November Student Member of the Month

Brenna Fransen

Iowa State University

3rd Year Architecture Student

1. Why did you choose the design/construction field?

I chose design because I like to look at things holistically and piece all aspects and angles of a design into a single project.

2. What is the most unusual medium you have used for a model, and what did it represent?

I tend to get caught looking through the dumpster at the College of Design for inspiration in my models, so using broken ceramics and old ceiling tiles has been a cheap way to make site models with unique textures.

3. What has been your favorite studio trip so far?

The studio trip to Chicago was the first time I had visited a city after beginning in architecture school and it was a great experience to view architecture from a different mindset.

4. What is the best advice you have received from a professor or mentor?

The advice that has influenced me the most in school is to take a break. Architecture school can get me attached to my work but it’s important to be engaged with the world and find new experiences which often evoke innovation.

5. How has Iowa Women in Architecture influenced you?

By meeting and connecting with other women in architecture, I’ve felt more empowered and motivated to work towards a degree and ultimately a license in architecture.

Quarry Restoration - Plan and Section

By law, all quarries must be reclaimed when excavation is complete, but quarries existing prior to this regulation are often left untouched. By using these abandoned quarries as sites for engagement and future in-habitation, we can both replenish the land and resolve hidden dangers that arise after their abandonment.