NAOMI HARRISON
MCHarry Associates
SAY IT LOUD - FLORIDA Exhibitor
Florida Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
Those I work closely with are who I serve with and do life with. Inspiring, encouraging, challenging, loving, celebrating me and being real with me. Working in the community or seeing the final project and the students loving their new environment.
NAOMI HARRISON
Bio:
The Great Designer Naomi is a senior project manager at MCHarry Assoc., a firm specializing in public sector work. She has 24 years experience in architecture and leads the firm’s mentorship program. She is the co-founder of Black Architects in the Making, President of NOMA South Florida, AIA Miami Associate Director, Co-Chair of the AIA Miami Women in Architecture Committee, and active with various other committees. Naomi is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in the profession and the community.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
Art and design are in my blood, having grown up around it from birth in the art world in Jamaica. My aunt used to mail me old Arch Digests, and I poured over them fascinated. I have wanted to be an architect since age 9, there was never a doubt!
What do you do?
Show up! It is more how a project, a team or the community is left after I am there. Whether work or volunteering, I put more than 100%. Even as a Sr PM it is about working as a team, making what we do successful by showing up and working together.
What excites you in the work you do?
My volunteering, advocacy and working with my people in the community makes the stress of the actual work of architecture (the monetary paying job) worth it. It excites and motivates me to keep on going and doing what we do for a profession we love.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
Those I work closely with are who I serve with and do life with. Inspiring, encouraging, challenging, loving, celebrating me and being real with me. Working in the community or seeing the final project and the students loving their new environment.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
As a single mom, recognition from my 18yr-old. I had a favorite bag with a tiny rip, and he said ‘Mom, you are respected, accomplished and known in your industry you need a bag without a rip.’ I never realized that was how he saw me professionally.
Featured Project Name:
Southwest Miami Senior High School
Featured Project Location:
Miami, Florida
Featured Project Completion Date:
July, 2022
Role in Featured Project:
Senior PM, Lead Designer
Featured Project Description:
Building replacement is not always an option & this 1957 school was in dire need of restoration: extensive remodeling & infrastructure upgrades (MEP, restrooms, finishes, parking, courts) throughout 315,400sf on a 25acre campus. The major, most visible being 28,000sf of window walls replaced with 4 glazing colors varying in size and configuration creating sophisticated yet playful interior & exterior atmospheres allowing clear natural light into all classrooms enhancing the learning environment.
