Five Years with Ying Hong

MWA is celebrating its five-year anniversary with Designer Ying Hong! A valued member of the San Francisco Housing Studio, Ying is known for her team-oriented approach, creative designs, humor, and talented rendering skills. Thank you, Ying, for five years of hard work and creativity. To celebrate her time with MWA, Ying shares her experience below.

White, gray, and purple U shaped building with a curved corner

What project are you working on right now?

I am working on an affordable housing project, Maudelle Miller Shirek Community, in Berkeley. It is a six-story, mixed-use, new construction project. One of the standout design features is the purple millennium tiles, which resemble amethyst and shimmer beautifully under the sunlight. Maudelle is the first ground-up project in my career, and I have been working on it for years. This project holds significant meaning to me, and I am incredibly excited to see it come to life.

Ying has been great to work with.  She is an excellent team player and it is good to see her abilities recognized as more and more of the firm asks to work with her.  Her rendering skills are so good that she has become our main renderer in the SF office.

Chris Remedios, Architect

What project phase is your favorite?

I like the schematic design phase because it allows for a lot of creativity and innovation. During this phase, you can explore many possibilities for the project, which stimulates passion and inspires ideas to take shape.

I also enjoy the construction administration phase because it’s always exciting to see the project come to life, transitioning from drawings to reality. Walking on the job site is also a valuable opportunity to learn about construction, which benefits future projects.

How have the responsibilities and expectations of your job changed in the last few years? 

I have taken on more responsibilities and set higher expectations for my role. In the past, I mainly followed directions to complete tasks, relying heavily on markups and redlines for guidance. Now, I can create sketches and drawings by analyzing project issues and questions, coordinating with cross-disciplinary teams to address challenges, and developing ideas and solutions instead of immediately asking for directions.

Ying does a great job keeping our projects on schedule and helping out wherever needed with her wide range of skills, from 3D rendering to answering questions during construction.

Alfred Twu, Architect

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

I love traveling and enjoy photography during my trips. It’s fascinating to visit different places, learn about local life and culture, enjoy food, explore architecture, and capture beautiful views and treasured moments through photography. On weekends, I enjoy visiting handicraft markets. It’s inspiring to see the designs and creations of local artists, which often spark new ideas. I also love outdoor activities like fishing, fruit picking, and crab hunting. My favorite is parasailing, and I am planning to try it on Lake Tahoe!

What do you hope to do more of in the next few years? 

I hope to take on more responsibilities and eventually become a job captain for projects. To achieve this, I will continue learning and gaining experience to improve my professional and communication skills. I also hope to work on projects of different types and scales to broaden my expertise.

What is your next career goal that you would like to tackle? 

My next career goal is to become a licensed architect.

Why did you want to become an architect when you started your career? 

I like math and subjects that involve logic. I also like art, beauty, and romance. Architecture is the perfect combination of logic and art, which is why I want to become an architect. After a few years of academic learning and work experience, I still love it and have become even more fascinated by it. I would love to continue exploring architecture and pursue it throughout my life.

Ying went to her first-ever baseball game with Team MWA during our summer picnic in 2024

Is there a particular architect’s work that inspires you?

I am inspired by different architects from time to time. Originally, I was inspired by Zaha Hadid with her unique and innovative use of shapes and forms. As a female architect, her achievements are especially encouraging and have reinforced my determination to become an architect.

Then I was inspired by Le Corbusier, who had groundbreaking ideas about modernism and functional design. I was also inspired by Tadao Ando, with his designs that showcase the beauty and simplicity of concrete, and by Kengo Kuma, with his concept of blending architecture with nature and his creative exploration of local materials at each project site. Currently, I am most inspired by the architects at MWA!

What is your favorite thing about working at MWA?

My favorite thing about MWA is the collaborative culture. Within the team, I always feel supported and encouraged, which boosts my confidence in my work. My teammates are always patient in answering my questions and providing help and guidance, which has been valuable for my career development. I enjoy working at MWA.

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