Trivers is proud to highlight our highly skilled team of diverse professionals passionate about creating design of lasting positive consequence. Get to know them in our recurring team spotlight series.
Amy Wang joined Trivers as an architectural designer in May 2024 after earning her master’s degree in architecture from the University of Michigan. As a student she completed internships and a fellowship where she contributed to projects for the Los Angeles International Airport, passive home design, and a speculative design for mixed-use, affordable housing.
Q: What inspired you to become an architect?
A: I like how architecture is a creative field that also involves math and science. My parents encouraged me to pursue a STEM career, but I have always been interested in design and aesthetics, too. I think architecture is a good combination of all those things.
Q: Why did you decide to earn your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture at the University of Michigan?
A: Growing up in Michigan, the University of Michigan was my dream school from a young age. As an undergraduate I enjoyed the atmosphere—it was a small program within a big university—and the faculty were very knowledgeable. I decided to apply to graduate school in 2022, which was my final year in the bachelor’s degree program. Because the COVID-19 pandemic forced me to study and work remotely, I wanted more in-person studio experience, and there were several courses that I still wanted to take. Thanks to the University of Michigan’s accelerated program, I was able to graduate with my master’s degree in two years instead of three. I grew a lot as a designer during that time.
Q: What interested you in working at Trivers?
A: I first learned about Trivers when I was an undergraduate student. Trivers Principal Amy Gilbertson came to visit campus for a career fair, and she told me about the firm’s historic preservation work. As a student I was always interested in adaptive reuse, passive design strategies, and achieving sustainability through cost-effective methods, so it seemed like a great fit.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about working at Trivers so far?
A: I’ve enjoyed working on many different types of projects, from obtaining Fitwel certification for Trivers’ new office in The Victor to creating renderings for a repositioning of an office building in downtown St. Louis. I appreciate how everyone on the team has been patient as I get acquainted with the firm and its work. They take time to check in with me and are open to answering any questions I have. Also, there are so many opportunities to learn new things. There are weekly internal presentations by firm team members about a variety of topics, regular sessions where different product and materials representatives visit us, and even a group for emerging professionals working toward earning their licensures.
Q: You are part of the team working on a Section 106 report for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) headquarters. What was it like getting to visit Washington, D.C. as part of this role?
A: I was excited to hear that’d I’d be able to travel for the project. I had worked in D.C. before and as a summer fellow for Gensler’s D.C. office two years ago, so this experience is a bit of a full circle moment. The plan was to document the entire building and lobby of the neighboring building. We had to divide up the work in a way that was an efficient use of our time since only a small group of us were on site. We were also right by the National Mall, so it was nice to easily go and see the historic monuments after surveying the site.
Q: What do opportunities like serving on the FAA team and traveling to D.C. mean to you?
A: This is my first historic building project, and it’s been a learning experience working with experts in our office. I was able to see the existing conditions firsthand and hear some of the employees’ opinions about the renovation of their office space. I like how collaborative the work has been and look forward to being part of more historic projects like this one. Having worked at Trivers for just over two months, I’m grateful to have already had the opportunity to travel for a project.
Q: Are there any architects or buildings that you especially admire or enjoy?
A: I am a huge fan of Tatiana Bilbao, a Mexican architect whose practice focuses on sustainable design and social housing. She has completed projects all over the world, from Mexico to the United States to China. Beyond her architecture projects, I also love the aesthetic and design of her firm’s website.
Q: What do you like doing outside of work?
A: I recently joined a running club, which I have been enjoying. I live right next to Forest Park, so I take a lot of walks on all the trails there. Now that I am out of school, I have also gotten back into reading for entertainment.
Q: Do you have any favorite local restaurants?
A: This summer I have been frequenting two ice cream shops: Clementine’s and Jeni’s. They have become a necessity in the hot weather. I love Italian food, so I recently tried Mama’s on The Hill, which was great. My goal is to keep exploring and visiting new places.
Trivers is always looking for creative, passionate and talented individuals to be a part of our team. Visit our careers page for more information on positions that are currently available.
