Gabriel Castro-Andrade, 2024 Summer Intern at TEN Arquitectos

This summer, I had the opportunity to collaborate with T.E.N., an internationally renowned architecture firm celebrated for its large-scale projects across cultural, educational, and governmental sectors. My primary responsibilities included designing the western façade of the main office tower of the CENACE campus (Mexico's national electrical company) in Mexico City, reimagining the entrance to the canteen, developing the structural system for the solar panel canopy over the garages, and designing the landscape between buildings, including a central 100m x 100m park. The team at T.E.N. was among the most welcoming and supportive professionals I've had the pleasure of working with. They fostered an open environment where no question was off-limits, and they were always willing to assist with my project work or engage in casual conversations throughout the day.

Working in a different country and culture taught me the importance of adaptability, open-mindedness, and cultural sensitivity in a professional setting. One of the most significant lessons I learned was how work culture can vary greatly between countries, influencing everything from communication styles to team dynamics. For example, while working with T.E.N. in Mexico, I noticed that there was a strong emphasis on building personal relationships with colleagues. Unlike in the U.S., where work relationships often remain more formal, my experience in Mexico involved more social interaction outside of work hours. Regular team lunches and social outings, such as our Friday gatherings, were not just commonplace but integral to the work environment. These activities fostered a sense of camaraderie that directly contributed to a collaborative and supportive atmosphere in the office. Additionally, I learned to appreciate the different approaches to problem-solving and design that stem from cultural perspectives. In Mexico, there was a strong emphasis on contextual design that respected local traditions and environmental conditions. For instance, in designing the landscape for the CENACE campus, I had to consider how the design would harmonize with the local climate and cultural aesthetics, something that required me to step out of my usual design process and integrate new ideas.

When I first arrived in Mexico, I expected that, since we shared the same language, I would fit right in linguistically. But it quickly became clear that the Spanish spoken in Mexico and the Spanish I grew up with in Ecuador were sometimes worlds apart. It was a fascinating, and at times amusing, learning experience that highlighted the deep connections between language and culture. One of the first memorable moments was when I asked for a "mandarina" (tangerine) at a fruit stand. In Ecuador, we simply call them that, but the vendor looked puzzled and asked if I meant a "naranja china." It caught me off guard because I had never heard of a tangerine referred to that way. This was the first of many small moments where I had to adjust my vocabulary to the local context, and it sparked a curiosity in me to pay closer attention to how everyday words could be so deeply tied to national identity.

This experience in Mexico City taught me a great deal about my resilience, adaptability, and the value of immersing myself in unfamiliar environments. I learned that, while I’m deeply connected to my roots in Ecuador, I thrive in diverse cultural settings where challenges are less about technical obstacles and more about building relationships, trust, and mutual understanding. It made me realize how much I enjoy the process of navigating cultural nuances and how critical it is for me, as an architect, to engage with the human side of design—whether that means working with laborers on a construction site or finding common ground with colleagues from different backgrounds. One significant takeaway was understanding that architecture is not just about constructing buildings, but about creating spaces that respond to the social, cultural, and economic contexts of the people who inhabit them.

There was an unspoken cultural dynamic at play. Being a foreigner who wasn’t part of the daily construction team, I was met with a certain level of skepticism from the workers. While my research was well-intentioned, it wasn’t immediately clear to them why I was there or how I would benefit the project. The initial resistance wasn’t hostile, but it was clear that trust needed to be earned, and I had to approach the situation differently than I would have back home. To address this challenge, I leaned into patience and persistence. I took a step back and recognized that, in Mexico, institutional processes often require flexibility and an understanding of interpersonal relationships. I spent more time connecting with the workers outside of the formalities—having informal conversations with them over coffee, asking about their experiences, and showing genuine interest in their work. I also sought advice from locals who had more experience navigating these systems, which helped me adjust my approach and learn what steps to take next. Eventually, after a few weeks of building rapport and working through the administrative hurdles, I gained the access I needed. The foreman and workers became more comfortable with my presence on site, and I was able to carry out the research as planned. This experience taught me the importance of cultural sensitivity, patience, and relationship-building in overcoming institutional challenges in a different country. It also deepened my appreciation for how much culture shapes the professional and bureaucratic landscape.

The time I spent in construction sites, watching the workers and listening to their stories, shifted my perspective on the responsibility of architects in shaping environments that respect labor and cultural specificity. It reinforced my interest in labor and migration within the built environment, which aligns with my thesis work at MIT. This experience also solidified my desire to work across borders, integrating international experiences into my career. It has influenced how I approach my education at MIT, pushing me to be more intentional about incorporating global perspectives into my design work and research. I’ve become more focused on projects that address societal challenges through a culturally sensitive lens, whether that's related to labor, migration, or social justice. Looking beyond MIT, this experience has clarified my goals: I want to continue working internationally, applying the lessons I’ve learned about cultural adaptability and institutional navigation to create designs that are not only functional but that honor the people, environments, and cultures they serve.

This experience in Mexico City had a profound impact on my personal goals, reinforcing my desire to be a well-balanced and centered designer who can foster professional environments built on openness and mutual respect. The warmth and social openness I encountered there showed me the value of creating spaces—both physically and socially—where people feel welcome, supported, and free to collaborate. It reaffirmed my belief that design is not just about buildings or spaces but also about cultivating a positive team culture that values inclusion and openness. I realized that being a successful designer involves more than technical skill; it requires the ability to lead and nurture diverse, respectful teams where everyone feels empowered to contribute. This experience made me even more committed to fostering environments where equity and collaboration are prioritized, shaping how I want to approach team-building in my future work.