Ryan Ragona

Degree: B.A. in Architecture
Graduation Year: 2027
Hometown: Charlotte, NC

How did you first get interested in architecture?
Art related fields have been a part of my life since I was young, both my parents work in design for a living and they had a huge impact in helping me express my creative side whether that was through drawing or modeling. But I didn’t settle on architecture until I was in high school, where I took some of the drafting and civil engineering and product design classes where I got to make things that would benefit others, and I further developed a love of architecture from being exposed to different buildings from traveling. 

What kind of career do you hope to have?
I hope to obtain my architecture license for my goal of running a firm later down the road.

What is your favorite thing about the David R. Ravin School of Architecture?
I like the atmosphere STORRS has where I can work independently on my project but at the same time can pester my friends to get their opinions and help me further push my design in a way I didn’t or couldn’t see. I never feel like I have to be stuck on a design because everyone is always happy to help input their thoughts.

When you are not in class, studying, or working, what do you like to do for fun?
Some of my smaller hobbies are watching movies, drawing, folding origami, and gaming which are mostly for relaxing, but I’m very big on horror films and syfy. My favorite horror film is “As above so below”. I also love history and started a new hobby of collecting and owning historical objects. I currently own a Roman coin from Emperor Constantine II and am looking at getting a Spinosaurus tooth. I prefer learning about architecture in ancient civilizations and what those structures symbolize to those civilizations. But I like to explore other areas of history outside of architecture like learning about prehistoric animals such as dinosaurs and their modern day fossils. I also love pirate ships and their history.