Join us as we sit down with Grand Island architectural designer Z Parra Valencia to trace her journey from summer intern to full-time designer. Z dives into the surprising complexities of designing childcare and modern banking spaces, the power of continuous exposure in design, and why she’s ready to challenge the residential open floor plan trend. Tune in for an engaging look at the next generation of architectural talent, complete with bucket-list world marvels and a high-stakes snack bracket debate!

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(Skyler Gorsett): Welcome, everybody, to another episode of the Laying the Foundation podcast. My name is Skyler and joining me today for an extra special "Behind the Blueprint" segment is Z Parra Valencia. Z, welcome to the show!

(Z Parra Valencia): Thank you! I'm super excited to be here today.

(Skyler Gorsett): We're super excited to have you! I know "Z" is the shortened version of your name, so hopefully that's okay to use.

(Z Parra Valencia): Yes, absolutely.

(Skyler Gorsett): Awesome! First off, Z is over in our Grand Island office as one of our amazing architectural designers. Z, tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from, where did you go to high school and college, how long have you been at CMBA, and what has your architectural journey looked like?

(Z Parra Valencia): "Z" is the shortened version of my full name, Zitlalic Parra Valencia, but Z is just a lot quicker. That nickname actually came from playing soccer—you don't really want teammates shouting a long name across the field, so Z was just much easier. I was born in Mexico but moved to Grand Island around two or three years old, so I was basically raised here. I attended high school at Grand Island Senior High, so I'm considered an Islander.

(Skyler Gorsett): Oh, nice!

(Z Parra Valencia): And I should mention that Grand Island is known as the best island in Nebraska!

(Skyler Gorsett): The best—and practically the only one, being pretty well landlocked!

(Z Parra Valencia): Exactly! Right after high school, I attended UNL, where I earned both my Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture. While completing my Master’s, I interned for two summers here at CMBA, and after graduating, I joined full-time. I've been full-time here for about a year and a half now.

(Skyler Gorsett): That’s awesome! A year and a half is a great start. Jumping all the way back—at what point in your life did you decide you wanted to go into architecture? What sparked that initial interest?

(Z Parra Valencia): I first became interested in architecture during my sophomore year of high school in language arts class. We were giving presentations about our future goals, and a friend presented on drafting and architecture, which instantly caught my attention. Before that, I wanted to be a doctor, a vet, or a teacher. But his presentation stood out because it seemed like the perfect career to blend both the creative and logical sides of my brain. I've always loved design and the arts, so I knew whatever career I chose needed to incorporate creativity into my daily routine.

(Skyler Gorsett): That’s really cool. I’ve heard that from quite a few architects we've talked to—it’s that perfect marriage of creative design with math, science, and engineering.

(Z Parra Valencia): I’m definitely glad it’s not too math-heavy! In college, you take structural courses and need to understand the fundamentals, but you aren't doing intense math every day. The software handles a lot of that, making architecture more of a problem-solving career, which I really love.

(Skyler Gorsett): That’s a great way to put it. Other architects have described it as piecing together a complex 3D puzzle. You don't just think two-dimensionally about floor plans; there are psychological and spatial elements, like biophilic design. It merges multiple fields into one discipline. Looking at your work so far, is there a particular area of architectural design that’s your favorite or something you feel especially comfortable with?

(Z Parra Valencia): I’ve had the opportunity to work on a variety of project types—K-12 education, banking, exterior renovations, and a bit of healthcare. I've been dipping my toes into everything to see what I truly enjoy. Right now, I feel like I could specialize in childcare or banking because those have been some of my larger, long-term projects.

When I started on the childcare project, I assumed it would be very similar to K-12, but I was proven wrong! It was an eye-opener to see how much unique functionality goes into childcare. The banking project had a similar learning curve—you have to understand how the entire operation functions behind the scenes beyond just the teller line and offices you see as a customer. It's probably too early in my career to claim one single passion, as I immerse myself fully into whatever project is in front of me. But in the meantime, if anyone has questions about childcare or banking projects, I’m your girl!

(Skyler Gorsett): That’s such a great point. Across all sectors, design focuses heavily on improving both the client experience and employee well-being. Banking used to be just teller booths, a vault, and offices, but modern security and layout standards have evolved completely.

(Z Parra Valencia): Absolutely. Conversations around vaults and security on my banking project were an eye-opener. I had that classic image in mind of an obvious, ultra-fortified vault, only to learn that modern security is much more integrated and discreet. It’s been a fascinating learning process.

(Skyler Gorsett): Healthcare is similar—every space within a healthcare facility serves a completely different function with specialized equipment and user needs.

(Z Parra Valencia): I recently assisted on a healthcare project for the first time, and I noticed that exact thing! It feels like multiple mini-projects within one building because physical therapy, outpatient clinics, and administrative areas are each their own unique universe. They all have to co-exist seamlessly. Just when you feel like you're mastering design, a new project type forces you to learn everything all over again from scratch.

(Skyler Gorsett): Right back to step one! What does a typical day look like for an architectural designer? What types of tasks fill your schedule across a typical week or month?

(Z Parra Valencia): My daily tasks vary wildly depending on the project and where we are in the design phase. Some days, I’m working on schematic design—laying out floor plans and generating visual concepts for clients. That's probably my favorite phase. Other days, I'm working in Construction Administration, sitting at my desk reviewing hundreds of product submittals for approval. Every day brings something different, whether I'm at my desk all day or out visiting high schools to present on careers in architecture.

(Skyler Gorsett): That diversity is awesome, especially outreach work like talking to students, attending conventions, or representing us at career fairs. And like any job, there are tasks we love and necessary tasks we just have to push through.

(Z Parra Valencia): Navigating submittals is tricky right now because it's my first time working through them. Every new document presents a ton of information to digest, though I’m sure five years from now I’ll have it down to a science!

(Skyler Gorsett): Exactly! Once you get used to it, it becomes second nature. In your year and a half at CMBA, is there a particular project or moment you feel exceptionally proud of?

(Z Parra Valencia): One stand-out project is a smaller exterior renovation we did for Pella Windows and Doors in Grand Island right after I started full-time. It was one of the first projects I guided from start to finish. I created design options, presented them to the client, and they chose my personal favorite concept! From there, I developed the construction documents, worked through structural details, and selected materials and colors. Since it's local, I drove past it throughout construction and still do in my daily life. It's so rewarding to look at it and know I helped create that.

(Skyler Gorsett): That’s amazing! Being able to drive past your completed work every day must be such a rewarding feeling.

(Z Parra Valencia): Absolutely, I admire it every single time I drive by!

(Skyler Gorsett): Moving into the philosophical side of architecture—what do you consider the greatest key to good architecture and design?

(Z Parra Valencia): The biggest key to good architecture is communication—with clients, internal team members, and external consultants. Without strong communication, completing a project smoothly is nearly impossible.

For great design specifically, the key is exposure. While traveling to see architecture in person is ideal, digital tools like Pinterest or architecture publications let us study award-winning buildings and analyze what makes them successful. Broadening your exposure continuously trains your design eye.

(Skyler Gorsett): I love that answer! Exposure and continuous learning are so important for growth as a designer. Kudos for giving a really unique response!

(Z Parra Valencia): Thank you, look at me being philosophical!

(Skyler Gorsett): What has been your favorite aspect of working specifically at CMBA over the past year and a half?

(Z Parra Valencia): I appreciate that CMBA gives me space to grow while surrounding me with people who actively support that growth. Every day brings new challenges that push me outside my comfort zone, which is where real learning happens. My coworkers are always willing to mentor and guide me. People constantly remind me not to hesitate to ask questions—and trust me, I ask plenty!

(Skyler Gorsett): If you're asking them, they aren't dumb questions! Mentorship and a supportive team make all the difference when taking on new responsibilities.

(Z Parra Valencia): Exactly, and nobody ever rolls their eyes at me, which I truly appreciate!

(Skyler Gorsett): Now let's move into our rapid-fire bonus questions, starting with our "Snack Adventure Showdown." When you're locked in and designing a new building, what is your go-to snack and beverage pairing?

(Z Parra Valencia): I snack a lot! Some days I try to be healthy with vegetables, other days I want chocolate, but the ultimate winner is popcorn. I get extra buttery popcorn and dust it with white cheddar seasoning.

(Skyler Gorsett): White cheddar popcorn gets a point on our bracket! What about your beverage of choice?

(Z Parra Valencia): I drink a lot of water, but when I want a treat, I get a Fresca.

(Skyler Gorsett): Fresca! We'll group that under flavored sparkling water on the board. So we have popcorn and flavored sparkling water locked in for Z. Next up: architectural bucket lists. What is a specific building or site you would love to visit and experience in person?

(Z Parra Valencia): The Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt. It was under construction for roughly twenty years before opening. The building itself is massive—around five million square feet—and sits right next to the Pyramids of Giza. The architecture directly aligns with the pyramids, and there's a massive glass curtain wall framing a direct view of the pyramids while you stand inside. Visiting that would be mind-blowing.

(Skyler Gorsett): That sounds unbelievable! Adding that to my own bucket list right now! What about design trends—what is one design trend from recent years that you wish would go away?

(Z Parra Valencia): This might be controversial, but open floor plans in residential homes! People love them for the spacious feel and high ceilings, but forcing three distinct functional zones—kitchen, dining, and living—into one giant room is overwhelming. Imagine trying to watch Interstellar in the living room while someone is aggressively cooking a Beef Wellington in the kitchen! The noise completely ruins the cinematic experience.

(Skyler Gorsett): That is a hilariously specific example, but completely true! You need acoustic separation so kitchen or laundry noises don't overpower the living space.

(Z Parra Valencia): Exactly. Openness can be done tastefully, but complete open-concept layouts can be impractical.

(Skyler Gorsett): Our final question is "The Time Traveler's Build." If you could travel back in time to watch any historical or iconic structure being built, what would you choose?

(Z Parra Valencia): I have two! Historically, the Pyramids of Giza—I'm fascinated by ancient Egyptian engineering and how precisely they aligned the structures with astronomy. For a modern feat, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in China. It spans over 4,600 feet across a canyon at incredible heights—nearly double the height of the Golden Gate Bridge. The visuals look so impossible that they almost resemble AI images. Watching the engineering required to construct that span would be incredible.

(Skyler Gorsett): That sounds unbelievable! It's fun to speculate about the sheer engineering magic required to pull off projects like the pyramids or super-long canyon bridges. Thank you so much for sitting down with me, Z, to share your journey, design insights, and favorite projects.

(Z Parra Valencia): Thanks for having me, Skyler! This was a lot of fun. I can’t wait to see popcorn take first place in the snack bracket!

(Skyler Gorsett): Popcorn for the win! Thanks to everyone for tuning in.

(Narrator): If you'd like to find out more about the Laying the Foundation podcast, head over to any podcast streaming platform such as Spotify, iTunes, or Google Podcasts. You can also follow CMBA Architects on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit cmbaarchitects.com. If you're an architecture or design professional—or an intern looking for opportunities—visit our website and click on the careers tab. This has been another episode of Laying the Foundation. We'll see you next time!