MITRA MEMARI
ZGF Architects
SAY IT LOUD - CALIFORNIA Exhibitor
California Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
My ability to contribute to the human experience through architecture inspires me. Seeing the built environment’s impact on a community, and how holistic design allows communities to grow, change, and reflect the people within them, motivates me.
MITRA MEMARI
Bio:
Mitra Memari, a Partner at ZGF and 2022 President of AIALA, has 29 years of experience fostering team collaboration and communication and leading large-scale, complex projects. Mitra's experience emigrating to the US from Iran as a teenager inspired her passion for diversity, inclusion, and equity. At ZGF, she is a founding member of the Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy Group, which focuses on promoting a culture of respect and support and implementing firmwide initiatives for inclusion.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
Architecture has always been part of my life. Growing up, it felt like my destiny. My last name, Memari, means architect in Farsi. I was fascinated by history in the built environment. I took my first drafting class in junior high, and was hooked.
What do you do?
As a managing partner, I oversee the health of the office—from people to finance and design. I'm committed to the advancement of women in design and passionate about creating a diverse profession that welcomes and represents diverse perspectives.
What excites you in the work you do?
As architects, we are uniquely positioned to positively impact the lives of the people that use the buildings and spaces we design. I’m excited about mentoring women, minorities, immigrants, and BIPOC, and being an agent of change in architecture.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
My ability to contribute to the human experience through architecture inspires me. Seeing the built environment’s impact on a community, and how holistic design allows communities to grow, change, and reflect the people within them, motivates me.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
My proudest professional accomplishment is the ability to mentor and support my colleagues at ZGF and the greater profession. Its fulfilling to see a diverse group of individuals achieve their career aspirations with my guidance and encouragement..
Featured Project Name:
University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC)
Featured Project Location:
Phoenix, AZ
Featured Project Completion Date:
6/1/2015
Role in Featured Project:
Project Manager and Partner-in-Charge
Featured Project Description:
Cutting-edge technology, a compassionate, patient-centered approach, and an evidence-based, multidisciplinary model allow UACC to deliver the highest standard of cancer care in Phoenix. The 220,000-SF building includes radiation oncology, exam/procedure rooms, a support and wellness center, a healing garden, diagnostic imaging, and clinical and research labs. The design mirrors the tones and textures of the Sonoran landscape and provides privacy and protection from solar glare and heat gain.
Photography Credit:
Nick Merrick
Featured Project Name:
USC Broad Institute Stem Cell Research
Featured Project Location:
Los Angeles, CA
Featured Project Completion Date:
9/24/2010
Role in Featured Project:
Project Manager and Partner-in-Charge
Featured Project Description:
The USC Broad Institute for Stem Cell Research provides a home for research and regenerative medicine in an innovative, flexible environment that fosters collaboration, discoveries, and expansion. It acts as a research hub and reinforces the strong interrelationships between the university and the local scientific community. Researchers and scientists are working to translate their basic discoveries into new treatments and cures for diseases like cancer, obesity, and infectious diseases.
