Architectural work by Brent Buck.
Two Paths, One Common Start
Melissa Sarko and Brent Buck Enjoy Industry Success and Recognition
School of Architecture
written by
Pam Wigley
Melissa Sarko and Brent Buck are both graduates of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture. Both live in New York City, both are enjoying successful careers in the industry, and both have been recognized for their work. For all their similarities, each chose a different focus — one working for a large firm and one who runs his own business. Their stories illustrate how Carnegie Mellon’s School of Architecture prepared them to follow their dreams.
Melissa Sarko
Melissa Sarko (BArch 1997) grew up in Uniontown, Pa., and from an early age showed an affinity for creating art. From drawing pictures of alphabet letters with her mom to taking Saturday morning art classes to winning grade school art competitions, Sarko never lost interest in the creative outlet. In high school, she complemented her love of the arts with her love of math, encouraged by her calculus teacher, Mr. Orlando.
“He suggested that I consider pursuing architecture, which was sort of a blend of both subjects I loved,” she said.
Sarko knew CMU had a great program, but she hesitated to enroll because her older sister was already a graphic design student there. Still, she applied and was accepted, and she said she rarely saw her sibling on campus, between a “challenging” first semester and then jumping full throttle into her studies.
Influenced by faculty members Art Lubetz and Laura Lee, Sarko flourished in the program and took away many principles she still uses in her current work.
"I remember two key components that stuck with me: Think about the people who use the building you’re designing, and have a strong concept for your project, which brings clarity to decisions and choices."
Melissa Sarko
Following stints at firms in the Pittsburgh area, she and her husband decided to move to New York because much of his consulting work was there. “We found our place and our people in New York City, where many of our closest friends are former CMU classmates,” she said.
She also found her workplace at Ennead Architects, a firm dedicated to civic architecture across multiple typologies and scales, where she’s been for more than 20 years and where she continues to work on exciting projects that she finds fulfilling.
For those currently students and recent alumni from the School of Architecture, she offered advice that has served her well.
“Be open to new ideas and feedback from colleagues,” she said. “Remember to enjoy wherever you are, while you’re there in the moment. If you’re passionate and engaged, you will find your success.”
Brent Buck
Brent Buck (BArch 2003) hails from a family of masons and plasterers in Curtice, Ohio. There was something about making things with your hands that fascinated him. His interest in science and math blended with the craftsman in him to lead him to the field of architecture. An experience in Toledo as part of a design competition led by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) led Buck to the summer pre-college program at Carnegie Mellon’s School of Architecture, which then culminated in his enrolling in the program.
“I found at CMU a wholistic approach to architecture,” he said. “The course of study wasn’t delineated one way or the other. You had the freedom to make choices.”
Buck embraced Pittsburgh, especially the neighborhoods surrounding Carnegie Mellon, and enjoyed exploring arts venues like Carnegie Museum and The Mattress Factory. He found inspiration in faculty like Doug Cooper, Gerard Damian and Dutch McDonald, from whom he learned three principles he passes on to young architects today: patience, compromise, humility.
Those ideals guided Buck as he completed his master’s degree at Yale and then during a decade of apprenticing for architects in New York. About 10 years ago, he decided to hang out his own shingle, creating Brent Buck Architects. The firm focuses on a variety of project types; no two projects are the same.
“I was humbled to take the next step after my time at CMU, Yale and my work experience,” Buck said. “To be able to do this is a gift. It’s an amazing, rewarding profession for me.”
Buck instills that enthusiasm in his colleagues and when guiding young professionals. Research, he said, is key to architectural work, and he hopes to raise young architects to be thinkers.
"We can solve problems on small and large levels. But to do either, you have to bring humility to your day-to-day process. You have to listen. You learn so much every day, and we’re still learning. When clients want certain things, you must understand their needs and their goals, and that often means compromising. It’s a collective effort."
Brent Buck
Buck’s firm recently was honored by AIA for its work on a Williamsburg (Brooklyn) townhouse project that was built, in part, reusing materials from old buildings in the region. The firm also created New York City’s first legal CLT project: an all-wood building in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. CLT is cross-laminated timber, which is considered a sustainable and renewable alternative to materials like concrete and steel, offering a lower carbon footprint.
Buck’s approach to all projects, despite their differences, is similar.
“You have to have patience. It’s not instant gratification,” he said. “It takes time. It’s a long game. And there’s joy and humility in that.”
featuring the following:
images of their work, courtesy of Melissa Sarko and Brent Buck
photography by Pam Wigley
read more:
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