Mel Loyola, RA, NOMA, LEED Green Associate

Mel previously worked as an artist and designer for film, events, and theatre in NYC. Working as a designer in the art department for various projects, she had to be flexible in the type of work she performed. Whether it was hands-on fabrication, animation, or
digital graphics.

Mel has always been interested in the idea of making for the community, which inspired her to switch careers and pursue architecture. She felt the change would keep her close to creating projects that could physically interact with the social space around her and provide permanent beneficial interventions. After working with Columbia GSAPP’s Making Studio (a digital and analog fabrication space) as their Studio Manager, she began her role as a designer at AKM Architects working as an architectural consultant for SCA projects. While working with the NYC SCA, she performed surveys and assessments of public schools in the city, creating proposals for rehabilitation of exterior envelopes, playground areas, and interior room conversions.

Outside of work she is active with nycobaNOMA, She previously served as the corresponding secretary on their executive boar, as a co-chair for the ARE study group, and actively participates with Project Pipeline, an initiative to teach students about architecture.