by the infinite world of pink shades embodied in the tulip.
Archslate: Quite a few firms are taking steps towards diversity and hiring more women. Do you think that is something that's here to stay?
Valerie Schweitzer: I would say it is too forced and extremely phony. However, there are benefits. In my time at SOM, we were marginalized. It was the embodiment of an old boys club. The catch twenty-two was that if they took a chance on women that weren't necessarily as talented, they were still giving some women a chance. I am glad that big firms are going out of their way to hire more women and women of color making it slightly more inclusive. One unfortunate occurrence I have noticed is that there is a perception that only so many seats at the table exist for women in architecture. Women I had hoped would be mentors to me worry exactly about that. They go on to view another woman as someone who might threaten that space. Which is a shame. I hope I get the opportunity to hire a lot of women one day.
Archslate: What is your success story in getting clients?
Valerie Schweitzer: So far it's been word of mouth. Once you finish one residential project and people see it, they pass it on to their friends ending up with one person who has the need. Being a numbers game, it is tough.
I am an extrovert and I enjoy people so I assumed I would have done better sooner. We have not been able to shake off the stereotypes around mothers or women in general. When you see some of these star architect females and you think about it, they are a minority. They often have a husband and run a duo firm. I have been fighting against that kind of pigeonholing and stereotyping.
“We have not been able to shake off the stereotypes around mothers or women in general. When you see some of these star architect females and you think about it, they are a minority. They often have a husband and run a duo firm. I have been fighting against that kind of pigeonholing and stereotyping.”
Outside-in pavilion designed by Valerie Schweitzer AIA
Archslate: I am sure that your day-to-day operations look very different from some of the previous places you worked at. How has your perspective changed as to what your own studio culture should be like at Valerie Schweitzer Architects?
Valerie Schweitzer: Back in the early 90s, I would go to the bathroom once in a while to catch a break from staring at the models. I remember the stall was timed. That is the kind of corporate culture I am not in favor of, so to speak. There was this machine-like aspect that permeated the culture and the way people were treating each other. We were all cogs in the wheel. Today I am sure it has changed for the better.
Archslate: Tell us a little bit about your team and your studio culture.
Valerie Schweitzer: My associate is young and full of ideas. It often starts with a cardboard model or a sketch. Passing it on to my associate, he gives me a sounding board. I get ideas and I build from there. I have a fantastic female paid intern who helps with model building. I also have a part-time detailer who has helped me since forever. Having a background in structural engineering, when things get complex on the bigger projects, I rely on him to help me out with the CD package.
“One unfortunate occurrence I have noticed is that there is a perception that only so many seats at the table exist for women in architecture. Women I had hoped would be mentors to me worry exactly about that. They go on to view another woman as someone who might threaten that space. Which is a shame. I hope I get the opportunity to hire a lot of women one day.”
Butterfly Studio by VSA - An art studio and private office for a family home in Westport Connecticut.
Archslate: As a Principle with a small team, how has the talent and recruiting process been for you?
Valerie Schweitzer: It is quite hard. Even right now I would love to find someone who can do renderings that match my vision because the visuals are so important. I am still working on finding that person.
The young people graduating today are often so talented. They are great with Rhino, SketchUp and other softwares, which is fantastic. However, I often require someone who has a little more breadth. We might want a person that can help with the details and the gritty stuff such as putting a CD package together. I think that takes more of a seasoned architect.
Archslate: I was recently listening to this podcast where they were talking about the male privilege that exists in this industry. Have there been any incidents where you felt like there is a male privilege problem that exists in our industry?
Valerie Schweitzer: Certainly! I am not naming names, but I remember when I was at another large firm and was pregnant. The project manager knew that I was going to be having a baby and he was aware of everything that entailed. I remember that was the one time I was fired. That goes to show that it is very real. I can think of so many women who truly rely on those paychecks but are still not treated fairly.
“ I am not naming names, but I remember when I was at another large firm and was pregnant. The project manager knew that I was going to be having a baby and he was aware of everything that entailed. I remember that was the one time I was fired. That goes to show that it is very real. I can think of so many women who truly rely on those paychecks but are still not treated fairly.”
Holocaust memorial - PASSAGE OF BARBS TO SOULS–Proposed Monument to The Lives Lost in the Shoah in Bologna, Italy by VSA
Archslate: Do you think today, we have come to a point where more architects are creating safe spaces for dialogue? Do you see that transition happening in our industry and culture in general?
Valerie Schweitzer: I love seeing the push for equal pay and the strides that have been taken. I think places like Studio Gang and Toshiko Mori are run by progressive, fantastic ladies. Although, I also see that there isn't enough camaraderie and not much of pulling the next generation up. I want women to help each other more.
Archslate: Tell us a little bit about the projects that are in store for the future? What are you most excited about?
Valerie Schweitzer: Due to the pandemic, one of my biggest projects in Los Angeles was put on hold. However, it did resume around five months ago. It is a four-story rental apartment building with a concrete podium and wood on top of it. The way the building interacts with street life and animating these somewhat dreary and stagnant streets is what I am trying to do.
Archslate: What are some of the questions that I have not asked you, but you wanted to talk about?
Valerie Schweitzer: Perhaps what makes my firm different? This might not be a conclusive answer but I am hoping to use everything I have ever learned. I have two teenage daughters and they are going through the process of school with one at Columbia University. I see that there is an emphasis on math and the sciences. All the girls in STEM are favored as of right now. But unfortunately, the world of humanities has been overlooked and neglected. If you think of architecture as the master of all arts, know that I believe in funneling everything I have ever learned including all that liberal arts education into the world to make it a better place.
That goes to say that there is a lot of idealism in my small practice!
“I love seeing the push for equal pay and the strides that have been taken. I think places like Studio Gang and Toshiko Mori are run by progressive, fantastic ladies. Although, I also see that there isn't enough camaraderie and not much of pulling the next generation up. I want women to help each other more.”
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