December 14, 2018

Name: Jessica Smith, NCIDQ

Current Title: Senior Interior Designer

Office Location: Tampa

Years at Gresham Smith: 4.5

 

Meet Jessica Smith, a senior interior designer in our Tampa Aviation studio and our latest Faces of Gresham Smith feature. Whether at work or play, she spends a lot of time in airports! Keep reading to learn why this Philadelphia native, avid Eagles fan and world traveler chose to work at Gresham Smith and how she’s designing an airport fit for a queen.

 

 

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

 

Where did you go to college?

I attended Philadelphia University where I earned a Bachelor of Architecture for the Built Environment, Interior Design.

 

 

When you were 10 years old what did you want to be?

I informed my parents when I was in the third grade that I was going to be an architect, and I ended up pretty close! I was really into Legos, so that definitely had something to do with it.

 

What drew you to Gresham Smith?

I was drawn to both the company culture and the variety of projects I would have the opportunity to work on. I’ve been able to work on nearly every facet of aviation interior design, from airline tenant spaces and airport airside and landside spaces to coordinating art installations, furniture and millwork design.

 

What is your favorite project you’ve worked on while at Gresham Smith and why?

I’m really enjoying working on Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where we are designing an expansion and renovation of their main terminal lobby. Charlotte – known as the Queen City – was named by English Settlers in honor of their beloved Queen Charlotte. Our design inspiration is a statue of Queen Charlotte that sits as a prominent fixture in the airport. We’re striving to give passengers the royal treatment, coupling the grandness of the queen with touches of southern hospitality. The project has also given me the opportunity to work with Aviation team members in five different Gresham Smith office locations!

 

What advice would you give people who aspire to be where you are?

Always maintain your integrity. Nobody can take that away from you.

 

 

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I have attended the last three summer Olympics in Beijing, London and Rio de Janeiro

 

If you weren’t in your current profession what would you be doing?

I’d be a travel blogger!