2019 Women in Building Services: Nina Rivas, FXCollaborative

Name: Nina Rivas

Title: Senior Architect

Company Name: FXCollaborative               

How many years have you been in your current field? Over 10

List up to three CRE organizations that you are currently a member of: 

• Co-Chair of Women of FXCollaborative (FXWomen)

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? 
The beginning of 2018 marked the start of construction of 555 E St. in Washington D.C. of which I have the honor of being the project manager. This new mixed-use building is a neighborhood transformative project in DC’s southwest area. It is designed with the finest architectural sensibilities; integrating market rate residential units, affordable senior units, a CitizenM hotel, and retail space. Once complete, it will successfully transform a sprawl of office buildings and empty streets into a walkable block, rich in diverse, active and livable uses. 

What trend(s) do you predict to dominate your industry in 2019? 
I foresee the following residential and hospitality design trends dominating 2019:

• Escalation in the integration of compact residential units within a strong rental market.
• Further incorporation of pre-manufacturer modular components into hospitality design.
• Pre-manufacture modular residential units starting to spawn in the rental market.

What does it mean to you to be a team player? 
For me being a team player means not so much about working along a diverse group of people as it is about achieving a common goal together, to have a sense of purpose which is propelled by motivation and reflects upon not just me, but on every member having a stake in the outcome. A successful team must act in a coordinated formation, where every player brings about an essential and unique skill that once assembled and put in action, produces wonders. To summarize, these are the essential characteristics of a successful team:

• Sense of collective purpose
• Sustained motivation
• Smart application of skills