College Events / Special Events
Symposium: Advancing Architectural Praxis
Architectural practice, and its affiliated practices, habits, rituals, and conventions, can collectively be referred to as "architectural praxis." The cognitive dimension of architectural thinking – never fully realized by mere building or the representation of technological processes of building production – must now be more integrated with the underlying logics of other disciplines such as industrial design, urban planning, real estate development, and engineering to name a few. How receptive are these disciplines to incorporating architectural thinking? Is the architect a political agent, provocateur, or service provider? How are architectural practices changing to meet global, technological, and cultural demands? How does the rise of the megafirm and other strategic partnerships allow firms to take greater risks?
As part of Taubman College's questioning of the present predicaments facing the profession and discipline of architecture, Advancing Architectural Praxis is an inauguration of an upcoming series that will explore the opportunities for the discipline.
Event details:
March 26, 2011 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
University of Michigan Museum of Art
Helmut Stern Auditorium
525 S. State St. Ann Arbor, MI
The event was free and open to the public.
To watch all of the presentations: vimeo.com/album/1583631/
Architectural Praxis Gallery
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Symposium Program
| 8:45 am – 9:30 am | Networking Breakfast Reception |
| 9:30 am – 9:40 am |
Opening Remarks: Monica Ponce de Leon, Dean, Taubman College |
| 9:40 am – 9:45 am |
Introduction: Milton S. F. Curry, Associate Dean, Taubman College |
| 9:45 am – 11:15 am |
Presentations: Shawn Rickenbacker Partner, Rickenbacker + Leung Architects, New York Claire Weisz Partner, WXY Architects + Urban Design, New York Gregg Pasquarelli Principal, SHOP Architects / SHoP Construction, New York William Gustafson President / CEO, Ballinger Architects and Engineers, Philadelphia Marianne McKenna Partner, KPMB Architects, Toronto Ben Uyeda Chief Architectural Officer, FreeGreen, Boston |
| 11:15 am – 11:30 am | Break / Refreshments |
| 11:30 am – 12:45 pm |
Discussion Moderated By Milton S. F. Curry With Presenters, and Discussants Howard F. Sims Partner, SDG Associates, Detroit / Atlanta Catherine Seavitt Nordenson Principal, Catherine Seavitt Studio, New York Ed Schulak President, ES Equities LLC, Birmingham, Michigan |
| 12:45 pm – 1:15 pm | Open Discussion With Audience Participation |
| 1:15 pm – 1:20 pm |
Closing Remarks John McMorrough, Chair Architecture, Taubman College |
Symposium Themes
Architectural practice, and its affiliated practices, habits, rituals, and conventions, can collectively be referred to as "architectural praxis." As part of Taubman College's questioning of the present predicaments facing the profession and discipline of architecture, Advancing Architectural Praxis is an inauguration of an upcoming series that will explore the opportunities for the discipline.
Interdisciplinarity
The cognitive dimension of architectural thinking – never fully realized by mere building or the representation of technological processes of building production – can now be more integrated with the underlying logics of other disciplines such as industrial design, urban planning, real estate development, and engineering to name a few. How receptive are these disciplines to incorporating architectural thinking? Is the architect a political agent, provocateur, or service provider?
Economic Cyclicality
As the economic downturn that started in 2008 continues, what lessons are to be learned for the profession of architecture. How do real estate and economic cycles effect the profitability and the types of commissions that you engage in your firm? In the mid 1970's, Kohn Pedersen Fox was founded in the midst of a recession. Are economic downturns a propitious time to consider radical changes in the way that one practices? Does the current downturn present an opportune time to forge new strategic alliances or partnerships?
Technology and Collaboration
As technology continues to dominate the discussion of how architecture is produced, what is the most significant alteration in your firm's protocols of practice that have changed as a result of your adoption of a particular technological tool? Has the sprint towards more efficiency, more quantifiable metrics of sustainability, and more sophisticated material choices been good for the profession? Is the profession relying too much on technology to wreak out efficiencies, or is "efficiency" the wrong metric to begin with? If so, what would be your firm's metric be for evaluating the quality of the work produced?
Urbanization
As urbanization takes hold globally, and as alternative forms of urbanization and suburbanization emerge, what is your take on the individual building's role in new cities, old cities, and cities undergoing large-scale revitalization? How does your firm deal with the vast cultural differences within the United States and globally – does this matter in considering the diversity of your workforce and consultants, and in being educated about customs and cultures different from your own?
Megafirm, Boutique Practice, Critical Practice
As the size and scale of architecture firms changes, there seems to be a movement towards the so-called "megafirm" with broad capabilities in architecture, engineering, in-house consultant expertise, and exclusive strategic partnerships. Does the megafirm model present problems for smaller firms? Are there really "economies of scale" in the profession, or are these artificial attempts to align architecture with other professions in which there are economies of scale? How large do you want your firm to be and why? How do you take into consideration economic cyclicality, ethical treatment of employees, and cost management in deciding on an appropriate size for your firm?
