Bio:

    The great architect, Lissa So is a Founding Partner of Marvel Architects, where she oversees the firm’s cultural, institutional, residential, and historic projects. So’s experience includes the award-winning St. Ann’s Warehouse in New York; TheatreSquared, a nationally-recognized theatre in Arkansas; and the restoration of Broadway’s Lyric Theatre. In an effort to promote women and minorities in architecture, So collaborated with Phipps Neighborhoods to provide after-school programs to under-served communities.

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How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?

A childhood friend said she wanted to be an architect. At that time, I had no idea what that meant. I grew up in a small town upstate that had one architect in town, an older gentleman. The idea stuck, and my friend and I are now both architects.

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What do you do?

I’m driven to design innovative architecture that effortlessly accommodates the user and creates uniquely beautiful spaces.

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What excites you in the work you do?

I’m excited that the spaces we design can have a transformative impact on our communities.

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Who or what inspires you professionally?

I’m inspired by the creative minds on my team at Marvel. We strive to promote a truly equitable and collaborative environment where everyone has a voice.

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What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

We just topped out on a new YMCA in the Bronx. A community member who fought for 30 years for a center to be built in his neighborhood helped celebrate. Designing a beautiful building in this deserving community is a very proud moment in my career.

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Featured Project Name: 

TheatreSquared

 

Featured Project Location: 

Fayetteville, AK

 

Featured Project Completion Date: 

2019 

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Role in Featured Project: 

Partner In Charge

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Featured Project Description:

TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, Arkansas provides a permanent home for Northwest Arkansas’s only year-round professional theatre. The theatre company creates nationally acclaimed productions that reach 45,000 patrons each year and has a significant educational outreach program that gives students across the region access to live performances and leading arts-based learning tools. T2’s new home includes two theatres, a dedicated rehearsal/event space, offices, education and community spaces.

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Photography Credit:

Greg Maka, Timothy Hursley

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