Hispanic Heritage in AEC: Four Perspectives on Improving Communities
This year and every year, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with reverence and mindfulness. Reverence for the contributions Hispanic individuals have made on both our industry and our firm, and mindful of the fact that we have much left to do to advance equity for underrepresented groups essential to the ecosystem of AEC work.
Observed from September 15th to October 15th, Hispanic Heritage Month is dedicated to celebrating the histories, culture, and contributions of Hispanic Americans with ancestors from across the globe. At Otak and across firms in the built environment, we use this month to highlight Hispanic culture’s contributions to and growing influence on the industry.
Hispanic individuals make up 31% of the construction workforce in the US, and the share of Hispanic people earning a bachelor’s degree in STEM related fields is up 5% in the last decade. The impact of Hispanic Americans on the AEC industry cannot be overlooked and Otak sees this in practice through our project work. From Pritsker Prize-winning architects at RCR Arquitectes in Spain, to a construction worker you may pass by on a job site, a myriad of cultures and perspectives influence our built environment.
We asked Hispanic team members from across Otak’s offices: What about your lived experience has been impactful in your approach to work and community involvement?
The answers we got were insightful and valuable.
Josh Guerra – Senior Project Architect
Josh is a proud second generation Mexican American, and says he is continually inspired by the story of his grandparents emigrating to the US in the early 20th century – something to which he credits his work ethic and ambition.
Rooted in his Hispanic heritage, his biggest design influences as an architect include pre-Columbian, megalithic architecture of the Mayans, Aztecs, and Inca, as well as modern, Spanish architecture styles a la the work of Antoni Gaudi, Enric Miralles, and Santiago Calatrava — garnered from his time abroad as a graduate student in Barcelona. In Josh’s case, his heritage and inspirations translates to nearly every project he touches!
Ken Vigil – Senior Project Manger/Engineer
Ken, senior project manager and engineer in our water resources group, is also extremely proud of his Hispanic heritage, and says it lends him a unique lens toward stakeholder involvement across all sorts of projects.
A believer in working hard, serving family, and uplifting communities – he points to his recent involvement with managing habitat restoration at the confluence of Deep Creek along the Clackamas River in Oregon. Ken says he was selected not just thanks to his technical expertise, but also thanks to his cultural values and awareness, especially when working with indigenous community members to restore a culturally significant site based on their needs and desires. To Ken – heritage and cultural knowledge translate to results when shaping the built environment and restoring natural spaces.
Sandy Stewart – Office Manager
Sandy heads our office operations out of our Louisville office in Colorado, and says her Guatemalan heritage has shaped her life and defines her to this day.
She describes her culture as colorful, vibrant, rich in tradition and values, and characterized by a fusion of Spanish and indigenous influences with which she recalls growing up. Her values of hard work, integrity, family, and good food translate directly to the bright and tenacious identity she brings to work with her every day. In her 23 years at Otak, she’s also helped deliver on many successful projects – being especially proud of the McCaslin Boulevard Underpass in her backyard of Louisville.
Javier Buenrostro – Marketing Intern
Javier is a fresh face among our Otak marketing team, and as someone who has lived in both Mexico and the United States – he says his experiences have deeply influenced both his approach to work and community service. Working with our team on relevant project pursuits has made him appreciate the impact he can have on underrepresented communities when we win work to improve their built and natural environments, and he strives to represent his heritage in authentic and relevant ways when a fresh perspective is needed.
Taking a Community-Driven Approach to Design
Otak views it as paramount that we remain intentional about enhancing the daily lives of our community members through thoughtful development, this month and every month. From ensuring accessibility and affordability in housing to investing in essential public works and fostering robust public engagement, we and our teaming partners within the industry hold the power to shape thriving communities, no matter the socioeconomic background or ethnic makeup. By embracing these values, we can pave the way for a brighter and more inclusive future, where every individual can enjoy the benefits of a well-designed and compassionate neighborhood.
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month from Otak!