Elevatus adds Architectural Graduate Grace Cervantes

Grace Cervantes was born in a small town.

This isn’t a take on the John Mellencamp song, though like John, Grace’s roots are in small town Indiana – Trafalgar, if you’ve ever heard of it. It’s a rural community about 20 miles south of Indianapolis, with a population of about 1,500.

We’re talking small town, and it’s where Grace became Grace.

I can be myself here in this small town
And people let me be just what I want to be

Grace’s family had a small hobby farm in the country, where she’d chase chickens. It was the “perfect” place and setting to grow up, she says, because she says she had “way too much energy” as a child.

As she grew up, much of that energy was spent in the arts, discovering “how different mediums can communicate and connect the viewing audience by evoking certain emotions.”

That interest led her into architecture, which she describes as “an art form that allows us to design and tell stories through the built environment.”

Grace studied at Ball State University, where she secured both her bachelor’s degree and a double master’s – in Architecture and also Historic Preservation.

Why historic preservation? “I’ve always loved the art of storytelling—both through words and how the vernacular of buildings can inform us of history, too,” she explains.

After college, Grace worked for a small Indianapolis firm, where she was engaged in every stage of design, including client meetings, design, construction, and submittals. Like her husband, Favian, who we also hired, Grace was recruited to Elevatus by Education Team Lead Emily Hower, a fellow Ball State alum. (Seriously, Emily, we probably owe you a referral fee.)

“(Emily) has always spoken highly of Elevatus since she began interning here early in her career and seen how much the firm has grown,” Grace says. “Working with Emily throughout college showed me our similarities, and since she’s loves it here, I figured I would have a similar experience.

“After interviewing, what sold me was the sense of community that Elevatus cultivates between their employees. Communication is an important factor of running a business, and I feel like Elevatus has that while also maintaining a laid-back workplace. Essentially, this firm represents ‘work hard, play hard’ and it’s refreshing to see.”

At Elevatus, Grace is an Architectural Graduate. She’ll create drawings and designs on deadline, sit in on client meetings, help to determine the needs and requirements of the client in the early stages of design, and complete tasks assigned by project managers and architects.

She describes herself as an organized, detail-oriented person who keeps calm and stays on task in high-stress situations. She’s thoughtful, imaginative, idealistic, and principled, and she says she’s “driven by making sure people are heard and seen by having their needs met.”

That’s key for an Elevatus designer.

“Helping people and communicating with them, both traditionally, and through art/creative mediums is something I’m passionate about,” Grace says. “The profession of architecture marries those ideas and allows me to find a happy medium between creativity and logic. It’s fulfilling to me to know that I helped someone, or even advocated for them.”

Outside of the office, Grace enjoys spending time with friends and family, her “support system.” She reads A LOT – she’s averaging more than a book a week so far in 2024 – and also writes creatively. Her passion for storytelling isn’t limited to architecture, of course.

To put a bow on this post, we asked Grace what she’d buy if she won the lottery. Her answer rounds out this story.

“I would buy land in the country somewhere. A dream of mine is to have a farm animal sanctuary and just be surrounded by animals and nature (and books of course)!”

Well, I was born in a small town
And I can breathe in a small town