by: AIA New York
Hao-Yeh Lu, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, NAAROC, is co-chair of the AIANY Emerging New York Architects (ENYA), Intermediate Architectural Designer at Fogarty Finger, and a Registered Architect in Taiwan (NAAROC). He has not only worked on award-winning architecture, but has also focused on the trajectory of multi-family residential projects, the essential issue of our generation, including Handel Architects, Studio Link-Arc in New York, Akihisa Hirata Architecture in Tokyo, and Kaohsiung City Government Department of Buildings in Taiwan. Hao-Yeh is enthusiastic to explore the emerging professional community, including AIANY ENYA, the TORCH Mentorship program, Architectural League, and Columbia GSAPP mentor, encouraging him to devote more to empower emerging New York architects.
Q: What are some of your favorite recent projects that you’ve worked on?
I really enjoyed those days when working on the Luhu Cultural Center in Shenzhen, China, for Studio Link-Arc. This award-winning landmark complex is every architect’s dream, with a library, art gallery, and grand theatre, all sited on a picturesque landscape. It was an exciting experience to be part of the growth of the city, contribute to the sanctuary that cultivates people, and shape my optimistic belief in architecture. I’m more motivated when our architecture efforts are not only for the privileged, but for the majority of people.
Q: How do you feel about the state of the industry right now?
The world is changing fast—geopolitical tension, pandemic and economic cycle shape the atmosphere of the AEC industry. Meanwhile, technological innovation makes paradigm shifts possible, creating the need for a new way of thinking and a transformative business model. Today might not be the best of times, but there are still lots of things to look forward to.
Q: What has been particularly challenging in your recent work?
Being an architect is never easy at the early stage, and the up and down economic cycle makes it even more challenging, especially for young foreign professionals in the US. I’ve heard and seen things my friends in Europe and Asia find hard to believe. People have to climb the corporate ladder, aware of a pigeon-holed career path, facing the glass ceiling hierarchy, but still no guarantee against at-will employment, not to mention the restrictive visa policy. There are many things I wish I knew earlier. How can we create a more welcoming environment for our young professionals? That’s my key motivation to serve as the co-chair of ENYA.
Q: What are your greatest sources of inspiration?
Architecture is a life-long career, and learning from the career paths of our pioneers has always inspired me with the future’s possibilities. The AIANY TORCH mentorship program is especially helpful, and I’m truly grateful for my mentor, Kai-Uwe Bergmann, FAIA’s enlightenment. After work, travel is always the best way to heal when I’m on the road. I had a grand tour in Europe for 50 days, and had road trips across America twice for 17,000 miles. Exploring the beauty of nature, diversity of culture, and magnificent architecture is almost a transcendent spiritual experience. Seeing is to believe our profession can do greater good for human society.
Q: What do you think are the biggest challenges, or opportunities, facing cities today?
The global housing crisis in our generation is the issue I am most concerned with. The Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing since the financial crisis and COVID, growing inflation, aggressive mortgage rate, all come up with the record-high unaffordable housing price. As architects, alone we can do so little, but united we can do so much. I know brilliant people connected in the Urban Design Forum aiming for a better city. I worked for the Department of Buildings and City Planning before and saw how public sectors’ policies can shape a better urban environment. It’s crucial for our architects to take action now.