Rita is currently a Design Leader at HMC Architects, and recently completed her two year term as the Director of Outreach and Advocacy at Architecture for Humanity New York [AFHny]. She received a Masters of Science in Advanced Architectural Design [MS.AAD] from Columbia University GSAPP in May 2008 and a Bachelor's in Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona in 2005.
Rita’s fundamental purpose is driven by the philosophy that architecture needs empathy. Her philanthropic passion, dedication to design advocacy, and devotion to education constitute her professional contributions in research, analysis and design on both the local and global scale.
Rita’s humanitarian experience ranges from cultivating relationships with key organizations, partners, and benefactors, to leading design projects, managing and facilitating volunteers, initiating educational programs, curating panel discussions, organizing fundraiser events, and leading a marketing overhaul. Her design experience ranges from the strategic design of master plans, schematic design of institutional and cultural facilities, and design detail of corporate and residential interiors. She has key knowledge of all the phases of the planning and architectural processes, while engaging the project team, the client, and consultants throughout project developments.
Rita grew up in Beirut and Toronto. She lived and worked in Los Angeles and New York City alongside admirable designers, with intermediate travels to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Seoul. Her first hand experiences of war and peace in urban and suburban contexts have significantly shaped her understanding of the |re|generation of people, culture, and the designed environment.