Meet the Women of Peacock Architects: From High Heels to Steel Toes
Although (almost) every day is International Women’s Day at Peacock Architects, today we celebrate International Women’s Day across the globe. A day where the world celebrates women's achievements, raises awareness around gender discrimination, and fosters driving gender parity.
Architecture is an industry predominantly male focused, although nothing excites us more than women breaking through barriers and making their mark in this industry. We are beyond proud to be an architecture firm that is owned and operated by women, (a mother daughter team) and in our hometown. Whose goal is to bridge the gaps of the industry with employees who possess diverse background, insight, and knowledge to push this field forward.
We want you to meet our talented and inspiring staff who come from all walks of life and have a wealth of knowledge and insight to share. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, our staff are a great bunch of innovators and leaders in this industry that have so much to bring to the table and we are so honored to take them under our wing.
We hope that these interviews will inspire and empower other women who are considering a career in architecture, as well as offer valuable advice and guidance to those already on the path to greatness.
Meet the Women of Peacock Architects.
Tamara Peacock, President
Tamara Peacock, President
In 1958, 1% of registered architects were women. By 1988 that number had risen to 4%. Tamara, you got your license in 1987 meaning you were a part of the 4% of women in the industry at this time. What was your experience being a part of the slim number of female architects in the industry?
First of all, there were no women’s restrooms in the upper 3 floors of the architecture classroom building at University of Florida. I remember the guys would stand at the door and watch guard so that I could use the men’s room.
Generally, there were a lot of awkward moments in meetings when a developer would ask what I was doing there, or a contractor would make a crude sexest joke and think it was funny. And then there was a former boss that nicknamed me Fluffy. I later found out that this has some reference in the porn industry. Things seem to be changing for the better, but it was a different time back then.
What challenges did you face making a name for yourself in the industry?
People not taking me seriously. It was so bad, that I would literally fake a call to someone older and male, hang up and then tell the men in the field what they needed to do to solve a construction problem. I had the knowledge all along, but only when falsely referring to a male, would they listen.
Cristin Peacock, President
A big conversation in architecture is that half of architecture students are women, yet the number of women in the workplace and licensed women architects isn’t proportionate to that statistic. As of 2021, there are only 17% women licensed architects. What is your opinion on this age old topic?
I can understand why there is still a low statistic for women licensed architects. I just got licensed last year and that took me 3 years of actively studying to complete. I gave up my weekends, my social life, everything just so I could pursue licensure. It's a full time job to sit for the board exams. Plus, it doesn't just take studying but actually being out in the field and applying what you are studying.
So if you are a woman and you're married or in a relationship, or about to have kids, and working, it's hard to take the time to study. The fact that the amount of licensed women architects today compared to when Tamara first sat for her exams shows that even with all the things that we as women are expected to do in their life journey, this massive exam has not kept them from pursing a career. I always say, if it were easy, anyone would do it, but it's not. It takes extreme dedication. So that 17% is the phenomenal dedication of these women pursuing their dreams.
What advice to you have to young women entering the industry right now?
I think what I would tell the women currently entering the field to just book the exam. The scariest part of the whole thing is going into the testing center. I would also say to make a schedule. That was the most helpful thing for me. I would plan out my weeks of studying after I booked the exam. One week it was thermal, the next concrete work. I always had a schedule I had to keep up with to keep studying. From there, try and understand what you are studying. Ask your peers questions, let them walk you through things you don't understand. The last piece of advice would be to continuously test yourself on the materials so you can understand what you know and don't know. Once you understand it, great! But if you don’t, write it down, understand what you didn't comprehend, and put that as another item on your list for the next week of studying.
Fiorella Suyon, Architectural Designer
What triumphs/obstacles did you have to overcome to get to where you are today in your career?
The biggest obstacle in my career as an architect it has been earning respect and being taken seriously during construction supervision at the same level that they did with male Coming from a sexist country where the construction field is “made for men” I’ve been trying to break those walls preparing myself to be a competitive professional and show my potential without losing my humility and treating everyone equally regardless of gender or age.
Tell me about your experience obtaining licensure?
It was a process that I really enjoyed, my passion for residential design led me to develop a thesis on social housing of almost 48,000 square feet in a low-income sector in Lima, Peru. The biggest challenge was to find the middle point between a good quality house and the cost of it, as an architect I need to prioritize the functionality and design but now that I’m in “real life”, I’ve learned that the price is one of the most common factors of why a project stays just in paper.
In 2022, It was found that: 23.3% of practicing architects were women, while 76.7% were men. What do you think about this statistic?
I think that this number will change, women are very detailed by nature and when it comes to design and build that is an asset. We want to be at the forefront of architecture and lead the way for young women seeking to be in this field.
What does it mean to you to be forging a path for other women in this industry?
I’m very proud of myself, I came from Peru a year ago and I had to start all over again here in United States, different metrical units, different construction codes, different language but all the same passion. I believe that nothing is impossible and if you convert your passion into your work, you will enjoy every single phase of the journey in your career, regardless of gender.
What advice do you have for other women in the industry?
I would tell them that don’t stop learning, keep preparing yourself, chose one architecture software master it because that will be your tool to show your talent. Find a way to show to the others the amazing ideas in your head!
Sarah McCormick, Architectural Designer
Tell me about your experience of being a woman in the mostly male dominated field of architecture?
My experience as a woman in architecture has been mostly positive. However, I do sometimes get nervous about contractors and clients taking me seriously. Being fresh out of school and female, I think people expect me to be inexperienced and often assume that I won’t add much value to the conversation. Generally, I believe men have an easier time making personal and professional connections in the field with other men whereas I and many other women in the field may feel the need to try to overcompensate.
What triumphs/obstacles did you have to overcome to get to where you are today in your career?
The biggest obstacle that I have had to overcome career-wise was being pigeonholed into a designer role. I think women are often assumed to be more design-focused than technically focused, especially in our field. Given my professional experience in interior design, I have had to go above and beyond to convince people that my primary work and interest is in architecture, not interior design.
Tell me about your experience in school/obtaining licensure?
My experience in school has been so positive. I had the opportunity to meet many wonderful friends who have gone on to become colleagues and supportive professors who have become mentors. School has provided me the opportunity to study abroad and move across the country. Both the undergraduate and graduate programs I attended were comprised of a 50/50 ratio of men to women from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. That is exactly the type of environment I thrive in and learned the most from and I never felt discriminated against by any of my professors or fellow students for being a woman.
In 2022, It was found that: 23.3% of practicing architects were women, while 76.7% were men. What do you think about this statistic?
I heard a similar statistic somewhere that in school, around 49% of architecture students are female and 51% are men. However, once in practice, the ratio changes to 23/77. Being new to the field professionally, this statistic is haunting. I can only hope that the statistic is not representative of the number of women who felt unfulfilled or under-appreciated in their careers. I certainly hope that in the future, we see more women become licensed and work in the field after schooling.
What does it mean to you to be forging a path for other women in this industry?
I think it’s important for women not to feel limited to certain careers because of their gender or anything else. Women should pursue whatever they are passionate about and want to spend the rest of their life doing. Before architecture, I was pursuing another career path in school and I’m incredibly grateful that I decided to switch fields when I did. It’s important to look at your own needs, professionally and personally, and decide what will be best for you.
What advice do you have for other women in the industry?
My advice for women going into the industry is to be 100% confident in what you want to do. The path of schooling and obtaining licensure can be long and grueling but maintaining sight of your long-term goals will get you through it. If you are passionate about your work, the payoff will be greater, and people will be more interested in what you have to contribute.
Moe Marks, Architectural Designer
Tell me about your experience of being a woman in the mostly male-dominated field of architecture?
It’s strange because I haven’t felt it too much recently…not unless going to an event. This is only because I had the luck of finding a firm led by a mother-daughter team! In an industry that is almost 77% men, and being in an office that is 90% women, it’s a wonderful place to be, but the view sample I have is skewed.
My father is also in the industry, and we go to an AIA event together every once in a while. The last time we went, someone hosting the event tried to guide me into the mostly-female pageant next door, thinking I was lost. I was 24 at the time. I guess I didn’t look like I belonged there. It was a lot of older men. Usually is. That’s who it has been historically. It has just been in the last 50 years that we were even let into the game. But we are breaking down doors. The fact that I work for one of the first licensed women in Florida is a crazy exciting thing for me.
What obstacles did you have to overcome to get to where you are today in your career?
Architectural education in itself is a series of obstacles. I was fortunate enough to have a family that supported my education from day one, both emotionally and financially. This made it a lot easier for me. Learning can be the biggest obstacle. Just sticking with it since it is such a long process is hard. It’s easy to get distracted.
Tell me about your experience obtaining licensure.
I am currently studying alongside obtaining my hours for licensure. It’s been an easy decision to continue in that direction with the strong examples Cristin and Tamara set every day. I was told to take advice from those whose life I would want. The Peacocks are wonderful enough to lead me in the direction I want to go.
What advice do you have for other women in the industry?
Just keep doing you. Keep growing. Keep feeding your curiosities. People are always going to tell you what you should or shouldn’t be doing. Know where to seek your advice from. There is always room for those that genuinely wish to be there. It’s just a matter of getting your foot in the door. And if there is no door. Demo the wall and build a big beautiful one for yourself and for whomever you wish to take with you.
Marija Bogatinovska, Architectural Designer
Tell us your story. What triumphs/obstacles did you have to overcome to get to where you are today in your career?
I moved to the US in my early twenties and as an immigrant I had to move mountains to get where I’m now. But where there’s a will there is definitely a way. My love for architecture has only grown over the years.
Tell me about your experience obtaining licensure?
I got my Bachelor of Science in Architecture in Chicago and I’m now enrolled in the online Masters Program at the University of Boston. I’m currently in a process of getting my license.
In 2022, It was found that: 23.3% of practicing architects were women, while 76.7% were men. What do you think about this statistic?
I am assuming this data is for licensed architects which might make sense because getting a license in the States is a long-term process that involves experience and studying for the test. Having said that, I think that women often postpone their licensure path or give up on the idea because they become mothers and don’t have enough time to continue their licensure.
What advice do you have for other women in the industry?
Keep learning and keep growing. I think that the best way to motivate another person is showing them that it can be done. A woman can be an architect, a wife, a mom and whatever she wants to be at the same time.
Ekaterina Bobylev, Architectural Designer
Tell us your story. What triumphs/ obstacles did you have to overcome to get to where you are today in your career?
It has been a journey to say the least. A lot of obstacles stood in my way, such as: immigrating from another country, learning English, going through naturalization, working long hours while obtaining a degree in architecture, building a portfolio, and the hardest one is becoming a mother. At the end of the day, all of these experiences made me who I am. Working hard made me a better designer. These hurdles taught me how to be an expert problem solver. The ability to be flexible and be able to constantly switch gears to solve problems as they arise are always reflected in my work ethic.
What advice do you have for other women in the industry?
My advice for new designers is consistency. Be consistent at work. Provide the service you are getting paid for. If you feel like you do not have the motivation to provide your best for the employer you work for, do not waste your or your employer's time. Find another role at another office. It’s important that both employee and employer are happy, otherwise you will never be able to reach your highest potential. My other piece of advice is do not abandon anything you learned in school, you will be surprised when concepts you learned in your schooling will arise. Your clients will admire you for the wealth of knowledge you bring to the table.