MEET OUR TEAM: Abbey Slinker, AIA
This series will highlight a different SKOLNICK team member each month, offering readers a glimpse into our process, office culture, and the people who make it all possible. Below is an interview with Abbey Slinker, AIA, Intermediate Architect.
Why did you join SKOLNICK?
I genuinely love the work that SKOLNICK does. The work is creative and varied, both important criteria for me when I was looking for the right studio. It’s also a good size- you get to see the other cool projects people are working on, even if you’re not directly involved.
What do you love most about what you do?
It feels different every day, which is pretty awesome. I can be studying something at a very micro level one day and a very macro level the next. I could be out at a site visit, or creating some visually compelling imagery for a client. It keeps things interesting.
What is your favorite building of all time and why?
Cleo Rogers Memorial Library by I.M. Pei. I grew up going to this library and always felt it was a special place. The building has a warmth to it, and there are details that really spoke to me back then and still do. It’s also very contextual in terms of site planning, including a lovely Henry Moore sculpture commissioned by Pei.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I enjoy walking around the city, taking photos, trying different restaurants. I love to read, paint, and listen to music. In December 2020, my boyfriend and I began trying to walk every street in Manhattan. We’re almost finished! During this project, I became interested in photographing and cataloging cornices. I even started an Instagram page to document them. Cornices are one of the most beautiful, unique things about New York City architecture and it takes some effort to notice them.
I also enjoy painting and have been focused on creating really dense, heterogeneous, isometric compositions for the last few years (see below).
What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?
A professor once told me to always stay curious. This may seem simple, but I have always carried it with me, and I think it has helped me reach where I am today. If you look at everything you do with curiosity, there will be a thoughtfulness and attention to detail that might not be there otherwise.