Q & A with the
professors of H2M
The extensive experience of H2M’s staff is not just used on our projects, but also to teach the future architects and engineers of our community.
The following H2M staff also are professors at our local universities and colleges.
David J. Pacheco, AIA
Director of Operations
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
What courses are you teaching?
Professional Practice I
Professional Practice II
How would you describe your teaching style?
Concentrated, fast-paced, and intense
How has your professional experiences at H2M shaped your teaching?
The day to day practice management activities at H2M are essential as source material for practice and verification of my curriculum and often allows for real-world examples which are greatly appreciated by the students.
Can you share insights into helping students think through the decision to pursues a career in architecture or engineering?
Architecture is at the nexus of art, science, technology, engineering, fabrication, process and business. As such, an architectural education prepares you for a diversity of career paths unlike most any other type of degree. Architectural graduates can be found working in product development, construction, engineering, project management, estimating, finance, facilities, fine arts, consulting, firm leadership, community outreach, environmental research, government and of course architecture.
Maria Di Natale, AIA, LEED GA
Senior Architect
School of Architecture and Design
The Institute for Design & Construction
NYU School of Continuing Education
What courses are you teaching?
ARCH 101 Design Fundamentals I
What inspired you to become a professor?
My father (an architect & professor) and my design professor/mentor Jonathan Friedman both encouraged me to teach. They were mentors and role models for combining professional practice with educating. What continues to inspire me after more than 25 years of teaching are: The Students!
How would you describe your teaching style?
Firm & Fair: ask my students…
What excites you about your faculty role?
Seeing the entering freshman students and witnessing their individual growth. When they finally have that “lightbulb moment” expression. They have undeniably “arrived” and are fully understanding moving forward from that moment. My total joy!
Any advice to current students?
Stay the course. Work hard. Be your own critic. Do more than the minimum requirements. Educate yourself. Enjoy every minute!
Anything else you would like to share?
Recent development since college graduation:
Meeting Joe Mottola (COO), Guy Page (Market Director of Education), and Kevin Paul (Deputy Discipline Director of Architecture) at NYIT and now working together at H2M is something we would have never imagined back then. Something very poetic about beginning our careers together and now reuniting as seasoned architects working for the same company.
Kevin M. Paul, AIA, LEED AP
Deputy Director of Architecture
Farmingdale State College
Participant in design studio crits at NYIT
What courses are you teaching?
Material & Methods Contruction
How would you describe your teaching style?
Aggressive but congenial
How has your professional experiences at H2M shaped your teaching?
Interaction with younger staff = teaching
What would you hope students take away from your classes?
That their education is preparing them for their vocation – not just a job, and love what you do.
Can you share insights into helping students think through the decision to pursue a career in architecture or engineering?
Goes back to the idea of vocation. You can’t help but be good at something you love or have a passion to continue to explore and share. If architecture or engineering doesn’t speak to you in that way – time to look for something else.
What’s one of your favorite memories from college?
The opportunity to make friends that I will have to this day thanks to architecture.
