New Haven, CT Hoffmann Architects + Engineers, a design firm specializing in the rehabilitation of building exteriors, has selected Christopher Chung of Yale University as the 2025 recipient the Hoffmann Diversity Advancement Scholarship. Now in its third year, the Hoffmann Scholarship was established in collaboration with the Connecticut Architecture Foundation (CAF) to support students seeking degrees in architecture or engineering.
Chung, a rising second-year student in the Master of Architecture program at the Yale University School of Architecture, is this year’s recipient of the Hoffmann Diversity Advancement Scholarship. Selected from a competitive applicant pool of talented, ambitious architecture and engineering students, Chung stood out for his passion for rehabilitation and reuse of existing buildings, as well as his arresting, meticulously detailed drawings that illustrate the attention he devotes to historic architecture.
“Selecting just one of the many standout candidates to be this year’s scholarship recipient was no easy task,” said Alison Hoffmann, communications manager and chair of the Hoffmann Diversity and Inclusion Committee. “We received many inspiring applications from students drawn to architecture or engineering, some after experiencing the possibilities of design, such as inclusive classrooms for children or repurposed buildings for aging populations, or through overcoming adversity, including coping with eviction from a childhood home or discovering that a cousin’s family lives crammed into a single room. Many are the first in their families to attend college, and the majority are immigrants to the U.S. or are the children of immigrants. Our committee was impressed by the ways these motivated young people are driven to impact the lives of those around them by enhancing the built environment.”
Established in 2023 in partnership with the Connecticut Architecture Foundation, the fund supports students of color pursuing architecture and engineering.
Born in Boston, Mass., Christopher Chung spent most of his childhood in South Korea, where, without formal guidance, he began sketching the floorplans of apartments and counting the floors of skyscrapers. In high school, he worked to transform the storage garage at his local church into a community kitchen, researching materials, construction techniques, and building codes, then collaborating with a church member who is an engineer to realize their vision for “a true community hub.”
As an undergraduate at Tufts University, Chung advanced his interest in historic preservation and the reuse of existing structures, earning a B.A. in Architectural Studies. To refine his understanding of classical design principles and develop his skills in hand drafting and rendering, he went on to earn a Certificate in Classical Architecture from the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art in New York City. In a series of summer internships, he gained hands-on experience in the complexities of adhering to historic preservation standards while introducing modern techniques for restoration and energy efficiency.
“Preserving and repurposing older structures is not just about maintaining a connection to the past – it’s about ensuring these buildings can continue to serve people for generations to come,” said Christopher Chung.