Founding ISAPD: Nathan Becenti ‘24 M.Arch

Today

Who

Nathan Becenti '24 M.Arch

What

Student Profile

9 Questions with Nathan Becenti

“I want to be the person I wish I had in undergrad. With the Indigenous Society of Architecture, Planning and Design, I have been working on exposing my members to indigenous design while also providing opportunities to learn about the professional field.”

Nathan Becenti joined the CAPLA community with a wealth of experience from the vastly different worlds of Tohatchi on the Navajo Nation in Northern New Mexico and UNLV where he completed his undergraduate degree. He knew very little about architecture from growing up on the reservation, and started a new club at CAPLA to encourage greater representation within the field.

What brought you to the University of Arizona?

Before Arizona, I studied at UNLV and got my Bachelor of Science in Architecture. I got into my first firm when I was 21 and worked on projects that I could only dream of, such as shops in the hotels on the Las Vegas strip and high-end luxury car dealerships. After working on community projects and tribal work at that same firm, I realized that the glossy luxury hospitality work wasn’t particularly my favorite cup of tea. I then realized that I was more concerned with how architecture connects with the land and how I can incorporate indigenous design within my projects. Vegas would not have been able to teach me that, so I came to CAPLA to learn the rawness of the southwest.

What has been your biggest challenge, and how have you overcome that challenge?

So far, my biggest challenge is making time for myself. I push myself a little too much sometimes and it starts to affect my health. I had a great mentor tell me to “save some time for young guy stuff.” I remind myself to enjoy life and that not everything has to be strictly architecture. Now, I give myself some time each day to unwind and cook. I also give myself one night off a week. Since doing this, I have noticed my quality of work improve.

If you have a particular focus or interest area in your degree, what is it and what excites you most about it?

As a result of growing up on the reservation, I have been interested in Indigenous Design from the beginning. I have always been curious about it, and while in grad school, I have been researching more into it with every project. I like to examine traditional techniques and merge them with modern building techniques. I like to have those small indigenous notions in my projects and it reminds me of the stories and memories from my childhood.

What do you like best about your degree program and CAPLA?

The grad program here is so much fun. People take for granted what we have here, I only know because I came from another school. We had a workshop at my previous school, but it was such a hassle to gain access and use the lab that I never stepped foot in it. I have been able to experiment so much here. I feel like I have had the freedom to explore topics that I am interested in. I have been able to explore topics that I did not get to explore in my undergrad.

What does the CAPLA experience mean to you?

The CAPLA experience to me means passion. Especially in my cohort, everyone is so passionate about what they do and how they do it. It’s also fun to meet so many different people from all walks of life and around the world. Everyone has different perspectives that I can learn from.

What internships or other working experiences have you had, and what are your career aspirations?

I started at Aptus, my first architecture firm in Las Vegas, when I was a third-year undergraduate student. I was never comfortable in that office, in the best way possible. I was always learning something new and my boss let me know that it was ok not to know stuff. I assisted a project and senior architects every day. After a year or so, I was given two projects to manage. I was so happy when I got my first project, and I was excited to see what it would grow into. After I graduated, I took on more of a role as a designer and started to get into project management. I then moved to Tucson and started at Line and Space. That office aligns with all of my design philosophies. Everyone in that office is passionate about what they do and the attention to detail is a whole different ball game. The mentors I have there are the best that I could ever ask for. I continue to learn more and more every day that I am there.

Do you participate in any extracurricular activities? Can you tell me about your involvement with ISAPD?

I think I am in too many extracurricular activities for a grad student. I am part of the American Indian and Indigenous Health Alliance (AIIHA) which has sand volleyball every Wednesday and a hiking series that keeps me moving during the semester. I am a member of the American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES) which helps me understand the STEM field and the engineering side of architecture. I am also on the Architecture Student Advisory Committee as the M. Arch third-year representative and club outreach here at CAPLA.

I also started up a new chapter of the Indigenous Society of Architecture Planning and Design (ISAPD). ISAPD’s mission is to bring awareness to indigenous design. Coming from the reservation, I had no idea what architecture was and when I got to school I had to go and seek help myself. I have experience in Vegas and around the Southwest with firms and networking while on the AIAS UNLV board. I also have a whole team of mentors I have gained over the years. With these resources, I want to be the person I wish I had in undergrad. I didn’t even know of any Native architects until my 4th year. With the club, I have been working on exposing my members to indigenous design while also providing opportunities to learn about the professional field. I also have had the privilege to attend various tabling events around campus where I can talk to the Native youth about architecture. I am excited to see what this chapter will grow into once I graduate.

What are your hobbies and passions?

I am very passionate about architecture in general. For me, it never feels like work. I specifically love indigenous design, an approach developed over thousands of years with all natural materials. I love the traditional mud and ponderosa pine Navajo Hogans the most.

At UNLV, it wasn’t unheard of for students to hand draft their work. Everyone had developed their own drawing style and I started to do the same. After about three years, my hand drafting style has matured and I have been able to do fully analog projects from time to time. This led me into the art world. So far, I have been in multiple galleries in Vegas and one here in Tucson. I also recently made the invited artists list for the United by the Art Gallery. My work will be featured in that gallery for the next couple of months. I didn’t think of myself as an artist, until one of the professors here told me, “You are an artist, explore like an artist.” I love taking the artist architect approach and it’s where I find myself the most in my projects.

When I’m not doing architecture, I like to skate around campus, check out coffee shops and visit museums. I would like to compete in archery again once I finish up my masters.

What advice do you have for prospective CAPLA students?

Architecture is the bridge between art and engineering. It’s about experiences and the spaces those take place in. Architecture doesn’t have to be only buildings. I tend to see and explore it everywhere I go, from art galleries to the desert landscape. There is always something to pull from you just have to find it.

Featured Student Work

Tierra Firma: Sandpainted Architectural Plans – 4th Year Studio, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

A closer look at Tierra Firma, a research station project near Death Valley designed by Nathan Becenti. These sandpainted architectural plans merge Indigenous artistry with modern design, drawing inspiration from the traditional Navajo sand painting technique. Encouraged by his mentor, Eric Strain, Becenti integrated cultural storytelling into his work, creating floor plans, sections, and elevations that reflect both his heritage and architectural vision.

People's Oasis: Indigenous Studio – 2nd Year Studio, University of Arizona

Created during the ARC 510E: Design Studio V – Community | Indigenous Design Studio, People’s Oasis explores Indigenous design principles under the guidance of Laura Carr. The cultural context map, The College, represents Tuba City, integrating elements of Navajo culture, while the accompanying haiku conveys the project’s vision. The renderings depict the Chapter House and Community Center, designed by Nathan Becenti and Peter Hall as part of the Tuba City Chapter Track Master Plan, which was honored with the 2024 AIA Arizona Design with Community Award.