Jean Yau

Jean Yau is a Bachelor of Design Studies candidate at the BAC, focusing on Architectural Technology. Originally from Brockton, MA, Jean has spent the majority of her life traveling to other areas of the country and the world. Entering the BAC right out of high school, her initial focus was Architecture but she decided to switch her major to Design Studies after completing Segment I coursework. Jean is proud of passing the Segment I portfolio review and sticking with an extremely tough major. She feels her Design Studies focus gives her an amazing opportunity to explore what she loves - design. In the future, she plans to earn a Master of Architecture degree and possibly begin a career as an educator.

Jean has always been intrigued by art, graphics, construction, and networking. In high school, she found herself taking engineering and drawing workshops, graphic design classes, and architecture classes. She drew, made models, thought conceptually, read books, referenced architects and enjoyed being able to converse with instructors who had worked in architectural firms.

Jean's design work has a lot to do with her experiences. She is articulate in creating ways for people to live and interact with the spaces they encounter. The designs she develop are fueled from critics' responses in studio, her knowledge in the field, and simply experiences from working on home construction projects. She is amazed by how things, such as the foundation of a house, come together and work effectively as a whole.

Heavily involved in the life of the BAC, Jean is a familiar face to many. As President of the BAC’s American Institute of Architecture Students Chapter (AIAS) from 2012-2013 and previously as Secretary (2011-2012), she is a leader who strives to revitalize participation while further connecting students to the national organization. Jean is also an active member of BACNOMAS (National Organization of Minority Architecture Students), SASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects Student Chapter), and Studio Q.

In the world of practice, Jean was one of the first few students to participate in a Gateway Projects at its onset. She competed in the in-school NOMAS competition 2011 and had a great experience collaborating with her team. She was also a student mentor for the Browne Fund Research and a studio assistant for BAC Summer Academy 2009. She enjoys teaching, communicating, and creating a relationship with students where she can share knowledge about the field of architecture. Jean currently works for Economy Hardware and the Office of Student Development at the BAC.

Jean’s favorite quote is from Tod Williams & Billie Tsien Architects, ""Progress is a stutter step, not a forward march - three steps forward, two to the side, and one step back. It is a choreography that somehow pulls itself together."