Pratt is one of the top ten producers of newly licensed architects in the United States, and many graduates are making the built environment more sustainable, affordable, and inclusive. They’re working on city redesigns, cultural venues, urban green spaces, schools, museums, innovative affordable housing models, and much more.
From boutique studios to major international firms, explore the career paths of a few recent graduates below.
Valeria Bardi Cohen, BArch ’23, Draws With a Purpose
During her time at Pratt, Valeria Bardi Cohen, BArch ’23, loved sketching, model-making, and digital animation because they allowed her to think outside of the box while still paying close attention to detail. Her talent for design ultimately helped her win Pratt’s Best Degree Project Award for an exploration of repurposed oil rigs; the project also received a nomination for the Royal Institute of British Architects Dissertation Medal.
“Where I am today is because of Pratt.”
Valeria Bardi Cohen, BArch ’23
“Pratt gave me a really strong conceptual base for how to solve design problems, but it also gave me a balance,” she said. “I was able to take some studios that were responding to real environments that we, as architectural designers and creatives, are able to solve.”
“Where I am today is because of Pratt,” she added. “The professors really push you to solve problems through creativity.”
Bardi Cohen took advantage of various networking opportunities while on campus. She attended career fairs, talked shop with her professors, and sought out connections in the field. She became a PreCollege mentor and worked at the architecture design studios West 8, Handel Architects, and HKS Inc. Over time, she became interested in adaptive reuse projects, an affinity that she’s carried into her job at S9 Architecture, the firm that designed the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Dock 72, where facilities for Pratt’s Fine Arts and Photography graduate programs are located.
Bardi Cohen has had the chance to work on office-to-residential conversions and commercial spaces and said that being at a medium-sized firm like S9 has allowed her to take on a lot of responsibility for larger scale projects, including a master design plan for the city of Charlotte.
“There’s a lot of teamwork and responsibility,” Bardi Cohen said. “You’re constantly learning and growing. It’s been a challenge because it’s all new—how buildings get built and how you draw to get them constructed. My team is like three or four people max, so you’re always engaged; you’re drawing with a purpose.”
Elizabeth Bobyr, BArch ’23, Pursues Affordable Housing
“Pratt’s broad reach as a school and our ability to take classes across disciplines really helped me in my career.”
Elizabeth Bobyr, BArch ’23
Elizabeth Bobyr, BArch ’23, learned both the fundamentals of building design while at Pratt and the ability to communicate ideas visually, conceptually, and practically.
“Pratt’s broad reach as a school and our ability to take classes across disciplines really helped me in my career,” she said. Outside of the School of Architecture, Bobyr gravitated toward bookmaking courses, which ultimately sharpened her graphic design and architectural storytelling skills. An elective on architectural publishing deepened her appreciation for design as a form of communication, planting seeds for future creative exploration.
“These are good skills to have because they come up when you’re putting your portfolio together and for client presentations,” she said. “Presenting architecture projects as a student starts working the muscle, but being concise while getting your point across is extremely important for all kinds of design.”
After graduation, Bobyr joined op.AL, a multidisciplinary design firm led by Jonathan Scelsa, professor of undergraduate architecture, where she worked on multiple museum renovations, including the Italian American Museum. She tapped into the Pratt alumni network and eventually joined Bone/Levine, a small architecture firm founded by Pratt graduates that specializes in facade restoration and the upkeep of landmarked buildings across New York.
“It was interesting to see all of these historical buildings in a new light and learn what actually keeps them going,” she said. She later joined THINK Architecture, also founded by Pratt alumni, and is currently working on a renovation of a theater building for a college. She’s looking forward to working on affordable housing, which the firm specializes in.
“Part of what attracted me to THINK is they recently completed a project called Bridge Rockaway,” she said. “It was the first project in New York that was able to combine manufacturing and housing together for an affordable housing project, as they put spaces in the basement for manufacturing.”
Working in Brooklyn means Bobyr is able to easily stay in touch with former professors and classmates.
“Keeping up with your Pratt connections is a really big thing in my opinion,” she said. “You’d be surprised by how often people are willing to help and want to help if you just reach out.”
Vicky Chan, BArch ’08, Champions Sustainability
When Vicky Chan, BArch ’08, enrolled in the School of Architecture in 2002, the program’s adoption of digital tools gave him a head start in the field.
“We were probably among the earliest students exploring AI, digital fabrication, and what computers could generate,” he said.“I still use a lot of the software and scripts we learned back then in my work today.”
Chan’s senior thesis on urban farming sparked a passion for sustainability that he’s carried throughout his career. “I loved the idea so much, I just kept pushing it, and now I specialize in urban farming,” he said.
After graduating, during the 2008 financial crisis, Chan began his career at the engineering firm Stantec, where he worked on projects like the Yankee Stadium redevelopment and the World Trade Center site. These early experiences gave him insight into the complex dynamics of public design.
“It was way beyond technology,” he said. “This was political, financial, and community building, connecting the dots but also doing our best to make sure everyone felt included. It was a very special time in New York that kind of shaped how I look at the world today.”
“We were probably among the earliest students exploring AI, digital fabrication, and what computers could generate.”
Vicky Chan, BArch ’08
Inspired by the entrepreneurial energy of the tech world, Chan eventually struck out on his own, founding his own award-winning firm, Avoid Obvious Architects, which has offices in New York and Hong Kong.
“I was fascinated by the idea that if you had a great idea, you could become your own boss and become successful,” he said. “I thought, ‘What if I could change big box retail to become more circular?’ It was a continuation of my Pratt thesis.”
Chan’s firm now manages a diverse portfolio of around 60 projects, many of which focus on public and institutional spaces.
“Dealing with people—the overhead, paying staff, supporting my team—that’s the most challenging part of the job,” he said. It’s also why he continues to teach, run a nonprofit, and mentor young people.
“If we want to influence policy or shape culture, we need to plant seeds early,” he said. “I tell my students, if you’re passionate about something, give it a decade or two decades. That’s how real change happens.”
Catherine Moreno, BArch ’25, Uplifts Others
Catherine Moreno, BArch ’25, turned back-to-back summer internships into a full-time role at the global architecture powerhouse Gensler, which is co-chaired by Andy Cohen, BArch ’78.
“Every summer I was able to work with the same coworkers, and they’ve been able to see my growth and my journey,” she said. “Everyone here is so interested in your growth. I find myself in a lot of learning opportunities. They want you to understand the ‘why’ and make connections. It’s great to learn how real-world design works.”
Moreno has been able to draw on the “thoughtful design” approach she learned at Pratt while working on office designs.
“My courses at Pratt rigorously went through the different phases or iterations of a project,” she said. “Something they ingrained in us early on was taking the time to really understand a site and who you’re designing for. Are you meeting the brief? Are you going beyond the brief? What interests you, and how are you able to incorporate that in your project?”
“Pratt gives you a large toolbox. You can jump right into the workforce.”
Catherine Moreno, BArch ’25
“This really helped me in my interviews, being able to speak to the construction documents and all the software that we learn at school,” she added. “Compared to other schools, Pratt gives you a large toolbox. You can jump right into the workforce.”
Moreno believes strongly in the importance of building a professional community. While at Pratt, she cofounded the architectural advocacy club Femmes of the Future, was deeply involved in the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) and the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS), and networked with students at other schools. She’s now working to give back the mentorship she received as a student by bringing Femmes of the Future to Gensler and continuing her advocacy through the networking group SHE at Gensler. In her career, she remains committed to supporting the next generation of designers—providing portfolio reviews, career guidance, and mentorship to Pratt students through both Gensler and Femmes of the Future.
“It was hard for me as a first-generation Hispanic student to get to these places,” she said. “That’s why I’m so big on community and helping others.”