Meet Our YDC Co-Chairs

PAYETTE’s Young Designers Core (YDC), a grassroots organization founded in 2000, promotes the growth of emerging professionals, supports their progress toward licensure, and supplements our daily project work with educational opportunities. The YDC aims to provide a holistic professional development network through the core values of Knowledge Sharing, Licensure, Culture and Mentorship. It flourishes today, providing emerging designers with leadership roles, promoting mentorship and building community across the firm. The YDC strives to create a balance between professional development and fun and received the AIA IDP Outstanding Firm Award for the 2014-2017 cycle. In 2020, PAYETTE was recognized as an AIA Emerging Professional Friendly Firm – an award that the YDC is proud to uphold.

The YDC is led by two co-chairs, with alternating two-year term periods to ensure an easy transition between leadership that we feel helps keep our group thriving. Today, meet our current co-chairs Sarah Solomon and Jessica Hoctor.

Jessica Hoctor and Sarah Solomon

Sarah Solomon, AIA

What drew you to become a YDC co-chair?
I was drawn to YDC when I first started working at PAYETTE three years ago. YDC supports and connects emerging professionals across all facets of the office through the events we coordinate. This is something unique to PAYETTE and I am excited to be involved in keeping this tradition going.

What is one of your favorite YDC events?
My favorite YDC event is the Thanksgiving Potluck. It is the one day of the year where the entire office comes together for a couple of hours to share food, drinks and conversation. Unfortunately, we had to skip that event this past year, but hopefully we can hold something similar this fall!

If you could eat lunch with one architect, living or deceased, who would it be?
Ray Eames – her work in collaboration with her husband, Charles, focused on human-centered design across many forms of media. Her attention to fine detail elements really changed the game for prefabricated furniture and housing. She is very inspiring!

The sky is the limit: what would you redesign?
Back Bay Station would benefit from a renovation that redefines traffic flow patterns and showcases the beautiful structural wooden arches.

What do you do in your free time?
In my free time I enjoy knitting, sewing my own clothes, listening to podcasts and running.

Jessica Hoctor, AIA

What drew you to become a YDC co-chair?
Since joining PAYETTE I have always enjoyed participating in YDC events. Whether it is a cultural event or educational and knowledge-sharing opportunities, they help to strengthen the community within our office. I am looking forward to contributing new ideas and helping to organize the yearly events we all look forward to.

What is one of your favorite YDC events?
It is hard to pick just one event. I think “Life Before PAYETTE” is a great recurring event that lets us learn more about one another and our lives outside the office. I also enjoy the construction tours. Not only is it a wonderful opportunity for emerging professionals to learn more about construction but it also lets everyone see what other projects are doing within the office.

If you could eat lunch with one architect, living or deceased, who would it be?
The first that comes to mind would be Alvaro Siza. His designs are deceptively simple but there is a rigor of detailing that is commendable in all of his work. His control of form and light is wonderful to experience. I had the opportunity to visit his studio when I was in grad school and briefly meet him and a few of his staff. I would love to have the opportunity to sit down with him for an extended period of time to learn more about his design process.

The sky is the limit: what would you redesign?
I would redesign LAX Airport. It feels like a missed opportunity architecturally and would benefit from studying defining spaces within the airport, pedestrian circulation and wayfinding.

What do you do in your free time?
Depending on the season during the weekends I am either out kayaking, mountain biking, playing softball or skiing. Most nights though I am spending time with my dogs and reading.