Graduate Student + Aspiring Architect
Jenna Renée Ims

Jenna's passion for design began as a young girl, accompanying her realtor mother on local showings while watching her father remodel their family home. They recognized the architect in her from the very beginning when she would draw two-story elevations on an Etch-A-Sketch. These interests would carry over into high school through her four-year interior design program, and then eventually onto college where she attended the University of Florida and UF CityLab's School of Architecture to pursue her dream of becoming an architect. Ms. Ims loves all aspects of design, from details to diagrams, and she especially enjoys sharing her love of design with others. Jenna is eager to begin her architectural career and path to licensure where she hopes to one day open her own practice, designing anything from residences, museums, and even art installations and production sets for music festivals. Down the road, however, she would love to return to teaching studio, history, and theory.



  • 6 years
    6 year architectural education
  • 5 years
    5 years work experience
  • 5 years
    5 year in business
Education
UF CityLab Graduate School of Architecture
After completing my Bachelors at UF Main Campus, I chose to pursue the next facet of my education at UF CityLab in Downtown Orlando where my theoretical ventures met technical application. CityLab has given me the joyous opportunity to be a Graduate Teaching Assistant for students who are also pursuing a M.Arch degree, but studied majors unrelated to design. This experience has allowed me to share my passion for architecture and the fundamental ways in which UF SoA curriculum shapes design-thinking. At CityLab, I am focused on completing my Master of Architecture degree while writing and creating my MRP, "Reinterpreting Ancient Sacred Space: Place, Phenomenology, and Making in Tulum, Mexico's Cenotes". This thesis project, thus far, has been a way to synthesize and test my philosophy as a young designer while addressing real-world problems and creating meaningful architecture. I will forever be grateful for the perspective and level of professionalism that the University of Florida has instilled in me.
Vicenza Institute of Architecture
Study Abroad program in Vicenza, Italy through the University of Florida. Traveled around and to various countries in the EU, including Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and Hungary. This semester was cut abruptly short due to the COVID-19 pandemic breaking out in our region, and therefore, I had to finish the semester virtually.
University of Florida Undergraduate School of Architecture
Bachelor's Degree in Architecture at the University of Florida with interests in Sustainability & the Built Environment. The vast curriculum and approach to design-thinking at the University of Florida greatly influenced the way in which I think and approach architecture.
Lake Brantley High School
Graduated Summa Cum Laude and a 4.4 GPA. Took several AP and honors courses while also playing volleyball and participating in the school's Interior Design program for all four years.
Work experience
Architectural Designer II at Zyscovich Architects, 2024-2025
Designer II touches almost every article of work that leaves the office and has played a key role in developing, producing, and packaging projects. In many ways, the image of the firm and the success of our projects are defined by how well this group or individual performs.

Designer II's have three to five years of experience and must possess the temperament, intelligence, talent, and skill set to learn and improve the way we design, document, and build. They are identifying directions within the design practice they will want to pursue in greater depth while learning all aspects of the design process spectrum.

In Jenna's case, she is second in command when it comes to design to Managing Director and Head of Design for the Winter Park office, John Cunningham. She handles every project proposal and plays a key role in the planning, design, and detailing of all new projects that come through the firm. She has proven herself through winning design competitions, crafting proposals, and becoming a a key resource is upholding Zyscovich's aesthetic design standards.

ZYSCOVICH is an international master planning, architecture, and interior design firm with multiple locations in Florida, NYC, and Colombia. Our broad range of experience includes large-scale mixed-use, transportation, educational, commercial, retail, and multi-family residential, and hospitality projects.
Architectural Designer I at Zyscovich Architects, 2022-2024
Responsible for specific technical design aspects of an assigned major project, including investigation, evaluation, and recommendation of design solutions that best meets the client's needs. Provides professional architectural consultation in the planning, design, and coordination of large complex projects.

Designer I has between 1 and 3 years of experience and may in pursuit of a professional degree and must possess the temperament, intelligence, talent, and skills set to learn and improve the way we design, document, and build.

ZYSCOVICH is an international master planning, architecture, and interior design firm with multiple locations in Florida, NYC, and Colombia. Our broad range of experience includes large-scale mixed-use, transportation, educational, commercial, retail, and multi-family residential, and hospitality projects.
Architectural Internship at Zyscovich Architects, 2022
Architectural interns assist in various tasks under the supervision of a licensed architect or firm. This typically includes drafting, modeling, research, and client communication. They may also help with project planning, scheduling, and construction documentation. They are often still in school and offer their free time to learning the profession and sharpening their technical skills.

ZYSCOVICH is an international master planning, architecture, and interior design firm with multiple locations in Florida, NYC, and Colombia. Our broad range of experience includes large-scale mixed-use, transportation, educational, commercial, retail, and multi-family residential, and hospitality projects.
Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Florida CityLab-Orlando
Assisted various CORE architecture studios. Acted as a mediator between the professor and students, clarifying assignments, providing tutorials, and facilitating each student's concept during office-hour meetings. Given my familiarity of UF's architecture curriculum, I was able to relate my own experience and understanding of the projects with that of my students. The CORE program is a fast-track M.Arch degree for those without a prior background in architecture.
Architectural Intern/Contractor at
Form and Light Architects
Intern and Contracted-Designer for a Small Firm with a wide variety of design, visualization and drafting assistance. This work required the ability to design dynamically across mediums including Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Design, Furniture/Industrial Design, and Architectural Competition Work. Specializing in mostly residential and clubhouse design, this job provided me with Project Management, Interior Design, and Construction Documentation experience. My experience here provided me the confidence to work independently while communicating efficiently with other members of the team as it was a remote position. It even encouraged me to start my LLC.



CAD Assistant at
Lane Electronics
Responsible for laying out the electrical, fire, and security systems in construction drawings on a number of jobs. These drawings were later submitted for permitting and approval by the State Fire Marshal and provided me much of the basis of my MEP knowledge.
Server at Bahama Breeze
Hired with Darden Restaurants to assist in the grand opening of new location in Gainesville, Florida. Among the first group of employees at this new location and was trained extensively on superior service and knowledge of menu items. Cultivated the Island Life culture and mantra. 
Saleswoman at PacSun
Cashier at Panera Bread
Program Skills
80%
REVIT
80%
SKETCHUP
70%
RHINO
90%
ENSCAPE/LUMION
70%
AUTOCAD
90%
ADOBE CREATIVE SUITE
Publications
Over the last six years, my work has been featured in an annual student architecture publication as well as my own graduate thesis project.
Reinterpreting Ancient Sacred Space: Place, Phenomenology, and Making in Tulum, Mexico's Cenotes
A holistic approach to rethinking how we occupy natural ancient sacred space. Both from the position of the indigenous user as well as the tourist. This project looks towards analyzing place (and the people) and our experience within other sacred spaces as a means to inform making and how we might begin to reoccupy the sacred cenotes that creates meaning and a mutual understanding for its importance.



MASTERS RESEARCH PROJECT

UF Architrave

A student-run architecture publication through the University of Florida. Featured in various volumes.


ARCHITRAVE
Awards
Granted Awards and Scholarships
ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) Lonnie G. Peterson Scholarship in Architecture Award Recipient, 2022
Her essay and visualizations illustrated ideas for the future of retail architecture, mainly focusing on the influence and integration of AI and other technologies in the overall consumer experience. She was awarded a $5,000 scholarship to continue her architectural studies.

Graduate Award for Excellence in Teaching, UF CityLab Orlando, 2022
For her time spent as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at UF CityLab teaching CORE students the basics of architectural thinking and strategy in various studio projects. CORE students are students who have a bachelor degree in something other than architecture who are pursuing a Master of Architecture. It is an accelerated masters program in which Jenna's previous time at University of Florida's main campus School of Architecture made her the perfect candidate. She was given a generous teaching stipend and worked one-on-one with these students, holding office hours, site visits, model building and photoshop workshops via Zoom to assist her students.





Volunteer Projects
Over the years, I've participated in a variety of art and design related volunteer projects.
Day of the Dead Music Festival Student Art Installation
Commissioned to do a student art installation for an upcoming music festival with the purpose of reusing materials to make an interactive, small-scale structure.



ARCABUILD INSTALLATION
Endless Summer
Helped facilitate small scale design-build projects to promote an ‘Art Walk’ community project in Gainesville, FL.




ARTWORK + ART WALK
Designed the new lobby space for the Superintendent's office for our school district. This included selecting furniture + fabrics, lighting, and creating artwork for the space.
Worked alongside the City Commissioner, Lee Constantine, to organize an annual charity field-day event for the large hospitality industry of Orlando, Florida.
Made on
Tilda