In this year’s June Professional Development Sequence, RPIE is featuring workshops led by four past RPIE participants. Anna Alaya, Architect, is teaching RPIE’s AutoCAD and Revit Courses as well as leading a workshop on Imposter Syndrome titled “You Belong Here.” In this Q&A, Alaya discusses how she uses data science in her architecture practice, her workshop, and AutoCAD and Revit functionalities. 

How has your experience as an architect impacted your studies of data science?

I used to think in black and white: if you're an architect, you're an architect, if you design, you’re a designer. But I always had other interests and ideas that attracted me, and so I started trying to study other topics. The further I go in my path, the more I see how those random ideas correlate and connect. And now, being here, I see that having an interdisciplinary background helps me in my field.

Data science inspires me. It’s a field that allows us to use the resources that we already have to make new conclusions. But now I see other ways I could use my data science skills combined with what I know in architecture. I’m hoping to learn more about this and explore how we can use these methods in architecture to save time and energy without losing quality in the spaces people live in. Who knows? With my new skills and previous experience, maybe something will arise from that.

What is something you want other participants to know about Impostor Syndrome? 

Research shows that the people most prone to having feelings of impostor syndrome are those who are more likely to feel like they don't belong. And that’s a problem immigrants face: you have to make yourself belong.

When I was creating my presentation, it wasn’t only the facts about impostor syndrome I wanted to talk about. I wanted to share the message that you're not alone. You belong here. All of us have that fear.

I wanted to provide the chance to talk about our fears and insecurities, and also to share our successes and the things that make us proud. I hope that these conversations are going to help others to share those things not just between us in the program, but also in the future, in the professional world as well.

What are aspects of AutoCAD and Revit that beginners might not understand? 

To answer your question, I’m going to have to split it up. AutoCAD is like a language, shared by architects, engineers, and anyone working in the built environment. It’s so simple and basic that we can overlook the importance of it, but we need a space where we can share our ideas and concepts so that they will be understood by others. AutoCAD is the easiest way to do that. One thing I appreciate about AutoCAD is that the instruments and features are limited. That might seem like a disadvantage, but it helps us focus on the features it does have and use them to better exchange information.

Revit is my passion. There are so many features to explore. With the information about the object you’re trying to create, you can generate views and documents that are going to be valuable for any specialist: architects, engineers, designers. We can find any data we might need–how many tiles you would need for a floor, for example, which then minimizes the chance for an error. If it's done well, it allows us to have the freedom to explore the object we're creating–to look at it from a different side, to add solar panels, and then to see what the sunlight would look like on December 20th at 6 pm. Revit is a tool that can help us to do that. 

About Anna: Anna Ayala is a dedicated professional with a diverse background in architecture, design, and programming. She received her Master of Architecture degree from Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, specializing in sustainable and energy-efficient architecture as well as inclusive design. Recently, Anna completed the RPIE program at The Cooper Union, further expanding her knowledge in Green Building Guidelines and data science. Fluent in Ukrainian and Russian, she is highly proficient in utilizing a range of design software and is driven by her commitment to sustainability and innovation. During her leisure time, Anna can be found studying psychology and solving puzzles, literary mysteries, and riddles.