
Student Spotlight: Hasbrouck Scholar Marisa Yamamoto (BSArch '26)
Marisa Yamamoto (BSArch ’26) was recently named the Charles J. Hasbrouck Memorial Scholar by Historic Huguenot Street that promotes outstanding research and scholarship through numerous initiatives. The Hasbrouck Scholarship is awarded annually to one student across the nation who is studying architecture, historic preservation, conservation, or public history.
We asked Marisa about how her passion for architecture was sparked, what has inspired her work, and what is up next for her.
What led you to studying architecture?
I’ve always loved art and mathematics and thought architecture would be the intersection of that — though now I know it’s so much more.
Aside from that, in my junior year of high school in Singapore, I participated in a program called the ‘Young Leaders Summit’ where I was put into the infrastructure group. We were tasked with proposing a plan to improve Singapore’s public transportation system with sustainability in mind. We interviewed architects, and members of Singapore’s urban redevelopment agency and I was exposed to the wide-reaching impact of urban planning and architecture. This was the spark that got me immersed into the field of architecture.
You’ve had had exciting experiences working in the field, such as interning at Kengo Kuma & Associates. Tell us more about what that was like.
Interning at Kengo Kuma & Associates was an extremely rewarding experience where I was surrounded by around 30 interns from around the globe. It was a really supportive working environment, and I was able to learn a lot from my peers in terms of technical and design skills as well as their experiences studying architecture in their respective countries.
It was challenging as I needed to learn the technical terminology in Japanese and keep up with the workload, but my personal and professional growth was tangible – reflected in the renderings and design proposals I produced.

How do you approach your studio projects at the A-School?
My projects thus far have reiterated the importance of the design process and the continuous development of ideas to synthesize concepts.
I have thoroughly enjoyed working in different mediums including sketching, software renderings, and model-making to advance my architectural designs.
Recently, I have been challenging myself to be more intentional with the concepts I pursue and the specific skills I develop, setting clear goals for each project.
What are you most excited for in the future?
I plan to travel to South Dakotah for two weeks for a research project I’m working on [“Indigenous Communities and Tallgrass Prairie Resilience in the Face of Changing Climate: A Science, Education, and Co-Design Research Collaboration” with co-PI Professor of Architecture Phoebe Crisman]. It will be my first on-site visit and I’m excited to experience the unique prairie landscape and to interact with members of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate who we are designing with/for.
I am also in the process of applying to a study abroad program in Greece where we would be sailing across the Argolic Gulf and docking in different islands for three weeks. The program explores the intersection of sustainability and architecture, exploring the formal and material adaptations the Greeks have made to combat their Mediterranean coastal climate.