Eugene, OR—PIVOT Architecture is thrilled to announce Designer Francisco Toledo is one of two recipients of the Chris White/AIA Oregon Scholarship! Over the past six years at PIVOT, Francisco has worked on an assortment of projects including transit, K-12 and higher education, office remodels, and libraries.
As a part of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Francisco was motivated to apply for the scholarship to work towards gaining his architectural license and achieving his goal of representing the Latinx community in architecture.
As a Latinx man, Francisco remembers a lack of Latinx professionals working in the architectural field as he grew up. “When you don’t see someone who looks like you or has lived your life experiences in the profession, that alone becomes a barrier” Francisco stated.
Francisco graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree with dual minors in Economics as well as Public Policy and Planning from the University of Oregon.
Since entering the profession, Francisco has dedicated his time to improving Latinx representation in the community. He has volunteered at the 4H Multicultural Camp, AIA Hip Hop Architecture Camp, and the Lane Arts Council as a role model to Latinx children. Francisco believes the Chris White Scholarship will help him achieve his goal of inspiring local Latinx youth.
Since 2015, the annual Chris White/AIA Oregon Scholarship for Emerging Professionals has been granted to one or more first-time architecture license candidates. The goal of the scholarship is to help offset financial barriers to licensure including education, training, and exam costs.