Camila Hellebuyck, AIA
November 7, 2023
Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Camila is a registered architect at Gensler’s Atlanta office. Although going to university wasn’t in the cards for her growing up, in her early years of school, she always enjoyed a challenge through puzzles or art. After moving to the U.S. in middle school and taking a new path in education, Camila continued her journey to identify her true passion. It wasn’t until her senior year of high school that she discovered architecture and what it meant for her to be able to influence the built environment and her communities one day.
As a student at Kennesaw State University and as an immigrant always thinking of home, Camila found herself studying different scales at which architecture could be a catalyst for change in a neighborhood full of adversity. Designing a hub for many displaced farmers and city-dwellers to come together and improve their living conditions at different scales of the urban fabric became the focus of her thesis. It was later awarded and recognized during the thesis competition. She hopes to one day continue her research on this topic and ways architects can bridge the gaps between socioeconomic issues and physical space.
Confidential JW Marriott Lobby Renovation / Camila Hellebuyck
Confidential JW Marriott Lobby Renovation / Camila Hellebuyck
After KSU, Camila went on to work at Cooper Carry, where she learned the technical knowledge required in new construction projects with the support of a team that always prompted her curiosity. There, and for the first time in her career, she participated in the early stages of design and documentation to construction administration. She will never forget the feeling of taking her grandma on a tour of her first built project.
Today, at Gensler, Camila has had the opportunity to continue developing her design voice and passion through new challenges and office culture. Her interests span from proposals and development of design drawings to community involvement and DE&I efforts. Her most recent projects focus not only on architecture but also on interior design explorations that have sparked a new and surprising interest in the intersection of both.
Conrad Nashville, Nashville, TN / Camila Hellebuyck
Where do you seek design inspiration?
I seek inspiration by traveling and in my own community through colleagues and peers. I believe that by traveling and experiencing different cultures, you are able to understand design solutions through different perspectives, especially those that are a clear reflection of their environment.
On a day-to-day basis, I’m also inspired by the work and research of my colleagues, even if we are working on different project types, I enjoy seeing the way they approach clients’ needs and design.
