In her own words, Mahzad is shamelessly drawn to beauty–but only when form and ecology make sense. Growing up, Mahzad was mesmerized by natural light in art and space, noting how traditional Persian architecture works with light and shadows to shape open, ventilated spaces, create mystery and privacy, or provide refuge from the elements. This fascination with light and climate-responsive design later led her to designers like Tadao Ando and others, and she committed herself to designing textured, responsive places that are in harmony with nature. This core commitment to environmental design drew her to WRNS Studio, to which she brings years of design experience in sustainable workplace, mixed-use residential, and hospitality projects.
Mahzad studied architecture at the University of Tehran. She was awarded the Graduate Fellowship and earned her Masters in Architecture in digital design at Penn State, developing a conceptual automated sun-tracking building envelope model for her thesis. In her spare time, Mahzad enjoys painting, backcountry skiing, hiking, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.