Inside the Studio with Kaitlin Bernal, PLA

Q: Can you share one of your favorite moments since you started at Stream?
A: What stands out to me is how involved and passionate everyone is about the projects we are working on; that’s pretty unique and exciting to be a part of. ‘Streamsters’ are really great at communicating something very technical into something accessible. A lot of people in this office do it well and really understand waterway systems in a way that they feel comfortable and confident to jump in with the engineer and have difficult conversations.

Q: Have you experienced a ‘lightbulb moment’ on a project, when you realized everything kind of clicked?
A: There have been a couple of aha moments when I didn’t even realize it at the time. One I can think of would be the idea of parking lots as a design element of a park. When I thought of parking lots, I thought of drainage, access, and shade trees to make it more comfortable, but not really a space to gather. It wasn’t until it came up in other design conversations that I realized how many people experience parks from their edges, including the parking lots.

It made me think about it as an actual user – all parts of it, not just the heavy programming or the really fun parts that the kids are using. It’s about the day worker and how different demographics of people use a space… and why it’s important to look at the details of how this parking spot relates to the vegetation that’s nearby, whether it’s tree shade or views to the mountains.

I think sometimes designers can focus too early on certain details. It’s important to step back first and listen to people’s stories… look at how people might actually use the space, rather than how we want them to use it. It’s the storytelling that sometimes makes a solution click.

Q: What would you like to see your professional legacy to be?
A: I think it looks like a lot of urban public projects… finding solutions to larger, complicated issues. One that comes to mind is addressing unhoused and underserved populations. I think it’s a challenging one, but I think it’s something that I’m constantly thinking about.

I think there’s a misconception around safety and homelessness. It’s a question that I asked myself early on when I was doing my master’s, and it has stayed with me because there aren’t a lot of solutions out there that are being practiced. It’s very natural for us to design a playground or a park that only focuses on youth, but is there an opportunity for parks that focus on populations that are underserved?

I’m not going to remove the problem – it’s too big – but I can contribute and have some impact. It would be fun to explore and push this kind of focus as my career develops.

Q: In three words, how would you describe Stream’s culture?
A: Genuine. Quirky. Food-centric.