2023 Women in Construction: Karin Patriquin, Patriquin Architects

What tips or advice would you offer to other women who are considering entering the AEC industry? 

Some people know they want to be architects from an early age. Many others, myself included, learn about architecture over time and only consider a career path toward architecture after another major. I think this is especially common in architecture because there are so many areas of study within architecture itself – history, the arts, engineering, technology. I came to study architecture from the perspective of the education of an architect – the very fact that there are so many areas of study within an architectural curriculum was super exciting to me. I brought my background in music performance, my love for science and engineering and my understanding of places and buildings from traveling with me to this new study. So, if you are intrigued by the study of visual arts and engineering and history and place-making, try an architecture class. You never know where it will lead.