Description

In this conversation, Design:ED interviews Beka Sturges and Eric Kramer of Reed Hilderbrand about the evolving role of landscape architecture in contemporary design. They discuss the historical hierarchy between architecture and landscape architecture, emphasizing how current environmental and social challenges demand a more integrated, site-responsive, and collaborative design approach. Drawing on projects like Storm King and Powder Mountain, they highlight the importance of understanding place, scale, and ecological systems, and how landscape can enrich human experience and civic engagement. The conversation also explores the unpredictable, living nature of landscapes, the urgency of addressing climate change, and the potential of landscape architecture to foster inclusive, meaningful public spaces that reflect shared cultural values.

Learning Objectives:

Examine the evolving relationship between landscape architecture and traditional architectural practices in response to environmental and social challenges.

Evaluate how landscape architecture contributes to site identity, user experience, and cultural narratives across various scales.

Apply principles of ecological and civic resilience in the planning and design of contemporary landscape projects.

Explore strategies for integrating art, community engagement, and environmental stewardship within large-scale landscape interventions.

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speaker: Beka Sturges and Eric Kramer

Description

In a conversation with Design:ED, Andrea Steele of Andrea Steele Architecture (ASA) shared her perspective on the evolving role of architecture, emphasizing the importance of creating inclusive, community-centered spaces over simply designing buildings. She highlighted ASA's approach of questioning whether building is always the right solution and illustrated this with a modular kit-of-parts project for New York Restoration Project that empowered communities to build their own pavilions. Steele also discussed the L10 Arts and Cultural Center in Brooklyn as an example of cross-programming and shared civic space, underscoring the value of collaboration between diverse cultural organizations. Throughout, she stressed architecture’s role in fostering human connection, prioritizing flexibility, accessibility, and long-term relevance over image-driven design.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key design strategies discussed in the conversation that promote sustainable architecture.
• Apply insights from Andrea Steele’s approach to integrating community needs into project planning.
• Evaluate examples of adaptive reuse projects highlighted during the discussion.
• Differentiate between various stakeholder engagement methods shared in the conversation

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speaker: Andrea Steele

Description

In a conversation between Design:ED and Allan Poore of Chaos, Poore explains how Chaos’s visualization tools, such as V-Ray, Enscape, and the recently acquired Evolve Labs suite (including tools like Veras, Gly, and Morpheus), are reshaping architectural workflows. He emphasizes their focus on real-time rendering, AI-driven automation, and usability across devices, enabling faster design decisions and more accessible visualization. The discussion highlights the potential of AI to eliminate tedious tasks like dimensioning, while also noting the importance of retaining architectural understanding. Poore shares insights into Chaos’s strategy of integrating media and entertainment innovations into architecture, the collaborative future of design, and Chaos’s ongoing commitment to balancing realism with performance and flexibility.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify how Chaos visualization tools, including V-Ray and Enscape, support decision-making in architectural design through real-time rendering and asset integration.
• Evaluate the role of AI-driven automation in streamlining repetitive tasks such as dimensioning and documentation within Revit-based workflows.
• Differentiate between the use cases for real-time and offline rendering tools in architectural and client-facing applications.
• Explore the intersection of architectural and media visualization technologies to enhance design accuracy, collaboration, and project efficiency.

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speaker: Allan Poore

Description

In this Design:ED conversation, Rick Cook of COOKFOX Architects discusses his firm’s ethos, which centers on environmental stewardship, human connection, and biophilic design. He reflects on projects like the Terminal Warehouse and Google’s St. John’s Terminal, highlighting the transformation of historic buildings into sustainable, modern spaces while maintaining respect for their original materials and context. Cook emphasizes the value of site-specific design, craftsmanship across scales, and integrating nature into the built environment. He also shares insights into his partnership with Bob Fox, born from shared values rather than business strategy, and his growing interest in academic architecture aimed at benefiting future generations.

Learning Objectives:

• Examine how principles of historic preservation and environmental stewardship can guide sustainable architectural design.
• Analyze strategies for integrating biophilic elements into urban projects to strengthen human-nature connections.
• Evaluate the challenges and solutions involved in adaptive reuse of large-scale historic buildings within dense urban environments.
• Explore approaches for maintaining design quality and craft across different building scales and typologies.

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speaker: Rick Cook

Description

Listen in as DESIGN:ED features architect Peter Ruggiero of HOK discussing key principles in contemporary airport design, emphasizing passenger experience, spatial transparency, adaptability, and sustainability. He highlights the importance of designing for change, citing projects like LaGuardia, O'Hare, and the Dulles expansion. Ruggiero reflects on his design philosophy, advocating for functional, flexible, and civic-minded architecture that responds to evolving travel demands. He also addresses material authenticity, clutter reduction, and the role of infrastructure in shaping public spaces. The discussion concludes with insights into his career journey and aspirations to enhance infrastructure design in future projects.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe key principles of passenger-focused airport design, including transparency, flexibility, and spatial fluidity.
• Analyze the impact of evolving air travel demands on airport architecture and long-term planning.
• Evaluate the role of material selection, environmental considerations, and visual clarity in enhancing airport user experience.
• Examine how civic identity and infrastructure design intersect in the creation of modern transportation hubs.

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speaker: Peter Ruggiero

Description

In this conversation with DESIGN:ED, architects Jack Becker and Andrew Linn of BLD.US discuss their material-driven design philosophy, emphasizing the use of natural, locally sourced materials that weather gracefully over time. They explore the importance of craftsmanship, adaptability in construction, and the influence of historic buildings on their work. The conversation also touches on the challenges young architects face balancing creativity and financial realities, the need for material sensitivity in contemporary architecture, and their ongoing academic contributions through Virginia Tech, where they engage students in reimagining civic-scale projects in Washington, D.C. They conclude by reflecting on future opportunities, including expanding their material palette with brick in upcoming projects.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the role of material selection, climate responsiveness, and craftsmanship in creating enduring architectural designs.
• Analyze how direct involvement in construction and development processes can enhance architectural practice and project outcomes.
• Explore strategies for bridging academic research, civic engagement, and real-world architectural practice to drive meaningful design solutions.
• Evaluate the evolving role of natural materials, formal restraint, and sustainability in shaping the future of contemporary architecture.

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speaker: Jack Becker and Andrew Linn

Description

In a wide-ranging conversation, with [Speaker Name] of Perkins+Will, DESIGN:ED discusses the adaptive reuse of malls and office spaces in response to declining retail and changing workplace habits, focusing particularly on transforming such spaces into healthcare facilities. They highlight the Perkins+Will-designed Saunders Center in Rochester, a former Sears converted into a major orthopedic outpatient facility, emphasizing design strategies such as improving patient experience, maximizing daylight, and fostering community integration. The discussion also explores broader themes in healthcare design, including sustainability, adaptability for future needs, and the evolution of hospital typologies toward more flexible, community-centered environments.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the design and strategic considerations involved in adaptively reusing retail and office spaces for healthcare facilities.
• Explore how architectural design can enhance patient experience through improved accessibility, daylighting, and community integration.
• Analyze the challenges and opportunities of creating flexible, sustainable healthcare environments that can adapt to future needs.
• Evaluate the evolving role of mixed-use developments and decentralized healthcare delivery in shaping urban and suburban communities.

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speakers: Rob Goodwin and Scott Hansche

Description

In this engaging discussion, acclaimed architects Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi share insights into their design philosophy, innovative projects, and the evolving landscape of architecture. They explore the intersection of art, infrastructure, and urban design, emphasizing the importance of creating spaces that inspire and connect communities. Through their collaborative approach, they discuss challenges, breakthroughs, and the future of architecture in a rapidly changing world. Their conversation offers a compelling look at the creative vision and thoughtful strategies behind some of their most celebrated works.

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze the design philosophy of Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi, focusing on their approach to integrating architecture with urban landscapes.
2. Evaluate the challenges and innovative solutions presented in their architectural projects to enhance community engagement and functionality.
3. Explore the intersection of art, infrastructure, and sustainability in contemporary architectural design as discussed in the conversation.
4. Apply key insights from Weiss and Manfredi’s collaborative process to inform best practices in design thinking and project execution.

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speaker: Marion Weiss & Michael Manfredi