Brett Steele – freshly minted Dean USC School of Architecture in Las Angeles - joins the podcast to discuss their perspective on preparing architects for the future. Before USC, Steele oversaw 14 degree-awarding programs in four academic departments, two world-renowned museums, and the Center for the Art of Performance across town from UCLA School of Arts and Architecture. Steele explores the role of the architect in the face of mass urbanization, AI, and the multitude of unknown challenges facing our schools, cities, and planet.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe how Steele emphasizes the importance of adaptation in a world that produces more knowledge than ever.
2. Discuss how Steele believes the greatest thing schools can install in design related students is having the confidence to adapt and continue learning as they face ongoing and unknown challenges.
3. Explain the approach Steele supports when it comes to the mass urbanization that is rapidly developing globally.
4. List some of the benefits Steele believes architects can benefit from when exploring alternative, non-full time student education programs.

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz

Principal architect Ted Flato and David Lake of Lake Flato Architects discuss the thrill of being selected as an AIA 2024 Gold Medal recipient. This episode explores the journey of crafting shelters that encourage a philosophy of design shaped by the regional weather and climate with projects being a portal to the outdoors.

Learning objectives  

• Discuss the concept of critical regionalism and the intrinsic idea of reducing the environmental footprint of a project regardless of size.
• Identify how incorporating multiple stakeholders and contractors contribute to a more inclusive and relevant design process.
• Describe how collaboration with end users, contractors, owners, and the design team members help align aesthetic and performance expectations.
• Explain how inclusion of natural daylighting and expansive views of the surrounding natural environment can create more positive, playful, and healthful spaces.

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz

Julia Gamolina is the founder and editor-in-chief of Madame Architect, a digital magazine and media start-up created specifically for young women in the architectural industry. In this episode, Gamolina talks about ways to make the industry more equitable and the value of those greater conversations. The growth of Madame Architect is evidence of that value and Gamolina discusses the metrics she uses to track it.  

Learning objectives   

1. List some ways that Madame Architect is working toward creating gender equity in the field of architecture.
2. Describe the pitfalls of the “lone genius architecture trope.”
3. Explain strategies that Madame Architect is utilizing to grow its audience.
4. Discuss Gamolina’s thoughts on the trajectory of professional growth.

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz

Principal architect Steven Brody from Davis Brody Bond and Thomas McCarthy, CEO of Page, discuss their collaboration on projects, including embassy design. The episode focuses on the spirit of collaboration and high-pressure projects, such as the 9/11 Memorial Museum, that come under a lot of scrutiny but can ultimately serve as impactful impressions in a firm’s portfolio.

Learning objectives  

-       Discuss how the Pablo Picasso quote “Good artists borrow, great artists steal” fits into these firms’ philosophy on collaboration.

-       Describe the historical context that led to Davis Brody Bond’s involvement in the design of the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

-       List some of the key stakeholders and requirements the firm had to satisfy for the 9/11 Memorial Museum project.

-       Explain what makes for a good embassy design, according to these architects.

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz

Nathalie de Vries is a founding partner at MVRDV Architects–a global architecture firm with a reputation for innovative, unexpected mixed-use design and focus on urban planning. In this episode, de Vries discusses some of MVRDV’s projects including the Pyramid of Tirana and The Canyon. Through these projects, she explains how adaptive reuse can transform the meaning of a community space and how architects can solve urban design problems while also creating spaces people love.

Learning objectives  

• List the elements of the Pyramid of Tirana project that helped transform it from brutalist to a “liberated” community space.
• Describe how architects can use color to their advantage, according to de Vries.
• Explain how MVRDV approached The Canyon’s project in collaboration with other partners.
• Discuss de Vries’ view on how architects should think about their designs in terms of the project’s future, or “second life.”

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz

Niall McLaughlin discusses several of his firm’s projects, including the Bishop Edward King Chapel and the Auckland Castle Faith Museum. He often designs buildings for faith-based institutions on sites with deeply established history and context. He describes how his process of capturing light and creating counterpoints for the light is central to his designs. And he explains what it means to create a “prayerful” space that embraces contemporary and historic elements, and that is built in a way that captures the pleasure of its construction.

Learning objectives:  

• List some examples of how Niall McLaughlin harnessed light for different projects.
• Describe how McLaughlin sees the role of architects vs. occupants in creating meaning in the built environment.
• Explain McLaughlin’s interest in the tectonic aspect of design.
• Discuss what McLaughlin means when he talks about ordinary buildings that, later, become monumental.

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz

Danish architect Bjarke Ingels of Bjarke Ingels Group and Texas hotelier Liz Lambert discuss their joint project in Marfa, Texas, which expands Lambert’s innovative campground hotel, El Cosmico. They describe their work with construction technology company, ICON, and their innovative approach to hospitality in the desert that uses the landscape and its materials for inspiration. Ingles and Lambert discuss how 3D printing technology and robotic construction holds promise for affordable housing projects, artisanal architecture, and even building on the moon.

Learning objectives:  

·     Describe the elements of El Cosmico’s original design and how Bjarke Ingels and Liz Lambert plan to evolve it.

·     Explain the concept of El Cosmic in terms of how it uses materials and landscape to reshape the idea of luxury camping.

·     List the ways 3D printing and robotic construction can support affordable housing projects and also maintain an artisan style, according to Ingels and Lambert.

·     Discuss the vision Lambert and Ingels have for how design and construction would be implemented on the moon or other planet.

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz

Lakisha Woods, the CEO of the American Institutes of Architects, discusses the role of AIA. She describes how AIA is looking to expand its support of the architecture ecosystem and help provide firms the resources they need to evolve their business practices and technology systems. Woods discusses the Women’s Leadership Summit, the AIA Conference, the nonprofit’s goals for member engagement, and her view on why interrogating historical approaches to architecture is an important best practice.

·     Discuss Lakisha Woods’ philosophy about why architects need to consider diversity and competitive pay.

·     Describe the way Woods sees the licensing process impacting architects.

·     List some of the ways in which AIA is looking to improve its approach to the AEC world through technology and operations.

·     Explain the way in which Woods is looking to include communities beyond architects in future AIA conferences.

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz

Patricia Viel discusses ACPV Architects’ philosophy of building public spaces in which there is a culture of shared well-being. The international collective of architects relies on multiple viewpoints to design projects that capture the ethos of a place, with the goal of preserving a good way of life rather than building architecture that is extravagant or iconic. Viel describes projects such as 1221 Avenue of the Americas as a way to illustrate the firm’s approach to the built environment, and the way in which even seemingly small elements – such as a plaza bench – are part of an important broader picture.

Learning objectives:  

• Explain why ACPV Architects was able to bring a unique perspective to the 1221 Avenue of the Americas project.
• List the steps ACPV took to carefully design the 1221 Avenue of the Americas project.
• Describe the central philosophy of ACPV Architects and how their belief system manifests in their work.
• Discuss some of the suggestions Patricia Viel provides for creating harmonious design, including in terms of acoustics, peacefulness, and natural light.

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz

Hana Kassem, principal at KPF, applies a human-centric approach to design that examines how people affect the environment and, in turn, the built environment impacts people. In this episode, Kassem discusses KPF’s work on Meta Farley, a former main US Postal Service Office and one of New York’s first landmarked buildings. Kassem describes how the design embraces the building’s historic elements, while also creating inspiring and updated healthy spaces for the post-pandemic workplace.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe how Hana Kassem characterizes the design of the workplace from tech startup to present day.
2. Discuss how KPF addressed some of the major design challenges of the Meta Farley building.
3. List some ways in which KPF created a sense of community within the historic Farley building.
4. Explain how KPF implemented biophilic design in a low-maintenance manner.

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz