UNCG Interior Architecture

Over the past year, our department admin, Lauren Matlosz, coached former IAR student, Noon, through the Silver Experience offered through the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement Spartan Leadership Challenge series. Having completed both the Bronze and Silver experiences herself, Lauren believes the program offers students meaningful opportunities to grow personally, professionally, and as leaders within their communities.

“Leadership begins with curiosity, grows through connection, and becomes meaningful when it creates space for others to feel valued, heard, and empowered. I am grateful for OLCE's commitment to fostering leadership development opportunities to all students at UNCG.” -Lauren

Congratulations to Noon and Lauren on this accomplishment and their continued commitment to leadership, connection, and community engagement at UNC Greensboro



Photo: Betsy Blake Photography

Class of 2026: Jason Rich Redesigns His Future through Interior Architecture After years away from school, transfer student Jason Rich ’26 found his place in UNCG’s Interior Architecture program, where studio culture,...

As campus quiets down for the summer, and our new alumni continue to share their excitement for their next chapters in life, we wanted to extend our deepest gratitude to the IARc Commencement Address speaker, Lakiesha Stanley, a beloved alumni of our BFA program.

Lakiesha, a Healthcare Interior Designer and Associate at Gresham Smith, started her journey in medicine as an Emergency Room Nurse. Lakiesha often shares that she traded in her scrubs to have an even greater impact—designing healing environments that benefit many patients at once. Her contribution to her community, and to our department in particular, has been nothing less than awe-inspiring.

To our most recent alumni, we ask that you remember her challenge to you "—not just to design buildings or spaces, but to design experiences that matter."

What an incredible way to wrap up the semester and school year. We are so proud of all of our Interior Architecture students for the hard work, creativity, and dedication they brought to this semester’s projects and presentations. From 1st to 4th year studios, every project reflected thoughtful design, strong concepts, and countless hours spent in studio preparing for crit week.

Crit week can be one of the most stressful and demanding times of the semester, and we are so proud of every student for persevering through long nights, deadlines, and presentations with such passion and determination. Every project looked amazing, and it has been exciting to watch each student grow throughout the year.

Thank you to our students and faculty for making this year such an inspiring one. We hope everyone has a wonderful summer, and we cannot wait to see everyone back in the studio this August!

Sophia Weaver is a rising 4th year student in the Department of Interior Architecture and a student member of UNCG's Lloyd International Honors College.

Sophia was one of four students to be selected for the Pubantz Artist in Residence program offered through the Honors College. This program asks students to propose bold, creative projects which the students develop across an entire academic year.

Sophia's project focused on upcycling and repurposing old furniture into new pieces to promote sustainable practices and explore ways to address wastefulness in the furniture industry. Her project began when she inherited (in addition to several other pieces) three different bedframes from her grandmother. Rather than get rid of the extras - an idea was born to repurpose and reuse different elements and entire pieces to create something entirely new. Sophia began collecting additional pieces - some donated from family and friends - to collect a range of materials and mechanisms to explore how each piece could be reinvented to create a complete set of furniture for her living spaces.

For her residency, she focused on a few select pieces like a pair of Singer sewing tables that she has repurposed into side tables, a bed frame, and a night stand.
Sophia's vision for the future is to repurpose most, if not all, of the pieces she has received into fresh designs with new life.

Outside of her work in Interior Architecture, Sophia is also a talented commission artist who creates hand-drawn pet portraits and other works.

Check her out! Instagram -

Please join us in congratulating all the students who were recognized at our annual IARc Student Awards Ceremony this week.

The excellence of our student body is unmatched, and we are honored to be part of each of your academic and professional journeys.

For those in attendance, we welcome you to post your pictures and tag us so that we can share with everyone else to see!

Alumnus Cameron Johnson ‘22 is honored to be recognized as part of Future100.

"For me, architecture has always been more than the creation of buildings—it is a depository of stories, a bridge between reason and imagination, and a means of shaping communities with intention.

I completed my undergraduate studies in Interior Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where I developed a foundation rooted in research, and curiosity, shaped by a deeper consideration of people and place. I went on to pursue my graduate studies in architecture, where my work expanded to explore how architecture can frame experience—engaging themes of perception, time, and human connection while remaining grounded in real social and cultural contexts.

One of the most impactful aspects of my education has been the studio environment, where collaboration, critique, and shared exploration have continuously pushed my thinking forward. These experiences have reinforced my belief that meaningful design comes through both discipline and openness—a willingness to question, refine, and grow.

As I look ahead, I am committed to continuing this pursuit—designing with intention, creating spaces of significance, and contributing to a built environment that invites curiosity and care."

Current 4th year Interior Architecture student, Hannah Oakley, has been recognized as part of the Future100, highlighting emerging designers across the country. Her work reflects a thoughtful, research-driven approach that prioritizes human experience and meaningful impact.

Through her time at UNC Greensboro, Hannah has developed a design process rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and intentionality. She emphasizes the importance of understanding users on a deeper level and creating spaces that go beyond aesthetics to truly support the people who inhabit them.

She shares that one of the most rewarding aspects of the program has been the relationships built within the studio environment, where collaboration and shared experiences shape both personal and creative growth. As she looks ahead, Hannah plans to continue exploring opportunities in the DC area, with a focus on growing as a designer and creating impactful, human-centered work.

It's almost Crit Week, and we're happy to announce the line up of studio projects being presented!

See a project you're interested in seeing? Come over to UNC Greensboro's Maud Gatewood Studio Art Building to take a look! Times and room numbers are located on each image.

to our annual Spring Crit Week! One week from today marks the beginning of Crit Week. We cordially invite you to attend one or more of our sessions (see images) that will highlight our BFA studio sequence. If you have any questions, please reach out to Interior Architecture Department Head, Travis Hicks, at [email protected].