Imani Ihmaid’s journey as an interior design student at NJIT is rooted in a passion for design that began in high school. After taking a drafting class and completing an internship with RH Interiors, the Paterson, New Jersey native discovered a love for interior design that solidified her decision to pursue the dual path of architecture and interior design. At NJIT, she found a welcoming and respected environment that fostered her creativity and growth.
NJIT’s Hillier College of Architecture and Design (HCAD) hosted its Design Showcase, the college’s flagship fundraising and networking event, which provides a chance for members of the Hillier College community to connect and discuss the exhibited work done by HCAD’s architecture and design students over the past year. This year’s event took place in the Jewel Box of One Gateway Center in downtown Newark, a flagship space in Gateway’s $50 million investment plan.
After a national search, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) found the best person to lead its Hillier College of Architecture and Design (HCAD) right on campus. Interim Dean Gabrielle Esperdy, a noted architectural historian, has been appointed dean, effective July 1.
Esperdy will be steering the execution of HCAD’s strategic plan in close partnership with other colleges as they strive toward NJIT’s goal of becoming a nexus of innovation.
When Martina Hanna ’24 started her studies at NJIT, she was a civil engineering major. But when the pandemic hit, she took a different route, one that was meant to be.
“I was just too scared to do it because I didn't have a portfolio,” Hanna explained the process of switching her major to interior design. “But during COVID I had so much free time that I actually developed one and really looked into it more. I got in, they let me change my majors. I was like, ‘amazing!’”
As she looks back to those days, she notes how the classes weren’t feeding her creative side.
The Hillier College of Architecture and Design (HCAD) hosted its Design Showcase, the college’s flagship fundraising and networking event, which provides a chance for members of the Hillier College community to connect personally and professionally. This year’s event took place in the Jewel Box of One Gateway Center in downtown Newark.
Constance Chu’s passion for interior design started at a young age, assisting her mother — an interior designer — in picking samples and colors. Thanks to this early exposure, Chu trained a design muscle that has evolved into an education and career.
“That's just kind of always been what I've been surrounded by,” said the interior design senior and Albert Dorman scholar. “It instilled in me a sort of eye for design that I've been training over the years like picking out details in spaces that maybe other people don't see, and really understanding what that does to space.
During her four years at NJIT, Haylee Merola has used her imagination and visualization to create different types of work in her interior design studios. Whether the project was a sci-fi movie, a retail store, an airport lounge or designing clothing for a fashion show, Merola always made sure to add her style.
The Hillier College of Architecture and Design (HCAD) kicked off its year-long celebration of two very important milestones – the 50th year anniversary of the New Jersey School of Architecture and the 15th anniversary of the School of Art & Design.
The Design Showcase is the college’s flagship fundraising and networking event, which provides a chance for members of the Hillier College community to connect personally and professionally. This year’s event took place in the Jewel Box of One Gateway Center in downtown Newark, made possible by Onyx Equities.
Pamela Ospina ’18 was selected and recognized in Interior Design Magazine’s top 30 designers under the age of 30.
Ospina, a Paramus, New Jersey native, works at M Moser Associates in New York City. “I am very appreciative of the opportunities that have been presented to me,” said Ospina. “I work with very talented and inspirational designers that I look up to. This recognition could only have been achieved by the support of my colleagues.”
We were able to have support for one another.
Kelsey Jackson ‘14 was recently awarded a Common Bond scholarship during the Common Bond: The Center for Architecture Gala. Jackson has been dedicated to integrating her experiences in education and architectural design to uplift historically Black cities and communities.
Every year at Common Bond, the Center for Architecture provides scholarships to outstanding architecture students, chosen by area schools that have been selected by their honorees.
