2019 Airport Business Top 40 under 40 Monika Miller, AIA, NCARB

Monika Miller enjoys being able to walk the operations side of airports. However, her first thought of a career was not always in aviation. Miller got into the aviation industry by accepting her position as an architect at RS&H. Here she loves the emphasis on user focused design and planning how the passenger is going to experience the building.

Miller earned her Bachelor of Science and master’s degree in architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is NCARB certified and a licensed architect in Illinois.

For her critical thinking and work, Miller was nominated by her peers and building service group leadership, within RS&H Aviation, to serve on the strategic planning committee. She is a past board member of Chicago Women in architecture (CWA) where she was a supporter for advancing women in architecture and related professions. She is also involved with the American Institute of Architects.

When asked what she loves most about her job, Miller stressed the importance of human interaction. “The best part about being an architect is working with clients to bring their desired space into reality and seeing users use and experience the space you created with your team,” Miller said.

For the future of airports Miller is excited about how environmental changes and advancements in technology will impact air travel. “From biometrics to smart buildings and augmented reality being implemented as we speak, the possibility of autonomous vehicles and commuter flights in the future, the airport experience is ever evolving,” Miller said. “Architects need to stay up to date on all the advances in order to guide our clients into the future whether it be the advances in technology or environmental stewardship methods.”