The challenge was simple: build the tallest tower using only spaghetti sticks, tape and index cards.
It was a sixth-grade technology class project, one of those seemingly inconsequential school assignments meant to teach problem-solving and teamwork. But for Hasheem Halim, it became something more.
“I really enjoyed it. I did really well—I won the tallest structure,” Halim recalls. “So afterward, I asked my teacher, ‘What field is that?’ He said, ‘Architectural engineering.’ And that was it. Ever since sixth grade, I was like, ‘I just want to be an architect.’”
What started as a simple classroom activity became the foundation for a career built on precision, creativity and a deep commitment to mentoring others in the field. Today, Halim is both an architectural designer at HELT Design and the founder of Derita Design, a makerspace dedicated to democratizing access to architecture and design. His journey, however, was anything but traditional.
Finding His Place in Architecture
Unlike many of his peers in architecture school, Halim didn’t grow up around blueprints and drafting tables. He had no family members in the industry—no insider knowledge passed down from engineers or architects. While others arrived at school with a foundational understanding of construction processes and industry terminology, he had to learn everything from scratch.
“It took a while to catch on,” he admits. “The lingo, the way things were done—it was all new to me. A lot of my classmates had parents or uncles in the field, and I was just figuring it out as I went.”
On top of that, Halim was balancing another demanding pursuit: collegiate track and field.
Juggling the grueling schedule of an architecture student with the relentless training required to compete at the collegiate level wasn’t easy. His coach even encouraged him to drop architecture altogether due to its intense workload. But Halim, already familiar with discipline and perseverance, refused to give up.
“It was an exercise in scheduling every hour of my day,” he says. “But I knew there was a lot I wanted to tackle, and a lot I could do with the built environment.”
That determination paid off. Today, his design philosophy is heavily influenced by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, who champions regionalism and using local materials to harmonize architecture with its surroundings. For Halim, design isn’t just about buildings—it’s about creating spaces that serve people and their communities.
Derita Design: Bringing Architecture to the Community
That philosophy is at the heart of Derita Design, the makerspace Halim founded in 2019. After purchasing a home in Charlotte, he converted the garage of an old auto shop into a creative studio, offering woodworking, 3D printing and design workshops. His mission: To introduce people—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds—to the world of architecture and design.
“A lot of people don’t know an architect or an industrial designer,” he explains. “Design feels like this hidden industry, and I wanted to change that.”
The impact has been profound. One of his most meaningful success stories is of a young mentee named Cameron, who took one of Halim’s architecture workshops. Afterward, Cameron decided he wanted to pursue architectural design professionally. Halim helped him put together a portfolio, wrote his recommendation letter, and today Cameron is in his second year of UNC Charlotte’s master’s program.
“That’s the kind of impact I want to have,” Halim says. “To open up pathways that people didn’t even know existed.”
His long-term vision is to build a purpose-designed makerspace in an underserved community, giving people the tools, resources and mentorship to explore architecture in a hands-on way.
Bringing Efficiency to Design with Bluebeam
As much as Halim values traditional craftsmanship, he’s also deeply invested in digital transformation—and for that, he relies on Bluebeam.
His introduction to Bluebeam came during his time at a previous firm, where he quickly saw how the software could enhance communication, streamline markups and improve coordination between teams.
“Being able to do redlines with the team, markup drawings and collaborate in real time—it was a game changer,” he says.
At HELT Design, a small firm with just 11 people, Halim is pushing for greater adoption of Bluebeam Studio Sessions, which allow multiple team members to work in the same PDF simultaneously, adding comments and making edits in real time.
“For a smaller firm like ours, this kind of technology is huge,” he explains. “It allows seniors and juniors to be in the same document, leaving feedback, refining standards and keeping projects moving forward without always needing a meeting.”
Beyond his own work, he also introduces young architects and mentees to digital workflows early, ensuring they enter the field with a strong grasp of modern tools.
Breaking Barriers in Architecture
Halim is acutely aware that his industry still lacks diversity. The barriers he faced—entering architecture without connections, navigating a field that wasn’t built for outsiders—are still very real for young Black architects today.
That’s why representation and mentorship are at the core of everything he does.
“I had a really cool opportunity with the Gantt Center last fall, leading a model-building workshop for kids,” he says. “That was me fulfilling the role that I was missing when I was their age.”
Through Derita Design and outreach programs like these, Halim is ensuring that future generations don’t have to figure it out alone.
The Camp North End Project: A Milestone Moment
In 2021, Halim took part in a competition specifically for young minority architects—a rare opportunity in an industry that often lacks inclusive spaces. The Camp North End competition challenged participants to submit a portfolio and design proposal, with the chance to have their project built.
Halim’s winning design for a halal restaurant was selected, and three years later, the project opened.
“It was really cool because I grew up Muslim, and this was a halal spot,” he says. “It felt full circle.”
Not only was it his first independently built project, but it also reinforced that his voice—and the voices of other underrepresented architects—deserve space in the industry.
Leaving a Legacy
For Halim, success isn’t just measured in projects completed or buildings designed. It’s about the people he’s helped along the way—the aspiring architects he’s mentored, the students he’s introduced to design, the communities he’s engaged.
His advice to young architects, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, is simple:
“Stay curious, ask questions and seek mentorship. You never really know who’s willing to help.”
And if Halim has his way, there will always be someone ready to help—a mentor, a guide, a designer dedicated not just to building structures, but to building futures.
Video by Charles Peebles.
