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BRISTOL, R.I. – In a dementia care unit, Cora McComiskey, a Master of Architecture student from Northbridge, Mass., began to see architecture differently.

She wasn’t sketching or building anything yet. Instead, she was observing, asking questions and trying to understand how people moved through the space around them, what felt familiar, what didn’t, and what made a place feel like home.

“I wanted to understand what constitutes home and comfort for individuals receiving full-time care,” McComiskey said.

The project, completed through a course in Environmental Design Research at �鶹ɫ��Ƭ, became a turning point. It shifted how she thought about design and what it could do beyond structure and form.

“There was a moment when I realized that the architectural field has great influence on how an individual with a form of dementia is experiencing their environment,” she said. “And the role that design can play in transforming the clinical, institutional model into something more comfortable, compassionate and home-like.”

That perspective now shapes how she approaches her work, grounding it in how people experience the spaces around them.

She didn’t return to �鶹ɫ��Ƭ because of that moment, but it helped her understand why she wanted to come back.

After earning her undergraduate degree in Architecture in 2022, McComiskey continued working while exploring accredited master’s programs. Around that same time, she was invited back to campus as a guest critic. Being back in the studio environment, surrounded by discussion and shared ideas, reinforced what she had already experienced as a student.

“The simplest answer is that returning to �鶹ɫ��Ƭ allowed me to essentially pick up where I left off,” McComiskey said. “But it’s also more than that.”

That “more” was rooted in the studio culture.

“There’s a strong sense of passion and community within studio,” she said. “It’s an environment where knowledge and skills are consistently shared among peers, professors and guests.”

That environment built on the foundation she developed as an undergraduate, where her coursework emphasized scholarly inquiry, collaboration and the fundamentals of architectural design. In graduate school, those ideas require deeper thinking and more intentional decision-making.

At the same time, her experience didn’t stop in the classroom.

Since 2022, McComiskey has worked at Maugel DeStefano Architects in Harvard, Mass., where she holds the title of Design Staff I. After starting full-time, she continued in the role part-time while pursuing her master’s degree, moving between professional and academic work.

“When I started, my only architectural experience was academic,” she said. “I had the eagerness to learn about and absorb as much about the industry as I possibly could.”

That eagerness quickly turned into direction. Early in her time at the firm, McComiskey became part of its emerging multifamily studio, an experience that helped shape her interests.

“Four years ago, I had no clear-cut direction,” she said. “Now I have a passion for housing, more specifically affordable housing, universal design and equitable design.”

Her work introduced her to client relationships, building code, construction documentation and the business side of architecture. At the same time, her graduate coursework reinforced those lessons, allowing each experience to inform the other.

“Having one foot in academics and one foot in the industry at the same time has really augmented my growth,” she said.

That balance between research and practice continues to guide her work.

The dementia care project that shifted her perspective has since evolved into her thesis, which focuses on reimagining dementia care housing as part of a larger, multigenerational community. The work responds to the projected increase of Alzheimer’s disease in the United States over the next 30 years and explores alternatives to traditional memory care models.

It also reflects how her approach to design has changed over time.

Early in her studies, McComiskey began each project by writing, developing narratives that described how a space would feel before translating those ideas into visual form. As her experience grew, she began incorporating vignettes and 3D digital modeling into her process.

“The process has always been centered around the experience of the user,” she said.

What has changed is how she defines that user, shaped by research, context and lived experience.

Outside of the studio, McComiskey’s time at �鶹ɫ��Ƭ has included moments that allowed her to step away from architecture and connect with the broader campus community. She attended the University’s Scholarship Appreciation Dinner in February 2025 and participated in the Campus Poetry Walk, including a meet-and-greet and keynote talk with poet Elisa Gonzalez.

“It was nice to step away from architecture for a brief moment to explore another interest of mine,” she said.

She also points to smaller moments that shaped her experience. During a summer studio that overlapped with Bristol’s Fourth of July celebrations, evenings meant walking across campus to visit food trucks and listen to live music before returning to her work.

Those moments offered a break from the intensity of studio, but also reinforced the balance she learned to maintain at �鶹ɫ��Ƭ.

“The biggest takeaway from all of my cumulative time at �鶹ɫ��Ƭ is the importance of clear communication,” she said.

As she prepares to graduate, McComiskey said her experiences have given her a clearer sense of direction. Her work has reinforced her interest in housing, particularly in affordability and accessibility, while her coursework has introduced her to areas such as policy-making, financing and real estate development.

“I intend to continue learning and staying informed about the regulatory environment,” she said.

Looking back, McComiskey said her time at �鶹ɫ��Ƭ shaped not only how she designs, but how she understands the impact of that work.

“I’ve learned a lot both in and out of the classroom by having opportunities to branch out, try different things and be exposed to a variety of topics and vantage points,” she said. “My time here has allowed me to grow personally and professionally.”