March 24, 2019
Reading Time: 3 minutesMy name is Delly Yaker, I’m the founder and principal of Delly D. Yaker Architecture and Interior Design. I was born and raised in Caracas Venezuela, moving to the United States a few years after starting my professional career. I graduated with a B.S. in Architecture from La Facultad de Arquitectura in La Universidad Central de Venezuela and completed a Construction Management program from La Universidad Metropolitana. I gained experience in a couple of architectural firms in Caracas and eventually, I formed a small partnership practice called Intrad:dos Arquitectura.
Moving to the United States as a professional architect proved to be very challenging. Finding a job was extremely hard but I succeeded after countless tries. My goal was to get registered as soon as possible so I started the process evaluating my credentials and having my architectural degree validated. I had to go back to college and take an English Composition course to satisfy missing credits. At last, my degree was accepted, and I open my NCARB record.
In a short time, I gained enough experience and completed the IDP requirements enabling me to take the Architectural Registration Exam. While working full time and raising my growing family, I decided to take the ARE. It was a monumental task and it felt as if I was studying to be an architect all over again. I had to master a new language, learn new building codes and understand entirely different methods of construction.
I persevered, took some exams multiple times and finally passed them all within four and half years. In 2016, I got my license and became a registered architect in New Jersey. A few months afterward, I founded my own design firm. I’m extremely proud of my accomplishments and I’m ready to face entrepreneurship and its own challenges.
I always knew I wanted to be an architect. Very early in my childhood, I used to draw floor plans with colorful and detailed furniture while the rest of my friends drew typical houses outlined by square bases and triangular roofs. I often think about those drawings and how they represented my dreams. They help me fuel my passion and commitment to architecture and design; they remind me of my intention.
By Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, AIA NJ Advocacy Consultant | Posted in Women in Architecture | Tagged: #Architecture, #CaracasVenezuela, #DellyDYakerAIA, #diversity, #equity, #Inclusion, #interiors, #WIA, #womeninarchitecture, #WomensHistoryMonth | Comments (0)
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