Meet the Adjuncts: KSSers Share Why They’re Headed Back to School

Education is a cornerstone of KSS Architects’ practice. We believe in advancing our staff’s, clients’, and the next generation’s understanding of architecture and the positive impact it can have on our communities and sharing that knowledge aligns with KSS’s culture of experimentation, mentorship, and commitment to continuous improvement.

We sat down with two of our New York-based architect educators, Angelo Capobianco, RA, WELL AP, and Raymond Sova, RA, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Associate, to discuss what drew them to teaching and what they’re looking forward to this semester.

What brought you to teaching architecture at your respective schools?

Angelo Capobianco (AC): Passion, hard work, and a little bit of luck. I first realized I would love to teach architecture during my third or fourth year in school. Architecture school is full of whimsy and exploration. Students are challenged to push themselves and their ideas. It’s a free space to be creative, which excites me to no end.

Raymond Sova (RS): I love being an architect, and part of my motivation for teaching is to help bridge the gap between academia and the professional world. I truly believe students benefit when their instructors are actively connected to professional practice. On a personal level, I always wished I had more access to architects I could ask questions to and learn from, and teaching has become my way of giving that same access to a new generation of designers.

What is your proudest moment as a teacher? Your most challenging?

AC: As a novice adjunct professor with real-world experience, each class was a time for me to be proud. Seeing students learning and growing each week is so rewarding, as was hearing my students share that they could see my passion shine through during class. My biggest challenge was supporting students as they navigated unexpected life experiences. Everyone comes from different backgrounds, I helped students on an individual basis to manage classwork though sometimes tough life situations.

RS: Honestly, my proudest and most challenging moments as a teacher were the same: getting through that very first semester. Reaching the end felt like a major accomplishment, especially watching how much my students had grown along the way. At the same time, it was humbling — I could see so many things I wished I had done differently. In a way, that’s the best part, because those lessons have given me a ton of motivation and ideas for how to make the class even better the next time around.

How does teaching/mentoring help your own architecture practice?

AC: Teaching inspires me. I can take the inspiration I get from my students weekly and apply that same passion towards real-life projects. Being around them is a constant reminder to keep exploring and keep pushing myself.

RS: It’s one thing to feel comfortable with your everyday job responsibilities, but it’s a whole different experience to teach those skills to others. Teaching has a way of revealing gaps in your own understanding and challenges you to rethink topics you thought you knew well. It gives you a chance to revisit your knowledge, see things from new angles, and spark fresh ideas in the process.

Are you teaching again this semester? And at what institution?

AC: I am teaching again at NJIT’s Hillier College of Architecture and Design. The class is Tools & Techniques II for first year architecture students. During the semester, students will learn different software used in the profession and how to convey design intent through drawing. I’m very much looking forward to it.

RS: I’m really looking forward to my fourth semester teaching at Alfred State College’s School of Architecture. I’ll be diving into Advanced Structural Concepts, a course that gives students a closer look at complex architectural designs and the software tools that bring those designs to life. I’m excited to see how they approach these challenges and to explore new ways to guide their learning.

Angelo and Ray embody the KSS ethos, Today for Tomorrow. Through their commitment to educating future generations of architects, they are learning and growing as mentors, professionals, and design advocates.