May MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 2026

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Brittney Sooksengdao

Brittney Sooksengdao, AIA, NOMA, WELL AP

Brittney Sooksengdao: DESIGNING WITH PURPOSE AND HUMAN CONNECTION

Brittney Sooksengdao, Assoc. AIA, WELL AP, is an architect and emerging leader whose work bridges design excellence, wellness, and social impact. As an Architect at Gensler in Washington, DC, Brittney contributes to workplace and interior environments that prioritize human experience, inclusivity, and meaningful connection. Her work reflects a belief that architecture can shape not only how people interact with space, but also how they feel, collaborate, and thrive within it.

A graduate of Yale University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Architecture while competing as an NCAA Division I varsity gymnast, Brittney later completed her Master of Architecture degree at Virginia Tech. Her academic and professional journey has been grounded in both technical rigor and a strong understanding of people-centered design, with particular interests in wellness, workplace environments, and equitable design practices.

Beyond her project work, Brittney consistently uses design as a platform for advocacy and connection. Her approach combines technical expertise with empathy and intentionality, reinforcing her belief that thoughtful design can positively influence both individuals and communities.

LEADING THROUGH EQUITY AND ADVOCACY

Brittney’s dedication to leadership and advocacy is evident throughout her professional and community work. At Gensler, she serves as the Southeast Regional Co-Lead of the firm’s Global Inclusion Committees, helping lead initiatives focused on equity, representation, and inclusion across eight offices. Through this role, she helps cultivate conversations and programming centered on creating more inclusive workplace cultures and design practices.

She also developed and facilitates a monthly workshop series designed to equip colleagues, clients, and collaborators with tools to better understand and integrate equity and inclusion into both workplace culture and the design process. Her leadership reflects a belief that meaningful change within the profession begins with intentional conversations, education, and advocacy.

Her commitment to advancing equity extends beyond the studio. Brittney was also the co-founder and co-editor of a publication focused on dismantling unconscious bias within architecture and design, reflecting her ongoing dedication to creating a more inclusive and representative profession.

As the proud daughter of Lao refugees and a first-generation college graduate, Brittney also brings an important personal perspective to conversations around representation and access within the industry. These experiences continue to shape how she leads, mentors, and advocates for future generations of designers.

FROM ATHLETE TO ARCHITECT: A FOUNDATION OF DISCIPLINE AND WELLNESS

Before becoming an architect, Brittney was a Division I varsity gymnast at Yale University — an experience that helped shape her understanding of discipline, resilience, teamwork, and leadership. The lessons learned through athletics continue to influence both her professional approach and personal philosophy today.

Outside of architecture, Brittney has spent nearly a decade teaching yoga sculpt classes in the Washington, DC area, cultivating spaces centered on empowerment, wellness, and collective growth. She previously served as an instructor at CorePower Yoga, where she led teacher trainings for three years before spending two years building her own teaching platform through both online and in-person classes that reached more than 100 students across the DC region. During that time, she also organized fundraiser-based fitness classes supporting nonprofit organizations and local minority-owned businesses, using wellness as a tool for community engagement and advocacy.

Since 2022, Brittney has continued to grow and lead the yoga sculpt program at Flow Yoga Center, further expanding her impact within the wellness community. This intersection of architecture, wellness, and human experience has become central to her identity as both a designer and leader. Her work reflects a broader belief that wellness and design are deeply interconnected, and that both have the power to positively impact how people experience the world around them.

BUILDING SPACE FOR OTHERS

Whether mentoring emerging professionals, facilitating conversations around inclusion, teaching fitness classes, or designing spaces that prioritize human wellbeing, Brittney approaches every aspect of her work with empathy and intentionality.

In 2023, she was recognized as a Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program (CKLDP) Scholar, honoring her growing impact and leadership within the architecture and design community. She has also been featured in interviews and conversations focused on mentorship, leadership, identity, and the importance of creating more inclusive spaces within the profession.

Through every role she holds — designer, advocate, mentor, instructor, and leader — Brittney continues to champion equity, wellness, and human-centered design. She represents a new generation of leadership within architecture: technically skilled, community-centered, and deeply committed to creating spaces and opportunities that empower others.

DC NOMA is proud to spotlight Brittney Sooksengdao and her continued contributions to design excellence, advocacy, and inclusive professional growth.