Areas
Profile
Hometown: Zhejiang, China
Education Background: Bachelor of Arts 21’ and Bachelor of Architecture 23’ from Rice University, minor in Museum and Cultural Heritage
How did you get interested in your field?
I have always wanted to be an architect since a very young age and have been working towards the goal for years ahead of college. However, during my undergraduate studies, I realized the vast scope of the architecture industry. This led me to contemplate my desired path. Witnessing significant climate upheavals in Texas during my time at Rice University, I realize that I want to contribute to the field of sustainability as a designer.
What was your background prior to coming to Penn?
I double majored in Art History and Architecture for my undergraduate studies and was always fascinated by the environmental and social context of the artistic movements. I was able to participate in the preceptorship program during which I worked in New York City for one year, an invaluable experience that led to my deepened understanding of the industry. Additionally, I have studies abroad in Paris for half a year and was able to visit many precedents of modernism movement across Europe in person.
Why did you choose Penn?
Penn's Environmental Building Design Program offers a focused trajectory for those interested in sustainability and building analysis. The course content is technical, emphasizing a scientific approach to design evaluation, which complements my undergraduate education that is more on the humanitarian side of architecture design.
What has been your favorite class so far?
The Building Performance Workshop has been my favorite course. It covers Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation, a powerful tool for visualizing airflow and addressing specific problems related to air systems, such as pollution removal, smoke control, and heat mitigation.
What do you like best about Philadelphia?
Philadelphia strikes a balance between unconventional and conventional American cities. It's walkable yet not everywhere, populated but not crowded, and located on the East Coast without being overwhelmingly cold. Exploring the city beyond University City has been a delightful experience.
What kinds of activities and/or organizations are you involved in?
I am currently a Teaching fellow of the XDS Executive Teaching Program at Weitzman School of Design, which is a course dedicated for continued education for professionals in the field. I am also a TA of Environmental System, a course offered to M.Arch students for better understanding the HVAC system.
What are your career ambitions?
There is this term called Renaissance Man, which mean a human being who is knowledgeable in all field and profess many skills, with Michelangelo being the most famous example. In the age of specialization, I still hope I can learn every aspect of this industry I found interests in since an early age and contribute to the legacy of this field.