Celebrating the one-year anniversaries of Samia Rashed and Dana Elliot
As we continue getting to know the individuals that have joined MWA this year, it is our pleasure to introduce to you two powerhouse women behind the San Francisco Infrastructure team. Samia and Dana are both early in their careers and bring an eagerness to the industry. Passionate about creating equitable, environmental designs to improve the community through infrastructure, we are ecstatic to see where their careers take them.
Samia:
“Samia wakes up every day and brings the positivity and eagerness most of us can only muster after a venti triple-shot latte. I look forward to every call we have together.”
– Trevor Gotfredson
What project are you working on right now?
I’m currently working on San Jose Dewatering with two of my colleagues. This is my first dewatering project while at MWA and also the first time I am working with team members that have a significant amount of experience behind them.
What project phase is your favorite?
Between Project Planning and Design and Project Development and Documentation, I prefer the latter as it provides more of a challenge in the technical aspect of architecture, one that I have not been exposed to when in school. This such a funny thing to admit as I consider myself to be more “artsy” than “technical”.
What’s your favorite thing about working at MWA?
The people and their passion for impactive work. I’ve said this time and time again and I’ll keep saying it; MWA is filled with kindhearted, determined, and thoughtful bunch of people. Everyone is always so ready to lend a helping hand and to promote your wellbeing, in and out of the office (the virtual office for me).
“Samia brings a much-needed different perspective to our team as we sometimes get set in a comfortable lane. While I did not work with her much for her first year, the project we are now collaborating on has shown her to be driven and a quick study. I look forward to bringing our project to fruition with her and the rest of the team.”
– Alex Harm
How do you maintain work/life balance? During COVID, how have you been maintaining your sanity?
Oh, we’re supposed to do that? – My husband and I enjoy going out on picnics to enjoy the fresh air and fresh cups of tea, and most importantly, eating delicious new foods!
What do you hope to do more of in the next few years?
In the next few years I want to do a bit more sketching, broaden my project experience type, and tackle the ARE, and get a bit more involved in environmentalism.
What is your next career goal that you would like to tackle?
In the next few years, I hope to gain the knowledge necessary to help move myself up into a leadership position where I can begin to give back what my beautiful teammates are giving me now!
Is there a particular architect’s work that inspires you?
Carme Pinós. Her work is breathtaking! The emotions that her projects convey through the use of simple, yet beautiful materials and broad strokes have had my deepest admiration since my time at Cal. In other words, I fangirl, HARD.
Dana:
“Dana having only been at MWA for a year would come as a surprise to some as she plunged in hitting the ground running. She has become an invaluable part of the SF infrastructure team and we look forward to seeing her develop her professional voice.”
– Alex Harm
What projects are you working on right now?
When I first started at MWA, I was working on the SFPUC Southeast Plant, and since then, I have been working on the Sunnyvale Cleanwater Center. Now, I am just starting to work on two projects for East Bay Municipal Utility District – Sobrante and a pump station.
What project phase is your favorite?
I’m pretty early in my career still, so I’m learning as much as I can about each phase. Each aspect has its own challenges and puzzles. The most satisfying thing for me is working as a team to put those pieces together and ultimately create something bigger than the sum of its parts.
What’s your favorite thing about working at MWA?
There is a palpable commitment to the communities we work with, and a wealth of knowledge to back that up. This makes our projects feel very connected to improving the places we call home, but also allows me to learn more about how our infrastructure is directly tied to the people it serves.
How do you maintain work/life balance? During COVID, how have you been maintaining your sanity?
I am an avid cyclist and love getting outside, whether it’s exploring the many trails in the Bay Area on a ride or hike, sitting in my garden, or just exploring my neighborhood. I’ve been loving the extra time to make art and cook, and have been experimenting with making my own kombucha. My cat, Hushpuppy, and my housemate’s dog, Jesse, have been thrilled to have us around for increased snuggles, too!
What do you hope to do more of in the next few years?
I’m very excited to prioritize travelling. There are a lot of places and experiences on my list, and I think it’s so important to look outside my everyday life for design inspiration.
What is your next career goal that you would like to tackle?
I am really committed to equitable design, so I am always looking for ways to incorporate new voices and ideas into this work. I am hoping that I can deepen my expertise in this area while continuing to learn about all of the complexities inherent in architecture.
Is there a particular architect’s work that inspires you?
Lina Bo Bardi’s work has always been a major influence for me. The buildings she designed are always far more intricate than they let on, and I love the idea of encouraging users to discover new things about a space. Her sensitivity to context, users, and material makes her projects incredible to study and experience.