Promoted: Cara Pomeranz, AIA, LEED AP

In an ever-evolving profession, our advancing staff enriches the work and culture at PAYETTE while cultivating the talent, creativity and growth among the very project teams they make up. With great pleasure we announce the advancement of three staff members. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating their achievements.

Cara Pomeranz, AIA, LEED AP
Promoted to Associate

Cara joined the firm in 2011. From conceptual design through Construction Administration, she has proven herself to be a true generalist focusing on executing and protecting design intent. She leverages design technology at every stage of a project and has established herself as a leader for advanced use of both Revit and Sketchup. Having worked primarily on the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University and the Center for Integrated Life Sciences and Engineering at Boston University, Cara’s contributions have been lauded by clients and contractors alike. Cara earned her M.Arch, B.Arch and Associates in Architectural Engineering Technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology.

What drew you to architecture?
My father has over thirty years of experience in the tile and stone industry. For the majority of my life he has set tile either full time, as side-work, or out of sheer enjoyment and a desire to hone his craft. My very first job was working for him setting tile at the age of thirteen. During these early years, I quickly fell in love with the experiences of problem solving, craftsmanship and collaboration. It wasn’t long before I was fifteen and resolving corner cut conditions with the Pythagorean Theorem and making difficult cuts on the wet saw (much to my mother’s dismay). In school I was drawn to mathematics, physics and art classes and after my first year at a liberal arts school, I finally made the decision to transfer into an architecture program which would allow all of these worlds to align.

Where do you find inspiration?
I am energized by working with other people and am a big proponent of teamwork. I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by people who have inspired me in various ways throughout my education and career. I think that you have to surround yourself with people who can push you to be the very best version of yourself, and if you aren’t in that kind of environment, you probably are not where you need to be.

What is your favorite building or place?
Outside. I realize this answer is not exactly the answer you want from an Architect. However, whether I’m outside walking my labrador, walking around at the jobsite, visiting a fabrication shop or traveling on vacation I feel that you learn so much just by getting up and getting out. I’m in my happy place if I’m exploring or learning something new, so when I say “outside,” I’m driven by the love of discovery more than anything else.

Whom do you admire?
My teachers and mentors, past and present. I can think all the way back to the third grade when I met my first influential teacher Mrs. Savage, fast forward through college and my career and I am lucky enough to have a handful of individuals who have helped me through learning, opportunity and experience. It’s a constant reminder to me to pay it forward.

What’s on your playlist?
This one made me laugh a little because in all honesty, right now it’s the Gigglebellies and Disney songs. My sixth month old daughter loves the sing-alongs and being a new mom has reduced my time to jam out to my old playlists. Although, she does like to dance, and sometimes we will put our Pandora stations on shuffle and dance with her in the kitchen. Whether it is Disney, The Dave Matthews Band or Justin Timberlake it doesn’t really matter … it’s the quality time that matters.