Held Architecture Welcomes Shams Alkorwi as Junior Architect

Held Architecture is pleased to announce the addition of Shams Alkorwi to our team as a Junior Architect. With a background that bridges cultures and design disciplines, Shams brings a sharp eye for detail and a grounded, collaborative design sensibility to our work across the Southeast.

Originally from Baghdad, Shams earned her Bachelor of Architecture with a minor in Interior Design from the University of Baghdad in 2020. She began her career working with a leading firm in Iraq, contributing to high-end residential and mixed-use projects where she gained hands-on experience in schematic design, Revit and BIM coordination, and photorealistic rendering.

Shams approaches architecture as both a technical and visual craft. Her work reflects a strong foundation in precision, balanced by a nuanced understanding of how space shapes experience. Fluent in Arabic and proficient in English, she brings a cross-cultural perspective that enriches our residential and community-focused projects and reflects the increasingly global nature of design.

“We’re excited to welcome Shams to the studio,” says Kristina Held, AIA, president of Held Architecture. “Her ability to translate design vision into meaningful, detail-driven work is already making an impact.”

At Held, we continue to grow a team of thoughtful, place-responsive architects committed to designing for people, community, and context. Shams’s arrival strengthens our commitment to these values as we expand our work across Charlotte and the greater region.