Brett Gaillard

Brett is the Head of Capital & Infrastructure Planning at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where she oversees the planning of all capital and infrastructure projects and helps guide the long-term vision and design of these projects for The Met’s 2.2 million square foot main building, as well as The Met Cloisters. Prior to her role at the Met, Brett was a Senior Associate at Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners where she worked in a leading role on many projects for the Met as well as other cultural, educational, commercial and large-scale restoration projects. Brett is fluent in all phases of a project and is adept at navigating complex institutions with many stakeholders. Brett received her B.A. in the History of Art and Architecture from Middlebury College, and dual Master of Architecture and Master of Science in Historic Preservation degrees from Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. She lives in New York with her husband and two young sons.

In The Classroom and The Boardroom

March 4, 2021

Like many, Brett’s path toward a career in architecture was not linear. In this seminar, she will discuss the impact of her early career as a elementary school teacher in New York City and the factors that influenced her to apply to architecture school (even though she was bad at math and couldn’t really draw.) She’ll share some of the personal lessons she’s learned throughout these past 20 years, including the importance of mentorship both formal and informal, and the experience of becoming a mother while growing her career.  She believes that while there are undoubtedly challenges, being a woman in a leadership position in the field of architecture is an incredible opportunity to enact meaningful change.