Meet Our Student: Luke Vastano

Luke has recently been elected as the Northeast Quad Director for the American Institute of Architecture Students for the 2025-2026 term. He is currently earning his Bachelor of Architecture and will continue in the MS in Urban Design program after graduation.

Why did you choose Jefferson?

Jefferson has a highly regarded architecture program, and it is also close to home for me! I love Philadelphia, and going to school in the city was always a goal of mine. I chose to continue graduate school at Jefferson because I fell in love with the Urban Design program and how our curriculum includes using Philadelphia as a classroom for learning!

Where are you from?

I am originally from Vineland, New Jersey.

What is the best part of your studies?

The best part of my studies must be the constant collaboration opportunities. Being able to interact with the professional environment in Philadelphia, learn from practitioners, and build relationships with your peers and professors is something that I think Jefferson does very well. Our part-time faculty are always eager to involve us in their projects and show us how the profession operates while we are still learning.

What’s something people would be surprised to find out about you?

I studied abroad in Rome for six weeks in the summer!

Tell us about a project you’ve worked on.

One project I have worked on is a multimedia library that questions the role of a "library" within a community. Libraries are no longer places where you only find endless shelves of books. They are places where people work virtually, access resources they do not have at home, where students do homework, and even where after school programs help youth learn and grow. Libraries are a place where the community defines how it is used, and designers are tasked with designing a place that acknowledges this and allows the community to grow into this malleable shared space.

What is the AIAS National Chapter Leader Award?

The AIAS National Chapter Leader of the Year Award is the highest award bestowed upon an AIAS Chapter Leader for their outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to the consistent growth and development of the AIAS chapter on their campus. The award is given to one individual across the entire organization.