2026 Ones to Watch - Industry Leaders: Juliet Hernandez-Eli, Hernandez-Eli Architecture

“Hernandez-Eli Architecture is dedicated to architecture and the built environment as catalysts for cultural and socioeconomic progress. This ethos is visible across a diverse portfolio spanning research and experimental works, cultural, institutional, commercial and residential projects - and a commitment to craft, artisanship, and carbon footprint reduction grounds all the firm’s initiatives.” 

What recent accomplishment or initiative are you most proud of, and what impact did it have on your firm, clients, or community?

I’m proud that our team at Hernandez-Eli Architecture (HE) has started this year with a more diverse set of projects than ever before, each embodying our commitment to social equity, climate solutions, and artisanship. For my staff and team members, it’s very meaningful that we are helping New York area cultural institutions and independent schools enhance accessibility and improve their public realms. It’s equally exciting that our office is pushing boundaries with new adaptive reuse ideas, including utilizing a decommissioned train car as living space for a new residence in California.

What daily habit or routine helps you stay focused or motivated as a leader?

Dinner table conversations with my family are essential for keeping myself grounded and motivated. 

What is one major challenge you’ve overcome as a leader, and what did it teach you?

When I reflect on my own trajectory — working with a large and well-established architecture firm right out of school, then transitioning to a role as an owners’ representative, and eventually starting my own practice — one of the main lessons has been to simply stay focused on best practices and keep learning from each experience. Whether you realize it or not, you are already on a path that will take you through your career. The key is to use your core values and sense of empathy as guiding lights to shape your growth and practice.