For Nola Timmins and her dog, Brizzy, the long walk down the Lawn at Final Exercises will be both her last steps as a University of Virginia student and the first steps toward making her lifelong dream of becoming an architect a reality.
Timmins has planned to be an architect since she was at least 8 years old. That’s a big dream considering she is legally blind, a challenge she refuses to let get in her way.
Timmins will receive her master’s degree from the UVA School of Architecture after earning her bachelor’s degree in architecture with a minor in French from Georgia Institute of Technology.
She will make the walk with Brizzy, her black Lab guide dog.
“It has been a wonderful experience,” she said. “I really like the community in the Architecture School, the alumni connections and the different events and mentorship programs. Everyone is so connected as alumni.
Timmins credits School of Architecture faculty, alumni and fellow students with assistance and support in her pursuit of her master’s degree. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
“This year and last year, I had alumni mentors through a program at the school. I’ve met so many people here connected with the school who are not students, and that has helped a lot. I didn’t have that as an undergrad.”
Studying architecture has not been an easy road. Timmins has optic nerve atrophy, which greatly limits her vision. She’s had the condition all her life, and it cannot be corrected. That makes the usual tasks given to students, such as reading, writing, computer work and online studies, slow going and more difficult.
Timmins is one of the few architecture students in the country who is legally blind. She is the recipient of the School of Architecture’s Access Fellowship for Universal Design, established in memory of Ronald and Dorie Van Vactor. The fellowship is for students who have overcome physical hardships.
She said the Architecture School’s faculty played a big role in her success, working with her strengths and within her constraints.
“It’s important to be proactive and let them know what you need,” Timmins explained. “I try to find out what readings I need ahead of time so I can get them in an audio format.”
Timmins and Brizzy, her black Lab, are ready for graduation. Timmins is a recipient of the School of Architecture’s Access Fellowship for Universal Design, established in memory of Ronald and Dorie Van Vactor. The fellowship is for students who have overcome physical hardships. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
As a child, Timmins would visit her aunt or her mom’s friends and visualize and draw the floor plans of their houses. Her studies at the University strengthened her love of architecture.
“Currently, we’re working on a gathering and classroom space outside at Morven Farm, and I’m excited that we get to touch the project, make it and then see it in the end,” she said. “We get to take something from design through to the finished project. It will be cool to tell people who come to visit, ‘I helped design and build this.’”
UVA has also fueled her curiosity about other topics.
“The Architecture School wanted us to take a bunch of different electives, as long as they were graduate-level courses,” she said. “It was great because I got to get out a little bit and see different parts of Grounds.”
She also took advantage of independent study programs. In one, she and a friend took a closer look at pants, as in trousers.
