Title: Sustainability Designer I
Company: PERKINS&WILL
Location: Dallas, TX
Education: Pursuing M in Sustainable Design, Boston Architectural College; BArch, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Venezuela (2016); Coursework, Exchange Student, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia (2013)
Career History: Sustainability Designer I, Perkins&Will, Dallas, TX (2022-Present); Project Leader, Architectural Designer, SDH Studio Architecture and Interior Design, Miami, FL (2020-2022); Collaborator, Trazando Espacios (2020); Architect, Miacucina, Miami, FL (2018-2020); Business Center Manager, Capital Companies, FL (2018); Architect, ODL Arquitectura, Caracas Area, Venezuela (2017); Architect, Micra Urbana, Caracas Area, Venezuela (2016-2017); Secretaria General, Centro de Estudiantes de Arquitectura USB (2012-2013); Mi Bella Debutante, Instituto Herman’s (2006)
Marieclaire Monasterio Vargas, Sustainability Designer I at Perkins&Will, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of architecture.
An accomplished architect in Venezuela, Marieclaire Monasterio Vargas came to the United States with a dream and the training and skills to succeed in the industry in her new home. She has excelled as a Sustainability Designer I at Perkins&Will, a Dallas, Texas-based architectural services practice whose work spans universities, healthcare facilities, businesses, and more, since 2022. Currently working from a more environmental perspective as she awaits the acquisition of her architecture license in the United States—as there are different rules and codes governing the profession from country to country—she strives every day to help create a better future for the world. In this role, she meets with the design team of projects and determines the best strategies for approaching the projects from a sustainability perspective; is part of the team that designs schematics for projects; analyzes energy and water use reduction, indoor and outdoor building materials, and their impact on the health and well-being of occupants; and serves as a consultant for clients to ensure the strategies they planned are implemented. Prior to this appointment, she served as a project leader and an architectural designer at SDH Studio Architecture and Interior Design in Miami, Florida from 2020 to 2022; a collaborating architect with Trazando Espacios, a community program that aims to transform meeting spaces, in 2020; a business center manager at Capital Companies in Florida in 2018; and an architect at Miacucina in Miami between 2018 and 2020.
Growing up in Venezuela, Ms. Monasterio Vargas pursued architecture as it had always been her passion. She completed coursework at Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia and attended Universidad Simon Bolivar, where she also served as a secretary general within the Centro de Estudiantes de Arquitectura. She ultimately attained a Bachelor of Architecture from the institution in 2016 and subsequently launched her career as an architect at Micra Urbana in Venezuela and then at ODL Architectura between 2016 and 2017. In preparation for her relocation to the United States, she sought guidance from her many mentors, who helped her greatly as she began building a career in a new place. Outside of her primary roles, she has devoted much of her time and effort to volunteer service, lending her compassion and skills to such organizations as Latinos in Architecture, Voto Joven, the San Ignacio Model of United Nations, Debris Free Oceans, and the charitable activities hosted by Perkins&Will. In addition, she is a dedicated member of the American Institute of Architects.
As a testament to her drive and success, Ms. Monasterio Vargas received the Fall 2022 Innovation Incubator Grant for research with Perkins&Will, funds from which she has been using to study coastal retreat management. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sustainable design from Boston Architectural College and completed her thesis in spring 2023; passionate about making an impact on the community, she aims to complete her research and do it well as well as obtain her architecture license. Upon reflection of her career so far, she has found it most rewarding when a client agrees to build sustainable projects and finds inspiration in her favorite quote, from Walt Disney, “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”
