Celebrating International Women’s Month in Architecture
Happy March to all and Happy Women’s History Month! This month is a time to reflect upon and celebrate the incredible women who have shaped our world. For those of us in architecture, it is also an opportunity to honor the trailblazers who have broken barriers and to recognize the current and future leaders who continue to push the boundaries of design, inclusivity, and diversity.
Historically, architecture has been a male-dominated field, with women having to prove their worth repeatedly. But today, we are witnessing a shift. Women in architecture are not only participating—they are leading, innovating, and shaping the built environment in profound ways. It’s not just about gender; it’s about creating spaces that reflect a broader, more diverse range of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives.
Over the past two years, I have had the privilege of engaging with my colleagues, from Senior Associates to Project Architects, discussing their experiences in the industry. These candid conversations have explored topics such as work-life balance, motherhood, career progression, and how the profession can evolve to be more inclusive. Hearing these different perspectives has been enlightening, and I want to continue this dialogue.
This year, I had the opportunity to speak with Abbey Courtney, an Associate recently promoted—a perfect moment for reflection. To watch our full conversation please check-out MV+A’s Women’s History Month playlist on YouTube.
—Prova Zaman-Haque | ARB, RIBA, Associate AIA
A Conversation with Abbey Courtney
Prova Zaman-Haque: So Abbey, why architecture?
Abbey Courtney: Sure. So why architecture? Well, I come from a family of engineers. My dad’s an electrical engineer, so was my grandfather and I grew up just, you know, very hands-on; my dad did a lot of home renovation projects that I would help him with—I had like a sledge hammer and a hard hat on when I was 5. So I’ve always been interested in how buildings go together and that kind of thing.
But I was also a very artistic kid. There’s actually a time I was gonna go into physics because that appealed to my mathematical side. But, you know, I felt I was ignoring my artistic side. So a month before school started at Notre Dame, I made the last minute call to change my intention to architecture. And I kind of fell in love with it there. They had a very old school process where it’s very hand drawn, oriented to force your brain to think in 3D first before you let the computer do it for you. So that really spoke to my artistic side and I went through the five year program and graduated in 2012.
After graduating I got hired at a high-end residential firm in San Francisco. Great firm, great work, but I had only been there a few months when I realized the high-end residential world wasn’t for me. I wanted to do something that was more community oriented, so I applied to grad school at Notre Dame where they had a urban design program. I just felt I would have the ability to affect people’s lives more through urban design. So I did a two year course there and got hired at another DC firm—Torti Gallas, in 2015, and I was there right up until when I started at MV+A 2 1/2 years ago. Turns out I had a [Torti Gallas] connection through Kalinda [Gathinji].
Left: Abbey Courtney; Right: Prova Zaman-Haque [Click on image to view full conversation on YouTube]
PZH: Abbey, could you share a bit about the projects you are currently working on?
AC: When I first joined MV+A, I took on the Mount Vernon Gateway project, a multifamily building in Mount Vernon, VA. I was tasked with leading it through the design development and construction documentation phases, and now we are in construction administration (CA). So, it has been a good process from early on. I trained a couple of our newer staff on the project; we had a team of five or six. Now we’re down to one because it’s just CA.
My previous firm had a dedicated CA team. Though I was at a high level, I was not doing the day-to-day kind of boots on the ground CA. I did get some of that experience here at MV+A from covering the Kennett Square project during construction administration when Kalinda was on maternity leave. I got to go to the site every two weeks, which I was not used to. I’m doing it now for Mount Vernon. The lessons I learned at Kennett Square were really invaluable for taking Mount Vernon through to the end. We’ve got another year and a half before we wrap up construction.
The other project that I’m working on is the Prospect Hill project in Greenville, SC. I took that one over right after the entitlement / site planning phase. That’s been really great. It’s an area I’ve never really worked in before. I have mostly worked here in the DMV, so it’s good to get experience in other jurisdictions. This is also a new client for me—I’ve never worked with Gordon Road Capital, LLC or Red Fox Development. So it has been a really great experience just, you know, increasing my knowledge of different jurisdictions and clients.
PZH: I think MV+A has been one of the few firms that I’ve had experience with where they very intentionally make sure that you are part of the project from start to finish, especially as the Project Architect. And I think that exposure is invaluable, and you get to learn every part of the project.
AC: It is definitely important. At my last firm, up until the CA, they had me cover all of that, which was a huge help in the development of my career. You know it helped me pass all my tests for licensure very quickly because I was studying what I was doing in the office for the most part. I mean, even if you don’t want to do the whole project at the end of the day—you know, maybe CA is just not your thing or entitlements is not your thing—it’s good to go through the whole process a couple times because ultimately it all informs each other. So, if you have exposure to the one part, you’ll know a little bit more about the part you really want to do so.
Mt. Vernon Gateway | Fairfax, VA | Elms Street Development
Prospect Hill | Greenville, SC | Gordon Road Capital + Red Fox Development
PZH: Throughout your career, have you faced any gender-specific challenges?
AC: We are the minority—women are—and there are a lot of times you find yourself in a room with all men, you’ll be the only woman. And whether it be your clients, your colleagues, the owners—you know I can’t even recall how many times I’ve been in a room where I am the only woman there. And I think, coming up as maybe a relatively younger woman in a management position, sometimes especially for a new team, the client didn’t necessarily look to me as an expert.
I really had to be unafraid; we have to be comfortable with our knowledge and know what we know and not be afraid to speak up. I mean in the end, that’s why they hire us, right? So, the challenge has just been, I guess, asserting yourself early on in the room so that people automatically realize: “Oh, she’s the expert. She knows what she’s talking about” and instilling that confidence, a client’s confidence in their architect. I think it’s important for someone starting out to seek that.
Ultimately, it’s your own responsibility to find the people that are going to mentor you and find the fit. Find someone you work with that you’re comfortable with. Seek that out. Advocate for yourself. Seek out that help and that guidance. I would say, you need to take ownership of your own career, right?
PZH: You’ve recently transitioned from Project Manager to Associate. What advice do you have for those looking to take on leadership roles?
AC: It goes back to what I was just saying, ask for little levels of responsibility that can help you advance, and you know, eventually those add-up to more and more when people learn that they can trust you. So, if there is something that comes up, like your PM normally does your consultant interface, speak up and say hey, I want to run points on structure on this project. Don’t wait for people to give that responsibility to you. Volunteer for it is what I would say so.
Looking Ahead: MV+A’s Commitment to an Inclusive Future
At MV+A, we recognize the importance of fostering a more inclusive and equitable industry. We are proud to support and empower the talented women in our firm and beyond, creating an environment where diverse perspectives shape the spaces we design. By championing mentorship, advocating for leadership opportunities, and breaking down barriers, MV+A remains committed to building a future where all architects—regardless of gender—can succeed.
Let’s continue to push the boundaries of design and inclusivity together.
—Prova Zaman-Haque | ARB, RIBA, Associate AIA
