Aadharsh Sakkaravarthy is an undergraduate freshman student studying architecture at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Originally from Tamil Nadu, India, he moved to the United States to pursue his higher education. Equipped with a growth mindset and willingness to learn, he has cultivated resilience that allows him to take on challenges. His pursuits in architecture and school are defined by his past. Growing up in a variety of places, from cities, city-towns and suburbs, has shaped his perspective on design. Inspired from the upbringing of his grandfather and his construction practice, he developed an inquiring mind and curiosity for the built environment from a young age.

During his time in high school, he has pursued a range of intellectual challenges that have molded him into the person he is today. He has placed highly in NASA’s prestigious Human Rover challenge where he collaboratively designed and fabricated a human-powered rover capable of traversing simulated Martian terrain. Moreover, Aadharsh has led many design projects during his time in his high school’s design club, ACE. In this club, he also learned about pursuing a professional career in architecture and honed his future plans in being able to create structures that have a human impact. Based on his academic achievements and well-written essays he received scholarships from ACE NJ chapter and AIA from NJ. Furthermore, his research in the field of modular structures yielded recognition with Milton Fisher’s Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity.

In his free time, Aadharsh likes to read books that offer meaningful messages, unique character arcs and diverse perspectives in built design. He enjoys running, and is currently working on building his stamina to increase his pace. Aligned with his passion for helping others, Aadharsh also participates in community service events that aid the environment, ranging from cleanups and initiatives to restore the local river. His deep interest in preserving the environment informs his process for design and understanding the coexistence of manmade and natural structures.

In the future, Aadharsh aims to make a lasting impact in design through the transection of dravidian architecture from his homeland with a sustainability focus. He hopes that by attaining a license to practice in architecture and starting his own firm, he can be well-equipped to tackle the world’s challenges and spearhead real solutions in human-conscious design. Having grown up in different neighbourhoods with stark socioeconomic contrasts, he also aims to provide equitable housing that encapsulates a positive social outcome and preserves humanity within the built space.