Four years ago, we sat down with architect and urbanist Vishaan Chakrabarti to explore his vision for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame expansion in Cleveland—then still on the drawing board. Today, that project is under construction, reshaping Cleveland’s lakefront with a bold new cultural landmark. As cranes rise and the tower takes form, our conversation with Vishaan feels more timely than ever: it’s a front-row seat to how great design can catalyze civic life and spur economic vitality.

Vishaan Chakrabarti is a licensed architect and the founder of the Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU). His professional portfolio is diverse, expanding from creating a master plan for the surrounding area of Michigan Central Station in Detroit to creating a social housing neighborhood in East New York. In this conversation, we focus on how PAU is seamlessly iterating on the legendary I.M. Pei’s design and Vishaan’s broader vision for creating sustainable and equitable designs that result in accessible spaces.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is located on Lake Erie and has been an essential driver for the local economy. It was no surprise that after securing a plot of land that the institution would immediately start looking towards expansion and renovation. From all across the world, 25 leading architects submitted their proposals and eventually, eight were shortlisted. Vishaan’s firm was selected as the winning design: a 50,000-square-foot triangular building made of steel, crafting a careful balance of the cutting-edge and the conservative.

Episode Outline

(02:03) Vishaan's unconventional path to architecture through engineering and art history at Cornell

(11:47) "A Country of Cities" manifesto and stumbling into the culture war around urbanism

(14:49) The design problem with density in transit-oriented development

(22:36) Advice for mayors on the three pillars of "jobs, justice, and joy"

(31:42) First impressions of Cleveland while working across the Rust Belt

(34:24) The cultural significance of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

(36:38) Understanding I.M. Pei's iconic Rock Hall building and its challenges

(37:55) Winning the competition by creating an addition that expands on the Pei building

Additional Resources

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Triumph of the City by Edward Glaeser

The Architecture of Urbanity by Vishaan Chakrabarti

A Country of Cities by Vishaan Chakrabarti

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

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