Alumni Spotlight: Mariam Fallah (M.Arch. '17)

October 22, 2025

ABOVE: Houston Area Women's Center (HAWC); HAWC Children's Enrichment Room

Name: Mariam Fallah
Hometown: Sant'Egidio Alla Vibrata, Italy
Major: Master of Architecture
Graduation Year: 2017
Employer: GSMArchitects
Title: Principal

Smiling woman with long dark hair and a black top, white background.

"The Hines College taught me the importance of dialogue and the value of sharing ideas with colleagues and friends ... collaboration was always at the core."

Why did you choose the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design? What drew you to design?
I stumbled upon architecture, and fortunately, I ended up loving it. During my senior year of high school, while many of my peers seemed confident in their college and career paths, I was still searching for a discipline that could combine both the arts and the sciences. In my search, I happened upon architecture, and my undergraduate studies in Italy confirmed this was the right path.

When it came time to pursue a master’s degree, my family was transferred to the United States. It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, not just to live in a new country, but to study and experience architecture in a completely different context. The Hines College offered a program that allowed me to gain insight into the new city I had just moved to. The curriculum allowed for the exploration of conceptual architecture, as well as a study and understanding of the very real impacts that architecture has in Houston: how architecture shapes a city and its community, and how it evolves over time.

What is one of your favorite memories from your time on campus? Was there a particular professor who influenced your education?
Some of my favorite memories are definitely the ones I made with classmates and colleagues. Whether we were working on conceptual visualizations of future cities inspired by our assigned readings (Professor Dietmar Froehlich), or participating in a state-wide competition for a new Houston–Dallas high-speed train station (Professor Rafael Longoria), it was the people at UH who made those experiences truly memorable.

Tell us about a typical day in your job. Do you have a particular design or business philosophy?
A typical day always starts with coffee – I know it is cliché, but it is a necessity. The rest really depends on the projects we are working on and what phase of design or construction we’re in.

Most recently, while completing our Construction Administration for the Houston Area Women’s Center, a typical day included everything from answering a lot of phone calls from our contractor, reviewing requests for information and submittals, finalizing furniture and finish selections and orders, along with impromptu site visits to solve unexpected issues at the jobsite. These are just a few of the small daily tasks that need to be undertaken to bring an architectural project to life.

My approach to everyday is “one step at a time.” I try to approach big problems in small, manageable bites, one breath at a time, and with a lot of prayer. What makes our profession both challenging and exciting is that you must be prepared to adapt on the fly. That can sometimes feel overwhelming and lead to anxiety paralysis. What helps me manage that is having a supportive team and tackling challenges incrementally. It is how I keep moving forward, even when things get unpredictable.

Group of six diverse individuals smiling on steps outside a modern building.

A group of people in safety vests and hard hats on a construction site, some holding plants.

Six women smiling in front of a vibrant, swirly yellow, green, and blue mural.

ABOVE: With the GSMA team at a project grand opening; Participating with the team for a project's topping out party; Volunteering in the AIA Houston Women in Architecture Education & Outreach Subcommittee

What is one career accomplishment of which you are particularly proud? How do you feel the College prepared you for this?
Rather than focusing on a single accomplishment, I am proud of the overall growth I have experienced throughout my career, especially transitioning into the affordable housing and nonprofit sectors and learning how to collaborate effectively with colleagues and across disciplines to complete projects.

Much of this growth was made possible by the training I received at the Hines College. Our professors consistently pushed us to develop our critical thinking, refine our design communication, and understand the value of working through challenges together. Whether at the undergraduate or graduate level, we were always encouraged to seek our own solutions, an approach that has stayed with me and helped me grow and learn faster in my professional life.

What is one valuable lesson you learned during your time at the Hines College?
The Hines College taught me the importance of dialogue and the value of sharing ideas with colleagues and friends. Whether it was receiving feedback during studio or at a jury, or engaging in broader conversations about architecture and design (or life), collaboration was always at the core. I also learned the significance of networking, being able to connect with others, communicate your vision, and showcase your strengths is essential, both in school and in professional life.

What advice would you give to current architecture and design students?
Be curious and ask questions, especially during your internships or as you start working. Everything we learn in college helps develop our critical thinking, problem-solving, and multitasking skills. Work is where you learn to apply this knowledge and start gaining real-world skills – the understanding of ‘how buildings stand and come together.’ You’d be surprised how many colleagues are happy to answer any questions you have about your assigned work or what others are doing. If you show interest and initiative, you position yourself to grow faster and learn more.