Senior Manager, Facilities Department | nassau BOCES
Graciela Carrillo, AIA, originally from Colombia, immigrated to the United States in 2003. She works as a Senior Manager at Nassau BOCES Facilities Services, coordinating the school’s capital and operational projects serving Nassau County school districts.
Graciela has been involved with the AIA at the local, state, and national levels, currently serving as AIA New York State representative for the AIA National Strategic Council, the Past President of the AIA Long Island Chapter, and the Chapter’s Women In Architecture Co-Founder and Co-Chair. Graciela is also the Co-Founder of the Immigrant Architects Coalition, a group committed to helping and providing resources for immigrant architects to achieve a prosperous career in the US. In 2019, Graciela was the recipient of the AIA NYS Young Architect Award, and in 2022 she was the recipient of the AIA Young Architect Award. In addition, in 2021, she was an honoree of the Top 50 Women in Business in Long Island. In 2023 Graciela was awarded the 2022 AIA NYS President’s Honor Award.
Graciela is a national speaker, featured on various industry podcasts, and a featured author in the book “Latinas in Architecture: Stories of raising the 1% one Latina at a time”. In 2022, Graciela co-authored the book, "City Shapers: Stories of Immigrant Designers." The book compiles stories from 24 successful professionals in our industry, navigating life in a new country, the challenges throughout the licensing process, and starting a new architectural firm.
Courses
The Culture of Architecture - A Multicultural Perspective on Design Through the Lens of Diverse Storytelling
What values manifest in the built environment and what design principles can we apply to our projects to assure that our physical environments embody the diverse cultures of their inhabitants? Today, the architecture profession recognizes that diverse teams are more successful, particularly when it comes to analysis, creativity, and innovation, all of which are the cornerstones of architecture firms. Intersectionality in architecture is not just about the politics of recognizing individuals and their multiple and intersecting identities but extends to a framework of collective responsibility and action toward practices that are inclusive, diverse, and socially just.
In this session, attendees will hear from a diverse group of architects, designers, and artists who will share their cultures, visions, project samples, and insights in why the intersection of architecture and culture is imperative for the built environment and their communities they serve. The panelists will expand on how thoughtful planning and design can contribute to a more welcoming, and diverse place for occupants to live and thrive, and why architects should incorporate different communities' experiences with culture, policies and design, to create both beautiful and more diverse environments. This session will have ample Q&A time, allowing for attendees to engage with the panelists.
Course expires 03/25/2026