Maurice Light

Delayed Satisfaction

Maurice Light is an Urban Planner with a concentration in transportation. His passion for designing transportation networks spans all the way back to his childhood years. At the young age of 9, he would plan his adventures around the city with his mom, using the city transit system. This allowed him to dream of different trips and journeys within his young mind. Eventually, he would go on to figure out all of the routes within his city. As he got older, his focus shifted to making the transit routes better and more comprehensive. His continuous curiosity would lead him to enter a civil engineering program and then transition into his urban planning master’s degree. As he matured, he realized that his interest in designing transit systems was really behind understanding the psychology and sociology behind the people who would use the transportation systems. Once he understood this relationship he knew that he had to find a career path where people benefited from his work.

Throughout his 20-year career, Maurice has worked in many different cities including Washington D.C., Minneapolis, Phoenix, Dallas, and Los Angeles. He has been able to gain experience in both the private and public sectors, making him well-rounded within his field. As you can imagine he has worked on many projects, but when asked which one stood out to him the most he said it was a transportation network he created and led in Minneapolis. He and two other planners were tasked with coming up with the night routes for the entire city. From an outsider looking in, I can only imagine how daunting of a task this was. However, Maurice seemed to enjoy the challenge. He was the lead on the project, which meant that he was heading the feasibility study and had a major impact on route decisions. He knew that his decisions would impact the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of people on a daily basis for years to come. Although this was a significant amount of pressure, this project supported his ultimate goal of having people benefit from his work. He was able to complete the project on time and the city had a functional transportation network for its citizens.

Speaking with Maurice allowed me to see the design from a different perspective. When he told me that he was able to see projects he worked on come into fruition years later. I was reminded of how long and complex the design process can be. Light rail systems that he worked on 10 years ago in Phoenix were finally operational and being used by the community. He spoke to me about how satisfying of a feeling he had when he could be reminded of all of his work that he did years ago. Many times in the design field, we forget that we create tangible things. Reminiscing on your hard work can create a great feeling of fulfillment at any point in your career! I want to thank Maurice for reminding me of this, and I hope his experience reminds you of the reasons you chose to work in your industry.

You can check out his LinkedIn profile HERE

Jina Marie Zavala

AIA, NCARB, WELL AP

It feels like yesterday, but it was decades ago. I was in the 5th grade, we had “Future Fridays” in which a visitor would come in and talk to us about different careers. Usually, I would draw straight through these things. I had my trusty notebook bursting with drawings. On this day one of my classmate’s fathers came in with a stack of presentation boards. As he set them up I realized he liked to draw pictures just like me. I felt like the world slowed down and everything got quiet, all I could focus on was his presentation boards.

It was 1990, and Vegas as we know it now was about to burst into existence. It was at the precipice of sprawling. Just before the “family friendly” version would emerge. Up until that day I was busy growing up in the outskirts of Las Vegas. We lived in a neighborhood that was surrounded with dirt roads and one paved road leading to the highway. My family had horses, dogs and chickens and for a while, a few times, a goat. After school chores and homework there was plenty of time to ride my horse and draw, my two favorite things to do. Sometimes I would draw while riding my horse. My only sibling was 7 years older than I, and had no interest in playing with me. I had plenty of time to daydream and draw. I often wondered how it would feel to live as a different family would. I often imagined what a house would need if my family had different interests. I would come up with a family and their list of needs and interests and draw a home for that family based on the program requirements.

Flash back to 5th grade Future Friday’s and he began by asking if we knew what an architect was or what they did. At one point he asked if anyone had ever drawn anything like what he was showing us. I did not raise my hand. My eyes were big and I could feel my cheeks burn. I was too shy to share in front of my entire class. After his presentation was over I went up to him and handed him my notebook. It was filled from cover to cover. They were not the standard drawings of a 5th grade girl. He flipped it open and was blown away. I had over 50 designs for single family homes. Program, site plan, floor plan, elevations, and a perspective of my favorite design element. In that order. Over and over.

He and I talked for a few minutes. He let me know how proud or myself I should be and was very supportive of my drawing habits. He told me to get good grades and to study hard. He flipped a switch in my head about learning, it became something I wanted to do so I can get to architecture school. He invited me to read some books and asked me to never give up on my passion for drawing. For me this was the day I started my architecture career. His words of encouragement and instant belief I would be an architect carried me through many moments of doubt from others, and myself.

After that day I knew what I was going to be. I was sworn in 25 years later and still have gratitude for his kindness and support.

Be sure to check out Jina's LinkedIn HERE