Brendan Tsai

I was also impressed with Taubman College’s flexibility in its programs and various ways of branching out to different fields while studying architecture.

Hometown
Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

Degree Program(s)
M.Arch 2G

Expected Graduation Date
April 2024

Academic Areas of Interest
Architecture, Architectural Technologies, Art

Hobbies or interests outside of academia
Gaming, Watching Movies, Cooking

Why did you choose Taubman College as the right program for you?
When I was deciding my graduate options, through a series of discussions with my undergraduate advisors, all of them suggested Taubman College. Taubman College is at the forefront of technologies such as AI/ML in architecture, which is a field I am interested in. I was also impressed with Taubman College’s flexibility in its programs and various ways of branching out to different fields while studying architecture.

What is special or excites you about the Taubman community?
The diverse community at Taubman allows students to experience different kinds of cultural celebrations, most recently Lunar New Year, where the school organized Chinese food at the commons for people to eat. The school has excellent programs for students to travel abroad during summer to many different countries to study, which is great and unique!

If applicable, tell us about studio culture – what is inspiring or innovative or unique?
What is interesting about the graduate program is that students come from all kinds of backgrounds. Unlike undergraduates, where students are just architecture and discussions are limited to that. Studio culture and other seminar discussions are more robust because we can get different perspectives from different fields.

Describe your experience with faculty and professional staff during your time at Taubman?
From my short time here so far, my experiences with faculties and GSIs have been great. Professors are attentive, responsible, and caring about students.

How has Taubman’s career and professional development support prepared you for a successful career in your chosen field?
The career and professional development at Taubman College is great. There are multiple workshops and networking opportunities to help students get ready for the professional world.

What benefits have you experienced being part of the University of Michigan?
The most significant benefit at the University of Michigan so far is definitely the facilities and resources that the university has. I find myself using the university library resources a lot for various architectural research; the university library has just about everything you would need.

What do you like most about being part of the Ann Arbor community?
The Ann Arbor community is great; it’s beautiful, safe, fun, and filled with diverse people. My favorite thing to do is go to the Kerrytown Farmers Market on Saturday mornings to buy food and enjoy the walk.

What advice would you give prospective students as they consider Taubman College?
My advice is to think through every single school carefully; each and every architecture school is unique in its own way. Taubman college is a great school with plenty of events, great people, free food, and all the fun stuff.

What are your plans after graduation?
I would like to work at a firm that aligns with my interest and see where I go from there.