• Skip to main content

Platt-Whitelaw Architects

  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Profile
    • Philosophy
    • Approach
    • People
    • Community
    • News
  • Our Projects
    • Education & Academic
    • Park & Recreation
    • Civic, Institutional & Community
    • Operations & Maintenance
    • Spiritual & Health
    • Historic, Housing & Other
  • Work With Us
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn

Emad Abdulwajid

Culturally Centric Design for Memory Care Facilities

June 27, 2023 By admin

Many of our designers started as students at NewSchool of Architecture & Design. Some of our staff taught at NewSchool, and we have a long history of taking on NewSchool interns. We’re proud to announce that Emad Abdulwajid, our most recent NewSchool intern, is now our newest full-time staff member!

Emad just completed his senior thesis, and it’s a great example of why we think so highly of both Emad and NewSchool.

Emad’s thesis imagined an architectural plan for a memory care facility tailored to Indian immigrants.

From a design perspective, memory care facilities in the U.S., according to Emad, “usually cater to the culture they’re in, but the U.S. is a melting pot.”

People of other cultures are not immune to memory loss, but family members don’t feel comfortable housing their loved ones in a residential environment that doesn’t feel familiar.

Emad drew from personal experience. One of his family members is experiencing dementia, and Emad noticed that this loved one was more comfortable while visiting India, where he grew up.

“A lot of memory loss patients revert back to a childlike sense and what they grew up with is more familiar,” said Emad.

To inform his design, Emad relied on research journals and case studies. He also reviewed photos he had taken on trips to India and identified the commonalities between the architecture of different villages. He even conducted feedback interviews with stakeholders representing his target audience.

He designed a dense, compact village that pulled in defining points of Indian architecture by using distinctive window design, apertures, screening systems, roof tiles and more.

His design was well received by his professors. They encouraged him to push the Indian details and architectural language even further if he ever has the chance to bring this unique idea to fruition.

Emad would welcome the opportunity. Substantial growth in demand for memory care facilities is projected in the U.S. in the next 10 years. Moreover, culturally grounded design could help overcome the cultural stigma felt by many third world immigrants about putting their parents in care facilities.

“We need to offer a better sense of the life they want and that they remember,” said Emad.

Emad spent two quarters of his last school year developing his thesis project, but we think the idea will have relevance for years to come. For any senior living developers out there, we have a great architectural firm in mind for a culturally centric memory care project (hint, hint), and you know who will be on that team!

Filed Under: news Tagged With: dementia, Emad Abdulwajid, Indian immigrants, memory care facility, NewSchool of Architecture & Design, Platt/Whitelaw Architects

Platt/Whitelaw Architects Adds Two NewSchool Stars to its Team

September 22, 2021 By admin

By Sandra Gramley, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C and Naveen Waney, AIA

Introducing…two awesome new people at Platt/Whitelaw Architects!

We’re happy to welcome Project Coordinator Samantha Saltzman (Sam) and Intern Emad Abdulwajid to the Platt/Whitelaw team.

Sam earned her master’s degree from NewSchool of Architecture & Design in 2020 after graduating from Fordham University in New York City with a bachelor’s degree in Art History and Visual Arts. Currently, she’s pursuing the architectural licensing program through NCARB.

Before joining our team, Sam worked for several years designing accessory dwelling units. She’s got great experience mentoring and managing junior team members, coordinating with consultants and interfacing with clients. She’s also talented at organizing and multitasking.

Sam says she’s excited to tackle the broad range of public, education and civic architecture projects she’ll work on at Platt/Whitelaw.

Emad is earning his master’s degree in Architecture at NewSchool. He’s working with us through the IPAL fast-track to licensure program from NCARB. He’ll log work hours while still in school so that he can earn his architecture license more quickly.

Emad has a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology from UC San Diego. Combined with his current pursuit of architecture, his science degree gives him insight into human wellness and how it relates to architecture. We think this is a great match for our architectural work in education, recreation, community health and places of worship!

Through a human-centered design course at UC San Diego, Emad developed a web platform to help seniors and COVID-affected individuals feel more connected. While working in collaboration with Design for America, he also helped create a mobile-assisted robot protype to help people with chronic pain.

Through his internship with our firm, Emad is getting hands-on experience with important architecture fundamentals like renderings, construction submittal reviews and materials assessment and selection.

Great people make for great work product and a great workplace. We’re happy to have found two more greats to add to our dynamic team.

 

Filed Under: news Tagged With: Emad Abdulwajid, Employees, New Hires, NewSchool of Architecture & Design, Samantha Saltzman (Sam), team, UC San Diego

Copyright © 2023 · Platt/Whitelaw Architects, Inc.