Julia Martin

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Education Background: BA in Art History, Environmental Studies, and Classical Civilizations from Oberlin College, graduated in 2022

How did you get interested in your field?
As the daughter of two architects, I grew up immersed in this field, discussing design and touring job sites from a young age. As a kid, I would even set up my dolls in little cities, not playing with them, simply creating their world. However, it wasn’t until college that I chose to pursue architecture myself. After a brief foray into biochemistry, I realized that my true passion was architecture and its ability to combine artistic practice with technical knowledge, resulting in real spaces that shape people’s lives.

What was your background prior to coming to Penn?
While at Oberlin, I studied Art History, Environmental Studies, and Classical Civilizations, each of which provided a unique perspective on architecture, from its history to its potential future. After college, I joined the AEC industry as an architectural lighting designer, getting to work on a variety of projects from airports to schools to arenas and more! Working in the industry as a consultant solidified both my desire to be an architect (and have more control over the project’s design direction) and my love for this field (there’s truly nothing like seeing your work built and in use after years of drafting and construction coordination).

Why did you choose Penn?
In all honesty, Penn wasn’t my first choice when I started applying to architecture schools. I had had my heart set on another university; however, after touring both programs, Penn stood out by miles. From meeting the incredibly interesting and kind student body to learning about the structured and multi-disciplinary curriculum to visiting this beautiful campus, Penn stole my heart. So far, the program has lived up to my highest expectations and surpassed them.

What do you like best about Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is truly a great city and an amazing place to live! There are always fun events happening (either through Penn or in the city), it’s super walkable and easy to navigate (love the grid!), and the old neighborhoods are terribly cute (especially Rittenhouse and Fitler Square). Most weekends, I’m able to go to the farmer’s market with friends, grab coffee and pastry from a cute coffee shop, and sit in one of the many parks listening to live music. Compared to a lot of other cities on the East Coast, Philly is also very reasonably priced, with many students able to afford a one-bedroom apartment or a spacious house with roommates.

What kinds of activities and/or organizations are you involved in?
At the moment, studio and the rest of my course load take up all my time, so I haven’t been able to join any organizations on campus. However, I’m hoping to get involved in more activities as I settle into the program.

What are your career ambitions?
After graduating from Weitzman, I’m hoping to join an architecture firm with a strong sustainability mindset and portfolio where I can pursue projects that combat climate change and strengthen communities. I believe that tackling the consequences of climate change on the built environment, from flooding to fires to the influx of climate refugees, will be our greatest challenge as architects in the decades to come. I’d also like to get involved in changing building/zoning codes to promote environmentalism and equity on a greater scale than individual buildings alone.