MUSTAPHA WILLIAMS
Gensler
SAY IT LOUD - Illinois Exhibitor
SAY IT LOUD - Tennessee Exhibitor
SAY IT LOUD - NOMA 50th Exhibition
Illinois Based Designer
Designer from Tennessee
Who or what inspires you professionally?
Walking around the city of Chicago seeing how the urban fabric is laid out inspires me...experiencing the city’s grand scale yet minute details that engage the everyday citizen...looking up to a skyline that has embraced nature as much as concrete.
MUSTAPHA WILLIAMS
Bio:
The great designer, Mustapha is inspired to positively change the built environment. After the ACE Mentor program, he attended the Univ of Tenn College of Arch + Design - where he earned his Honors Prof BArch. He won 1st place in the 2017 Gensler Diversity Scholarship, earning an internship in Chicago after studying in Poland. Now full-time at Gensler, Mustapha is a mentor in ACE Chicago, Gensler’s regional Summer Intern Committee, Historian of I-NOMA, and acquiring his architecture license.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
In high school I joined the ACE Mentor Program in Nashville. The program along with witnessing the building boom in Nashville solidified by goal of becoming an architect. Now, I am inspired to continue urban growth - but equitably.
What do you do?
I am a Technical Designer at Gensler Chicago. I work on projects of various scales - from corporate interiors to master planning competitions. I am involved in preliminary design all the way to construction administration.
What excites you in the work you do?
We have the opportunity to create spaces that are welcoming, inspiring, and accessible - through programming and functionally. I have been working on workplace projects - where people spend most of their life - creating spaces that users can enjoy.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
Walking around the city of Chicago seeing how the urban fabric is laid out inspires me...experiencing the city’s grand scale yet minute details that engage the everyday citizen...looking up to a skyline that has embraced nature as much as concrete.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
A year into my professional career, community engagement has been paramount to my time here in Chicago. Diving deep into I-NOMA and ACE Mentor has been my way of reaching back to help others the way I was assisted throughout my education.
Featured Project Name:
LinkedIn Chicago Expansion
Featured Project Location:
Chicago, IL
Featured Project Completion Date:
2018
Role in Featured Project:
Technical Designer
Featured Project Description:
LinkedIn is an organization that is centered around connection between its online users. A central tenet to the way LinkedIn functions is also facilitating and encouraging connections between its employees. In expanding their current floor stack the design team wanted to bring the idea of connection to all soon-to-be 6 floors of LinkedIn Chicago. Through various way-finding, Chicago branding opportunities, and collaboration spaces LinkedIn Chicago allows employees to engage with one another throughout.
Team includes, Renee Prusacki, Sam Davison, Liz Potokar, Eric Mersmann, Elliot Rupe & Alex Burkholder
