Meet Maria Luisa Castellanos | Florida registered architect

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maria Luisa Castellanos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria Luisa, what do you attribute your success to?
I am a very persistent person. I think this has a lot to do with my background and my studying architecture at Georgia Tech.

I come from an educated, Cuban family and my family expected that I would have a successful life. I was always an A student in grammar and high school. When I entered Georgia Tech, it was really difficult. I was competing with very good students. If you wanted to succeed there, you had to give it your all, so I became very persistent.

Other people may quit, but I never quit. I had to reinvent myself several times. First, we quit drafting on paper and I had to learn computer drafting. Then, when the recession of 2007 occurred, I had to build my first website to attract work. Today, my marketing is based on blogging continuously on important topics on architecture and construction in Miami. This works attracts new clients!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I think I am a good designer. I am also very dedicated to my clients. If they need something, I am there to help them.

My practice is just me, so my clients do not get delegated to the back of the pile to some junior architect. They get me, and I have over 30 years of experience. I have done all kinds of projects, here and abroad.

There is nothing easy about being an architect. You have basic knowledge about construction, but you also have to know how to get your plans permitted. You have to keep on top of the building departments, or you will never get your projects built. And each year, the building departments get worse!

Last year, I won the Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade Favorites Bronze Medal for the category of Remodeler/Contractor. This year, I won the Silver Medal for the Best Architecture Firm. I think that speaks for itself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am an architect. I would want to show them the wonderful neighborhoods with beautiful houses in Miami. I would show them Coral Gables, Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, Miami Beach, and downtown Miami. I would take them to walk around Coconut Grove.

I would take them to eat Thai food at either Moon Thai or Bangkok City.

I would take them to eat Cuban at La Casita or Havana Harry’s. I would take them to eat cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory.

I would take the Metrorail with them and then the People Mover and go to Brickell City Center.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Without a doubt, my parents were an inspiration. They had to come to this country in their mid-40s and start a new life. It must have been very scary, but that did not stop them. They built a successful life and put my sister and me through college.

I also have to recognize a friend of mine, Lourdes, a structural engineer, and my aunt, Natasha. Both were great mentors. They often gave me good advice. Unfortunately, both of them are dead now.

Website: https://www.UnitedArchitectsInc.com

Instagram: maria_luisa_castellanos

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marialuisacastellanos/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnitedArchitects/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/united-architects-coral-gables

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MLCastellanos12

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/unitedarchitect

Image Credits
Nuurs Ortiz was the photographer for the photograph with the teal cushions against the windows.

I took all the other photographs.