student building a Freedom By Design Weatherization Kit

Freedom By Design Weatherization Kit. Credit: Christina Brown

Carnegie Mellon Architecture's student organizations support and enrich student life in our community. These groups offer various opportunities to get involved and collaborate with fellow students beyond the classroom. 

Additionally, Carnegie Mellon offers more than 450 clubs and organizations to serve the academic, social, physical and spiritual well-being of our student population.

American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)

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orange and black AIAS CMU logo

The CMU chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) creates a connection between students and the professional and academic world of architecture by offering members a diverse set of events and experiences including firm visits, local and national networking opportunities, community service build initiatives, and exposure to cutting edge developments within the field of architecture.

AIAS CMU Website

AIAS CMU Instagram

  • President: Starr Wasler (B.Arch '26)
    Advisor: Lori Claus

    Vice President: Cynthia Zhang (B.Arch '29)
    Treasurer: Ryan Shen (B.Arch '27)
    Professional Development Coordinator: Ali Sadi (B.Arch '28)
    Outreach Programming Coordinator: TBD
    Public Relations: David Yao (B.Arch '28)

Freedom by Design (FBD)

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Freedom By Design logo of two hands holding up a blue circle icon

Freedom by Design™ (FBD) is a community service program of AIAS that uses the talents of architecture students to radically impact the lives of people in their communities through modest design and construction solutions. The CMU chapter of AIAS has an FBD program that provides students with real-world experience through working with clients, learning from local licensed architects and contractors, and experiencing the practical impacts of architecture and design. The chapter’s signature outreach program is the Weatherization Kit project, a box of items that helps Pittsburgh residents prepare their homes for winter.

FBD CMU Instagram

  • Co-Directors: Zoe Botta (B.Arch '27) & David Decker (B.Arch '27) 
    Community Engagement Mentor & Faculty Advisor: Jackie Joseph Paul McFarland

    Secretary: Youstina Riad (B.Arch '28)
    Project Manager: Nathan Cottrell (B.Arch '27)
    Assistant Project Manager: Claire Lowry (B.Arch '28)
    Development Manager: Avni Khetan (B.Arch '28)
    Co-Public Relations: Lilianne Kouyaté (B.Arch '28) & Kaiyi Li (B.Arch '29)

National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS)

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black and white NOMAS logo

In alignment with the mission of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), the CMU chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) focuses on creating safe spaces for minority and underrepresented students at Carnegie Mellon Architecture. The organization provides a community of purpose for students by championing diversity, advocating for an education that considers the socioeconomic consequences of design, and connecting students to minority professionals in the field.

NOMAS CMU Instagram

NOMAS CMU Facebook

  • President: Catalina John-Melendez (B.Arch '27)
    Advisor: Erica Cochran Hameen

    Vice President: Lisa Chun (B.Arch '27)
    Secretary: Ashley Jauregui (B.Arch '27)
    Treasurer: Eva Chen (B.Arch '27)
    Events Coordinator: Nuntiah Wotorson (B.Arch '27)
    Publicist: Kiki Kuang (B.Arch '27)

Architectural Crafts Collective (ACC)

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black and white ACC logo

The Architectural Crafts Collective (ACC) is an organization dedicated to enriching the academic journey of students from first years to masters by teaching traditional and contemporary crafts such as woodworking, ceramics, metalworking, glassblowing and more. Through workshops, club sponsored lectures, field trips and collaboration, the organization educates members on methods and techniques related to craftsmanship.

ACC Instagram

  • President: Lily Frank (B.Arch '27)
    Advisor: Steven Sontag

    Secretary: Beril Dogulu (Mechanical Engineering)
    Co-Treasurers: Jessica Adenuga (B.Arch '28) & Amritha Senthilkumaran (Mechanical Engineering)
    Co-Pavilion Chairs: Emma Dana (B.Arch '28) & Sydney Mansavage (B.Arch '27)
    Programming Chair: Sonny Tang (B.Arch '27)
    Design Chair: Sarah Kshetry (B.Arch '28)
    Documentation Chair: Eesha Chen (B.Arch '28)

inter·punct

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black and white logo with an i, p and dot in a circle

inter·punct is a platform for ideas, theory and discourse – sometimes about architecture and sometimes at its periphery. The group was founded by students at CMU in 2011 and has released issues para·meter (2014), inter·view (2016), now is the time to panic! (2021), we only dream the night before tomorrow (2021), just listen. (2022), Reconstruction (2023) and Demolition (2023). Through guest interviews, group discussions and writing, inter·punct looks critically to better understand the past and future.

inter·punct website

inter·punct Instagram

  • Co-Editors: Khoi Do (B.Arch '26), Julien Derroitte (B.A. '26) & Jessica Adenuga (B.Arch '28)
    Advisor: Tuliza Sindi

    Program Directors: Bina Guo (B.Arch '26) & Tina Han (B.Arch '26)
    Graphics: Eesha Chen (B.Arch '28) & Diego Gonzalez (B.Arch '29)
    Alumni Advisors/Emeritus: Graana Khan (B.Arch '24) & Tracy Zhang (BXA '25)

Architecture Peer Mentors (APM)

Architecture Peer Mentors (APM) connects first-year students with upper-level students to encourage a community of mentorship, learning and inter-year collaboration. Mentors assist students in their transition into Carnegie Mellon Architecture to establish an early, mutually beneficial relationship.

Undergraduate Architecture Student Advisory Council (SAC)

The Undergraduate Architecture Student Advisory Council (SAC) provides a formal means of interaction between students, faculty and administration. The student representatives are responsible for communicating the efforts of the council to their colleagues, bringing issues forwarded by fellow students to the council and contributing time, energy and ideas to improve both Carnegie Mellon Architecture and CMU.

Graduate Student Assembly Committee (GSAC)

The Graduate Student Assembly Committee (GSAC) is the student body that represents Carnegie Mellon Architecture graduate students. GSAC oversees the planning and funding of graduate social events and offers programs that benefit the school's graduate students. Representatives meet regularly with the GSAC advisor and school head over the course of the semester to address the concerns of graduate students and develop solutions. Graduate students are invited to speak with their representatives about the changes they would like to see in their programs and facilities.

GSAC liaisons to the Carnegie Mellon Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) to advocate on behalf of Carnegie Mellon Architecture to the greater GSA network, connecting students with opportunities and funding. Campus wide, GSA and departmental committees strive to improve academic support and collegiate activities for graduate students.

  • Advisor: Alison Petrucci

    MAAD Representative: Vaibhav Panchal (2nd year)
    M.Arch Representatives: Varsha Prasanna Kumar (1st year) & Sharvi Shah (2nd year)
    MSAECM Representatives: Gauri Kashyap (1st year) & Lisa Souz (2nd year)
    MSBPD Representatives: Rosario Madero (1st year) & Smera Sera Oommen (2nd year)
    MSCD Representatives: Serena Sun (1st year), Leslie Liu (2nd year) & Carla Flores Travez (2nd year)
    MSSD Representatives: Julia Twardzisz (1st year) & Anisha Panesar (2nd year)
    MUD Representative: Dyanavitha Balaji (2nd year)
    PhD-AECM Representative: Tannaz Afshar
    PhD-BPD Representative: Minghao Xu
    PhD-CD Representative: Myles Sampson 
    PhD in Architecture Representative: Ifrah Asif