Barbara Bouza, FAIA: Making the impossible possible

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["strong"],["a",["href","https:\/\/hearstcastle.org\/history-behind-hearst-castle\/historic-people\/profiles\/julia-morgan\/","target","_blank"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aialosangeles.org\/news\/press-releases\/norma-sklarek-aiala-gold-medal-winner-2019\/","target","_blank"]]],"sections":[[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"A\u201923\u2019s Day One keynote speaker shares a window into the world of Disney Imagineering. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Once upon a time, years before she would earn an architecture degree from California State Polytechnic University, Barbara Bouza, FAIA, visited Disneyland with her family. While on the A\u201923 stage as the Day One keynote speaker, Bouza shared a photo from the childhood trip. While her mother and sister smile at the camera, we only see the back of Bouza\u2019s head because she cannot take her eyes off Sleeping Beauty\u2019s castle. This snapshot in the park is where the built environment began to take shape for her. \u201cI was immersed and intrigued,\u201d said Bouza, who is now the president of Walt Disney Imagineering. She leads the global multidisciplinary team behind the creation of Disney\u2019s theme parks, attractions, resorts, cruise ships, and entertainment experiences. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"Ignite the spark"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Bouza told the audience they practice the same magical method as a Disney Imagineer when they blend creative imagination and technical know-how. \u201cWe want to have the idea, the creativity, the vision the art, but we aren\u2019t able to experience it unless we build it,\u201d said Bouza. She inspired attendees by reminding them how their work becomes the backdrop to the stories that will define the lives of the people who are served by their projects. \u201cWhat we do as architects and builders is bring experiences to life,\u201d said Bouza. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"Don\u2019t Let the Stats Define You"],[0,[],0," "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Unlike Sleeping Beauty, Bouza did not rest on her dreams. Before college, she began studying the works of other architects, especially women like "],[0,[1],1,"Julia Morgan"],[0,[],0,", who designed Hearst Castle, a place Bouza often visited with family, and "],[0,[2],1,"Norma Sklarek"],[0,[],0,", the first Black woman to become a licensed architect in New York and California. In 2019, as AIA Los Angeles president, Bouza recognized Sklarek with the chapter\u2019s Gold Medal Award posthumously. Later in her career, Bouza was shocked to discover how few Black women \u2013 less than one percent \u2013 become licensed architects. \u201cFor me to be here today with you all, if you run the odds, is almost like a miracle,\u201d she said. Bouza told the crowd not to be defined by stats and called on architects to lead and design with representation in mind. \u201cI do believe representation is important,\u201d said Bouza. \u201cTo see yourself in others and inspire future generations.\u201d "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The little girl who was awed by Sleeping Beauty\u2019s castle never imagined that one day she would lead the team who doubled the size of the Sleeping Beauty\u2019s castle at Hong Kong Disneyland into the Castle of Magical Dreams \u2013 the structure representing all Disney queens and princesses. Bouza credits the happily-ever-after of her success to being surrounded by fellow AIA members with whom she worked and competed against for the chance to build a magical career. \u201cThanks for making this young girl, who stood at a castle many, many years ago, a dream come true,\u201d said Bouza. "]]]]}