2020 Women Who Build Spotlight: Kristen Furtak, The S/L/A/M Collaborative

Kristen Furtak, Associate - Architectural Programmer | Planner at The S/L/A/M Collaborative

How many years have you been in your current field? 15 years

What are you planning to do differently in 2020 to have a positive impact on your career? Making a commitment to create a work/family balance is a top goal in 2020, while making sure there is dedicated time for my son. I would like to spend more time with him and experience his joys. It is important to me that he sees that I work hard and that, I too, am still learning everyday like he is at school. Some days aren’t as easy, but we don’t give up and can ask for help. The balance will help me create a more positive approach to my career.

What was your favorite job and what did you learn from it? A current project that I am working on, is a prototype of spaces for Sequel Youth Services. The prototype is to design individual rooms that together will create a new learning center for young children with a range of learning and social differences. Researching how these students can react to environments whether being the color palette of a space or the sounds that can be distracting was eye opening and allows us to think of different ways to create beautiful and calming spaces that will help the students grow in environments that aide them in their learning processes.