We’ve officially reached 100 episodes of American Building, and to mark the milestone, I’m joined by Austin Crowley, Senior Associate, and Robert Blaser, Principal, of Michael Graves Architecture.

We center the conversation on one of Austin and Robert’s current projects: Cutler Bay Legacy Park, a civic project that addresses how a Florida community can engage with its government and waterfront. The project brings together municipal facilities, public programming, and coastal resilience in a site that had been degraded by years of industrial use and contamination.

We explore the technical challenges of building in South Florida's climate, material choices inspired by the historic Old Cutler Trail, and maintenance strategies for long-term durability. Through extensive community input and environmental remediation, the design team created a destination that will serve both daily civic functions and large community gatherings.

Beyond the project, we take a step back to look at the current architectural landscape. With the recent passing of industry titans Frank Gehry and Robert A.M. Stern, the architectural world is reflecting on the mark they left. Robert offers his perspective on where Michael Graves fits into that era of design and discusses his own role in carrying Graves’ humanist philosophy forward. Austin, speaking from his decade of experience with the team, highlights how Michael Graves Architecture draws inspiration from Gehry’s approach to technology, emphasizing that the future of the firm lies in thoughtful integration and strategic acquisitions.

Episode Outline

(01:52) Austin and Robert's paths into architecture and Michael Graves Architecture

(09:28) Winning the Cutler Bay Legacy Park RFP through narrative-driven design strategy

(13:37) Managing community input without compromising the project vision

(18:10) Navigating environmental remediation constraints and budget implications

(21:48) Building with flood zones, hurricane codes, and material costs in mind

(27:29) The vision for the visitor experience: moving through community and civic spaces

(39:06) Evolving Michael Graves’ design legacy beyond stylistic replication

(49:03) Geographic expansion and entering new markets through acquisition

(58:15) AI integration in design and business operations

Additional Resources

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Episode 43: Austin Crowley of Michael Graves Architecture & Design | Next Gen Interview

Episode 2: Samer Hanini of Hanini Group | Peoples Bank Building in Passaic, NJ | Preserving History

Episode 60: Sean Pichon of PGN Architects and Omar Karim of Banneker Ventures | 2220 MLK Avenue in Washington, D.C. | So, There is a Housing Crisis

Saltz Michelson Architects

EDSA

Parallax Team

Kollin Altomare Architects

PGN Architects

Jose Carballo Architectural Group (JCAG)

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