2019 Women in Building Services: Sara Ngan, FXCollaborative

Name: Sara Ngan

Title: Associate, Project Architect

Company Name: FXCollaborative               

How many years have you been in your current field? 14

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

• Co-Chair of Women of FXCollaborative (FXWomen)
• AIA, 
• Women in Housing and Finance

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? 
I am the project architect for a new building for The Webster Apartments, a non-profit organization. The Webster provides temporary, affordable residences for women, and empowers them to the find the support, network, and confidence to succeed. I am humbled by the mission of the organization, and honored to be part of the FXCollaborative design team–all women!  

Which of your philanthropic endeavors are you most proud of? 
Last summer I led volunteer efforts for FXCollaborative to collaborate with Tools and Tiaras, a non-profit that introduces young girls and women to the AEC community, and teaches them how to use tools, design, weld, and frame. Our group of volunteers from FXWomen, FXCollaborative’s women’s group, gave a presentation on the different facets of the profession, had workshops to guide their skills designing and laying out a city to designing their own two-bedroom apartment using a kit we put together in our own model shop. I couldn’t have been prouder to hear from a few of the girls that they were inspired to become architects after our workshop.

What does it mean to you to be a team player? 
For me, being a team player means knowing when to lead by advocating for others or being more vocal, and also knowing when to sit back and listen to others in the efforts to benefit the team and project.