Stories in Three Dimensions

by By Ginny Prior | March 17, 2015

In her early 20s, Noreen Murphy Hughes ’78 thought “living the good life” meant traveling, being creative and wearing jeans to work. Now an architect, she’s found her path to success—but not without detours.

At Saint Mary’s, Hughes majored in something practical. “Accounting—because I wanted to make money and I had good analytical skills,” she said. “It was fun to study, but I didn’t want to make a career of it.”

At the age of 27, Hughes began a graduate degree program in architecture at Virginia Tech. She worked for EHDD architecture in San Francisco, at the intersection of architecture and exhibits, for over 20 years.

One of her early projects as an architect was a remodel at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was a captivating environment, working with a mission-driven, visitor-serving client and she was hooked. At 35 she moved to Boston to work as an exhibit designer “where they were having all the fun designing experiences.” Throughout her career she worked with many great clients, from the LA Zoo to the Exploratorium. “I love that world,” she said. “Exhibit design is storytelling in three dimensions.”

Hughes now works for the Presidio Trust and recently managed the design of an exhibit at the Officers Club chronicling the 200-plus years of history of the former military base, using a timeline, artifacts and a visually stunning media display. It may be her most meaningful project so far.

Hughes has built a successful career by blending architecture, exhibit design and keen money management skills, crediting Saint Mary’s for nurturing diverse interests.

“You have four years to explore, meet people, be taught by these great professors and find your interests. Saint Mary’s changed the course of my life.”