Hello, my name is Ivania Rivera and I recently completed a Master’s in Matter Design Computation at Cornell University, building on my Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University. My experience focuses on sustainability, computational design, and data driven design, including research into mycelium's potential as a construction material. I’ve worked with various architecture firms, gaining expertise in tools like Grasshopper, C#, Revit, and AutoCAD, and contributing to projects ranging from residential spaces to large-scale developments. I’m passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration and using innovative design approaches to create impactful, forward-thinking architectural solutions.
Jenny Sabin Lab, Ithaca, NY, US, Research Assistantship
-Collaborative research and data visualization capturing the morphogenesis in the floral bud of the arabidopsis shoot apical meristem
Skills : Rhino, Grasshopper, C#, MorphoGraphX,
- Conducted researched for stable diffusion and text to image generation for AI rendering in blender
Skills : Ai Rendering, Blender
OMA, New York, NY, US, Architectural Intern
-Worked on model-making, renders, photoshoots, diagrams, presentations
Skills : Model-making, Enscape, Schematic Design, Diagrams, Concept Generation, Adobe Suite
Projects : Louis Vuitton Set Design, Hawaii Villa, Mycelium Observatory
E4H Environments for Health Architecture, New York, NY, US, Architectural Intern
-Worked on SD, DD, CD, and participated in client meetings
Skills : Revit, Enscape
Projects : Designed OR suites, labor and deliver rooms, laboratories
King + King Architects, Syrcause, NY, US, Architectural Intern
-Worked on SD, CD, and client meetings
Skills : VectorWorks, SketchUp
Projects : Designed a mixed-space venue, bus lift, classrooms
CPA, West New York, NJ, US, Architectural Intern
-Worked on SD, CD, and client meetings
Skills : Revit, AutoCAD, Adobe Suite
Projects : Designed residential apartments
Cornell University, Ithaca , Masters, Matter, Design , Computation
The M.S. MDC program is a collaborative research degree program that combines architectural research with study in the areas of material computation, adaptive architecture and digital fabrication. During my two years, I worked three different research assistantships focused on data visualization for biological samples, material research and parametric implementation for mycelium construction, and the digitalization of customizable swim caps. For my personal work, I developed pipelines for 4D printing on fabric and 4D printing self-assembling structures.
As for my coursework I have taken:
Coding for Design I, II
Studios : Design and Making Across Disciplines I, II
Electives: Fantastic Materials and Where to Find Them
Extra : New Technologies in Fashion Design
I was also invited by my professor and mentor to study abroad at the University of Stuttgart and attend as the 2023 IntCDC Fellowship specifically at the IntCDC Cluster.
Syracuse University, Syrcause , BArch, Architecture
During my time in the Bachelor of Architecture program at Syracuse University, I was immersed in a diverse range of courses that combined creative exploration with technical rigor. My studies started with Foundations in Design, where I learned the essentials of spatial reasoning and architectural composition. As I progressed, I engaged with more advanced courses such as Building Systems, Structures, and Environmental Technologies, gaining a deeper understanding of how architecture interacts with its surroundings, from energy efficiency to structural integrity.
The design studios were central to my experience, allowing me to develop projects at different scales, from intimate residential designs to more complex urban interventions. I also learned to utilize industry-standard software like Revit, AutoCAD, and Grasshopper, which was critical in executing my design ideas. The program emphasized both traditional architectural principles and forward-thinking approaches, particularly in the areas of sustainable design and material innovation.
My coursework was further enriched by engaging with architectural theory and history, where I analyzed how cultural and historical contexts shape design practice. In my fourth year, I had the chance to take Comprehensive Design Studio, which really pushed my skills to the next level. This studio allowed me to integrate everything I had learned by focusing on complex design problems that required the synthesis of aesthetic, structural, and environmental considerations. Here, I applied tools such as Revit and Rhino, using both traditional and digital methods to execute my ideas.
Finally, my studies culminated in a comprehensive thesis project, where I tackled a self-directed design challenge, focusing on how mycelium can be integrated as a construction material for ephemeral structures. This interdisciplinary research led thesis pushed me to further my education and attend Cornell University for an M.S. in Matter, Design, Computation.
King + King Architects Leadership by Design Prize | Syracuse University, 2nd Place
Composition Studio Project : Santa Maria De La Pace Reconstructed by Zaha Hadid
2022 Britton Memorial Faculty Prize | Syracuse University, Award
Thesis Project : Impermanent Mycotectures : Bio-Welding as Methodology
Faculty Prize
2023 IntCDC Fellowship | IntCDC Cluster at University of Stuttgart, Scholarship
Research : Learning from plant cell interactions to inform adaptive architectures
Syracuse Source Grant | Syracuse University, Grant
Thesis Project : Impermanent Mycotectures : Bio-Welding as Methodology
Full Grant for funding thesis work
4wrd Diversity in Design Scholarship Recipient | E4H NYC headquarters, Scholarship
E4H scholarship and Summer Internship opportunity at E4H NYC headquarters
