Uzma Mirza AIA, LEED AP, NCARB
SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE 
ART PHILANTHROPY THE PEN
www.aynarchitect.com www.penandinkpot.org www.pifdn.org www.penandinkpot/blog
PROFILE OF SKILLS: Science and Design of the built environment:
•Registered and Licensed Architect with 15 years experience in diverse building/design types
•LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) –USGBC 200
•LEED AP Building Design and Construction (BD&C), 2010
•Sustainable and green Architecture: Initiative, Research and Application of measures
•NCARB-Registered and Licensed Architect: Illinois and Indiana, USA
•Auto Cad Release 2010 and previous versions, ADT 4 (2-D, 3-D-basic)
•Artist, Hand renderings and graphics
•Revit Design-basics, and Sketch up
•Project Architect, Project Manager, Design and Technical Architect
•Construction Detailing/Construction Documents/Planning/Site Analysis/Engineering Coordination
•Hand rendered perspectives/sketching in any media
•Green and Garden Roof detail experience
•Green Consultancy and design for projects
•Landscape and Interior Design
•Teaching, Studio guest critique, presentations and exhibits
•Adobe In design, Illustrator, Photoshop, Power Point, Microsoft Word, Excel
•Artist: watercolors, oils, acrylics, marker, pencil crayon & all media
•Photography, Marketing presentations, graphic design, logos
•Business cards, brochures and card design
•AIA membership
PERSONAL STATEMENT
I originally hail from Canada, with an international exposure, from playing in the Sahara desert; to growing up in the Atlantic environs of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia and Ontario, Canada; to the landscapes of New England; to the windy city of Chicago; to the soya fields of Indiana. I am a professional architect with fifteen years of experience and a founder of a green consultancy; a writer; a published Islamic calligraphic artist with a work unique to my approach. I exhibit my art, speak on my essays and advance green architecture. In addition, I am a founder of a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization, The Pen and Inkpot Foundation. In short, from pursuing publishing a philosophical treatise of my written work, and a book of my spiritual art, all my work attempts to maintain, without complacency, a renewed thinking through a social activism in architecture, in my writing and in my art.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
AYN Architect LLC, base-Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA Present
Principal/Owner: Architecture Consultancy in Sustainable and Green Architecture & an Art
Projects:
•Panyijiar Library Design, Sudan, Africa. Design Development & all documents.
•Currie Sustainable Restaurant: Columbia City, Indiana. Predesign
•Green Muslim Community Center-preliminary cost study. Anchorage,Alaska
•MTI Islamic School of Knowledge-Schematic Design, Indianapolis, Indiana
•Masjid Dawah: A Green Retrofit Project, Preliminary analysis. Chicago, IL
•A Vision of a Sustainable Design Complex for a community: ICFW-Fort Wayne, Indiana
•Proposals-Office and a hospital as Sustainable Design: a vision and mission. Karachi, Pakistan
•A vision/sustainable design for a Community Center.Burmese Refugee Community, Fort Wayne,IN
•Consultancy: a green and sustainable building for Arts United Arts Campus addition/renovation/new construction to existing performing Arts Center by Architect, Louis Kahn. Fort Wayne, IN
•Travel to China: AYN Architectural study of Islamic Chinese Architecture and local history.
•Spiritual Art. Published Artist. Commissioned work for clients all over the USA.
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP, Chicago, Illinois 2006
Selected Projects:
•NATO Headquarters: Green Design and detailing of Garden & Green roof structure; Brussels, Switzerland
•High Rise Residential Tower & Gardens in Dubai, UAE, Saudi Arabia & China
•Theater Design with Sustainable Measures (LEED): Schematic Design work
•Rolex Tower. Dubai, UAE
•SOM Green team: Presentation of Green/garden roofs
•Green Roof Presentation: Organized a company-wide lecture on Garden roofs
•King Abdullah Economic City: Islamic design for Garden and building façade design.
Centerbrook Architects and Planners, LLP, Centerbrook, Connecticut 2001- 2005
Selected Projects:
•Hotchkiss Private High School-Green Building: Copper roof and wall, brick and Curtain Wall Music Pavilion. Design, initiated green construction documents. Prepared and coordinated all construction details, sections, exterior elevations through all phases of design with engineering disciplines; initiated, researched and compiled all interior/exterior materials and methods for LEED certification.
•Essex Public Composting Green Toilet: Granite stone, concrete block and copper construction. Project Manager. Prepared all construction documents; used sustainable materials; Watercolor perspective.
•Quinnipiac University (Athletic Center): Pre-cast, concrete block, and brick construction. Prepared detail drawings for copperworks; Coordinated engineering disciplines; Interior design.
•University of Michigan: Interior Architecture. Prepared construction documents.
•Assisted in the implementation of various Green measures at Centerbrook Architects’office.
BSA Design (now called BSA Life Structures), Indianapolis, IN 1998-2001
Selected Projects:
•Seymour Hospital LDR Renovation Project: Project Manager & Design Architect. All Documents.
•Indiana University Kelley School of Business: Limestone building. Prepared all Construction
Documents and shop drawings. Detailed all Indiana limestone with plans, sections elevations.
•Ben Davis Christian Church: Project Architect: Prepared all construction documents and engineering
coordination and details.
•Indiana Dialysis Center and Doctor’s office: Project/Design Architect. Planning/Design/Documents.
Research & Site study/Script writer. ITV. Karachi, Pakistan Jan.1998-May 1998
•Surveyed, analyzed and prepared screen script: a 16th century Mausoleum/Tombs, Pakistan
New Age Combustion Products, Fort Wayne, IN 1997
•Director of Research and Development of Sustainable Invention: Clean Energy Furnace.
Schenkel Shultz Inc, Fort Wayne, Indiana 1995-1997
Selected Projects:
•Little Professor’s Book Company: Project Manager: All construction documents;Specifications;
Water colored drawings.
•Rockville State Prison: Recreation Building-Concrete block/precast construction: Schematics/
planning/design.
•Grissolm Prison: Renovation of U.S. Air Force base renovation into Men’s Prison Built model.
EDUCATION:
Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada 1995
5 Year Bachelor of Architecture-post professional, with High Discinction
Awards:
•Ontario Association of Architect’s Medal
•High Distinction and Dean’s Honor List
•Michael Coote Scholarship
•Harry Southam Scholarship
•Excellence in Research/Design: 1st Prize
•DSA-Directed Study Abroad: Italy and Turkey 4th year
•Various self initiated Travel Study: Spain and Pakistan
•Self initiated Study: Sound and Geometry study of the Dome: Case Study: The Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Pakistan
•Drawings/sketches: Beaton Institute, University of Cape Breton; Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
University of Western Ontario, London, Canada 1990
•Art history and Sciences, Deans Honor list
Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada 1989
•Art History & Architectural History
Riverview High School; Sydney, Canada 1988
•Salutatorian
•Female Athlete of graduating class
OTHER AWARDS AND PRIZES
•Winning Entry: Water Fountain Design: Drill Bit Gallery 2001
Centerbrook Architects
•BSA Student Design Award 2000
•Winner: Birdhouse Design Competition:Indianapolis Botanical Conservatory 2000
•Winning Entry: category-‘Color’-Make-a Wish-Foundation, Indianapolis, IN 1999
•Honorable Mention: Dog House Design Competition by ACSA: 1990
•Winning entry: U.C.C. Art Mural Competition: (8’-0”x 8’-0”) mural. 1990
Title: The Rhythm of Man. London Ontario, Canada.
•Selected Drawings/sketches: Beaton Institute, University of Cape Breton; 1989
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
•Second Place. Carleton University: Lanark Hall Residence. 1988
Title: Stair way to heaven. 8’x 12’-Acrylic: Mural
•First Prize: Provincial Art Competition, Nova Scotia, Canada. 1987
•Nova Scotia Art Competition 1986
Five entries: won first place all submissions for each category-Age 16.
RELEVANT ACHIEVEMENTS, COMPETITIONS, ART EXHIBITS, INVITATIONS
ARCHITECTURE AND ART:
•Cold Spring Institute. Essay: Mosques and Sustainability in Indiana. By MAI Present-in process
•Group Art Exhibit - 4thPresbyterian Church, Interfaith. Michigan Ave. 2009
•Chicago IL-Various Solo Art Exhibits: Flat File Gallery, 2008
Endless Eye Production event Chicago, IL
•The Pen and Inkpot Foundation Inc: 501c3-non-Profit organization Present
•Spiritual Art: www.penandinkpot.org - Commission Work Present
•Zanbeel Art Gallery, California: Group Exhibition 2009
•Ball State University: Guest Critic. Green studio, Muncie, Indiana 2008
•Woman Made Gallery, My MARK publication and exhibit, Selected 2008
•MAI-Muslim Alliance of Indiana 2008
•Invited Speaker/Art exhibit. IMAN. Community Cafe. Chicago, IL 2007
•La Academia, Bridge competition. Venice, Italy (a Sustainable Design) 2006
•Woman Made Gallery, 9th International Open Juried Exhibit. 2006
•Art Exhibition: Indus Women Leaders-Blank Canvas, Chicago, IL 2005
•World Trade Center Memorial Competition: Submission. NewYork, NY 2004
•Speaker: Boston Social Forum: Sustainable Architecture, Boston University, Boston 2004
•Invited Muslim Artist, by Auburn University, Alabama, AL 2003
•Open City Wide Studios Art Exhibit, New Haven Connecticut 2005
•Guest Critic:Ball State University: Sustainable/Green Issues, Muncie, IN 2000
•Sun Wall Competition: Entrant. DOE-DepArtment of Energy, Washington. 1999
•Clock Tower competition design: watercolor 1999
•A Niche of Light design: Self initiated proposal/script for Education 1999
•Poetry Contest: Semi-Finalist, Published in Book: ”Echoes of Yesteryear” 1999
•Poetics of Space Competition: Entrant. Japan. 1998
•“Designing a Canadian Pavilion in Venice” Ideas Competition.Ottawa, Canada 1995
•DSA-Directed Study Abroad: Italy and Turkey 4th year 1994
•Various self initiated Travel studies: Spain and Pakistan 1994
•Exhibition of student architectural drawings: work from Turkey 1994
•Self initiated Study:Sound/Geometry study of Badshahi Mosque, Pakistan 1993
•Glass House Competition: Competitor. Watercolors. Japan. 1991
•Art exhibit of four oil paintings, Sydney, NovaScotia, Canada- Age 13 1983
PUBLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWS
•Art published-Book: Reclaiming Beauty for the Good of the World: Muslim and Christian 2010
Creativity as Moral Force. Authors: George Daress Peggy Rosenthall (Muslim-Christian,
Dialogue, by FonsVitae)
•Interview: Fort Wayne Reader: ‘Words of Wisdom. By Dan Swartz 2010
•AYN Architect guest green critique. Columbia City Trail Head project. IPFW 2010
•ISNA-Abstract/Presentation: Faith, Sustainability and Green Architecture: 2009
Envisioning a green mosque and sustainable built environment for the 21st century.
•Interview by Chicago Crescent: Green Architect and Artist. CIOGC, p.4. Chicago, IL 2009
•Interview by the Baltimore Examiner, on ISNA’s presentation, Washington, DC. 2009
•Article: Compassion is the Score of Balance, (Muslim Women’s Alliance), Lombard, IL 2009
•Poetry published, IWA: Poetry Anthology, Many Poetic Voices, One faith 2009
•Cover Design Art Published, IWA: Anthology, Many Voices, One Faith II, 2009
•Radio Podcast: Muslim Voices and Vision: Center of Study for Global Change, 2009
and Art exhibit with the Waldron Art gallery. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
•IOL, Radio Islam Podcast: Islam on line Radio interview on Islamic Art, Cairo, Egypt 2009
•Woman Made Gallery, My MARK 2009, Journal publication, Chicago, IL 2009
•ISNA(Islamic Society of North America) Calendar: Spiritual Art selected 2008-09
•Article: Faith, Sustainability and Green Architecture, and green consultancy: 2008
1st Presbyterian Church on Green building; Fort Wayne, Indiana
•‘EcoStructures’ Magazine: Published Team-Hotchkiss Music and Arts Building, CT 2006
•Interview: Hartford Courant, Connecticut by Laila Kain 2005
•Auburn University: spiritual art exhibit, guest speaker, student newspaper 2003
•Horizon’s- Magazine by ISNA, Art and writing. Published Art and Interview 2000
•The Muslim Tribune: Cover design Artist. Toronto, Ontario, Canada 1996-98
ACTIVITIES & MEMBERSHIPS
•Arts United, Board of Directors and Allocation Committee, Fort Wayne, Indiana 2010-2011
•IPFW Center for the Built Environment & the Northeast Indiana Green Build Coalition 2010
Invited Design Charrette Advisor/Guest: The Eel River Trailhead Project. Columbia City, IN
•Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Judge for the Scholastic Arts Competition 2010
•The Pen and Inkpot Foundation: Founder/President 2008-2010
•USGBC-LEED certified Professional (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Present
•AIA- American Institute of Architects Membership
•NCARB-National Council of Architectural Registration Boards Current
•IPLA-Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (Active) Present
•IDFPR- Illinois department for Professional Registration (Active)
•UEF (UniversalEducationFoundation) Speakers Committee Present
•FortWayne Community Grants Committee. Fort Wayne, Indiana 2009
•Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Membership. Certified Course 101 2007
•US Green Building Company Membership
•United Nations Conference on Civil Society: Delegate. United Nations, New York. 2002
•Construction with Habitat for Humanity
•Community Services, Interfaith work, Teaching, Activism Present
EXTENDED CURRICULUM VITAE - ISLAMIC DESIGN
STATEMENT
The following is a brief highlight of my experience in Islamic design both in volunteered, self initiated and travel study. I consider sustainable and green design to be a core aspect of Islamic design, in which women, the weak and the handicapped are integral elements to not delete.
A) Pertinent professional experience and volunteer work
B)Islamic study in Academia
C)Personal Islamic design, study, travel and other
A) Pertinent professional and volunteer work:
•UEF-Universal Education Foundation, Fort Wayne, IN-Speakers forum 2010
•Pre-design: Community center: Muslim Burmese refugees-IN; AYN Architect 2010
•Cost Study- Mosque and Community Center. Anchorage, Alaska 2009
•Green pre-design: Addition-MTI Islamic School. Indianapolis, IN; AYN Architect 2009
•Islamic facade design and garden in Saudia Arabia. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill 2006
•Preliminary design studies for the Fort Wayne Islamic center, Fort Wayne, IN 1997
•Mosque committee: School Addition-Masjid Al Fajr; Indianapolis, IN 1999
•Community fundraising and green advisor; Berlin Mosque, CT 2001-05
B) Islamic study in Academia:
•Architecture school/DSA: During directed studies abroad program (DSA), I studied in Turkey and traveled extensively visiting various styles in Islamic architecture. i.e. Sinan’s mosque’s, Rumi’s mausoleum, underground cities and role of women in Islamic design.
•My main thesis advisor in fifth year, Gulzar Haider, PhD is a well known teacher and expert in Islamic architecture and geometry in the world. He authored the Islamic Design section of the Architectural Design Graphics Standard in the USA. Having designed and built six mosques in NorthAmerica, he has led studios on Islamic design of mosques in the West with a new context in mind. I was an invited guest critic on several of his studios.
•My fifth year thesis objective: Is architecture an instrument like a laboratory always under scrutiny by the natural world? How to design, build and live in harmony with the natural world was the question. The investigation of several instruments, with a focus in the Islamic world study (astronomical/navigational/clockwork and motion. i.e. boat building, sundials, astrolabes, compass, gyroscope, telescope, sextant, observatory and the clock), was a result of intense study, with actual construction of a measuring instrument and the drawing of an Architecture, that formed my research and design thesis. In short, my one year long thesis was a practical, philosophical, economical and artistic application which was on the infantile path of attempting to understand today’s word, sustainable design. Though, I was not cognizant of these words at this time. Please refer to my portfolio.
C) Personal Islamic design, study, travel and other:
•I have travelled extensively all over Pakistan during summers to understand various Architectural designs of spaces in cultures as: Islamic/Mughal, Gandhara civilization, the wind catchers of Thatta, Muqlai tombs, various Mughal designs as the Badashai Mosque, Noor Jehan’s and Jehangir's tomb, Shalimar gardens, the Red Fort in Lahore, Taxila, Moenjadaro, Ghandara, Bhumbor, to name a few, and sites in Italy, Sicily, Turkey and Spain. In addition it included a field study of Islamic design in various regions, for example, the use of the Dome, the minaret, ablution spaces, library, soup kitchen and medical clinics to name a few. In addition, some self initiated projects. i.e. ‘Niche of Light-a production’. Please refer to my portfolio.
Further design, study and travel:
-Originally Canadian of Pakistani/Indian descent, raised in Canada where Nature and the built environment has always been a focus.
-Since childhood, studied and researched solar home design for earth and the moon. From the very palette, God asks of us to realize Him through His signs is the very palette of the natural world which we are destroying including our inner and outer self. The natural world is the palette of God's creation from which we learn about the physics of our self and all our technologies through its geometry. But we are hurting that book from which to read. Our built-environment (construction) reflects a large percentage of the waste in our country.
-Age eleven, built a model of a renewable city and studied, at my own, much Sustainable practice done by my elders, who emphasized simplicity and less.
-My teachers of Islamic Spirituality have been various
-Travelled and studied extensively all over Pakistan during summers to understand various Architectural designs of various cultures as: Islamic/Mughal, Gandara civilization, the wind catchers of Thatta, Muqlai tombs, various Mughal designs as the Badashai Mosque, Noor Jehans' and Jehangir's tomb, Shalimar gardens, the Red Fort across from the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Taxila, Moenjadaro...and many others.
Dome Study: Study of the Badshahi Mosque as a vehicle to understand Mughal Islamic Design and the geometry of Domes and Hyperbolic parabaloids in Islamic design and the importance and geometry of sound. Understanding, how sound and water is used in Islamic Architecture has been a focus in my Architecture and Art.
-Travel to Spain to study the Geometry of a well know Architect, Antonio Gaudi. Geometry is a core of Architecture which is the reflection of the natural world which the supplicant is asked to understand and preserve as a steward and vicegerent, in order see God's signs in the natural world palette as a marvel of His creation and supplicate this Majesty.
-The Pen and Inkpot Foundation: Founder & President: www.pifdn.org
-To improve women and the handicapped inclusion in all Mosque design in North America.
Following are recent presentations and/or articles written, interviewed, presented and published work:
Book: Reclaiming Beauty for the Good of the World: Muslim-Christian Creativity as a Moral Force, by George Daress and Peggy Rosenthall
by Fons Vitae.
-ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) 2009 power point presentation called: Faith, Sustainability and Green Architecture: Envisioning a green mosque and sustainable built environment for the 21st century.
-Interview: The Baltimore Examiner, on the ISNA 2009 presentation in Washington, DC.
-Article: Faith, Sustainability and Green Architecture, and green consultancy: 1st Presbyterian Church on Green building; Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2008
-Article: Compassion is the Score of Balance, Lombard, Illinois for the Muslim Women’s Alliance. 2009
-Poetry publication: 2 poetic renditions for the IWA Poetry Anthology 2009 in the Islamic Writers Alliance:
-Radio Podcast: Muslim Voices and Vision with the Waldron Art gallery: Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
-IOL, Radio Islam Podcast: Islam on line Radio interview on Islamic Arts, Cairo, Egypt
-EcoStructures Magazine: Published building-Hotchkiss Music and Arts Building, Lakeville Connecticut. Centerbrook Architects
September 2006-Project Team. Initiated all green building. Please refer to professional experience.
