University of Miami School of Architecture 2022-23 Report/ REVIEW MAGAZINE

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

2022-23 REPORT

// UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

TAB LE O F CO NTE N TS

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Four Decades of Excellence: A visual history of the School of Architecture

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Past and Future: A Conversation with Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury

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25 Years of the School of Architecture in Rome

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News Highlights

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Faculty News Highlights

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Student News Highlights

142

Alumni News Highlights

154

Platform

156

Portfolio

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Credits 1

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// B.E. & W.R. MILLER BUILDLAB

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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE MODEL SHOP

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// THOMAS P. MURPHY DESIGN STUDIO BUILDING (FIRST-YEAR STUDIO SPACES)

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// JORGE M. PEREZ ARCHITECTURE CENTER, KORACH GALLERY (STUDENTS + FACULTY AT A FINAL REVIEW)

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Four Decades of Excellence: A visual history of the School of Architecture

by Madison Brinnon

Join me in celebrating the 40-year journey of the School of Architecture at the University of Miami, established in 1927 within the College of Liberal Arts. Despite facing challenges during the Great Miami Hurricane and the Great Depression, a revival in the 1950’s relocated the School of Engineering before it gained autonomy in 1983.

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Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering renamed Department of Architectural Planning

Department of Architecture founded within the College of Liberal Arts initiated by John Llewellyn Skinner

The Architecture program, reduced by cost cutting in the 1930’s, re-emerges in the new School of Engineering

1927 1926

1978

1950 1963

1931

First five-year Bachelor of Architecture degrees conferred

Five students graduate with Bachelor of Architecture degrees at a ceremony at the Miami Biltmore Club

The University of Miami opens for classes

With assistance from Gilda Santana, head of the University’s Architecture Research Center, extensive review of film and literary

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archives unveiled a rich tapestry of materials that highlight our evolution in architecture education and innovation.

// FOUR DECADES OF EXCELLENCE: A VISUAL HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

Venice Program begins

Grand Tour of Europe begins

Nicholas Patricios, interim dean, 1983-1984

1982 1979

1983

1986

1983

1988

School of Engineering and Environmental Design (SEED) name changes to School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA) Visiting Critics Studio established

The School of Architecture at the University of Miami is created John T. Reagan, first dean, 1983-1989

The Master of Architecture in Suburb and Town Design is initiated; Pictured above, Vincent Scully and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk

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Jose Gelabert-Navia, interim dean, 1991 Javier Cenicacelaya, dean, 1991-1992 Rome Program begins, led by Jose Gelabert-Navia

The Knight Program in Community Building, offering mid-career fellowships is established; eventually this became the Master of Real Estate Development and Urbanism.

Roger Schluntz, dean, 1993-1995 First 3-year Professional Master of Architecture graduate degrees conferred

1991 1990

1993 1992

2001 1995

In the wake of Hurricane Andrew, the school focuses all studios on the rebuilding of South Dade

Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, dean, 1995-2013

Jorge Hernandez, interim dean, 1990 Open City Studio program begins The Center for Urban and Community Design is created solidifying the school’s work in the community 14

// FOUR DECADES OF EXCELLENCE: A VISUAL HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

Under the leadership of Dean Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk (1995-2013), we achieved international acclaim for expertise in New Urbanism. In 2014, under Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury’s guidance, we ushered in a transformative era emphasizing

experiential learning, research, and digital integration. This four-decade journey reflects our commitment to collaboration, leadership, design excellence, environmental stewardship, and community responsibility.

Denis Hector, interim dean, 2014 Rodolphe el-Khoury, dean, 2014-present Launch of Rad Lab

The Congress for New Urbanism, Florida Chapter awarded the School of Architecture it highest honor, the John Nolen Medal for Contributions to Urbanism in Florida, recognizing the school’s superior effort in furthering the principles of New Urbanism in Florida.

2007 2005

2014 2008 Master of Real Estate Development and Urbanism, Certificate in Historic Preservation and Classical Architecture are established

The Jorge M. Perez Architecture Center, a $6 million complex with the 144-seat, state-of-the art Stanley and Jewell Glascow Lecture Hall, an exhibition gallery, and the Marshall and Vera Lee Rinker Digital Conferencing Classroom, opens.

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Each milestone throughout the timeline tells a story of dedication, growth, and adaptation to the everchanging landscape of architecture.

It’s a testament to the faculty, students, and visionaries who

have contributed to our success.

As you reflect on these remarkable achievements, take note of the profound ways the School of Architecture has shaped the current and future practice of architecture.

Master of Construction Management and Executive Master of Construction Management launches

Launch of U-Serve, implemented by Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury to help the School of Architecture give back to the community

2015 2015

2017

2016

2018

Thomas P. Murphy Studio Building opens Record-setting gift for a new facility: the Thomas P. Murphy Design Studio Building.

Construction on this Arquitectonicadesigned building to house studios, offices, presentation spaces and a digital fabrication lab began in fall 2016, made possible by the Philanthropy of the Murphy family and other donors, including the Arquitectonica Foundation and Tecnoglass

Launch of Tecnoglass Lecture Series

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Launch of The Master of Professional Science in Urban Sustainability and Resilience Launch of LU_Lab

B.E. & W.R. Miller BuildLab opens, made possible through the generosity of several donors to the BuildLab program and through the naming gift by University alumnus Bob Miller, chairman of First Florida Construction

// FOUR DECADES OF EXCELLENCE: A VISUAL HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

U-SoA Deans Nicholas Patricios, interim dean, 1983-1984

Conconcreto LLC (now rebranded as Double C) and the University of Miami agree to set up a research fund within the University backed by Conconcreto’s gift on $150,000 over the next three years. Three contributions in the amount of $50,000 from 2022 to 2024 will support research in digitalization of construction, robotics in construction, building information modeling (BIM), additive manufacturing (3D printing), and sustainability Jaime Correa appointed as director of B.Arch.

John T. Reagan, first dean, 1983-1989

Jorge Hernandez, interim dean, 1990

New Architecture Research Center unveiled Jose GelabertNavia, interim dean, 1991

Zenciti Research Unit launches Launch of CHIL Lab Unveiling of the Campus Future masterplan

2019 2020

2022 2023 The School launches the Social Justice Prize, one of the key initiatives developed by the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Professor Eric Firley appointed as director of the refashioned Master of Science in Architecture program and its associated degrees

Javier Cenicacelaya, dean, 1991-1992

Roger Schluntz, dean, 1993-1995

Professor Germane Barnes appointed to lead the Master of Architecture program The School and COBOD sign an agreement to collaborate on large format concrete printing research

All core studios focus on resilience projects for the Bahamas

Thomas P. Murphy Construction Management Program receives significant contribution

Elizabeth PlaterZyberk, dean, 1995-2014

Denis Hector, interim dean, 2014

Rodolphe el-Khoury dean, 2014present

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Past and future: A Conversation with Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury

By Madison Brinnon

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The School of Architecture at the University of Miami has shined as a beacon of innovation and creativity for four decades. As the school commemorates its 40-year anniversary, Assistant Director of Communications Madison Brinnon had the opportunity to sit down with the visionary leader at its helm—Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury.

Together they delve into the milestones, challenges, and triumphs that have defined the school’s journey thus far and explore the forward-looking perspectives that will guide its future. From its inception four decades ago to the present day, the school has been fertile ground for innovative ideas, pushing the boundaries of architectural design, and nurturing the next generation of architects.

It’s not just a celebration of 40 years; it’s a glimpse into the enduring legacy of architectural education at the University of Miami guided by the insights and reflections of Dean el-Khoury.

It’s been 40 years since the School of Architecture grew from a department into an independent unit. How is it different now and what remains the same?

Well, it’s quite interesting to reflect on the school’s transformation over four decades—from a department in the College of Engineering to a flourishing independent school. In this time, it’s been an accelerating journey of growth and change. Just in the last 10 years, we’ve seen our student body double in size across all our programs. The driving force behind the school’s continuous transformation has undeniably been our talented and dedicated faculty. Each new member joining our ranks has added a fresh perspective and expertise that changes and enriches our academic landscape.

But it’s not just about the people; our school’s scope has expanded dramatically. We began with a strong foundation in architecture, gradually building our graduate programs in the field. Over the years, we’ve extended our reach to encompass other related areas of expertise, including urban design, construction management, and real estate development.

We’ve evolved into a well-rounded institution with a broader educational and research spectrum ranging from preservation to digital fabrication.

Our physical environment has also undergone a remarkable transformation. Since the inauguration of the school 40 years ago, we’ve witnessed significant additions, such as the Jorge Perez Architecture Center—a stunning building designed by the doyen of postmodern architecture, Leon Krier, which houses vital venues like the Jewell Glasgow Lecture Hall Auditorium and the Irvin Korach Gallery. Subsequent additions like the Thomas P. Murphy Design Studio and the B.E. & W.R. Miller BuildLab have had a big impact on our school’s physical setting.

What remains constant, though, are our shared principles. We’ve maintained our commitment to disciplinary foundations rooted in the vibrant culture of Miami. Our school’s sensibilities and worldview are deeply intertwined with the unique culture of this place. Plus, we’ve consistently championed the concept of the city as an evolving project. Whether we’re teaching architecture or construction management, our core focus remains on what makes a great city.

Some of the changes you mention happened since you joined in 2014. Could you tell us more about this last decade?

The past decade was very much about strategic growth and expansion across the board. Our student body practically doubled in this period, while our physical infrastructure saw significant 19

University of Miami School of Architecture

Enrollment 700 600

557 572 507

500

407

400 300

601

336 332 328 307 313

200 100 0

2014

20

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

// PAST AND FUTURE: A CONVERSATION WITH DEAN RODOLPHE EL-KHOURY

2021

2022

2023

% of admitted students % of enrolled students

47% 41%

48% 46%

45%

41%

40% 35%

38%

37%

36%

31% 29% 23% 20%

22% 20%

19%

17%

16%

Master of Science in Architecture Classical and Traditional Design

Master of Science In Architecture Digital Fabrication and Technology

Master of Science In Architecture Healthcare Design

Master of Construction Mangagement

Master of Science In Architecture Hospitality Design

Launched in Fall 2018

Master of Science in Architecture

Master of Science In Architecture Contemporary Theory of the Built Environment

Master of Science In Architecture Preservation and Adaptive Re-use Launched in Fall 2023

Executive Master of Construction Management Launched in Fall 2020

Master of Architecture Master of Urban Design

Master of Real Estate Development and Urbanism

Master of Professional Science in Urban Sustainability and Resilience Launched in Fall 2019 21

B.E. & W.R. DesignBuild Lab

student experience and playing a pivotal role in student recruitment. It’s a collaboration haven, meticulously designed to foster project-based education, where students are prompted to cocreate in a completely open space, equipped with cutting-edge digital technology and other resources to support their work.

Moreover, the school expanded its horizons by introducing new graduate programs and delving into fresh areas of research, complementing our core architectural program with diverse fields of inquiry and professional practice. This growth broadened the school’s scope and redefined its brand, expanding on a sizeable reputation for championing traditional design and New Urbanism to better highlight a wider spectrum of work and orientations. We are especially determined to promote the school’s intensifying efforts in addressing climate change impacts, among other aspects of resilience in the built environment, such as affordable housing and transportation.

updates through renovations, adaptive reuse, and the construction of two new buildings.

The B.E. & W.R. DesignBuild Lab launched the construction drive. It was built with the support of Robert and Cathy Miller to house the Design/ Build Program. This structure, designed by the program’s director, Professor Rocco Ceo, provides students with the space and equipment to work on full-scale projects, shielded from the elements. Its elegant, minimalist design—with striking wooden doors and louvers crafted by students—pays homage to the surrounding midcentury architecture. It’s no exaggeration when I say that this precious amenity lifted the Design/ Build Program to the next level.

Then there’s the Thomas P. Murphy Design Studio Building, a real game-changer designed

by Miami’s iconic firm Arquitectonica and made possible by the philanthropy of the Murphy family and other donors, including the Arquitectonica Foundation and Tecnoglass.

This state-of-the-art facility has transformed our studio culture, enhancing the overall 22

An area where we’ve gained considerable recognition is in the adoption of emerging technology. While this might not have been our forte in the past, we’re now pushing boundaries and pioneering new methods in construction, fabrication, and design. Take for instance our collaboration with COBOD, the Danish firm that is spearheading the concrete printing industry.

It is enabling us to operate the first large format concrete printer in a school of architecture. I can’t wait to see what our faculty and students will do with this incredible new tool.

And let’s not forget our new recruits. We made key tenure-track appointments, four in 201819 and another four this year, that diversified our scope and bolstered our capacity to address urban resilience. The strategic focus on resilience aligns perfectly with our geographic setting in Miami, a city at the forefront of climate change impacts. In particular, the two joint appointments we made in 2023 speak to our commitment to this vital area. I’m talking about Professor Sarbeswar Praharaj— jointly appointed with the College of Arts and Sciences—and Professor Minghui Cheng—jointly appointed with the College of Engineering.

Other 2023 appointments will also help us move

// PAST AND FUTURE: A CONVERSATION WITH DEAN RODOLPHE EL-KHOURY

Thomas P. Murphy Design Studio Building

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Robotic Arm at the Fab Lab, located in the Thomas P. Murphy Design Studio Building

the needle in this area. Professor Lilly Wong leverages the landscape angle, and Professor Vita Pivo will bring a historical perspective on environmental questions.

The University will be celebrating its centennial in 2025, and President Frenk’s Roadmap to Our New Century has set ambitious goals for that milestone. What are the School of Architecture’s goals for the anniversary?

As we gear up for the University’s big 100-year bash in 2025, the School of Architecture has a lot on its plate, in a good way! We’ve hit our fundraising goal, but now we’re aiming higher.

We’re determined to build up our scholarship funds because we’re all about making education accessible.

I already mentioned urban resilience—my current obsession. It is and will remain our focus. We’re doubling down on this existential framework by investing more in research and 24

attracting top talent. We want to be the go-to folks for handling climate change and all those other curveballs cities face. By the time the University throws its big party, we hope to be shining bright in that department.

Oh, and our school’s makeover isn’t done yet.

We’re still renovating and expanding. Our big dream? Building the Center for Sustainable and Resilient Building Technology. This center will be transformative, giving us room to do crazy big experiments and explore cool new tech— think new materials, robots and large format 3D printing—for making buildings that can take on anything!

Given the emphasis you are placing on sustainability, resilience, and environmental concerns, how do you envision the School of Architecture leading in this area by the time it hits its 50th anniversary 10 years from now?

Looking ahead to the school’s 50th anniversary,

// PAST AND FUTURE: A CONVERSATION WITH DEAN RODOLPHE EL-KHOURY

Pentland

we’re really gearing up to lead the charge on resilience and tackle those environmental challenges head-on. The school’s been making significant moves, especially with the University’s Climate Resilience Academy, the new functional unit that is dedicated to climate resilience.

Together with Professor Sharan Majumdar, my colleague from the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, I was involved in mounting and directing the new academy. I made sure that School of Architecture was right in the mix, benefitting from all the energy and new resources stewarded by the academy, including some support for joint appointments focusing on this key area.

But let’s be real, in 10 years, things will be more urgent. The pressure’s on, and that means stepping up our game, rallying more troops, pouring more into research, and probably bringing in more experts solely focused on climate resilience. My hope? Landing not just one, but maybe a couple of top-notch experts to

lead the charge, sitting in those endowed chairs we aim to fill. That move would really put us at the forefront, showing we’re not just talking but actually walking the walk in this field.

In a decade, it won’t just be a strategy; it’ll be a full-blown necessity. The impacts will hit harder, making it crystal clear—we have no choice but to lead. We’ll give it our all, maximizing our capacity and working with other units at the U to make a significant impact.

In what ways will the School of Architecture foster collaboration with the other units or disciplines within the University to address complex global challenges, and how will you promote interdisciplinary learning within the School of Architecture?

When it comes to facing complex global challenges, it’s a no-brainer that we need to team up across disciplines. Resilience, by its nature, screams interdisciplinary collaboration.

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At the School of Architecture, we’ve been making strides in building those connections and learning how to flex those interdisciplinary muscles. Many of our moves have been all about that teamwork ethos, like landing the joint positions with engineering and geography— it’s proof of our dedication to smashing those disciplinary boundaries.

We’ve mounted some new graduate programs that are all about mixing it up across disciplines.

Take, for example, our Master of Professional Science in Urban Sustainability and Resilience.

And there’s more brewing: We’re working on merging our construction management program with that of the College of Engineering.

That way, we’re consolidating our resources and pooling our expertise to offer top-notch

courses, especially in resilient and sustainable construction.

But it’s not just the big moves. Even down to the nitty-gritty, like tweaking our course schedule to sync better with the University’s matrix, we’re all in, making it easier for students to dive into courses across the University by reducing scheduling conflicts.

Why? Because these challenges we’re dealing with are yearning for this tag-team approach. If we’re going to make any dent in climate change or tackle urban resilience, we have to be pros at teaming up with other units. We’re committed to establishing more joint positions and interdisciplinary programs, even eyeing up two Ph.D. programs in partnership with neighboring

Strategic Focus

Why Transformative Initiatives in Research, Education and Outreach

What

How

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Platforms for Success

// PAST AND FUTURE: A CONVERSATION WITH DEAN RODOLPHE EL-KHOURY

units. These efforts, among others, shout loud and clear about our dedication to teamwork in the context of disciplinary diversity.

Stay tuned for more initiatives aimed at revving up collaboration, setting up more joint efforts, and launching programs that merge different fields.

And how about social diversity? How do you see the School of Architecture working to promote diversity and inclusion in its future?

Social diversity is at the core of what we’re striving for at the School of Architecture. Let me draw a picture. Imagine our strategic plan as a column—a blueprint for our goals.

At the top, it’s the ‘Why’—our reason for being.

That’s where we emphasize our strategic focus, our current emphasis on urban resilience. The shaft of the column is the ‘What’—our key initiatives that shape everything we do, from teaching to groundbreaking research. But here’s the crucial part—at the base, the ‘How.’ That’s our foundation for success. It’s not just about

the physical resources; it’s about fostering a culture of belonging.

Diversity, equity, inclusion—that’s the base for our success. It’s a fundamental commitment.

Look at our push to bolster our scholarship endowment. That’s our way of ensuring deserving students from all backgrounds have access to our top-notch education. The Thomas P. Murphy Construction Management Program just received a significant contribution to be announced soon and others are in the pipeline.

But it’s more than plans; it’s action. We’re actively creating an inclusive environment.

Take, for instance, the School of Architecture Social Justice Prize—the school’s mechanism for funding projects that champion diversity and inclusion. And then there’s the EDI Teaching Fellowship, where we’re bringing in fresh voices to tackle these crucial issues within our school, in partnership with the University’s Center for Global Black Studies. We are thrilled to welcome our new EDI Teaching Fellow, Los Angeles designer Demar Matthews, who will join us in spring 2024.

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Sure, we’ve made progress, but we’re not stopping there. We’re striving for more diversity, particularly in the faculty. Our student diversity looks promising compared with our peers, but we’re working hard to ensure all students, regardless of background, have access to leaning opportunities, such as study abroad programs.

University in Ahmedabad. We will be holding pinups with our counterparts in India in the Metaverse. How exciting is that? And imagine all the other future opportunities. So, stay tuned for greater investment in remote learning and global collaboration, and look for our first hybrid degree programs by 2025.

It’s not just about the numbers. We’re diving deep, integrating diversity and inclusion into the heart of our curriculum. From studio courses focusing on marginalized communities to broader efforts across subjects and levels, we’re dedicated to ensuring our work in the built environment champions equity and diversity.

The other exciting prospect? Artificial intelligence (AI). We’re already diving into AI tools, but we’re just scratching the surface.

Some folks are wary of how this might disrupt the industry, but I see a world of opportunity. AI can bolster technical aspects, giving architects more room to focus on high-level concepts.

It’s about more efficiency to enable greater sophistication—elevating architectural projects with sharper ideas.

So, it’s not just talk; it’s action. We’re committed to making real changes, driving progress throughout our school.

What do you see as the major trends and challenges that will shape architectural education and practice in the coming decades?

Predicting the future can be tricky, but I can confidently highlight three major challenges and exciting opportunities on the horizon.

Let’s start with the challenges. As I mentioned earlier, the rising cost of education is a pressing issue. We’re determined to make our school accessible to deserving students from diverse backgrounds. That means beefing up scholarships, not just to better compete for top talent but also as a moral obligation. Education remains one of the best avenues for social mobility, and it’s our duty to maintain a diverse and accessible school. We’re exploring various strategies, from boosting endowments to finding creative ways to enhance access.

These two opportunities—the expansion of our online presence and the integration of AI—hold immense promise for the next decade. We’re gearing up to embrace these shifts, potentially broadening our online repertoire and taking architectural innovation to new heights with the aid of AI. The future’s looking pretty exciting.

Now, onto the opportunities. First, there’s immense potential in leveraging telepresence and new media platforms for remote education. Imagine delivering top-quality education with virtual experiences that rival in-person learning. This opens doors to a wider audience, international programs, and global collaborations. It’s a game-changer. For instance, my own studio course this spring will leverage virtual reality technology to collaborate with a coordinated parallel course at Anant 28

// PAST AND FUTURE: A CONVERSATION WITH DEAN RODOLPHE EL-KHOURY

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25 Years of the School of Architecture in Rome

By Luisa Cotto

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For 25 years, the University of Miami School of Architecture has been taking students on a transformative journey through the Eternal City. With its Rome Program, the school offers an immersive study abroad experience for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students, covering design, drawing, history, theory of architecture, and urban design.

spaces of a community reflect the localized values and needs of its people, making it crucial to consider cultural context when designing spaces.” Riesch’s time in Rome has strengthened his resolve to pursue a career in low-income housing or urban planning, which he has found to be studied and valued differently in Rome than in Miami. Riesch’s transformative experience in Rome broadened his perspective on architecture and reinforced the importance of cultural sensitivity in design.

With growing enrollment in the program, the school established its own Rome Center, located in the prestigious Prati neighborhood, within walking distance of St. Peter’s Basilica.

This unique program offers a life-changing experience for many students and has expanded to include visits to Venice and Florence.

For many, the childhood memory of flipping through glossy real estate magazines may only evoke a fleeting sense of curiosity, but for budding architect Megan Sheehan, a fifth-year student at the School of Architecture, it was the spark that ignited a lifelong passion for design.

Sheehan is now living her dream in the heart of Rome, where every corner is a visual feast of architectural marvels, serving as a constant source of inspiration and hands-on learning.

“Being in Rome has been the most inspiring and hands-on learning experience,” Sheehan says. “At all times of the day, I am surrounded by amazing architecture and constantly gaining more knowledge.”

According to Quinn Riesch, a fourth-year student at the School of Architecture, being in Rome has exposed him to new and unique ideas and concepts that he wouldn’t have encountered in Miami. For Riesch, “the physical

Spring 2023 Rome Cohort at St. Peters Basilica (Front row) Hope Kenny, Professor Carmen Guerrero, Megan Sheehan, Chris Muchow, Crispin Blamphin, Mahlia Jenkins, Emma Gerlach (Top row) Andrey Nash, Ann Yu, Annsley Barton, Harrison Zaye, Quinn Riesch, Amy Agne, Jack Chazotte, Mariana Fleites, Grace Levey, Lilly Acosta, Afomia Hunde, Christelle Vincent. Not pictured: Shea Stuyvesant.

Jayna Schack, School of Architecture Class of 2023, participated in the Rome Program in the fall of 2022 and feels that the experience changed her outlook on architecture and life.

“The Rome program was a catalyst for growth in every sense of the word Schack says. We immersed ourselves in a new and unfamiliar culture and eagerly absorbed every detail with a voracious appetite for knowledge. The intense curriculum and the excitement of exploring a foreign world transformed our outlook on architecture and life itself. The most valuable lesson learned was to savor each moment and to slow down in our daily routines to appreciate the beauty surrounding us. This experience has left an indelible mark on my life, and I’ll forever carry 31

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// 25 YEARS OF THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE IN ROME

the memories and lessons with me through life and my career. For this, I am immensely grateful.”

Thanks to the boundless generosity of program supporters, over 330 students have been able to participate in this extraordinary educational experience since its inception.

Carmen L. Guerrero, director of the School of Architecture in Rome Program said, “The School of Architecture in Rome Program is not just a study abroad experience—it’s a life-changing opportunity. Students immerse themselves in a new culture, broaden their horizons and gain a new perspective on the world. And the benefits don’t stop there; employers highly value candidates with cross-cultural experience and adaptability, making students more competitive in the job market. Living in a foreign country also helps students develop their independence and self-sufficiency, boosting their confidence and preparing them for success in any future endeavor. With a curriculum that includes insitu design studios, history, drawing, and theory

courses focused on art, architecture, and urbanism, this program offers a truly unique and enriching educational experience.“ The support demonstrated through contributions and participation in the annual golf tournament has played a crucial role in securing the future of the Rome Program and opening doors for future generations of aspiring architects. This generosity ensures that the program can continue providing experiential learning to students for years.

Thomas Spain, M.A. ’70, 15th Annual School of Architecture Golf Tournament

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// 25 YEARS OF THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE IN ROME

Former professor Thomas Spain, M.A. ’70, and his wife, Dona, B.Arch. ’91, M.Arch. ’92, have played a vital role in supporting the School of Architecture in Rome Program. They established an endowment to ensure the program’s future and launched the Annual School of Architecture Golf Tournament to allow more students to participate.

The 15th Annual School of Architecture Golf Tournament, held at the Biltmore Golf Course in Coral Gables, Florida, on October 25, 2022, brought together 120 friends, alumni, and supporters of the school to enjoy a day of golf while raising funds for the Rome Program and student scholarships. The tournament was successful, raising an impressive $105,024, with $37,185 of the funds going toward scholarships for the Rome Program students.

Thanks to our 2022 sponsors.

ABM Bacardi BBA BDI Construction Behar Font & Partners Biltmore Golf Bob Miller Braman Camcon Charles Many CMC Coral Gables Plumbing Cuesta Construction Deborah Medel Drs. Roger and Ginger Medel

ECCS Florida Eclectico Restaurant Equinox First Wave Bio Genuine Health Grycon Hammes Healthcare Heli Air Miami Innovate-AV and Creston Integrated Cooling Solutions Keith Kibler Construction Linas Limoncello Lopefra Corp.

New Western Plaza & Associates Porta De India Remos Rivergate Robins & Morton Sharpe Project Development South State Bank The Tank Brewing Company TLC Top Golf Tropic Mechanical Turner Construction University Credit Union University of Miami Campus Store USA Fabric & Shades Watermark William Plaza Williamson Cadillac Wolf Yard House

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Highlights NOVEMBER 2023

A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE FROM PRESIDENT JULIO FRENK November marks National Gratitude Month, a special time to recognize the value of gratefulness.

Do you have a colleague at the University of Miami who has gone the extra mile to assist you? Perhaps there’s a professor who has exhibited the same extraordinary level of dedication in the classroom. If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to express—or reiterate—your appreciation.

The University’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations is actively engaged in spreading the message of thankfulness by encouraging members of the University community to connect with one another and convey their gratitude.

on revitalizing the City Hall and its surroundings. Students crafted proposals that aimed to transform the area into a vibrant civic center. On Nov. 2, their ideas came to life as they presented plans and perspective drawings to Mayor Javier E. Fernandez and City Manager Chip Iglesias.

The proposals, emphasizing a mix of uses to benefit residents and businesses, garnered positive feedback and sparked engaging discussions. Although part of an academic exercise, the students’ projects may become catalysts for change, adding to the groundwork for future transformation of South Miami’s civic center.

By Madison Brinnon As part of their fall semester coursework, professor Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk challenged her students enrolled in the School of Architecture course, Introduction to Urban Design Studio, to reimagine the heart of South Miami.

With both graduate and undergraduate students on board, the focus was 36

Image: Cianfoni showing students ‘Rossi’ (Red), color samples and formula’s for Lime Based Paint.

Fernandez and Iglesias also reviewed the work of lecturer Haleh Moghaddasi’s studio, focused on net-zero design proposals for the new South Miami City Hall. The convergence of traditional urban design and sustainable building plans resonated with leaders, reinforcing the city’s commitment as a pedestrian friendly, green metropolis.

Remember, as National Gratitude Month begins Nov. 1, the simplest way to express your gratitude to a member of the ’Canes family is by sending an electronic note of appreciation through Thank a ’Cane.

ARCHITECTURE STUDIO COURSE REIMAGINES SOUTH MIAMI Students enrolled in the urban design class presented proposals that would revitalize a city of South Miami complex and its surrounding areas.

practice of working with Lime based paints, a practice that dates back to the walls of Pompei where paint applications not only survive, but get better with time.

A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME AND COLOR: EMILIO CIANFORNI’S LECTURE ON LIME BASED PAINTS Professor Rocco Ceo’s Color Theory for Architect’s class, was visited by Emilio Cianfoni A.R.C, former Art Conservator for Vizcaya Museum and Gardens from 19762001. In addition to decades of exceptional conservation work, Cianfoni is known for having developed a subtropical formula for lime-based paints. His years of work and research helped launch his company Calcem Lime Paint which been featured in world renowned publications such as Architectural Digest, Metropolitan Home, Elle Décor, Abitare and other international publications.

His lecture/lab presentation to the class took students through his artistic and scientific training to his conservation practice in historic sites such as Vizcaya, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and other sites such as the historic water tower in Coral Gables. Cianfoni gave students a studied view into the time honored

SWINGING SUCCESS: A RECAP OF THE ROME PROGRAM GOLF TOURNAMENT The School of Architecture Rome Program Golf Tournament occurred on October 24 at the beautiful and historic Biltmore Golf Course. The event attracted 120 players, primarily architects, construction companies, investors, bankers, and others in similar industries. In 2022, 16 scholarships for the program were awarded due to the tournament. With $82,735 raised this year, we hope to provide even more scholarship opportunities for The School of Architecture Rome Program students.

Thank you to our golf committee members who were an intrigal part in the success of the U-SoA golf tournament event!

U-SoA golf committee members: Alexander Mac Namara, Associate VP Facilities Operations & Planning Humberto Speziani, Associate VP Business Services UM Sasha Kayal CMC Deborah Medel-Guerrero, Mgr. Reg Operations Pediatrix Medical Group Frances Garcia-Balbin, University of Miami Development

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OCTOBER 2023

FACULTY MEMBERS TAKE THE STAGE AT MIAMI BOOK FAIR For eight days in November, Miami Book Fair transforms downtown into a literary wonderland, hosting hundreds of critically acclaimed authors in three languages talking politics, pop culture, and all manner of impactful prose. The Miami Book Fair will feature two of our own Professors speaking and moderating.

November 18th at 12PM Building 8, First Floor Magic Screening Room “ARCHITECTURE & THE AFRICAN DIASPORA: A CONVERSATION,” with architectural designer GERMANE BARNES and artist OLALEKAN JEYIFOUS on Architecture and Blackness in America November 18th at 2PM Building 8, First Floor Magic Screening Room ROBIN FAITH BACHIN, Engaging Place, Engaging Practices: Urban History and Campus-Community Partnerships, and

U-SoA SETS NEW RECORD FOR WINS AT AIA HONORS & AWARDS The AIA Honors & Awards program has excelled in acknowledging best practices and commending outstanding projects.

It has also successfully engaged and supported its members in various facets of the architectural profession, fostering collaboration and camaraderie within the field. The 2023 Honors & Awards was a record setting night for the School of Architecture with fifteen awards received.

2023 DESIGN AWARDS Architecture Less than, Honor // Shulman + Associates, South of Fifth Primary School Renovation/Restoration, Honor // Shulman + Associates, Hotel Graystone Renovation/Restoration, Merit // KoDA, Ridge Residence Residential Architecture, Honor // Atelier, House In A Garden Unbuilt Greater, Citation // Cúre and Penabad, Nogales Tower Unbuilt Less, Honor // Cúre and Penabad, Project Peach

This designation acknowledges programs preparing students for 21st-century careers with a curriculum promoting clean energy building practices. As stated on the US DOE website, “the Zero Energy Design Designation program distinguishes post-secondary academic programs that teach best practices of zero energy design and require students to apply those concepts in zero energy design projects.

The designation lasts for three years, after which programs may apply to renew.”

To learn more about the ZEDD program, please visit: https://www.energy.gov/eere/ buildings/us-doe-zero-energy-designdesignation-programs The effort for securing the prestigious designation was spearheaded by Dr. Haleh Moghaddasi who teaches studio and seminar courses that advance the school’s dedication to sustainable design.As aptly put by Dr. Moghaddasi, “together, we are fostering a brighter, greener future, one student at a time.”

Unbuilt Less, Merit // KoDA, MIAC - Miami Art Center Urban Design, Citation // Shulman + Associates, Resilient Rehab: A Guide for Historic Buildings in Miami-Dade County

ALEJANDRO PORTES, Emerging Global Cities: Origin, Structure, and Significance; moderating is Carie Penabad

Urban Design / Citation / Steven Fett Architecture, Gibson Plaza

University faculty and staff members can purchase single day tickets to the street fair on Saturday or Sunday and get 50 percent off—a $4 discount per ticket—using code UMMBFDISCOUNT.

Student Design / Citation / Lauren Elia, Safe Haven of Mozambique

Also available, a limited number of University students can obtain two free single day tickets to the street fair using code UMMBFSTUDENT at checkout. This offer is available first come, first served to the first 1,000 students who use the code to purchase tickets for either Saturday or Sunday.

U-SoA RECEIVES U.S. DEPT. OF ENERGY ZERO ENERGY DESIGN DESIGNATION The University of Miami, School of Architecture has been selected among 14 institutions nationwide to receive the prestigious U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Design Designation in 2023.

Student Design / Honor / Gray Burke and Teagan Polizzi, Mundo Momo

2023 HONOR AWARDS Wesley C. Kean, AIA for H. Samuel Kruse Silver Medal for Design Daley Hall, Student of the Year 2023 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Jose A. Gelabert-Navia, AIA Allan T. Shulman, FAIA

DOUBLE C AND BROADWAY MALYAN LAUNCH MIAMI THINK TANK SERIES WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE “15-MINUTE CITY” In an exciting collaboration, local design, architecture, engineering,

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and construction firm Double C, in partnership with Broadway Malyan, a global architecture, urbanism, and design company, is set to bring a Think Tank Series to the University of Miami School of Architecture. Broadway Malyan, with a strong history of hosting international Think Tank sessions, is now expanding its horizons by presenting this series in the United States. The event is dedicated to discussing “The 15-Minute City: a Global Perspective.”

Scheduled for October 25th, from 2:00 – 6:30 pm at the University of Miami School of Architecture, this event promises to be a pivotal discussion in reshaping urban landscapes and exploring innovative solutions to create more efficient, sustainable, and livable neighborhoods right here in Miami.

To register, please visit https://events. miami.edu/event/2023_miamithinktank The 15-Minute City concept, often referred to as Transit-Oriented Development, is a forward-thinking urban planning idea aimed at constructing neighborhoods where daily necessities are within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. This approach promotes accessibility, reduces reliance on cars, and fosters vibrant, communityfocused urban living.

Esteemed keynote speakers and moderators for the event include prominent figures in the fields of architecture, urban design, and community development: Ed Baker, Practice Principal and Global Urbanism Leader at Broadway Malyan.

Avra Jain, Co-Founder of Vagabond Group.

Raquel Regalado, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jorge Ponce Dawson, Main Board Director at Broadway Malyan Carie Penabad, Founding Principal of CÚRE & PENABAD Architecture and host of the On Cities podcast.

Ed Baker is a highly experienced master planner, urban designer, and landscape architect, renowned for his innovative and creative designs that span high-profile international planning and urban design projects across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. His focus lies in creating smart and sustainable places, whether it involves new city planning, urban district regeneration, designing city parks, or transit-oriented development.

Joining him is Avra Jain who brings her expertise in identifying emerging neighborhood trends. Her career journey has taken her from bond trading on Wall Street to developing properties along some of Miami’s trendiest streets.

The event also features Commissioner Raquel Regalado, who holds the distinction of being the first Miami-born 38

Hispanic woman elected to the MiamiDade County Commission. Her advocacy for housing, facilities, and infrastructure is well-recognized and has significantly contributed to the development of the Miami community.

Jorge Ponce Dawson, one of two event moderators is an expert in retail design known for his dynamic and innovative approach. He has played a vital role in delivering landmark projects, including London’s tallest residential tower, The Tower, and the redevelopment of one of Singapore’s key industrial areas with a new mixed-use community model underpinned by sustainability, wellbeing, and innovation, Kallang Kolam.

Carie Penabad, who is also moderating the event, hosts a weekly podcast that delves into the influence of urbanization on everyday life, providing valuable insights and perspectives.

Attendees will have the unique opportunity to explore how Miami can draw inspiration from global initiatives using Paris as a shining example, as they reshape the city into a 15-minute urban marvel. The concept, gaining traction in various United States cities, emphasizes green urban planning and ensuring essential needs are conveniently accessible to residents within walking distance. This event signifies a pivotal leap forward in redefining Miami’s urban landscape, with a resolute commitment to establishing more efficient, sustainable, and livable neighborhoods that closely align with the principles of the 15-Minute City.

The event will take place at the University of Miami, underscoring the collaborative effort between Double C and the university. This partnership focuses on supporting cutting-edge research in construction digitalization, robotics, building information modeling (BIM), and sustainable practices. It has already yielded innovative projects, including the exploration of augmented reality applications and drone technology in construction and design.

AUGUST 2023

WELCOME TO 2023-2024 As we stand at the threshold of a new academic year, it is with great enthusiasm that we extend a warm welcome to our incoming freshmen and new graduate students. Your arrival enriches our vibrant

community of learners and brings renewed energy to our campus.

The start of a new academic year is always filled with excitement and promise. It is a time of discovery and growth, where new possibilities unfold with every lesson learned and every idea shared. We embrace this new chapter with open arms, ready to embark on a journey of intellectual exploration and personal development.

This year, we have the distinct pleasure of welcoming multiple new faculty and staff members. Particularly noteworthy are two joint tenure-track faculty positions that mark the dawn of a new era in interdisciplinary collaboration. With Prof.

Sarbeswar Praharaj who is shared with the Department of Geography and Sustainable Development, and Prof. Minghui Cheng, jointly hired with the College of Engineering, we are forging innovative pathways in climate resilience research that transcend traditional boundaries. U-SoA’s international search efforts also resulted in the appointment of Prof. Lilly Wong and Prof. Vita Pivo who will be joining us respectively in Spring and fall 2024.

Our commitment to fostering a dynamic intellectual environment continues with an array of engaging events. The Tecnoglass lecture series, themed “The Health, Safety, and Welfare of Architecture,” takes center stage starting September 6th. We are honored to feature Marlon Blackwell and Meryati Johari Blackwell of Marlon Blackwell Architects as the first speakers. The 202324 series showcases practices that boldly confront the pressing challenges of our time, extending their material and formal capacities beyond convention to create innovative solutions.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of a reconstituted Master of Science in Architecture program this fall. This expanded program will be offered in six areas of concentration: Classical and Traditional Design, Digital Fabrication and Technology, Preservation and Adaptive Re-use, Healthcare Design, Hospitality Design, and Contemporary Theory of the Built Environment. Led by the esteemed Prof. Eric Firley, this multi-faceted program should clarify and reinforce U-SoA’s areas of teaching and research strength. It will bring greater depth and expertise from adjacent fields to enrich all our educational programs, ensuring that our students receive a holistic and wide-reaching education.

As we set our sights on the future, we are preparing for the NAAB accreditation visit in 2025. This academic year holds particular significance as we assess our teaching methods and outcomes, gathering evidence, including student work, for the upcoming review. The NAAB assessment framework, revamped since their last visit in 2017, emphasizes broader categories of knowledge and continuous self-assessment efforts. Recognizing that

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS these endeavors will ultimately enhance our professional education, we approach this new framework and process with great anticipation and a dedicated taskforce that is determined to secure the next accreditation term “With Distinction.”

With heartfelt wishes, we hope for a year of productivity and personal achievement.

May the 2023-2024 academic year bring boundless opportunities for growth, discovery, and collaboration. Together, as a unified community, we shall continue to advance the frontiers of knowledge and build an ever-brighter future.

Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury

STUDENTS TACKLE EMERGENCY SHELTERS An increasing number of displaced people around the world make providing housing a priority. And this summer, some University students were challenged to create structures for those in need.

By Barbara Gutierrez, UM News Since the beginning of the 21st century, natural disasters, war, political conflicts, and economic disparities have disrupted communities across the globe. The United Nations Refugee Agency reported “89.3 million people were forcibly displaced” by late 2021 because of “persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, or events seriously disturbing public order.”

This flood of displaced people prompted the creation of a University of Miami School of Architecture Summer Design Studio, which challenged students to create structures for residents in need of emergency deployable shelters.

The class, taught by School of Architecture lecturer Veruska Vasconez, attracted 13 students. For their project, the students could choose any location in the world as long as the structures would not resemble the traditional tents that are standard in refugee camps, Vasconez noted.

“So, the idea was to create a space that was similar to a house and that together it would look like a community,” said Vasconez. “The project would look almost like a mini urban design, and they had to choose a location in any part of the world.”

Entries included projects ranging from communities in Lebanon and Bangladesh to Sierra Leone and Turkey. The class projects were entered in a competition and two

winners will be picked by the Portugal-based design firm Go Friday and be announced in late September. The winners will receive monetary awards and a one-week trip to the Go Friday factory in Portugal.

Some of the challenges faced by the students, according to Vasconez, were to understand the different cultures inherent in their projects, climatic conditions, and how to integrate the locally sourced material to build these communities.

Bennett Resnick, a fourth year School of Architecture student, chose to create a remote shelter village in Freetown, Sierra Leone, an area of high population density that is susceptible to flooding and high poverty rates. He called his settlement “Fambul.” He chose the location because the area was vulnerable to epidemics and placed his development in a mountain range called Lion Mountains.

“I decided to focus my project on the country of Sierra Leone and decided to design shelters for people who are at risk of disease, taking them away from overcrowded areas and placing them in areas that are more isolated, safer,” he said.

His design features undulating structures built out of bamboo, a readily available material in the area, with areas for sleeping, as well as dining and bathrooms in separate sections.

The area is still being controlled by guerrillas “and this was the biggest motivator for me, Adelsohn noted.

“Recently a group of people were displaced and were forced out of their homes because of the guerrillas.”

Her community is called “Casa Embera,” named after the Indigenous groups in the region and has units built with wood from the area. The shutters covering the structures are made from native trees like caracole, abarco, and ceiba. Mosquito nets line the shutters, which also can open to provide ventilation.

She fashioned rooms for families to sleep together and hammocks to relax in open decks, as well as separate kitchen areas and rooms for children to study and share time with their caretakers.

Built at the entrance to the Parque Nacional Natural Utría, which is based in a rainforest, water is readily available for the residents to use.

Vasconez was impressed by the diversity and creativity of many of her students.

“It is remarkable how creative they can be in the short time they had,” she said.

The units are to be built in clusters that can accommodate individual families or be shared by multiple families. The community can accommodate up to 200 people, he said.

“They can share a kitchen but have their own bathrooms,” he said. “I wanted families to have a shared kitchen so that it can provide social interaction.”

His units also featured a dynamic system of solar panels that can gather power for electricity.

“This area is located in a rainforest, and they get a lot of rain in the summer. So, I raised the structures to protect them from flooding,” he pointed out. “I included a rainwater harvesting system so that some of this rain could be used for crops or flushing the toilet or cooking or showers.”

For Isabella Adelsohn, a fifth-year architecture student, the project had to be one that was meaningful to her. She grew up in Colombia and chose to place her community in the area of Choco, Colombia.

On the western side of the country, Choco has a diverse geography, unique ecosystems, and is the poorest district in the country.

Adelsohn picked the area because many of its Indigenous population are victims of the National Liberation Army, or ELN—military guerillas that continue to dominate the region.

VR OFFERS TEENS A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE OF COASTAL CITIES Created by an interdisciplinary team at the University of Miami, the Mangrove City app aims to give students an upclose lesson about the importance of ecosystems.

By Janette Neuwahl Tannen, UM News With sea levels rising at increasing rates worldwide, University of Miami interactive media professor Kim Grinfeder wondered: could he create a virtual experience that teaches students how they might navigate a coastal city like Miami 100 years from now?

About two years ago, he formed a small interdisciplinary group of students and faculty and staff members with expertise in virtual reality, mangrove ecology, coastal management, and architecture. And this summer, they unveiled their immersive application, called Mangrove City.

“It is expected that 243,000 square miles in the U.S. will be impacted by sea level rise in 2100 and several large cities are in that area, including Miami. Building walls isn’t going to be enough; we need to learn how to adapt,” said Grinfeder, who also leads the University’s XR Initiative. “Understanding mangrove ecology and how to leverage this

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ecosystem to build urban resilience will be critical to our survival.”

The group’s efforts did not go unnoticed.

The Mangrove City team recently placed first in the education category at an XR Prize Climate Change Challenge as part of AWE, the Augmented World Expo in California.

Geared toward middle school and high school students, the virtual reality app allows them to paddle through a fictional metropolis and experience firsthand what it might be like to traverse a U.S. coastal hub of the future. It also illustrates the importance of mangroves for protecting our coastlines from erosion and storm surge, inviting users to consider environmental engineering as a future career path. At different stations, students learn about coastal destruction, common types of mangroves, and bird and fish species that thrive in a mangrove ecosystem.

“Often, the most effective learning is experiential, and virtual reality offers a unique opportunity to transport students into mangroves and to consider alternative realities,” Grinfeder said. “I see applications like this as the future of education.”

When he crafted the idea for Mangrove City, Grinfeder already had started working with interactive media faculty member Zevensuy Rodriguez to explore “self-propelled locomotion,” or ways to move oneself forward in virtual reality through a School of Communication research grant. One of the interactions they explored was using a paddleboard to navigate a virtual environment, which worked so well that they decided to cocreate Mangrove City. As the project grew, Grinfeder reached out to architecture lecturer Ruth Ron and Rafael Araujo, a senior research associate, lecturer, and mangrove expert at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science.

Both used the opportunity to engage their students. Ron asked hers to design buildings that could withstand rising sea levels, learning from the mangrove’s evolutionary adaptations.

Through the project, Ron said her students gained skills anchored in the reality of designing resilient buildings for Miami, while also learning new software tools to create buildings in virtual reality.

“When they graduate, they won’t just be able to operate as architects in the physical world, but in the virtual world, which is a growing market,” Ron said.

“To be a designer of the metaverse is an amazing opportunity for our architecture students.”

Araujo and his students consulted with Grinfeder and Ron on how mangroves help protect coastal ecosystems.

“I liked the experience of working with

such a talented team that came from so many disciplines at the University— their enthusiasm was contagious,” said Araujo, who is presenting the experience to mangrove experts from across the world at the sixth international Mangrove Macrobenthos and Management conference (MMM6) in Cartagena, Colombia this week. “But I’m sure this is just the beginning. Once Mangrove City is out in the world, I believe I will find renewed inspiration from the many middle and high school students who will interact with the technology and learn to appreciate this remarkable ecosystem.”

Helping to design and develop the app— which is still undergoing some revisions this summer—are Bryson Rudolph, a software engineer at the University’s Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing, as well as interactive media students Cassandra Swilley and Kumani Riley. Sourav Pande, a master’s degree candidate in music engineering at the Frost School of Music, also is part of the team.

Ashay Dave, a master’s degree candidate in music engineering at the Frost School of Music, is working to fine-tune the audio for Mangrove City this summer so students will be able to hear native birds, mosquitos, water lapping over their paddleboards, and the Metrorail passing by as they paddle through the virtual environment.

Dave said he was new to working in virtual reality before joining the team but loved the creativity so much that he hopes to be an audio programmer for the gaming industry after graduation. “I enjoyed the design process of this project and helping to make the environment come alive, as well as integrating it with the cityscape,” he said.

In addition, K. “Ren” Rende, a School of Communication graduate and current University of Nebraska assistant professor of STEM education, is designing a free downloadable curriculum aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards that will be available with the experience and could be used in classrooms nationwide.

This fall, Grinfeder hopes to test the application with students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools to see whether they could benefit from visiting Mangrove City.

“We want to inspire middle school students to think about future pathways starting today, which includes learning how to coexist with water,” Grinfeder said. “We are also trying to empower teachers with tools like this, so that they can take students on virtual field trips. Although we started with a mangrove ecosystem because it is relevant locally, this could be applied to many other ecosystems.”

DEAN EL-KHOURY PASSES THE TORCH IN CRA LEADERSHIP, CLIMATE RESILIENCE ACADEMY Michael Berkowitz, who built the 100 Resilient Cities initiative, and later Resilient Cities Catalyst, from ideas into global movements, will serve as the executive director of the fledgling academy, which supports the University’s 12 schools and colleges in their efforts to conduct research, train the next generation of climate scientists and practitioners, and solve the most pressing problems caused by climate change.

By Robert C. Jones Jr., UM News Flood waters that turned many of Mumbai’s streets into rivers during the heavy monsoon rains of 2007 taught Michael Berkowitz a lesson in resilience he would long remember.

He was living in Mumbai, heading up corporate security and business continuity efforts for Deutsche Bank, when floods inundated India’s financial capital.

“The water was waist deep in parts of the city, and there was a lot of finger-pointing about how the city was not prepared and how its infrastructure had failed,” Berkowitz recalled. “But what I noticed were people wading through water to get to work, people helping each other in truly remarkable ways. I was impressed with the spirit of the Mumbaikars. I didn’t know it then, but such an ethos is a hallmark of resilience thinking—it’s not just how infrastructure performs, but how society more generally responds to climate shocks.”

Berkowitz took that lesson to heart, assimilating it with others he learned during a brilliant career in risk and resilience that has seen him spearhead initiatives at a multitude of levels.

Now, he has embarked on a new challenge.

Berkowitz, who founded and built the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) from an idea into an influential global city network, working across 48 countries to help cities around the world become more resilient to physical, social, and economic shocks and stresses, has been named the founding executive director of the University of Miami’s Climate Resilience Academy.

Launched on Earth Day (April 22) in 2022, the academy supports the University’s 12 schools and colleges in their efforts to conduct interdisciplinary research, train the next generation of climate scientists and practitioners, and solve the most pressing

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS problems caused by climate change—all while partnering with industry, government, universities, and other stakeholders.

A $5 million commitment from Eric T. Levin, a former University trustee and the former president of the University’s Citizens Board, which represents business leaders throughout South Florida, made the academy possible.

institution that is clearly committed to addressing these issues made the University of Miami an attractive place to continue my work in resilience.”

Berkowitz, who also becomes the Eric T. Levin Endowed Chair in Climate Resilience, begins his new post on Aug. 21.

His appointment comes at a time when climatologists and others the world over are warning that the planet is reaching a tipping point in the climate crisis. Earth’s average surface temperature for 2022 tied with 2015 as the fifth warmest on record, and the past nine years have been the warmest since 1880, when modern recordkeeping began, according to a NASA analysis.

“A thought leader in resilience” is how Guillermo “Willy” Prado, interim executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, described Berkowitz. “South Florida is often called ground zero for sea level rise. And with the extreme weather our region—indeed, our nation—is now experiencing, Michael’s appointment couldn’t be timelier,” he pointed out.

The warming climate is leaving its calling card in the form of stronger hurricanes, more intense droughts, more severe wildfires, and ever-rising sea levels. And with the El Niño climate phenomenon, which has a heating effect, in full force this year, 2023 could become the hottest year on record by the time it ends, a group of Berkeley Earth scientists have warned.

“A key goal of our new academy is to foster partnership outside the University, to get business, government, nonprofits, and other academic institutions involved in this endeavor,” Prado continued. “Michael is the linchpin in our plans to make that happen.

His global network, partnerships with private and public sectors, and experience developing and executing a vision for resilient communities will benefit South Florida, the nation, and beyond.”

The Climate Resilience Academy, Berkowitz said, is the University’s “moon shot” against climate change, with more than 85 institution-wide research projects already underway to address the climate crisis and related resilience issues—from protecting and restoring coral reefs to mitigating the warming climate’s impact on vulnerable populations.

Champion of urban resilience In 2019, with the senior management team of 100RC, Berkowitz helped create Resilient Cities Catalyst(RCC), a global nonprofit that helps cities and their partners change the way they plan and act in the face of climate change. RCC’s on-the-ground efforts range from helping communities in California unlock millions of dollars of climate funding to partnering with Australia’s Minderoo Foundation to design a vision for more resilience in the aftermath of wildfires and floods. Led by RCC’s cofounders, that work will continue.

Fittingly, 100RC supported Greater Miami to unify its resilience work through the creation of Resilient 305, a plan to help local municipalities better prepare for and respond to hurricanes, sunny day flooding, and sea level rise as well as social and economic inequities. “When you think about the worldwide effort to build resilience, there are fewer places where that is more evident and more critical than in South Florida,” Berkowitz said. “It’s not just South Florida’s exposure to climate risks, but it’s the region as a central point of immigration and migration across Latin and North America. It’s this incredible opportunity with a booming economy and a burgeoning tech sector,” he added. “Gentrification, displacement, and vulnerability have occurred in the face of all of that. These are issues that speak to the resilience of a city, of a region, and of a community. And being able to tap into what is a world-class research and teaching

“It’s the academy’s role to connect the amazing work being done by our researchers more effectively to practitioners so that they can, in turn, use and ultimately scale the innovations that are coming out of the University,” Berkowitz said. “And it is our goal to connect those practitioners back into the University so that we can understand the demand signal and what new innovations are needed to tackle problems. If we can create that virtuous cycle of demand informing research and research having an impact in communities, that will be a mark of success for this new academy.”

Pivotal role of students Students, both at the undergraduate and graduate level, will be an integral part of that cycle, Berkowitz noted.

“Urban resilience as a profession is relatively new,” he explained. “A multitude of people from different disciplines and who are trained in different ways are currently the practitioners of resilience.

But we’re hoping that the practitioners of tomorrow—the students—bring a new level of sophistication to it. That they approach it in more interdisciplinary and inclusive ways, thinking not just about the past science but also new possibilities for the future. All of these are hallmarks of resilience thinking. We need to train the future generations of practitioners and leaders, and using Miami and South Florida as a living laboratory to do that is the perfect strategy.”

Berkowitz’s accomplishments while serving

as president of 100 Resilient Cities from 2013 to 2019 run the gamut. The 4,000 actions the organization helped spearhead in its partnership with cities resulted in more than 150 collaborations between the private and public sectors, including $230 million of pledged support from platform partners and more than $25 billion leveraged from national, philanthropic, and private sources to implement resilience projects. RCC has built on that legacy, working closely with communities, project owners, and regional stakeholders across the United States and around the world.

Under his leadership, 100RC co-led City Xchange, an effort to connect tech and innovation with cities to solve resilience challenges. And with UN Habitat, the organization led the creation of the Medellin Collaboration on Urban Resilience to align international urban resilience efforts.

100RC, Berkowitz noted, spearheaded the creation of the chief resilience officer, using as a guide a white paper from the Zürich, Switzerland-based, reinsurance company Swiss Re that suggested countries hire chief risk officers. “We amended it to think more about building capacities rather than just understanding the risks that were on the books—that is, we took it a step further, advancing the idea of the interdisciplinary nature of building capacities that could help a city survive and thrive in the face of disaster. And that was the original job description of the chief resilience officer.”

Those positions were originally grant funded by 100RC. Now, as the climate crisis worsens, municipal and county governments across the United States are hiring full-time chief resilience officers to address the impacts of climate change.

But among all of 100RC’s accomplishments, “I’m most proud of the community we built,” said Berkowitz, noting that some who have served as chief resilience officers for major cities have moved on to key positions at federal agencies such as FEMA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“Of course, Jim Murley, [chief resiliency officer for Miami-Dade County], and Jane Gilbert, [chief heat officer for MiamiDade], are still doing really important work in Miami through Resilient 305,” said Berkowitz, referring to a plan to help local municipalities better prepare for and respond to hurricanes, sunny day flooding, and sea level rise as well as social and economic inequities.

“It’s not only the community of chief resilience officers we built but also folks in business, in nonprofits, in civil society, and at universities across sectors and silos,” he explained. “There’s this real legacy of a community that is thinking about our risks and opportunities in new and important ways. And part of that is this understanding that resilience is not just about how our infrastructure withstands the initial disaster.

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If a hurricane hits Miami, it’s important that the infrastructure withstand that, that buildings not collapse, that roads not wash away,” he added.

“But the resilience of South Florida is so much more than that. It’s all these other aspects of how neighbors check on neighbors, how different economic sectors can rebound more quickly and carry the region while recovery happens across the economy. It’s how well the poorest and most vulnerable of our fellow community members can get back on their feet,” he continued. “All these things are the hallmarks of a more resilient community.

That wasn’t always understood. It’s much better understood in 2023 than it was in 2013, when we started 100 Resilient Cities.

So, that’s the legacy I’m most proud of.”

Storied career Berkowitz’s career in the field of resiliency is an unlikely one. Following undergraduate study in political science at the University of Delaware, he traveled to Washington, D.C., in hopes of landing a job in politics. “I had no connections in the field of politics, so I just applied for internships wherever I could get them,” he recalled.

He got a job as a reporter for a major newsletter that covered emergency preparedness, reporting and writing stories on emergency management-related topics that affected local and national businesses.

New York City Emergency Management recruited him. And during a seven-year stint that began in 1998 with that office, he worked in various roles. He wrote contingency plans for biological terrorism, extreme heat, and coastal storms. He oversaw the city’s emergency mapping and data center during the response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and he responded to other incidents such as the Northeast blackout of 2003 and the West Nile virus outbreak in the New York City area in 1999.

From there, it was on to Deutsche Bank, where for eight years he worked in several key positions for the multinational investment bank and financial services company.

sciences at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, for serving as the academy’s interim directors and for leading the planning process and defining the mission that established the foundations of the academy.

been battling temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. South Florida also has been under constant heat advisories.

“They did a masterful job and all of the heavy lifting as far as corralling the faculty and administrators and fleshing out the academy’s ideas, making it possible for us to attract someone of Michael’s stature,” Levin said.

Even though humans need the sun to live, its rays can damage our skin and its heat and the ensuing humidity can harm us. As the summer lingers, we all have to learn how to best mitigate that heat. In South Florida, where humidity is high, it can be more of a challenge, according to sport sciences faculty members at the University of Miami, who can attest to how the heat can affect us.

“It has been an honor to co-lead the development of the academy during its fledgling stages,” Majumdar said. “The most fulfilling part has been the integration of ideas generated by students, staff, and faculty, which were supported by our leadership and Eric.”

Berkowitz, added Majumdar, “is poised to nurture the collective enthusiasm and the diverse array of talent across our schools and colleges in collaboration with external partners and stakeholders.

As a long-standing leader and founder of organizations in the climate resilience arena, Michael brings a wealth of experience to lead the academy’s vision and its execution. His breadth and depth of connections across multiple sectors will help bolster the University’s reputation through meaningful partnerships, while making a direct contribution to the wellbeing of society.”

“One of the most exciting aspects of building the Climate Resilience Academy was framing and channeling the University’s enormous capacity in the climate change space. We designed the academy as an instrument for aligning the wealth of talent and resources in tackling big challenges. With years spent in the field, leading a trailblazing resilience program, Michael is perfectly poised for putting this prodigious instrument to good use,” said el-Khoury.

Then came his storied stints as president of 100RC and founding principal of RCC. Now, the University of Miami gets the founding executive director for its fledgling Climate Resilience Academy.

“Michael brings experience outside of academia,” Levin said. “He’s done great work with 100 Resilient Cities, and he’s had to work with a variety of leaders under different circumstances. He’s built up a lot of resilience himself. So, the experience he brings in building an organization from just the concept to a full-fledged, very effective, very influential organization is valuable for us.”

Levin praised Rodolphe el-Khoury, dean of the School of Architecture, and Sharan Majumdar, a professor of atmospheric 42

The earth is getting hotter, and climate experts predict that it will continue to do so.

“Our bodies sweat to cool down,” said Wesley “Wes” Smith, assistant professor of professional practice in the School of Education and Human Development. “But in humid places like Miami, the air is too damp for sweat to evaporate effectively, making it harder for us to cool down and potentially leading to overheating or even heat stroke.”

When bodies overheat the heart works harder and the body redirects blood flow to the skin to help cool off, but this means less blood returns to the heart, said Smith. To make up for this, our heart rate increases. This extra work can strain the heart, especially in people with heart conditions, he added.

Heat illnesses can range from something mild, like heat cramps and heat exhaustion, to severe heatstroke. Heat exhaustion typically presents as excessive sweating, fatigue, a racing heart rate, and lightheadedness, especially when standing suddenly.

Despite the heat, the skin may feel cool and clammy. Immediate removal from the heat and rehydration with cool fluids are essential to prevent progression to heat stroke, Smith explained. A heatstroke manifests as dry, hot skin, possible unconsciousness, and convulsions. This lifethreatening condition requires immediate cooling measures and professional medical intervention, he added.

Although having full heatstroke is rare for someone doing light exercise under the sun, experts agree that keeping hydrated is crucial.

PROF. CARIE PENABAD SHARES HER TAKE ON RISING TEMPERATURES University of Miami faculty experts share ways for us to beat the hot temperatures as they continue to set records.

By Barbara Gutierrez, UM News The first days of July were the hottest days on record. Ever. In the entire world.

For weeks, residents in the Southwest United States, including Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and the Central Plains have

“With athletes, here in South Florida, they have to make sure that they hydrate during the event but also that they hydrate before and that includes the day before and hours before,” said Maggie Aldousany, associate professor of professional practice in the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences. “Once they feel thirsty, they are already dehydrated.”

Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and beverages with cola is also important for those who plan to spend hours under the sun, since those drinks tend to dehydrate the body.

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Aldousany also pointed out that folks should avoid being outside during peak sun hours—the sun is usually at its strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If engaging in exercise, they should do so either very early in the morning or in the cooler hours of the evening.

Arlette Perry, professor in the School of Education and Human Development, runs the THINK Camp every summer. The camp teaches adolescents how to keep healthy through proper nutrition and exercise. The participants take part in outdoor exercises in the afternoon hours.

“This year we have been struggling because the heat index has been so high,” she said.

The camp provides everyone extra water and sports drinks, which contain glucose and electrolytes such as sodium and potassium that are similar to what is found in your bloodstream. As one sweats, the body loses salt and electrolytes, which may exacerbate heat illness, she pointed out.

Also, Perry said that during the summer it is better for people to wear visors, rather than hats “because hats can trap the heat in the head. Protecting the brain temperature is important.” Cooling towels placed around the neck also help one to maintain a comfortable body temperature.

Carie Penabad, professor in the School of Architecture, said that people should keep in mind that there are also built environments that are more amenable to reducing the effects of the sun. Cities like Coral Gables, with luscious landscapes and mature trees, create canopies that can substantially mitigate heat.

“Landscape significantly reduces heat gain because as the trees mature they create ample shade canopies that allow people to walk, jog, or play for much longer periods of time,” said Penabad.

Congress for the New Urbanism. Faculty and students attended the 31st Congress for the New Urbanism in Charlotte, NC in June.

Earlier in the spring, the School’s Architecture Research Center welcomed Jenna Courtade, (MS/LIS University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) as Visiting Librarian. An important focus of Ms. Courtade’s work will be the New Urbanism Archive, a steadily growing repository of materials related to the emergence of the New Urbanism as an international movement in urban design. The Archive includes records of CNU’s founding, annual conferences, and Charter Awards.

Also ongoing is faculty and staff support of the CNU’s accreditation offering, CNU-A. The course and exam have been hosted by the University of Miami since they were created a decade ago by Professors Chuck Bohl and Joanna Lombard. Natalie Bixby, MRED+U Senior Program Manager, has been managing course enrollment, exam certifications, and updates. She is working with Stephanie Bothwell, CNU Fellow, on a major update to the course and the exam, to reflect among other topics of increasing prominence, climate change and equity in the built environment.

This fall, CNU-related events can be expected locally, as Alex Adams, AICP, CNU-A, (and U-SoA alumnus) is leading CNU+Miami and will be working with UM students to revive the Student Chapter.

They recently hosted a screening of Andy Boenau’s documentary on highway infrastructure with a panel discussion featuring Andy Boenau and Mickey Witte, program manager, UM’s Kidz Neuroscience Center WalkSafe and BikeSafe, moderated

by Victor Dover.

JUNE 2023

THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND THE CONGRESS FOR NEW URBANISM (CNU) The School of Architecture continues its involvement with and support of the

The Identity Column is present within the Griot installation. Sculpted from a single block of black marble, through digital and hand procedures, is a full-scale representation of Diasporic lineage, culture, and materiality.

Griot demands a reorientation of foundational principles, providing the opportunity to imagine a new future. One that positions Africa and its descendants as a force to be acknowledged and revered.

CONNECTIVITY PART OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR TEXAS DISTRICT University of Miami architecture students worked with peers from Texas Tech University to plan a health district that would serve as a destination neighborhood for community members in the northwest city of Lubbock.

By Barbara Gutierrez, UM News How do you create a health district that enhances connectivity among three hospitals and encourages the public to enjoy surrounding outdoor spaces as areas for entertainment, relaxation, and opportunities for social discourse?

Our buildings also can respond to the heat through the use of architectural elements such as porches, colonnades, and deep overhangs, all historic characteristics of buildings throughout the tropical world, she noted.

“These elements help to protect us from the harsh light and promote shade and ventilation,” she said.

departure, text and word is the axis that Griot is positioned between. The text refers to the timeline, architectural elevations, and mask artifacts that express Columnar Dis-order. Digitally drawn on recycled Roman paper and collaged through analog processes, each visualization illuminates historical narratives collapsing architecture, archeology, and anthropological disciplines.

Migration, Labor, and Identity are the triumvirate that does not obey traditional columnar design rules rivaling Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders. Each mask artifact situated atop cylinder marble plinths aids and corresponds to each Dis-order.

PROF. GERMANE BARNES PRESENTS “GRIOT” AT THE 2023 VENICE ARCHITECTURE BIENNIAL Professor Germane Barnes presented his contribution, Griot, to La Biennale di Venezia Architettura 2023, “Laboratory of the Future,” located in Arsenale and curated by Lesley Lokko.

A Griot, historically, is a West African storyteller. In this proposal, physical objects and drawings will supply histories of architecture, identity, colonization, and the cultural influences of the African Diaspora.

Using Dangerous Liaisons as the point of

That was the mandate that nine University of Miami School of Architecture students had this past semester as part of the Covenant Health Community Collaborative Design Studio led by School of Architecture faculty members Joanna Lombard and Veruska Vasconez and Texas Tech University (TTU) faculty member Julie Zook.

Working with the Covenant Health System in Lubbock, Texas, the Miami students collaborated with 16 TTU students to develop district plans and building proposals to establish a cohesive health district in the areas surrounding the Covenant Medical Center, Covenant Specialty Hospital, and Covenant Children’s Hospital.

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“We concentrated on what kinds of things could be added that would bring value to the area,” said Enrique Santos, a fourthyear architecture student. “Right now, there are open properties between the hospitals.

There was a lot of opportunity to create a sense of community.”

Before they arrived in Lubbock, working with Dover Kohl & Partners principal Jason King, Lombard and Vasconez had taken the students through the principles of New Urbanism, which prioritizes walkable streets, mixed-use buildings, diverse housing choices, and supportive destinations—such as parks and greens— that would be accessible by foot, bikes or transit, and are represented in DKP’s current work on the new Lubbock Unified Development Code. Zook shared research from her recent book, “The Covert Life of Hospital Architecture,” and discussed new trends in medical facilities.

The studio also reviewed the considerable body of research on the health impacts of the built environment.

“Nearly 40 years of research, for example, consistently demonstrates that social interaction is a significant predictor of health and longevity,” said Lombard, who also has a joint appointment in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the Miller School of Medicine. “Yet many of our built environments are built as if an evil genius designed them to keep us apart.”

Armed with that knowledge, the students were ready to design their projects.

“Prior to us travelling to Texas we were given dream cards from the people of Covenant,” said Alana Bernard, a fourthyear architecture student. “These cards expressed what many of their staff and people from the community felt they needed from the space.”

After meeting with the Covenant leadership and participating in a walking tour of the area, the Miami and TTU students workshopped three district plans that included roads, traffic circles, and bike lanes that would ease mobility around the hospitals and adjacent buildings. Some plans also included small parks, wellness centers, cafés, and shops, while individual plans featured unique amenities such as an amphitheater and a civic center.

Besides master plans, some students also designed buildings for the area and identified districts within the plans to provide a sense of navigation. Bernard’s building was located in their Primrose District, and she designed a wellness center using mostly concrete, glass, and stone. The building would house rooms for yoga and acupuncture, as well as wellness lectures.

In designing the structures for the district, the students were mindful of Lubbock’s semi-arid climate, which is prone to dust storms, Santos noted. With the weather and local building materials in mind, the students used a palette of earth tones in 44

their structures, which they felt blended into the architecture of Lubbock.

Attentive to the impacts of daylight on wellness and navigability, they ensured that all habitable spaces incorporated daylight and views, including destination vistas for walkways and sidewalks, according to Lombard. Some buildings featured skylights to bring light into areas needing privacy. They also developed storm water storage to address the sudden floodwaters that can punctuate Lubbock’s otherwise dry climate.

Santos created a civic center in the middle of a new complex he positioned at a midpoint to the three hospitals. He hoped the center could draw community members to hold religious events as well as other gatherings. He also designed two pavilions—one open and one enclosed— framing the center. He said they could be used as active public spaces, such as an open-air farmer’s market or a place for neighborhood festivities for holidays and birthday parties.

“I designed a closed pavilion in case the weather changes so that if a dust storm kicks up, there would be a shelter,” he said.

Holly LaFebre, chief mission officer of Covenant Health in Lubbock, who worked with the students and the professors, said she truly enjoyed the experience.

“They demonstrated great interest in the history and heritage of Covenant Health which they used to inform and inspire decisions they made as they worked on their projects,” she said. “The final presentation sparked great interest and will influence decisions and construction in the future. The students’ plans made the CHS Leadership think about health care building concepts that had not yet been considered.”

ARCHITECTURE GRADUATE STUDENT MAKES A PLAY FOR HER PASSION After beginning her professional career in sports broadcasting and reporting, Amber Kountz pivoted to chase her dream of becoming an architect.

By Karina Shadeed Amber Kountz didn’t grow up in the world of architecture, but a field trip taken during a summer program in elementary school piqued her interest in the field.

“I remember seeing a physical model in one of the office lobbies and being in awe,” she recalled. “I got inspired to start building models at home and for school projects.

From then on, I knew I wanted to be an architect, but I didn’t believe it could one day be a reality.”

So, after she and her sister were raised in Connecticut by their parents, Kountz attended the University of Connecticut and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications.

Having an interest in sports, she used her communication degree to work for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN Films, where she had the opportunity to work on the Michael Jordan documentary, “The Last Dance.” In addition to being an on-camera reporter for local news and sports, she was a boxing commentator for Madison Square Garden Network, DAZN, and ESPN. Although she worked in sports media, Kountz still carried that desire for architecture. Without knowing anyone in the field or growing up around it, she said it was difficult for her to chart a path to get there. She decided to attend architecture lectures at Columbia University and Yale University after work, and slowly learned what it would take to become an architect.

Subsequently, she decided to follow her passion and apply to the University of Miami School of Architecture.

Kountz visited the campus and met several students and former graduate director, Allan Shulman. With her architecture goals in mind, she chose the University for her extended studies. However, she started graduate school during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After spending the first year attending classes remotely, Kountz moved to Miami for her second year. On her first day, she said that she walked into the studio, made a formal introduction, and sat down. She said it felt as if she had been sitting right next to the other students for the past year.

“The conversation continued with such fluidity that the bond we formed through laughter, tears, and anger transferred through a computer monitor,” she said.

“And that tight-knit community of students reflects the faculty and staff at UM. I can easily reach out to anyone of my instructors for advice and guidance. I always knew I had a support system behind me. That was vital for someone without a background in architecture and no family or friends based in Florida.”

Kountz has been active on campus and in the community throughout her time at the University. This year, Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury nominated her to be on the board of the Graduate Activity Fee Allocation Committee and represent the School of Architecture. She also has built a relationship with the University’s Institute for Data Science and Computing. She is working with the institute to find ways artificial intelligence can be used to detect emotions within an architectural space and to adapt accordingly.

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS She also has been invited to numerous roundtable discussions on campus with visiting and prospective professors.

Kountz was awarded the Gensler Rising Black Designers Scholarship and the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMA) Miami Diversity Scholarship. She worked with the Black Architects in the Making group to assist in displaying student work at an exhibition in Orlando. And, as a member of the University’s NOMAS chapter, she helped with the UTrailblazers interactive exhibit initiative, which debuted on campus in the fall.

interviewed the clients, which included the charter school’s students and faculty and staff members, to learn about their needs and preferences.

Last year, Kountz served as secretary for the student organization Women In Construction. All her extra-curricular activities were in addition to being a fulltime student and working full time both for the University and outside of school.

She will graduate with a master’s degree in architecture.

Most of the architecture students had not used power tools before but were excited to tackle the project. The gazebo-like structure has an open oculus on top to let in light and air and one at the bottom that connects it to the earth, reported Ceo. The classroom was built as a octagonal structure to mimic the environment that will surround it, he pointed out.

“My goal is to one day wake up in a home where I developed the property, designed the building, and managed the construction,” Kountz said. “When I head downstairs for a cup of tea, I will open an article in Architectural Digest or another architecture publication and read that one of my classmates’ designs is being honored internationally.”

The octagonal structure, built by the architecture students, now sits in a protected hardwood hammock near the Key Largo school. It is fashioned out of Western redcedar, a wood that is resistant to the elements and does not rot. One of the challenges of the project, according to Ceo, is that it had to be modular so that once constructed, the students could take it apart and reassemble it on site.

Hannah Artman, a fourth-year student, said it was “so satisfying to meet the young students who would be using the outdoor classroom.”

infill patterns,” Wee said. “Due to this, we sometimes had to repeat the process of redesigning certain aspects and had to learn to work with the constraints we had in terms of both time and code restrictions,” she added.

“When constructing the actual structure, I had to learn patience in terms of the working materials and the tools,” Wee continued. “As this structure in particular was very precise in terms of how the pieces slotted together. Thus, we had to go slow when building, because one wrong move could lead to a possible setback or even redo of the piece or part.”

The students’ project was awarded the Best Upper Level Studio Award by the faculty at the School of Architecture.

Ceo and Adamson founded the Design/ Build Program in 2009 and have been codirecting and co-teaching the classes.

Photos courtesy of Joshua Prezant and Ocean Studies Charter School

She also noted that she learned new skills while immersing herself in the studio.

A SPECTACULAR ACOUSTICAL UPGRADE FOR THE KORACH GALLERY The Korach Gallery has been, since its opening in 2009, a stunning space with a sound problem. Prof. Joel Lamere, Director of the Graduate Programs in Architecture, saw this as a perfect opportunity to employ some of his latest research in digital simulation and robotic fabrication.

“In the Spring of 2020, I taught a studio called CLOUDY, which focused on acoustic simulation and enhancement. The hope was to have students build prototypes of acoustic treatments, but the global pandemic had other ideas. Instead, I gave myself the task, and I’ve been considering design possibilities since.”

DESIGN BUILD STUDIO

By Barbara Gutierrez Students enrolled in the Design Build Studio course offered by the School of Architecture, under the leadership of Professor Rocco Ceo and lecturer James Adamson, spent the spring semester in their outdoor studio, building an outdoor classroom for the Ocean Study Charter School in Key Largo.

The charter school school asked the design build class to create a modular classroom for outside use. The University students

“We architect students do not often get the chance to work from a small scale and then fully build a structure,” she explained. “This really opened my eyes, and I realized that this is how working in a firm would feel like. It made me more passionate about architecture.”

For Kailyn Wee, building the classroom taught her to have patience.

“I learned patience and flexibility, as we often came across issues that we had to fix on the fly, such as the designs for the

The versatile gallery space has hosted innumerable events, including reviews, exhibitions, lectures, and receptions, all central to the academic and social life of U-SoA. But major design features, including the many hard surfaces and exposed steel decking, reflect sound and dramatically increase reverberation times, making the space unwelcoming to many. By adding a series of acoustic “clouds,” Prof. Lamere aimed to make the space more inclusive and functional. “If you’ve been in Korach when there are multiple reviews going on, you know how hard it is to focus on a single conversation, even for those of us fortunate enough not to be hard of hearing. This project won’t make the space

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acoustically perfect because nothing added after the initial design possibly could. But it will help a lot and hopefully make the space more welcoming.”

The series of acoustic clouds, titled Volutus Formations, are fabricated using a hot-wire cutter mounted to the robotic arm in the FabLab. The design maximizes surface area for sound absorption, wrapping deep grooves around cylindrical forms, which would be impossible to construct without using 6-axis tooling. The clouds hang from the roof trusses, matching the structural cadence of the building while adding texture to the austere space. Cloud types alternate between hyperboloids, which are cut from solid blocks, and helixes, which are cut from the excess material left from the prior cloud, making it an extremely material-efficient project as well. Such a complex project needed a ton of testing and experimentation. Professor Lamere collaborated on early prototypes with former graduate student Junren Tan, who has since returned to his hometown in China to open a practice specializing in the fabrication of complex forms. “Junren was such a great student and fun to work with on early tests. Not many students could have dealt with all of the geometric complexities that are in play here.”

Prof. Lamere hopes that Volutus Formations will influence the treatment of other acoustically-problematic spaces on campus, including the Murphy Studio Building. “There are a lot of spaces that need to be considered in these terms in order to truly serve our full community.

Obviously, I can’t serve so directly on future projects; I won’t be here to design, fabricate, assemble, and install others by myself, as I did in Korach. But I’d be thrilled if this project motivates similar changes elsewhere.”

MAY 2O23

SPECIAL ISSUE: GRADUATION + AWARDS Dear Graduating Students, Congratulations! As you stand on the threshold of a new chapter in your careers we acknowledge with this special issue of 46

U-SoA NOW your great accomplishments and exciting prospects. Each one of you has demonstrated immense dedication, talent, and resilience throughout your journey and graduation is a testament to your hard work and unwavering commitment. Several have received awards for outstanding academic performance and leadership. We celebrate them here as harbingers of greater achievements to come.

During your course of study at U-SoA, the world around us was reshaped by a whirlwind of events, demanding adaptability and ingenuity. You, as future architects, builders, and developers, have not only embraced these circumstances but have thrived in them. Your ability to think creatively made it possible to flourish while riding the waves of disruption from VR to AI. I encourage you to continue to push the boundaries of your creativity, to design spaces that are equitable and uplifting, and to make a lasting impact on your surroundings.

I speak on behalf of the entire faculty and staff when I say that we are immensely proud of your accomplishments and cannot wait to witness the contributions you will make to the built environment. Remember, you are not only graduates of the beloved and formidable U but also ambassadors of change, with the power to shape a better world through your innovative ideas and transformative designs.

Wishing you the very best in all your future endeavors.

Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury 2022/2023 UNIVERSITY & SCHOOL AWARDS HENRY ADAMS MEDAL/ GRADUATING STUDENT WITH HIGHEST GPA Awarded in conjunction with the American Institute of Architects, to the highest-ranking graduating student for scholarship and excellence in a professional architecture program within the 2022-23 academic year.

Bachelor of Architecture // Lucas Rosen Master of Architecture // Nina Voith AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS FLORIDA BRONZE MEDAL Awarded in conjunction with the AIA Florida to the graduating students in both the undergraduate and graduate programs who have achieved outstanding academic achievement.

Bachelor of Architecture // Lucas Rosen Master of Architecture // Yara Quteineh ALPHA RHO CHI MEDAL Awarded in conjunction with the National Fraternity to a graduating senior whose leadership, personality and attitude foreshadow exceptional professional worth.

Bachelor of Architecture // Conor Quigley Master of Architecture // Tiffany Agam

FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DESIGN WORK IN THE BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM Awarded to an outstanding graduating student in the undergraduate professional degree program who has consistently demonstrated excellent performance in design over their academic career.

Lauren Elia FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING UPPER LEVEL STUDENT DESIGN Awarded to the upper-level design studio project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

Hammocks House (Design/Build Studio-under the faculty leadership of Professor Rocco Ceo and Jim Adamson) Lauren Elia Nicholas C. Ingold Andrea M. Lira Hannah Meyer Erik Olliges Ian X. Ondek Conor L. Quigley Jayna L. Schack Shannon C. Stack Rebecca M. Stewart Chi Yen Ta Kailyn Wee FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING THESIS WORK IN THE MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM Awarded to an outstanding graduating student in the graduate professional degree program who demonstrated excellent performance in an individual thesis.

Gianell Gonzalez & Zara Silva Landry Honorable Mention: Ana Gutierrez FERGUSON SHAMAMIAM DESIGN AWARD Awarded to a student who demonstrates excellence in classical and traditional architecture.

Kayla Rembold & Tyler Dowd FACULTY AWARD FOR EXEMPLARY STUDENT SERVICE TO THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE Awarded to a graduating student whose exemplary service has contributed to the civic life of the school.

Bachelor of Architecture // Livia Brodie Master of Architecture // Amber Kountz FACULTY AWARD FOR STUDENT WRITING Awarded to students for excellence in research and written assignments.

Bachelor of Architecture // Livia Brodie & Shannon Stack Master of Architecture // Tiffany Agam AIA MIAMI’S DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP Strategically developed as a forward step in closing the racial disparity gap within the profession, the scholarship supports the recruitment and retention of Black Americans in accredited architectural degree programs by assisting scholarship recipients with the cost of tuition, books, and materials.

Christopher Trent Stinson & Emmaus Yonas

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS HENRY A. COLINA PRIZE The $500 prize is awarded annually to one architecture student who has deeply engaged the resources of the Architecture Research Center and the University of Miami Libraries to articulate an architectural design problem or project.

Carlos Enrique Santos Ortiz

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT DESIGN AWARD Awarded to the second-year undergraduate design studio (ARC 204) project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

Kendall Wellbrook

THE VILLAGERS PRESERVATION SCHOLARSHIPS Awarded to a student with a demonstrated interest in preservation, a noteworthy academic record, and the potential to make a significant contribution to historic preservation in the future.

Sacha Braggs & Grace Levey

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT DESIGN AWARD Awarded to the third-year undergraduate design studio (ARC 305) project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

Angela Mesaros

THE “WOODY” WOODROW W. WILKINS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING TEACHING Awarded by the Student Council on behalf of the student body to a faculty member for outstanding achievements in teaching.

Oscar Machado MASTER OF CONSTRUCTION MGMT./ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Recognizes a capacity for adapting to change, and for continually improving knowledge and skills.

Naser Alkandari MASTER OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT/ LEADERSHIP AWARD Recognizes a student for excellence in developing strategies and skills for keeping a team constantly motivated, and focused on achieving a common goal.

Kimberley Jaar MASTER OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT/ MANAGEMENT AWARD Recognizes a student’s ability to organize and plan projects effectively by developing systematic processes and working harmoniously with others to achieve a shared goal.

Isaiah Holmes

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT DESIGN AWARD Awarded to the third-year undergraduate design studio (ARC 305) project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

Che Ramsumbhag UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT DESIGN AWARD Awarded to the third-year undergraduate design studio (ARC 306) project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

Jesper Brenner UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT DESIGN AWARD Awarded to the third-year undergraduate design studio (ARC 306) project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

George Elliott GRADUATE CORE STUDENT DESIGN AWARD Awarded to the graduate core design studio project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

Alexandra Wise

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT DESIGN AWARD Awarded to the first-year undergraduate design studio (ARC 101) project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

Mohamed Altawari

GRADUATE INTEGRATED STUDENT DESIGN AWARD Awarded to the graduate integrated design studio project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

Maryam Basti, Interrogating Boundaries

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT DESIGN AWARD Awarded to the first-year undergraduate design studio (ARC 102) project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

Christopher Forwood

GRADUATE INTEGRATED STUDENT DESIGN AWARD Awarded to the graduate integrated design studio project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

Alexandra Wise, Interrogating Boundaries

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT DESIGN AWARD Awarded to the second-year undergraduate design studio (ARC 203) project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

Karla Fidalgo

GRADUATE DESIGN AWARD Awarded to the first-year graduate design studio project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

Nicolas Pinzon

excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

Caroline Turino 2022/2023 DEGREE CANDIDATES BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE FALL ‘22 DEGREE CANDIDATES Vanessa A. Crespo Mulero Gianna Rose Florio Morgan Isabel Rapp SPRING ‘23 DEGREE CANDIDATES Amy Margaret Agne, Magna Cum Laude Mohammad A A A Alramadan Sarah H M M H A Alturkait Fahad O A S Alzaid Ethan John Anderson, Summa Cum Laude Crispin Michael Blamphin, Cum Laude Livia Brodie, Magna Cum Laude Ckiara Ann Condezo Runyu Da, Magna Cum Laude Gabriel Figueroa Emma Alexandria Gerlach Amanda Marie Guerrero, Cum Laude Johanela Michelle Hinz Afomia Tekalgne Hunde Nicholas Cameron Ingold Mahlia Jenkins, Magna Cum Laude Kevin Edward Johnson Diana Lissette Juarez-Montano Hope Elizabeth Kenny Benjamin Michael Klinger Dominic Andrew Lanctot, Cum Laude Katherine Grace Lesh Guang Liang Maia Jade Marshall Christopher Scott Muchow Andrey Alexander Nash Blake Richard Oliver Ian Xavier Ondek Conor Leo Quigley, Summa Cum Laude Farha Jalal Reshamwala, Magna Cum Laude Joao Eduardo Llano Ribeiro Lucas Sam Rosen, Summa Cum Laude Elliot Saeidy Jayna Lynn Schack, Magna Cum Laude James Tyler Schmidt Megan Eleanor Sheehan Shannon Carmin Stack, Cum Laude Anna Isabel Valdes Zauner Christelle Genevieve Vincent, Magna Cum Laude Anan Yu, Magna Cum Laude Abdallah Ayman Ahmad Mohammed Zaidan Harrison Phan Hieu Zaye Zeyu Zhang SUMMER ‘23 DEGREE CANDIDATES Nicolas Alvarez Lauren Elia, Summa Cum Laude Sophia Elwaw Brianna Marie Frank Heber Jared Hernandez Yuxin Hong Teymour Khoury Yuhang Liu Maria Elisa Rosiles Julia Teig

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MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE SPRING ‘23 DEGREE CANDIDATES Tiffany Agam Isacio Javier Albir Carolina Illera Barberi Megan Ray Barrett Estefania Bourgy Caterina Cafferata Andrea Camere Wentai Cui Gianell Marie Gonzalez Kari Ellen Grindel Ana Mavi Gutierrez Tais Hamilton Carson P. Hessler Amber Elizabeth Kountz Winston Lee Kathleen Joanna Lockwood Harrison Mark Neuman Alexis Payton Pagano Isabella Pedrosa Flint R. Porter Yara Mohammad Ali A Quteineh Peiyang Sang Zara Izabella Silva-Landry Benjamin Alex Smith Allison Dorothy Thiel Michaela Jeann Urteaga Nina Tatiana Voith Krista Wise Michelle Arina Wright SUMMER ‘23 DEGREE CANDIDATES Myles Watson Eaddy (Dual Degree MRED+U) MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE SUMMER ‘23 DEGREE CANDIDATES Juan Francisco Uria MASTER OF URBAN DESIGN FALL ‘22 DEGREE CANDIDATES Ziyi Chen SUMMER ‘23 DEGREE CANDIDATES Jayvil Vijay Patel MASTER OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FALL ‘22 DEGREE CANDIDATES Daniela Campoverde SUMMER ‘23 DEGREE CANDIDATES Naser B A M Alkandari Nora A KH S Alkhalaf Daniella Lizette Arroyave Isaiah Terrell Holmes Kimberley Veronica Jaar Ho Ming Herman Lui Emad Hassan M Munshi Eduardo A. Ventura MASTER OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT + URBANISM FALL ‘22 DEGREE CANDIDATES Alberto Barroso Grisi Nataly Guevara Sara Madady Oscar Nicolas Moreno Mendivelso Emily Abigail Morgan 48

Alvaro Otero Rodriguez Andreina Felicia Pepe Rodriguez Juan Robledo SPRING ‘23 DEGREE CANDIDATES Dominique Dumornay Samuel Bernard Edelstein Jesitt M. Perez SUMMER ‘23 DEGREE CANDIDATES Gonzalo Javier Alonso Rojas Albert Charles Arkalji Amanda Blair Brown Harrison Charles Brown Shir Cohen Diego Jose Da Costa Gomez Adonis Antonio Duarte Michael Kundin Staffan Joseph Kuylenstierna Nicholas Duke Levin Noe Manuli Andres Felipe Pretelt Fontalvo Zachary Scott Roth Adriana Miriam Rovirosa Natalia Vergara William Wrang 2022/2023 THESIS

Tiffany Agam// THE SKIN THAT TELLS A STORY A redesign of an existing warehouse and grain mill into a winery in Allenquer, Portugal which explores the multifaceted ways the skin of a building can be a tool for visual communication.

FACULTY / THESIS ADVISORS Joachim Perez - Coordinator Glenda Puente Ruth Ron Maxwell Jarosz Victor Deupi Veruska Vasconez Sophie Juneau Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk Ricardo Lopez STUDENT NAMES Tiffany Agam Isacio Javier Albir Megan Ray Barrett Estefania Bourgy Caterina Cafferata Andrea Camere Myles Watson Eaddy Gianell Marie Gonzalez Kari Ellen Grindel Ana Mavi Gutierrez Carson P. Hessler Carolina Illera Barberi Amber Elizabeth Kountz Winston Lee Kathleen Joanna Lockwood Harrison Mark Neuman Alexis Payton Pagano Isabella Pedrosa Tais Pierre Flint R. Porter Yara Mohammad Ali A Quteineh Peiyang Sang Zara Izabella Silva-Landry Benjamin Alex Smith Allison Dorothy Thiel Michaela Jeann Urteaga Nina Tatiana Voith Krista Wise Michelle Arina Wright

Isacio Albir// AN URBAN REDESIGN OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY Thesis Advisor: Veruska Vasconzez Secondary Advisor: Henrique Marques Highway constructions throughout the United States have greatly segregated the communities through which they have been built upon. These mega structures have disrupted communities, contributed towards a higher crime rate, and discrepancies in regard to socioeconomic and sociodemographic statistics pertaining to the separated communities that have been created through the creation of highways that essentially act as walls.

The intent of this project is to explore the demolition of the i95 and 195 highways creating a new urban plan design which will allow the four quadrants of the highway to once again be weaved together. Stitching back these four neighborhoods is the utmost goal with the intent of creating new developments including to but not limited to, affordable housing, mixed use housing, community spaces, retail & commercial, health and wellness and grocery stores.

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS The new urban plan will take sea level rise into account, utilizing levees which will be embedded within the elevated street grid. The levees themselves are designed to stand alongside an underground 8 lane tunnel which will facilitate the movement and transportation that the I95 currently provides.

The structures that will be built upon the site will utilize modular construction which consists of prefabricated components that are manufactured off-site and ready to be transported and assembled on-site. This system of construction and design method has many benefits in comparison to traditional construction techniques.

For instance, high quality and low-cost construction process, shorter delivery time, low material waste, high efficiency, safe workflow, and high capacity of flexibility in the design process are some of the main advantages of modular construction systems. Furthermore, the possibility of customization of units based on each client’s requirements, and further adaptability of houses based on the changing needs, improve the satisfaction of residents and decrease the need for relocation. Social and environmental infrastructure are more easily preserved. These benefits make modular construction popular for building houses that are economically, socially, and environmentally affordable, stable, adaptable and high standard.

human health and architecture through the building typology of cancer treatment centers. This project seeks to create a place that views health as a multi-dimensional entity; considering a person’s physical, psychological, spiritual, and social wellbeing. Through the comprehensive care of Western and holistic treatments, architecture is utilized to promote healing, enhance quality of life, and prevent people from becoming sicker, while still offering a functional and efficient facility.

Caterina Cafferata// RE-IMAGINED PLACE IN ARCHITECTURE: AN ARCHITECTURE OF AND FOR LOCAL RESOURCE Thesis Advisor: Sophie Juneau Secondary Advisor: Chris Meyer The goal of this thesis is to re-imagine and re-define how place is defined in architecture in a more contemporary way by not looking at the stylistic choices of architecture but rather at how architecture of place can be defined as an architecture that is of and for local resource. By looking at the local resource of south Florida, this thesis aims to challenge the existing construction industry paradigms and propose new ones.

Estefania Bourgy// COASTAL RESIDENCE Thesis Advisor: Ricardo Lopez Secondary Advisor: Jose Gelabert-Navia Florida is prone to hurricanes, with frequent storms and extreme weather conditions posing a significant threat to the state’s residents and their homes.

Building resilient housing that can withstand the impact of hurricanes is crucial to protect lives and minimize damage to properties. Therefore, the aim of this project is to design and construct a hurricane-resistant housing prototype that can serve as a practical solution for residents to build their own homes on a typical lot.

The prototype will incorporate resilient building materials and advanced engineering techniques. By utilizing innovative technologies such as reinforced roofing, walls, and flood-resistant foundations, the prototype will serve as a model for future construction in Florida.

Megan Barrett// CANCER TREATMENT CENTERS: HEALTH + ARCHITECTURE Thesis Advisor: Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk Secondary Advisor: Joanna Lombard My thesis explores the understanding that the buildings and spaces we occupy have the capability to affect us in both positive and negative ways. More specifically, it focuses on the relationship between

Moreover, in addition to the prototype, the project will also create a standardized lot design that residents can use to build their own hurricane-resistant homes. The lot design will consider factors such as elevation, drainage, and wind resistance, ensuring that each home built on the lot is resilient to hurricane impact. By providing a standardized lot design, the project aims to make the construction of hurricaneresistant homes more accessible to residents and promote long-term resilience in the face of hurricane disasters.

Myles Eaddy// SAVING THE CULTURE Thesis Advisor: Elizabeth M. Plater-Zyberk Secondary Advisor: Kona Gray By re-designing the street-scape along NE 2nd Ave in Little Haiti, it is my goal to re-imagine the culture and fortify the significance of the architecture in these locations. Proposing a code/guideline that enables pedestrian focused streets that will become economic assets, unity in architectural style, support for cultural spaces and art, will make Little Haiti a destination location.

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Gianell Gonzalez// RELIC EARTH: EARTH AFTER THE ANTHROPOCENE Thesis Advisor: Joachim Perez Secondary Advisor: Stewart Hicks This thesis explores the idea of creating memorials as a way to preserve and document the environment during the Anthropocene. Inspired by a future scenario where humans have left Earth due to its profound impact, the thesis aims to capture the relics of time that compose the structure of life on Earth.Using a combination of design-based and narrative methodologies, including speculative architectural collages, and analyzed circulations, the research captures the uniqueness of each site and the experience of what once existed there. The thesis is subdivided into three categories of climate tipping points: melting, biome shift, and circulation changes, with the goal of providing a framework for all climate tipping points.By incorporating immersive ecologies, memory banks, and environmental data collection, these memorials offer a carefully curated commemoration of Earth’s most significant moments, reminding us of the fragility of the world and a warning of the consequences of human action. The research has established a versatile framework for creating memorials that cover all climate tipping points, highlighting their potential impact in the preservation, and archiving of the environment for future generations to experience upon visiting. The memorials represent pillars of knowledge and serve as a reminder of the importance of learning from our mistakes for future decisions.

Kari Grindel// DISEMBARKING Advisor: Victor Deupi Secondary Advisor: John Harshaw Cruise ships and cruise corporations have long been known for their success in the leisure industry. They bring large amounts of tourists to port cities, bringing with them 50

an economic boom to these cities and the people who live there. However, in recent years, with the push against climate change, it has become known the downside to this thriving industry. The CO2 emissions and the pollution of ships has begun to come to light. One such downside is the use of diesel fuel to power these ships. There has been a change toward alternative fuels, such as liquid natural gas, because of this push, but it is a slow change. Additionally, there is a continuous flow of excess, especially with food, aboard the ships. One-week cruises go through an exorbitant amount of food and water, some of which is not fully consumed.

Lastly, the breakdown of these ships at the end of their life is laborious and dangerous for both the workers and the environment.

This issue is the target of this thesis. This thesis proposes an alternative way to repurpose, reuse, and redesign these retired ships and breathe new life into them while providing housing and urban community spaces that enrich the city in which it now lives. This proposal aims to alleviate some of the housing pressure present throughout the country as well as revitalize some of the neglected or forgotten areas of these densely populated cities.

By placing this project in Miami, along the coast, this thesis brings together the history of Miami and the history of the cruise industry. These two are closely interconnected and have had a deep impact on one another throughout their histories. This project is both a celebration of these histories and a discourse on the potential that both the city of Miami and the cruise industry can have on the future of each other and how the world responds to climate issues. Situated right across from the Port of Miami, this project overlooks the port from which the ship used to dock, while looking at the city of Miami as it grows and adapts. This powerful combination allows for further discussion to be had about the impacts of globalization, tourism, and CO2 emissions on the world and the ways in which the world can respond.

Cuba’s main export – sugar – saw a major downsizing at the turn of the 21st century due to limited availability to new technologies meant for production. This period of ‘restructuring’ subsequently left a trail of at least 70 abandoned sugar mill shells as well as towns full of people to fend for themselves. At its core, the company town thrives on the production facility which supplies jobs and housing to its people. Without this source, however, the modern Cuban company town has resorted to the people’s culture of “inventar y resolver” (to invent + resolve [problems]) in order to survive. It was this ingenuity as a result of necessity that not only assured their survival but also generated communities of makers.

This thesis aims to explore the potential for a new period of ‘restructuring,’ this time taking advantage of the ruins of the Cuban Company Town. The restoration of abandoned facilities in combination with the introduction of new technologies and methods of construction would allow the community of makers access to digital fabrication tools and further encourage the culture of ‘inventar.’ I am exploring the formal possibilities of this restoration at the scales of a community center, single-family homes and the scale of the individual maker, and locating the first intervention in the town Soledad – home to Central Pepito Tey (Old Central Soledad). Some of the aspects of the design that I explore are the cmu block, the concrete slab and its connections to the existing ruins and seeing what aspects of the building could benefit from the use of 3D printing (like the stair, ramp or other circulation components).

Carson Hessler// AUTOMATING DESIGN CUSTOMIZATION: A PROTOTYPE FOR OPTIMIZING THE AVERAGE AMERICAN HOME Thesis Advisor: Max Jarosz Secondary Advisor: Armando Montero

Ana M. Gutierrez// OUT OF THE RUINS Thesis Advisor: Max Jarosz Secondary Advisor: Victor Deupi

Today we find ourselves battling a global housing crisis. Obstacles including rising material prices, a labor shortage, and dated construction methods have made it nearly impossible to supply enough housing to meet demand. Additionally, the financialization of housing markets has shifted the view of housing from a place for people to live and be proud of to an investment opportunity. To combat these obstacles and the subsequent spike in housing prices, irresponsible measures have been taken to reduce the cost and

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS construction time of new housing. Many have turned to building basic housing units that are uninspiring to all who pass or enter, undoing the importance of beautiful architecture.

This thesis strives to improve the way houses are designed and constructed by providing a high degree of personalization at no added cost. This is achieved by implementing the use of robotics, prefabrication, and concrete 3D printing.

These methods of construction can solve our housing problems by reducing construction costs and time while providing greater design flexibility.

Carolina Illera Barberi// SILICON BEACH! Thesis Advisor: Maxwell Jarosz Secondary Advisor: Joel Lamere The housing crisis is an urban issue, not a building issue. Zoning codes are currently being used and abused by political entities (e.g., zoning boards, communities, developer deals, etc) which in turn doesn’t allow construction to happen as quickly as it could. This predominantly drives the market away from realistically addressing affordable housing while deflecting construction methodologies to the Building Code.

By realigning the zoning code to favor the efficiency of automated construction, Miami can encourage solutions that will finally address the housing crisis in a meaningful way. My project proposes using the megastructure as a joint public/private partnership for the city to provide critical infrastructure and private development to provide low-cost housing and public transit, to create a more equitable future for Miami.

Amber Kountz// YELLOW SPACE: EMOTION SENSITIVE ARCHITECTURE

Thesis Advisor: Ruth Ron Secondary Advisor: Ravi Vadapalli Architecture is naturally a static and stoic figure within our communities. Buildings have fixed positions with lifecycles that often outlive humans. Yet, the people who occupy these spaces are complex and everchanging organisms. My architectural thesis envisions a new reality where architecture can adapt to the complexities of human emotions in real time.

Sunlight is one of the most important factors in architecture in terms of mood.

How sunlight is used in a fitness gym is different from at a spa which is different from a place of worship. Fifty-four precedents were analyzed to understand the relationship between program and its application of natural sunlight. From that understanding, three external glass facade patterns were designed to combat three negative emotions often seen in the workplace. The three moods include frustration, worriedness, and boredom.

The ability of glass to transform from pattern to pattern within seconds, filtering and manipulating light, without physical or mechanical movement is very difficult.

Yet, theoretical electrochromic glass was used for this project. Electrochromic glass can change the tinting, opacity, and transparency of glass within seconds.

Resulting, in the ability to modify sunlight in response to a specific mood.

Humans began documenting cultural heritage soon after the first words were spoken. As conscious beings, we place an intrinsic value in our past experiences to share for those who come after us. The past is the home of everything that came before us and preserved cultural heritage is our best link to it, the key to understanding our present, and helps guide the future.

However, time is a powerful compounding force that marches us along without any concern to our feelings or forethought.

The primary aim of my thesis acknowledges that while we live in an age of extensively documented information, cultural heritage is under constant threat from the surrounding pressures of urbanization, modernization, and economic development. In essence, the modern world has created an illusion of continuity.

The underlying goal of documentation is to preserve and rebuild in the event of catastrophic destruction but there are many historical examples where reconstruction is not possible due to the evolution of human societal needs.

In lieu of physical reconstruction, augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) tools provide new avenues for historical architectural preservation in the digital realm. Of the two types, my thesis promotes the use of AR technology as a preferable alternative for resurrecting fallen monuments as fragmented or fully intact memories.

Architects consider many variables before designing. An occupant’s mental health, temperament, and mood should be a part of the conversation. With the advent of powerful computing and analytics capabilities, such as those in IDSC, it is now possible to develop emotionsensitive architectures. Emotion was detected by using linear regression from sets of images. We prototyped artificial intelligence strategies on specific emotions such as anger, boredom, and worriedness.

Overall, this thesis explored how Artificial Intelligence can be implemented into the design process without losing control or creative, but applied to better understand our client’s needs.

Virtual Reality technology may provide the user with greater immersion but in turn requires more specialized tools (i.e. headsets) and complex digital infrastructure.

In contrast, the simplicity and robustness of AR technology allows any user with a smartphone to connect and be utilized.

In addition, the real-time input from AR tools couples the physical and digital realm through layering both existing and augmented conditions into one seamless temporality. Thus, creating a more enriched experience for the user and greatly benefits the objectives of historical preservation.

Winston Lee// AUGMENTED CONTINUITY Thesis Advisor: Sophie Juneau Secondary Advisor: Indrit Alushani

Katy Lockwood// CENTRAL PALMETTO URBAN COMMUNITY Thesis Advisor: Ricardo Lopez Secondary Advisor: Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk

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This urban planning community next to the Palmetto station in Medley, Miami, outside of Doral will create an affordable and sustainable living environment that offers access to the opportunities and features of Miami while providing an alternative to the high cost of living in the city. The proposed mix of commercial, multi-use, civic, and townhome buildings, with two different block sizes, offers a flexible and diverse range of options for residents and businesses alike, promoting a vibrant and thriving community. The development will include amenities such as green space, walking and bike trails, civic buildings, community center, tennis courts, a swimming pool, and multipurpose fields.

Harrison Neuman// ROGUE MIAMI: UTOPIC VISIONS FOR A POST CLIMATE CHANGE WORLD Thesis Advisor: Joachim Perez Secondary Advisor: Jaime Correa After exploring the rich history of utopic thinking, I thought about how I could bring about my own. I aimed to reimagine a new world. One that comes together to defeat problems like climate change and learns how to live harmoniously with each other and with nature. In this world, Miami is mainly a blip of the past. Underwater. But a few have stayed back. They could never leave home.

Alexis Pagano// HOUSE VS. HOME: A PLACE WHERE ALL BELONG Thesis Advisor: Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk Secondary Advisor: Victor Deupi I do not mean to preach a truth, the truth about what makes a house a home, I mean to discover that truth.

When we think of a “home” we think of a place that provides us with a centering – a place that provides a sense of identity, shelter, a place for gather, and sanctuary, among other things, from the intrusiveness of the world. Each of us may think of the word “home” differently, but our meanings have one thing in common: the ability to strike a chord deep inside each one of us.

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Most of us are lucky to have a place we call home, but for many people around the world, this is not the case.

In a world where housing seems abundant, for most this is not the reality. Nationally, there is a shortage of more than 7 million affordable homes for our nation’s 10.8 million plus extremely low- and very lowincome renter households together. Most people want a roof over their heads and a place to sleep, essentially a “house”, but what if we gave people an opportunity to have a home?

How can architects, planners, urban designers, etc., create affordable housing that does more than just provide shelter?

This thesis aims to explore the current day, inadequate, “soul-sapping” aesthetic approach to affordable housing and propose new means and methods to make low-budget look seemingly “normal.” The procession of misguided and conventional thinking on affordability will be challenged.

Additionally, the idea that one could take this model and apply it all over the world.

There is no perfect model, but hopefully this thesis will get very close to one that could be a precedent for the future.

No more shall affordable housing be punitive, cheap-looking, or low-effort, but rather staunch, well-designed, and “homey.”

Tais Pierre// THE MODULE SHUFFLE Thesis Advisor: Glenda Puente Secondary Advisor: Steven Fett This thesis explores the use of modular architecture and its ability to function for both temporary and permanent uses.

Modular units provide an alternative or supplemental approach to emergency response interventions such as tent villages. Their potential introduction into the timeline of response would vary based on factors such as location, resources, and access. However, after an emergency has passed, whereas a tent city is not sustainable over a longer period of time, a village of modular units would be capable of being reconfigured for other uses, being built around, or entirely relocated. The design portion of the thesis focused on introducing a structure that could receive and host units year-round. The intended site provides an opportunity to also reactivate the historic Miami Marine Stadium, by promoting a program similar to that of the nearby Bayside and Bayfront Park, where units could be received and removed as tenants and events may need, like structures found in marinas.

Isabella Pedrosa// FORMING ATTACHMENTS/GROWING ARCHITECTURE Thesis Advisor: Joachim Perez Secondary Advisor: Joel Lamere Just as mass extinction has altered the evolution of life on Earth for millions of years, seismic events like climate change, natural disasters and nuclear warfare loom among us in the near future. There may be instances where humans may not be able to directly build architecture, so maybe instead it can be grown naturally. We can extract the best qualities of nature in order to grow architecture: processes and reactivity.

The goal of this thesis is to research and develop programmable material and test its applications in architecture, specifically by studying the tendril. The site in which this thesis takes place imagines self-organizing architecture in a future, post extractive landscape. If humans stop extracting fossil fuels from earth for building material, then self organizing architecture can create systems around recycled and reclaimed materials. Aggregations of junk material supported by tendrils can shelter, organize or direct activity, but most importantly grow by themselves.

Flint Porter// DIASPORIC AFRICAN ARCHITECTURE Thesis Advisor: Victor Deupi Secondary Advisor: Germane Barnes

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS A pursuit to resolve the lack of African architectural typologies in modern and contemporary architectural practice, and get it added to the curriculum of architectural education.

In view of the deteriorating living conditions of the homeless, shelters cannot effectively change the situation in a short time. Based on my thinking about the living environment and methods of the homeless in Skid Row, LA, rapid construction can effectively change this situation through 3D printing technology, then improve the quality of life of the homeless people here and the quality of streets.

Through the narrative device of filmmaking, this thesis explores the similarities between architecture and cinema. Utilizing techniques learned through an architectural education, the film challenges viewers to rethink the relationship between the physical world and the stories we tell within it.

Yara Quteineh// AFFORDABLE MICROHOUSING Thesis Advisor: Ricardo Lopez Secondary Advisor: Steven Fett The story about urban design and city planning in different countries shows how policy choices made by the governments can make the biggest cities in the world to become either a land of housing abundance like the case of Tokyo - Japan, or a land of housing scarcity. And it all comes down to zoning. The Japanese system of zoning is smart and inclusive, and it enables them to build a huge amount of housing. Housing in dense, walkable neighborhoods, where mass transit is viable and where all the amenities you could need are right around the corner. So, what lessons can we learn from the Japanese policymakers, and can these lessons be used to solve the American housing crisis?

Across the western world, house prices and rents are soaring above what is remotely reasonable, cause by a steep drop in house building since the great recession in 2008. The housing crisis is the worst thing that could happen to the economy of any country. Simply because houses are the backbone of the free world. If we solve the housing crisis, we solve all the other problems. And in order to do that, we need to build more affordable housing.

Affordable Housing means – according to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – that you are not paying more than 30% of your income in rent.

This thesis aims to explore novel methods of working that could lead to a radical shift in the design and manufacture of housing. Also, it is going to study the political lessons from other countries about affordable, low-carbon neighborhood.

Peiyang Sang// AUTOMATING THE ASSEMBLY OF LIVING SPACES FOR THE HOMELESS Thesis Advisor: Maxwell Jarosz Secondary Advisor: Indrit Alushani

Benjamin Smith// YOURS, ARCHITECTURE Thesis Advisor: Joachim Perez Secondary Advisor: Germane Barnes

Zara Silva-Landry// MIAMI, THE NATIONS MOST AFFORDABLE CITY WHERE WOKE COMES TO THRIVE Thesis Advisor: Glenda Puente Secondary Advisor: Victor Deupi Food, water, and shelter are mankind’s three basic needs. For many Americans, acquiring these three needs has proven difficult, especially regarding shelter. As housing prices surge nationwide, the dream of inhabiting one’s own space has become increasingly less attainable. In the land-constrained city of Miami, rents have risen more than 45 percent in the last year - something wages and the housing supply cannot keep up with.

The advancement of building technology allows developers to create new structures that embody the trends of the time. With the creation of these buildings, along with the evolution of societal needs, structures like parking garages, factories, and existing housing become underutilized.

This presents an inefficient dynamic in addressing issues like the housing shortage we currently face. Modular construction practices, while relatively underutilized, have proven in their limited scope to be a cost effective and efficient mean to transform sites.

This thesis aims to analyze and discover how modular building practices can revitalize underutilized lots and structures, primarily in large metro areas, in order to address and answer the growing societal needs of today.

Allison Thiel// ITERATIVE EXCHANGES WITHIN A TOOLKIT Thesis Advisor: Sophie Juneau Secondary Advisor: Juan Yactayo and Indrit Alushani This thesis supports that architectural design outputs are enriched by design methodologies that focus on using drawing as an iterative exchange between the designer and the tool/toolkit used to produce the drawing. More than a mere deterministic tool to represent found data, drawings are also the sites of potential discoveries, and creating feedback loops (or exchanges) between the designer and the drawing itself encourages such discoveries to occur.

Artificial intelligence poses interesting questions regarding the nature of this exchange between the designer, the toolkit used to produce a drawing and the drawing. Whereas pre- or non- ai toolkits put, in a way, the designer in conversation with itself, artificial intelligence enlarges the realm of references with which a design creates a dialogue while working through producing a drawing. In addition to emphasizing the importance of iterative drawing practices, the thesis proposes to probe the differences in the nature of the exchange between designer and toolkit pre- and post-ai.

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Nina Voith + Michelle Wright// KO PANYI: A CASE STUDY IN FLOATING WATER COMMUNITIES OF THE FUTURE Advisor: Veruska Vasconez This thesis explores the design of a water city and the urban system that can withstand the changes in sea level rise and create a resilient coastal community. The research focuses on the strategies that can create a sustainable water settlement.

After thorough consideration the site of Ko Panyi, a small coastal village in the South region of Thailand was chosen.

Michaela Urteaga// SETTLERS ON THE PERIPHERY Thesis Advisor: Max Jarosz Secondary Advisor: Namjoo Kim Along the outskirts of Lima, the capital of Peru, is the site of many informal settlements. Many of these settlements are the result of years of migration within Peru from rural countryside to more urban settings. Many of these people, while in search of better opportunities for themselves and their families, ultimately end up ousted to the periphery of the city, forced to build shelter on whatever vacant land they can find. Due to a lack of planning and infrastructure, these settlements end up lacking basic amenities such as clean water, sanitation, and proper housing conditions.

Ko Panyi is predicted to go underwater by the year 2035, leaving architects with only 12 years to come up with the design that preserves traditions and saves the culture.

The design of the new water city focuses on water management practices and selfsustainable development, incorporating hydroponic farms, fishing farms, and open markets. To improve the quality of life of Ko Panyi village, this new development will also include a strong sector focusing on education, and tourism, including the culinary school and the hotel area.

This thesis provides a framework for designing a water city that can withstand the impact of the rising sea level, weather and economy changes.

These informal structures are primarily selfbuilt, constructed using whatever materials their residents can find. This results in a very slow, drawn-out construction process.

In addition, these settlements are often built on steep hillsides or in flood-prone areas, making them more vulnerable to natural disasters. Lastly, the lack of proper waste-management systems also leads to poorer health in these areas.

Nina Voith + Michelle Wright// KO PANYI: A CASE STUDY IN FLOATING WATER COMMUNITIES OF THE FUTURE Advisor: Veruska Vasconez This thesis explores the design of a water city and the urban system that can withstand the changes in sea level rise and create a resilient coastal community. The research focuses on the strategies that can create a sustainable water settlement.

After thorough consideration the site of Ko Panyi, a small coastal village in the South region of Thailand was chosen.

My thesis project proposes the usage of 3D-printing technology to construct columns, or legs, for the houses. The 3D printer would allow for flexibility in the construction process, being able to build upon the variable topography present in these areas. In addition, the columns themselves are multifunctional, serving as structural support, but are able to be used for programmatic purposes as well.

Krista Wise// RAMMED EARTH FOR ALL Thesis Advisor: Victor Deupi Secondary Advisor: Juan Yactayo The construction industry is responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions. With concrete construction being the primary building material in South Florida for the past 50 years; can construction be made greener? There is a growing emphasis on sustainability within the architecture and construction fields. This can be done by using local and natural building materials. In South Florida, limestone is a local building material, often used as an aggregate for 54

various construction and infrastructure.

Rammed earth is a building method that utilizes local materials and has a very low environmental impact. It is one of the oldest building methods and can be found all over the world and in various climate types. Rammed earth is a viable building option that can be adapted to tropical and subtropical climates. Today, rammed earth in the US is typically used for high end construction. Could limestone be used in a rammed earth mixture to create a locally sourced building material? Can rammed earth construction be implemented as a viable building option for the working class in South Florida?

Ko Panyi is predicted to go underwater by the year 2035, leaving architects with only 12 years to come up with the design that preserves traditions and saves the culture.

The design of the new water city focuses on water management practices and selfsustainable development, incorporating hydroponic farms, fishing farms, and open markets. To improve the quality of life of Ko Panyi village, this new development will also include a strong sector focusing on education, and tourism, including the culinary school and the hotel area.

This thesis provides a framework for designing a water city that can withstand the impact of the rising sea level, weather and economy changes.

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS APRIL 2023

CHANGING OF THE GUARD Prof. Eric Firley has been appointed as the Director of the refashioned Master of Science in Architecture program and its associated degrees.

For several years, the U-SoA has been working on its Master of Science in Architecture program to build its strengths and sharpen its relevance. Prof. Eric Firley led the final stage of this retooling process, transforming the program into a platform supporting six degrees in the following concentration areas: Classical & Traditional Design Healthcare Design Digital Fabrication & Technology Hospitality Design Historic Preservation & Adaptive Reuse Contemporary Theory of the Built Environment

U-SoA’S DEVELOPED HEALTH TECHNOLOGY TO BE FEATURED AT EMERGE AMERICAS 2023 HealthHub and an improved Harvey, the first cardiopulmonary patient simulator, will be on display at the technology conference for participants to use.

By Barbara Gutierrez, UM News Two University of Miami exhibits at the eMerge Americas 2023 conference could be game changers in the health field.

Imagine that as part of your morning routine, as you wash your face and brush your teeth, you could use a gesture to activate the LCD display integrated in the medicine cabinet door and watch your biometric data light up its two-way mirror.

That is what HealthHub will offer future users. Created by the RAD lab at the School of Architecture, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Miller School of Medicine, the hub is an interdisciplinary project and will be displayed at the University of Miami booth at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

At a time in which demands on health care facilities continue to increase, HealthHub offers a safe, reliable method for monitoring, examining, and diagnosing.

Prof. Germane Barnes will lead the Master of Architecture Program beginning in June 2023.

Prof. Barnes was appointed Assistant Professor in 2019 and promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2022. He leads Studio Barnes, his professional practice, and The Community Housing & Identity Lab (CHIL), his research platform at U-SoA. Prof. Barnes’ practice investigates the connection between architecture and identity, examining architecture’s social and political agency through historical research and design speculation.

“HealthHub is like having a hospital or clinic at home,” said Rodolphe “Rudy” el-Khoury, dean of the School of Architecture and director of the RAD lab. “Instead of getting blood work or the results of a physical once a year, you can get data on your health collected continuously and non-invasively.”

It also reminds patients to take their medications, which are lined up inside the cabinet behind the translucent LCD display that doubles as a mirror. “If the person forgets to take a medication, a light will start flashing on that bottle to warn them that they have not taken it,” said el-Khoury.

HealthHub features an array of biometric sensors developed by Sylvia Daunert, director of the Dr. J.T. Macdonald

Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute at the Miller School of Medicine.

This design team thinks of HealthHub as a medical appliance at the center of an ecosystem of wearables and sensing devices designed to monitor the entire living environment. A blanket with embedded accelerometers will track the length and quality of a person’s sleep.

Other technology will scan the entire living environment for toxins and allergens that may be affecting their health.

Patients also will be able to teleconference with their doctors using HealthHub as a specialized interface and the bathroom as a private examination room. Augmented reality features will enable the doctor to visualize ailment and body functions by layering relevant information on the patient’s reflection in the mirror, such as an anatomical display of internal organs, according to el-Khoury.

The University’s second health display at eMerge is Harvey, the Next-Generation Cardiopulmonary Patient Simulator. Harvey, the world’s first cardiopulmonary simulator, was created more than 50 years ago by Michael S. Gordon at the Miller School of Medicine and has been in use in hundreds of institutions, and in close to 70 countries throughout the world, to train learners in the health field.

Harvey is a sophisticated mannequin that can simulate up to 50 heart and lung conditions, said Dr. Barry Issenberg, professor of medicine and director of the Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education. The improved Harvey comes in three skin shades—fair, medium, and dark—to more fully represent our diverse population, Issenberg noted.

At the conference, a next-generation Harvey will be on display for interaction with participants. Using a stethoscope, they will be able to listen for up to 50 cardiac and pulmonary conditions, including abnormal heart murmurs, heart sounds,

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and breath sounds.

“It replicates all the heart sounds and murmurs, breath sounds, arterial pulses that reflect when the heart beats, as well as neck and chest wall movements,” he said.

The new version of Harvey will simulate 50 conditions, but it offers more variations of those conditions, Issenberg pointed out.

For instance, a common condition is a leaky mitral valve, he noted. “In the past Harvey would offer two variations of that condition,” he said. “Now we have access to 10 variations. Health professions students can hear these conditions in a variety of ways making their detection on real patients more accurate.”

Visitors to the booth also will be able to put on augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality goggles and be able to explore a virtual clinic and a virtual Harvey. With the AR goggles they can examine Harvey, whose chest will be overlayed with an anatomical picture of the heart, and it will allow one to actually visualize where the condition is taking place, Issenberg said.

Harvey was created by Gordon in 1968.

The Gordon Center is the only academic medical institution that develops, builds, and sells medical simulators.

In the future, developers will introduce a virtual female version of Harvey, and a pediatric one.

EXPERTS DISCUSS CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE The Smart Cities MIAMI 2023 Conference, co-hosted by the University of Miami School of Architecture and the Institute for Data Science and Computing, partnered with the Climate Resilience Academy and Double C to discuss the impacts of climate change and its related stressors on South Florida.

By Ashley A. Williams and Janette Neuwahl Tannen, UM News Scientists, architects, and engineers, as well as leaders from government and business, came together last week at the University of Miami to discuss how they will use the influx of data coming from technology tools to better prepare local cities and towns for the impacts of climate change.

They were on the Coral Gables Campus for the sixth annual Smart Cities conference hosted by the University of Miami’s School of Architecture and Institute for Data Science and Computing (IDSC). This year, Smart Cities also partnered with the University’s Climate Resilience Academy, which launched last spring to foster new solutions to climate change.

The two-day conference featured lectures and panel discussions with experts in academia, government, and private industry who focus on climate resilience, 56

primarily in the fields of architecture, engineering, and climate science. Most discussions explored how technology can help cities and counties improve their efficiency in the face of climate impacts, including a keynote address from Ben Kirtman, a climate scientist and professor of atmospheric science at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. In a panel about resilient ideas in technology, Yelena Yesha, a computer science professor, Knight chair in data science and artificial intelligence, and IDSC’s innovation officer, spoke about the critical information that can be gleaned from data gathered in existing smart cities. Later Thursday, other panels highlighted climate innovations happening at Florida Power & Light, as well as in the City of Coral Gables, in Miami-Dade County’s transportation department, and in the Village of Key Biscayne.

that’s why it is so critical that we continue to invest, address, maintain, and protect that.”

“We need real time information to prepare for all types of catastrophic events,” said Yesha, who created the National Science Foundation Center for Accelerated RealTime Analytics six years ago. “Every crisis is an opportunity, and it’s our opportunity at the University of Miami to adapt to this environment and take it to the next level of computing.”

On Friday, Andrew Kudless, the Bill Kendall Memorial Endowed Professor at the University of Houston and the director of the construction robotics and fabrication technologies lab, delivered the closing keynote speech. His address, titled “Five Points of Architecture and AI,” focused on the early design phase and how technology is affecting that.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava echoed Yesha. Levine Cava said that she is trying to seize upon the opportunities to improve South Florida’s resilience, and to sustain its appeal to tourists by working to keep Biscayne Bay clean, supporting climate-focused innovation, and keeping an eye on equity, so that all residents can adapt to the warming temperatures and rising seas as safely as possible.

The five points Kudless discussed were: the challenging of bias; the cultivation of sensibility; the crisis of labor; the redefinition of authorship; and the freedom of incoherence. He explained how his personal approach to his design process has evolved as more and more artificial intelligent technologies become widely available.

“Particularly in Miami-Dade, the environment is our economy,” she said.

“People are coming for the weather, the food, and our dynamism, but they are also coming for our national parks, for Biscayne Bay and our pristine environment—and

In addition to a recent rapid population increase, Levine Cava and others mentioned the local technology boom.

To harness the intellectual power of those flocking here, Levine Cava said, the county recently created a nonprofit called the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority to offer seed funding to businesses and academic institutions to scale up their ideas to improve the local environment.

“We hope this nonprofit will work alongside government to solve these pressing problems with technological solutions,” she said. “Through this mechanism, we are looking for more places where we can partner with smart people, doing smart things to create smart solutions for our environment.”

“As a designer, one of the things I learned from a series of projects is to give up control to these other forces,” said Kudless, who works under the moniker, Matsys Design. “I can create things that are beyond my inability. I find it more productive to think that I am the co-author with my tools.”

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Caterina Cafferata, a Miami native and second-year architecture graduate student, said Kudless’ keynote was eyeopening to her.

“I feel like AI is something that’s being introduced more and more in architecture and other areas of study, and I thought it was really interesting to hear from someone who has their own firm and is implementing it in their own work,” said Cafferata.

Clinical practices to address the health impacts of climate change; the increasing burden of trauma and injury because of climate change and natural disasters; trends in Atlantic hurricane activity and landfalls; strategies to advance resilience through the built environment; and civil rights remedies to address housing displacement and racial resegregation were just some of the topics discussed.

South Florida, often described as ground

are being extended to residents still using septic systems.

“As the seas rise and the water table rises, these failing tanks are leaking waste directly into our water supply and into our bay,” she said. “Many of these tanks are in the lowest income communities. These are places where residents cannot afford the massive cost of conversion. So, we’re working with our cities, and we’re educating people on the need for conversion.”

Held at the Lakeside Village Expo Center and cohosted by the Climate Resilience Academy and the Master of Science in Climate and Health graduate program, the symposium could not have been more timely, serving as a prelude of sorts to an April 10 Washington Post news story that reports on an unusual upsurge in sea levels along the U.S. Gulf and southeastern coasts since 2010, raising concerns that coastal cities like Miami are much more vulnerable to the effects of rising seas than previously thought.

U-SoA FACULTY JOIN IN A DISCUSSION OF SOCIETAL AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE Researchers, scientists, and policymakers from a multitude of disciplines discussed the ways climate impacts well-being—and proposed solutions to mitigate its harmful effects Friday during the University of Miami’s sixth Climate and Health Symposium.

By Robert C. Jones Jr., UM News It’s the children who suffer the most.

For many of them, the harmful effects of climate change such as rising temperatures, poor air quality, and water scarcity can be too much for their still-developing bodies to handle, putting them at a higher risk for contracting respiratory conditions and falling victim to vector-borne diseases like dengue fever and malaria.

“And kids in underserved populations across the world face the greatest burden. They are 10 times more likely to be affected by those adverse climate events,” said Lisa Gwynn, associate professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and medical director of the Pediatric Mobile Clinic.

Gwynn was among the more than 25 experts in fields ranging from medicine, public health, and law to architecture, engineering, and atmospheric science who spoke and presented research Friday on the societal and health impacts of climate change during the University’s sixth Climate and Health Symposium.

zero for sea level rise, is especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, said in opening the daylong summit.

“Our natural and built environments continuously face evolving threats. The University of Miami serves as a living lab building capacity and intellectual power to address these local and global challenges to build a more resilient environment.”

He noted the University’s Climate Resilience Academy as one of the most effective strategies that has been implemented to foster solutions to climate change. More than 85 projects across a multitude of schools and colleges are addressing climate and related resilience issues as part of the new initiative, with industry, government, and other stakeholders partnering in some of those activities.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava echoed many of Duerk’s sentiments, calling South Florida a subtropical coastline community that feels the effects of climate change before much of the rest of the world. “The climate crisis is arriving on our shores earlier than most, so we must innovate in real time to fight back,” she said.

Saying that her administration is “literally writing the climate bible that may be used around the world in this century,” Cava noted new county initiatives such as a Building Efficiency 305 program aimed at increasing energy and water efficiency in large public and private structures, and the Connect 2 Protect in which sewer services

The Engineering Coastal Resilience Through Hybrid Reef Restoration, or ECoREEF, project is one example of the University’s major efforts to protect coastlines from sea level rise and storm surge as well as to restore coral reefs. As part of that project, a team of scientists from the College of Engineering and Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science recently sunk 27 interlocking concrete structures to form two hybrid reef units 1,000 feet offshore of North Beach Oceanside Park, at the northern edge of Miami Beach.

Researchers and public health scientists at the symposium agreed that curbing the negative health impacts of climate change is critical. But solutions must be equitable and “meet the needs of all people, not just some,” Gwen Collman, director of the Office of Scientific Coordination, Planning, and Evaluation at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, cautioned in her keynote address.

“This symposium is much more than informing about the problem. It’s about solutions,” said Naresh Kumar, professor of public health sciences at the Miller School, who came up with the idea for the conference and has taken the lead in organizing it every year since it started.

Noting that the Pediatric Mobile Clinic she leads was created in response to Hurricane Andrew more than 30 years ago, Gwynn said the 38-foot van, which includes telehealth capabilities in all its exam rooms, continues to provide much-needed health care to children in communities disproportionately impacted by climate change.

“When we are in a disaster, we are wellequipped to handle any type of basic medical condition in children,” Gwynn said.

“And we’re always going to be at the table to provide mobile health care in times of crisis and disaster.”

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U-SoA AND THE CONGRESS FOR THE NEW URBANISM’S MIAMI CHAPTER TACKLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING The School of Architecture hosted a meeting with the Congress for the New Urbanism’s Miami chapter. With affordable housing on the agenda, the group listened to and discussed a presentation

by Jen Posner of the University’s Office of Civic Engagement. Present were several UM alumni, faculty members, and representatives of the planning offices of Coral Gables, Miami, and Miami-Dade County. The group, led by alumnus Alex Adams will meet again to discuss potential advocacy activities around affordable housing, TODs, transit plans, and missing middle housing if you wish to be on the CNU mailing list.

1. Educate and expose the campus to untold stories of Black excellence in architecture.

2. Cultivate spaces to build and strengthen the community between Black UM students, faculty, and local professionals.

3. Provide an avenue for students to contribute and expand the legacy of Black excellence in architecture through outreach and service.

PARITY IN DESIGN CHATS Project collaborators: Veruska Vasconez, Charlotte von Moos, Sophie Juneau, Carolina Illera Barberi, Michaela Urteaga, Afomia Hunde, Andrea Lira Project Brief: This proposal is for a half-day event, the “Parity in Design Chats,” where a series of conversations and exchanges on parity in our field will occur. The event will feature open conversations as well as invited speakers. Proceedings are to be transcribed in a workbook. This event aims to promote dialogue, raise awareness, and develop new and broader audiences regarding parity in design.

THROUGH THEIR EYES: RETHINKING ARCHITECTURE WITH INCLUSIVITY TO THE VISION-IMPAIRED Project lead: Tiffany Agam

U-SoA SOCIAL JUSTICE PRIZE WINNERS ANNOUNCED The U-SoA announced the winners of the Social Justice Prize that supports programming advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in U-SoA and/or the built environment.

BLEX WEEK (BLACK EXCELLENCE IN ARCHITECTURE WEEK), submitted by NOMAS Project leads: Sacha Braggs, Jaylin Cole Project collaborators: Alana Bernard, Christopher Stinson, Liam Green, Mykayla Pauls, Olivia Speaks, Cameron Cathey, Gabby Stanfield, Matthew Jarmon, Maxim Waters, So-Flo NOMA Project Brief: The University of Miami Chapter of NOMAS will host our first Black Excellence in Architecture Week (BLex Week) this February from the 20th to the 24th. BLex week is a unique opportunity for our students to create spaces and programs on our campus where we recognize Black excellence in the field of architecture and expose our students to diverse topics that typically are not included in our curriculum.

The week will be set to tell the story of Blackness in architecture through people, projects, and programs. Beginning with hearing the stories of pioneers in our field and ending with the legacy of aspiring Black architects. BLex week ultimately has three goals: 58

Project Brief: As students, we are taught to experience and design architecture first and foremost through the visual lens. Style and space are learned to be designed through the brushes of light, opacity, and transparency; what becomes of the demographic that does not inhabit space through the conventional sense: the blind population? In my award-winning paper: “The Reimagined Architectural Toolbox,” I explore various ways to rethink how architecture can be taught using a sensory integrational approach. [“Through Their Eyes” proposes] the potential phase one of a new architectural endeavor which will build on my initial paper; creating an NPR-style podcast with interview segments from people who are vision-impaired in order to understand first-hand accounts of their experiences in various buildings and/ or their thoughts on architecture’s success/ failing for the blind population.

U-SoA COLLABORATES WITH CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH TO HELP BRING IDEAS TO LIFE With the morning sun streaming through the windows of Ms. Brown’s classroom,

her second-period Academy of Finance entrepreneurship class huddled together, determined to make their first mark in the Junior Achievement Company Programentry. With their eyes set on the prize, they spent hours brainstorming for products to sell. It was not until sophomore Daniel Pozo pitched a business idea that the class felt truly inspired to take on the challenge. Under Ms. Brown’s guidance, the team set out to create a product that would become a symbol of their school spirit: school-based Croc Charms.

Ms. Brown invited Patrick Creegan, Director of Institutional Defined Contribution from BlackRock to the classroom. Working with Charm Dept. on a weekly basis, Mr. Creegan is both the corporation’s volunteer and senior advisor. Mr. Creegan facilitated a connection with the University of Miami’s School of Architecture adviser, Matthew Fernandez, who later suggested junior Mykayla Pauls take on the task as their personal manufacturer.

“They asked for students who would want to work with Gables for the business and I showed interest in the flyer. From there, they connected me with Patrick Creegan and we started to think about the designs, sizes, and colors for the higher-quality charms,” U-SoA student Mykayla Pauls said.

MARCH 2023 DIVING IN TO ANALYZE NOVEL CLIMATE ADAPTATION At the Smart Cities conference next week, leaders from government, industry, and academia will talk about potential technologies to help weather the impacts of global warming.

By Janette Neuwahl Tannen, UM News University of Miami climate scientist Ben Kirtman imagines a future where cities and scientists will collaborate to interpret data from sensors throughout their municipalities. This information could allow scientists to predict and project risks for stressors like heat waves and flooding at the neighborhood and street level, so city leaders could then alert the residents who may need to take precautionary measures.

“Smart cities already have a lot of technology to observe things like traffic flow and street lighting, and all that instrumentation should include weather information,” said Kirtman, who creates climate models that are used to guide national forecasts as a professor of atmospheric sciences at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. “In places like South Florida, we really need to be able to provide information at the neighborhood level, but our current climate modeling efforts don’t meet that need. For example, one of the biggest problems of predicting flood risk is we don’t have widespread sensors to capture the potential measurement of a flood event, but we could use this data to inform us about where the highest waters might be found during a King Tide.”

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS front-and-center in everyday life than it is right now in Miami. The city continues to see rapid population growth as businesses and individuals flock to the new opportunities and economic sectors that are eager to call Miami home. This year’s University of Miami Real Estate Impact Conference examined how the real estate answer is increasingly becoming the most important tool in addressing those needs.

Experts from various real estate disciplines, including development, finance, and hospitality, came together with officials from Miami-Dade County Government to discuss how real estate, in connection with transportation, is shaping the future of the city… a Miami, in Motion.

Kirtman will be one of the keynote speakers for the sixth annual Smart Cities Miami conference on Thursday, MArch 30, and Friday, MArch 31, 2023 when he will join professionals from architecture, construction, engineering, real estate, local government, and related fields, to talk about how technology can help prepare cities and towns across the world to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change.

Hosted by the University’s Institute for Data Science and Computing (IDSC) and the School of Architecture, in partnership with the University’s Climate Resilience Academy, this year’s two-day event will consider the effect of climate change and its related stressors on South Florida. It will also shed light on the opportunities for technology to enhance resilience.

“Smart Cities Miami always offers an interesting discussion about how technology is shaping our cities, but this year’s edition of the conference will focus on how technology is addressing one of the biggest challenges of our society, which is climate change,” said Rodolphe elKhoury, dean of the School of Architecture and interim director of the Climate Resilience Academy, who is also an expert on the intersections between the built world and technology. “It’s an opportunity to discuss technology solutions to this global problem.”

Sponsored by the architecture firm Double C by Conconcreto, the first day of the conference will feature a series of panels about the built world in South Florida.

Some of the University’s speakers and panel moderators include Pratim Biswas, dean of the College of Engineering, who will lead a session on resilient networks, including power grids and telecommunications and transportation infrastructure; David Chapman, associate professor of computer science; and Yelena Yesha, computer science professor and IDSC innovation officer, who will participate on a panel about promising technologies in the climate solutions space.

The second day will focus on the world beyond Florida and will open with a keynote by renowned architect Jorge

Ponce Dawson. Born in Argentina and working in Madrid, Spain, he is known for supporting the concept of walkable cities with multiple retail centers. His company, Broadway Malyan, also has designed local buildings, such as Royal Caribbean’s new cruise terminal at PortMiami.

Other speakers include Andrew Kudless, whose design studio, Matsys, fuses computing, biology, and engineering with architecture. Kudless is also the Bill Kendall Memorial Endowed Professor at the University of Houston Hines College of Architecture Design, as well as the director of its Construction Robotics and Fabrication Technologies Lab. His work is exhibited in the Centre Pompidou in Paris; the FRAC Centre in Orleans, France; and at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Also on Friday, architecture associate professor Carie Penabad will moderate a panel comparing strategies for urban resilience in Miami and Medellín, Colombia, that will feature Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Malcolm Matheson Distinguished Professor of Architecture and director of the Master of Urban Design program.

Max Jarosz, director of fabrication operations at the School of Architecture and licensed architect, will join a panel on transformative technology for the building industry; engineering professor of practice Esber Andiroglu, assistant professor Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos, and ocean sciences professor Brian Haus will join a panel about coastal resilience.

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI’S 11TH ANNUAL REAL ESTATE IMPACT CONFERENCE REVEALS MIAMI AS A CITY POISED FOR GROWTH, PROSPERITY, AND LEADERSHIP This year’s University of Miami Real Estate Impact Conference examined how the real estate answer is increasingly becoming the most important tool in addressing those needs.

By UM News As populations grow, everything from job markets to housing to community services and government stewardship must respond. Nowhere is this situation more

“There’s no secret why people are coming to Miami,” said Hari Natarajan, Professor and Vice Dean of Business Programs at the Miami Herbert Business School.

“Unemployment is at 1.5%. There are more than $3 trillion in assets under management. The city has the highest inbound population growth of anywhere in the country post-pandemic. And with that, technology, talent, and capital are all moving here as well. This serves as an inflection point for our city. We’re about to realize what the future has always promised, and our guests today are leading the understanding of that vision and laying out the next steps.”

He also discussed how the University has already been actively participating in shaping that future by establishing itself as the preeminent institution in the Southeast and beyond for real estate development.

“Our accelerated MBA in real estate, finance degree in real estate, the renowned Masters in Real Estate Development + Urbanism (MRED+U) through the school of Architecture, and the Law School’s specialized LLM degree in real property development, are just a few of the many examples of how the University of Miami is carefully curating that talent the industry of tomorrow needs.”

Fellow Herbert Business School Professor and moderator for the conference, Andrea Heuson, added to Natarajan’s opening remarks by reinforcing the University of Miami’s critical role in supporting both this future with education and degree programs specifically designed to prepare students to make immediate impacts in their chosen fields upon graduation. She referenced the University’s new UScale program, business mentorship programs, and the new Real Estate Advisory Council created and chaired by the Atlantic Pacific Companies. She then introduced the conference’s first panel.

Moving in Miami: A Transit-Oriented Initiative That Will Forever Change Downtown Miami At the core of all major global cities is a dynamic, connected downtown district that serves as the business and economic hub.

Essential to that position is a downtown

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hold most assets, except in medical and related properties. Similarly, financial concerns over access to and cost of capital continue to loom largely for investors in the South Florida market. However, a favorable supply/demand scenario is expected to keep pushing property values up in both the short and long term.

area that is accessible from all surrounding areas while also having a solid population of residents living within the greater downtown district. Until recently, this had been a shortcoming of downtown Miami, as decades’ worth of previous real estate cycles focused on suburban residential development. Together, Eileen Higgins, Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 5; Eulois Cleckley, the Director & CEO of Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works; John A. Buck II, Chairman and Chief Executive Office of The John Buck Company; and Susan Wachter, Professor of Finance at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, discussed the future of Miami’s growth as a city, and the vital role public transportation and connected neighborhood dynamics will play in the years ahead.

Specifically, the panel reviewed MiamiDade County’s upcoming plan to redevelop 28 acres of county-owned land in the downtown core. Near the Government Center Metrorail station and the Brightline rail station, the project will most definitely have a transit component, shared by Higgins and Cleckley. Still, transportation is only one facet of the multi-purpose development zone. To create the type of community that serves all downtown residents, including young professionals, families, and aging populations, the downtown neighborhood must answer various essential needs without making a high-traffic commute the only solution.

A public middle school, new home for the History Miami museum and the main Miami-Dade County Public Library, community retail, and a mix of workforce, senior, and market-rate housing are just a few cornerstones for the “new” downtown Miami. Wachter and Buck discussed the financial benefits of Miami taking on this project now, while the downtown area is still early in its growth stage before infrastructure becomes to disruptive or too expensive to implement. They also covered why cities need to take an active role in creating these opportunities for development partners so that additional 60

economic growth can occur. The panel reviewed several of the world’s most connected cities and transportation’s role within them. Denver, Oakland, and London all topped the list of model downtown districts in this regard, and the parallels towards Miami showed tremendous promise for what responsible downtown development with minimal commuting can deliver. “If you look at a city like Austin,” said Buck, “it becomes clear that the time to do these projects is right now. Not years from now. What would have cost several million a couple of decades ago will cost billions today and even more tomorrow.

The earlier cities take on projects like this, the quicker it delivers impact all around.”

Examining Trends: A Preview of UM Student-Led Research into Real Estate Market Conditions As a follow-up to the opening panel, a group of students in the University of Miami MRED+U program provided context for factors shaping the real estate industry from a stakeholder perspective.

With the results of the full research report scheduled for later in Q2 of 2023, students have a preview of some of the attitudes and behaviors being considered by real estate end users, developers, and other decision-makers. Sponsored by John Burns Real Estate Consulting and led by Professor Mark Troen from the School of Architecture, this year’s report, Emerging Trends, and Perspectives on Resilient Development in South Florida examined the following key areas: a general market review and analysis of the greater South Florida area, where we live and why, the impacts of migration, and the broader issue of diversity. Concerns about a recession and economic stability are more present than in previous years.

However, across the tri-county area, most respondents believed expansion is still underway, particularly in Palm Beach County. Shifts occurred in types of real estate best positioned for growth, changing from multifamily and industrial in 2022 to medical and senior housing assets being the higher-growth sectors for 2023.

These findings underscore a cooler market in 2023, with respondents preferring to

Nowhere is the supply/demand situation in South Florida more visible than in the residential housing market. This year’s team looked at the types of neighborhoods buyers, and residents find most desirable, with the majority of respondents preferring “surban” areas - those that are just outside urban epicenters but not as removed as suburban areas. Nearly 42% of those surveyed preferred surban areas, which was also reflected in their priorities when purchasing a home such as safety, accessibility, schools, and more.

Similarly, the team explored whether or not the upward trend in migration to South Florida will continue in a post-pandemic area. Quality of life, business growth, and diversity were all factors behind people moving here. Taking a deeper look at diversity, the team found diversity was not only important to South Florida employers and employees alike but that increased diversity is desirable and on the horizon.

Together, these results indicate that positive net migration should continue for the foreseeable future. However, true to this year’s conference theme, the lack of a connected central public transportation system stands as the biggest obstacle to future migration and growth.

How Culture Creates Real Estate Opportunities Although Miami has seen a great deal of recent real estate attention from the development world, there are a handful of major players in the local industry who have been actively shaping the city’s future for several decades. Armando Codina of Codina Partners and Jonathan Tisch of Loews Hotels & Co. are two such individuals who took time at the conference to share why Miami has had such enduring appeal, as well as the types of companies that are well-positioned to find success as the city takes a greater place on the global stage. Tisch, who now serves as Executive Chairman for Loews, after more than 35 years as the company’s president and CEO, offered an insightful look back at the firm’s landmark Miami Beach property and how it came to be. In the 1990s, Miami Beach was only at the very beginning of what would become a huge development boom, with many of the now must-see neighborhoods of the beach comparatively non-existent. At the time, Lincoln Road, Collins Avenue, and the north end of Ocean Drive were low-rise shop fronts and 40s and 50s-era hotel/motels, not the glitzy resorts and shopping districts they are today. When Miami Beach offered an RFP for the cityowned land on the Atlantic Waterfront, Loews was the smallest firm to submit a bid. However, Codina and Tisch discussed

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS how it was the Tisch family history and first-hand knowledge of Miami Beach and South Florida that allowed them to present a concept that was as authentic to the beach as it was groundbreaking. Not only did they win the bid, but the Loews Miami Beach became a pioneering property for South Beach hospitality, just as the newest Loews property (and the site of this year’s event) has become for Coral Gables.

Codina echoed the importance of authenticity in his own remarks, recounting the basis for Codina Partners’ diverse portfolio of South Florida projects. “I realized early,” shared Codina, “that the future of Miami wasn’t in building office buildings and skyscrapers, though, of course, we have that too. The real future of Miami was, and still is, being connected to transportation… the airport, the seaport, and even within a given area.” Visionary projects like Downtown Doral are an example of the firm’s work in this arena, uniting a huge residential suburb with an accessible city center with excellent proximity to the airport and significant South Florida roadways. Like Tisch, Codina agrees that successful development goes hand in hand with giving back to and being involved in the community. “It creates the trust and cooperation necessary when working with the many different people necessary to bring large-scale multifaceted projects to reality.”

By the Numbers - Miami’s Real Estate Finance Outlook Finishing out the 2023 Real Estate Impact Conference was an in-depth discussion of the ever-important question of where the money comes from to support Miami’s future growth. Joining that panel were Ralph Rosenberg, Global Head of Real Estate for KKR and Roy Hilton MArch, CEO of Eastdil Secured, who shared their expert views on the movement in the financial sector impacting the current real estate environment.

The transition was a recurrent theme throughout the discussion, with recession fears easing around the world as inflation starts to plateau, energy costs coming down in the U.S. and Europe, better checks and balances in place in manufacturing, and overall greater investor confidence.

“The soft landing strategy employed by various governments and regulatory groups is working,” said Hilton. “It’s meant limited liquidity, but it’s repositioned capital to move back into markets and then hold itself to outpacing inflation.” Hilton and Rosenberg also gave a thorough account of the activity that led to the current real estate investment market, not least of which was historically low-interest rates for an extended period of time across almost all asset classes. “Ultimately, that situation is not sustainable for anyone,” said Hilton. Rosenberg agreed, saying, “We’ll start seeing certain asset classes dissolve somewhat as the cost of debt rises with interest rates.” Owners of underperforming assets will not be as eager to borrow

money, but banks will not be eager to keep those assets on their balance sheets either.

As a result, capital markets, especially non-bank financiers, will become attractive alternatives for those wishing to make an entry into a market like Miami or to expand an existing presence.

The pair also offered some advice regarding what to look for in pursuing commercial real estates opportunities, such as human migration patterns, the logistics of goods and services moving within the global economy, and the influencers of human behavior and attitudes. They stressed that the consideration of these factors and others like them is most definitely a team-oriented activity, and that those interested in future real estate careers need to be prepared to be part of a physically present workforce. As well, Rosenberg added that real estate is a diverse, multi-faceted industry and that future professionals should concentrate on the specific area of real estate that interests them most. “I personally have never picked up a shovel or a hammer on any development our firm has been involved in, but I do work with all the financial details that makes that possible,” he shared. “If your interest is in building and architecture, focus your efforts (and studies) there. The same goes for law, sales, marketing, whatever it is that interests you. Above all, make sure it’s something you can give more than 110% to… because real estate is a competitive sport, and you have to show up, each and every day, ready to compete.”

The UM Real Estate Impact Conference 2022 was made possible through the support of more than 100 sponsors, including presenting sponsors Douglas Elliman Real Estate, the Kislak Family Foundation, RIPCO, and Witkoff.

The climate crisis takes center stage at Miami Beach event University of Miami researchers, scientists, and scholars are presenting at the Aspen Ideas: Climate 2023 conference, focused on climate solutions and adaptations.

Drones that are being used to reforest areas of California razed by wildfires.

A growing momentum around the aquaculture industry to create sustainable, wholesome seafood that will feed humanity. And a recent opening of the tallest onshore wind turbine in Bristol, England, to generate power.

These were just a few ways companies and communities are trying to adapt to climate change and improve the world that were offered at the second annual Aspen Ideas: Climate 2023 conference happening this week in Miami Beach, Florida. The event, which continues through Wednesday, is drawing 2,500 professionals and 300 speakers from across the globe to the Miami Beach Convention Center and the New World Center, including scientists, climate industry leaders, politicians, journalists, artists, and even people like

mountain climber, Tommy Caldwell.

University of Miami faculty members and alumni are speaking and presenting at the conference. And some participants who signed up, including journalists, will tour the Alfred C. Glassell Jr. SUSTAIN wind-wave tank and the Rescue a Reef lab at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Also on Tuesday, School of Architecture Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury—who also serves as interim director of the Climate Resilience Academy—and Katharine Mach, professor of environmental science and policy, moderated two panels. In addition, Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos, an assistant professor of engineering, as well as Daniel Benetti, professor of marine biology and ecology and director of the Rosenstiel School’s aquaculture program, participated as speakers in two hour-long panels.

Mechanical and aerospace engineering professor GeCheng Zha also presented at the Climate Solutions Showcase. And on Wednesday night, Gloria Estefan, University alumna, trustee emeritus, and Grammy-award-winning singer, songwriter, and actress will interview Vice President Kamala Harris about her administration’s climate policy progress.

Mach led the discussion in a Tuesday morning session titled “Come Hell or High Water,” about the process of managed retreat, where the Federal Emergency Management Association, and other entities, are paying people to move away from coastal areas where sea level rise and flooding are threatening the safety of their homes. However, in the process of trying to keep these people safe, panelists explained that these policies often uproot people— particularly minorities and Indigenous people—who may have lived in the region for hundreds of years. As a result, these displaced residents often struggle with the transition, both financially and emotionally.

In an afternoon session led by el-Khoury called “Where Buildings Meet Breakwaters: Design Solutions for Resilient Coastlines,” Rhode-Barbarigos explained how he and a team of faculty members created a design for hybrid reef structures called ECoREEF, which were submerged off Miami Beach last week.

In addition, Kate Orff, an architecture professor and co-director of the Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes at Columbia University, spoke about a project she worked on in New York Harbor called Oyster-tecture, which is helping to restore some of the ecosystems damaged in Hurricane Sandy and is offering some protection for the coastline around New York City. Orff helped design oyster reefs that now serve as living breakwaters. At the end of the session, Rhode-Barbarigos was peppered with questions from interested local leaders. He said it was

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a pleasure to participate as a speaker in the conference and he hoped to attend a session on Wednesday.

“It’s important to be in these discussions because the University of Miami is located in South Florida, which is ground zero for climate change, and we need to showcase the great work we are all doing in this arena,” Rhode-Barbarigos said.

“This conference is a great platform, with a lot of great ideas and very interesting discussions, and we all hope that by attending we will make connections with others that will enable our projects and innovations to rise to the next level and make an impact.”

Meanwhile, Benetti joined the roundtable “Clearing the Pipeline for Investment in Sustainable, Values-based Blue Food Production,” on Tuesday afternoon, when panelists spoke about the thriving aquaculture industry and its challenges.

Aquaculture offers an alternative to shrinking wild fish populations because these facilities can grow fish for human consumption. According to Benetti, today more than half of the seafood sold for human consumption is grown in aquaculture facilities, so he was glad that participants at the conference were supportive of the practice.

“One major point of progress that we have achieved recently is that most people now understand that it’s important to develop sustainable aquaculture, so they are joining academic and industry leaders,” Benetti said. “I’m happy to see that representatives from government agencies and the nonprofit sector are on the same page that we must develop sustainable aquaculture.

It’s the only alternative to the dwindling wild fish supply and growing demand for sustainable seafood in the future.”

The Aspen Ideas Climate conference began last year in Miami Beach as a collaboration between Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber and his friend Dan Porterfield, who is also the president of the Aspen Ideas Institute, which aims to ignite human potential, build understanding, and offer new possibilities in free, just, and equitable societies. They plan to host the event annually.

“What makes this a truly novel summit is that because of your diversity, we will work on solutions from an enormous array of perspectives,” Porterfield said to the audience. “That’s essential because the climate and energy questions before us are deeply complex and cannot be solved overnight.”

THE CLIMATE CRISIS TAKES CENTER STAGE AT MIAMI BEACH EVENT University of Miami researchers, scientists, and scholars are presenting at the Aspen Ideas: Climate 2023 conference, focused on climate solutions and adaptations.

By UM News 62

Drones that are being used to reforest areas of California razed by wildfires. A growing momentum around the aquaculture industry to create sustainable, wholesome seafood that will feed humanity. And a recent opening of the tallest onshore wind turbine in Bristol, England, to generate power.

These were just a few ways companies and communities are trying to adapt to climate change and improve the world that were offered at the second annual Aspen Ideas: Climate 2023 conference happening this week in Miami Beach, Florida. The event, which continues through Wednesday, is drawing 2,500 professionals and 300 speakers from across the globe to the Miami Beach Convention Center and the New World Center, including scientists, climate industry leaders, politicians, journalists, artists, and even people like mountain climber, Tommy Caldwell.

University of Miami faculty members and alumni are speaking and presenting at the conference. And some participants who signed up, including journalists, will tour the Alfred C. Glassell Jr. SUSTAIN windwave tank and the Rescue a Reef lab at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Kamala Harris about her administration’s climate policy progress.

Mach led the discussion in a Tuesday morning session titled “Come Hell or High Water,” about the process of managed retreat, where the Federal Emergency Management Association, and other entities, are paying people to move away from coastal areas where sea level rise and flooding are threatening the safety of their homes. However, in the process of trying to keep these people safe, panelists explained that these policies often uproot people— particularly minorities and Indigenous people—who may have lived in the region for hundreds of years. As a result, these displaced residents often struggle with the transition, both financially and emotionally.

In an afternoon session led by el-Khoury called “Where Buildings Meet Breakwaters: Design Solutions for Resilient Coastlines,” Rhode-Barbarigos explained how he and a team of faculty members created a design for hybrid reef structures called ECoREEF, which were submerged off Miami Beach last week.

Also on Tuesday, School of Architecture Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury—who also serves as interim director of the Climate Resilience Academy—and Katharine Mach, professor of environmental science and policy, moderated two panels. In addition, Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos, an assistant professor of engineering, as well as Daniel Benetti, professor of marine biology and ecology and director of the Rosenstiel School’s aquaculture program, participated as speakers in two hour-long panels.

In addition, Kate Orff, an architecture professor and co-director of the Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes at Columbia University, spoke about a project she worked on in New York Harbor called Oyster-tecture, which is helping to restore some of the ecosystems damaged in Hurricane Sandy and is offering some protection for the coastline around New York City. Orff helped design oyster reefs that now serve as living breakwaters. At the end of the session, Rhode-Barbarigos was peppered with questions from interested local leaders. He said it was a pleasure to participate as a speaker in the conference and he hoped to attend a session on Wednesday.

Mechanical and aerospace engineering professor GeCheng Zha also presented at the Climate Solutions Showcase. And on Wednesday night, Gloria Estefan, University alumna, trustee emeritus, and Grammy-award-winning singer, songwriter, and actress will interview Vice President

“It’s important to be in these discussions because the University of Miami is located in South Florida, which is ground zero for climate change, and we need to showcase the great work we are all doing in this arena,” Rhode-Barbarigos said.

“This conference is a great platform, with

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS a lot of great ideas and very interesting discussions, and we all hope that by attending we will make connections with others that will enable our projects and innovations to rise to the next level and make an impact.”

Meanwhile, Benetti joined the roundtable “Clearing the Pipeline for Investment in Sustainable, Valuesbased Blue Food Production,” on Tuesday afternoon, when panelists spoke about the thriving aquaculture industry and its challenges. Aquaculture offers an alternative to shrinking wild fish populations because these facilities can grow fish for human consumption. According to Benetti, today more than half of the seafood sold for human consumption is grown in aquaculture facilities, so he was glad that participants at the conference were supportive of the practice.

“One major point of progress that we have achieved recently is that most people now understand that it’s important to develop sustainable aquaculture, so they are joining academic and industry leaders,” Benetti said. “I’m happy to see that representatives from government agencies and the nonprofit sector are on the same page that we must develop sustainable aquaculture.

It’s the only alternative to the dwindling wild fish supply and growing demand for sustainable seafood in the future.”

The Aspen Ideas Climate conference began last year in Miami Beach as a collaboration between Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber and his friend Dan Porterfield, who is also the president of the Aspen Ideas Institute, which aims to ignite human potential, build understanding, and offer new possibilities in free, just, and equitable societies. They plan to host the event annually.

“What makes this a truly novel summit is that because of your diversity, we will work on solutions from an enormous array of perspectives,” Porterfield said to the audience. “That’s essential because the climate and energy questions before us are deeply complex and cannot be solved overnight.”

COLLABORATION, SUPPORT STRUCTURES NEEDED TO ADDRESS ‘POLYCRISIS’ IN THE AMERICAS Public and private-sector leaders from the Americas discussed the confluence of concerns challenging the hemisphere at the 2023 Concordia Americas Summit at the University of Miami.

by UM News Several former Latin American presidents, current legislators, U.S. officials, and leading private and public-sector innovators participated on Thursday in the first of two days of fast-paced panels on climate change, misinformation, immigration, digital innovation, health care equity, and psychedelic medicine, among others.

The 2023 Concordia Americas Summit’s regional gathering was hosted for the second consecutive year by the University of Miami, which this year also served as principal programming partner.

Matthew Swift, Concordia co-founder and CEO, noted the “confluence of concerns” that have emerged or worsened in recent years—chief among them the eroding trust in institutions—and highlighted the value of the in-person gathering geared to facilitate partnerships to resolve the challenges.

Julio Frenk, president of the University of Miami, public health expert, and former Mexican health minister, said that the conference’s three dimensions—social function as a convener, geographic focus on the Americas, and priority of topics— mirrored those of the University.

“Some of the topics being discussed here are absolutely crucial to our agenda of advanced education and research, democracy, and global threats,” said Frenk, adding that the erosion of trust—not only in institutions but also between people— was especially disturbing.

“The erosion of trust in each other and in the future—that’s the fundamental trust that we must rebuild,” said Frenk, while noting the University’s newly opened George P. Hanley Democracy Center and Climate Resilience Academy as initiatives toward that goal.

Laura Chinchilla, the former president of Costa Rica, moderated a morning panel on “Polycrisis: Latin America,” exploring the phenomenon where crises in different areas interact or overlap in creating a new form of challenge.

“It’s no longer viable to look at a crisis just within itself,” said Pedro Less, vice president of public policy in Latin America for Meta. “We’re very accustomed to polycrisis in Latin America; we have to see many crises evolving at the same time.”

Felicia Knaul, director of the Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, moderated an afternoon session together with Erin Kobetz, professor of medicine and public health sciences and vice

provost for research and scholarship, and Dr. Sophia George, associate professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the Miller School of Medicine, that explored the disparities in access to breast and cervical cancers and other medical treatments that women throughout the Americas face based on race and economic status.

The three public health specialists discussed the role of community engagement and education to better reach at-risk populations.

“We can’t do research in communities that have been historically disregarded without inviting them to be part of the research,” Kobetz said. “As scientists we have an opportunity and obligation to bridge that gap and invite those voices to help conceptualize health care strategies and the inherent solutions that come with them.”

Alejandro Portes, research professor who teaches across the University’s School of Law and the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Sociology, shared his insights and research on Miami on the “Public Policy Perspectives: Sustainable Refugee Integration” panel.

The renowned sociologist cited Miami’s unique “historic receptivity and general attitude” toward immigrants, especially those from the Americas and Caribbean.

He noted that the metropolitan area had accommodated 200,000 newcomers over the past year—a number that would have overwhelmed the existing services of most other cities.

“But the whole flow was entirely and invisibly absorbed by the local social capital network,” said Portes, referring to the support system of churches, organizations, and families that has welcomed waves of immigrants over the past decades.

Frenk moderated the session on “Climate Resilience’s ‘Ground Zero’: Miami Seas,” which featured University experts Rodolphe el-Khoury, dean of the School of Architecture; Katherine Mach, professor with the Department of Environmental Science and Policy

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at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science; Antonio Nanni, inaugural senior scholar, professor, and chair at the College of Engineering; and Abigail Fleming, Mysun Foundation practitioner in residence at the School of Law’s Environmental Justice Clinic.

Frenk highlighted the recent establishment of the Climate Resilience Academy for its capacity to bridge the multitude of University initiatives relating to climate change, resilience, and sustainability. el-Khoury highlighted the importance of this collaborative, interdisciplinary initiative.

“These big problems require innovative designing and new structures of support,” he said. “We have to build from the ground-up to create this functional unit. It’s all about partnerships.”

While celebrating the progress being made to address climate change, Fleming emphasized the importance of addressing the structural inequalities that continue to be exacerbated by the threat and its consequences.

“There is absolute urgency and so many ways to do this. But first of all, we have to acknowledge the history of disinvestment in different populations,” she said. “If we don’t, there’s the risk of the same exploitation of those same harms.

“What we can do in the academy is to model collaboration,” Fleming said.

“There needs to be a power shift and new frameworks so that we can come together to really seek true systemic change.”

U-SoA HOSTED ITS ANNUAL CAREER FORUM 2023 The U-SoA hosted its annual 2023 Career Forum from February 23-24, which allowed employers to recruit our talented students, upcoming graduates, and alums for internships or full-time positions. This year, 64

224 students and 52 firms attended — a record year for attendance for both firms and the student body.

“The Career Forum aligns our students with internships, immersing them into real-world situations that complement their coursework with the invaluable lessons of professional experience. For graduating students, the Career Forum optimizes the transition to the profession by offering opportunities in some of the leading offices nationwide—trusted partners whose exceptional capacity to extend and intensify the learning process is sought and valued.

U-SoA’s commitment to link academic excellence to professional relevance is implicit in the students’ profiles featured in this booklet. They communicate the career aspirations of future professionals preparing for the next stage of their journey. The profiles also demonstrate the diversity in backgrounds, orientation, ideas and skills that characterize the student body. This diversity is in the school’s DNA. It empowers our students in addressing current environmental and social challenge and in creating a more beautiful, equitable, and environmentally responsible world.”

— Dean el-Khoury Thank you to all the firms who joined us at this year’s Career Forum: AECOM Arquitectonica Berardi + Partners Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc. BMA Architects Bories and Shearron Architecture BRR Architecture CPH Consulting, LLC. Dorsky Yue International DPZ Partners, LLC Dwell Design Studio Ennead Architects Ferguson & Shamamian Architects G. P. Schafer Architect, PLLC Gensler GFD Group Miami, LLC Glavé & Holmes Architecture, PC GURRIMATUTE Hart Howerton Historical Concepts HKS Architects LM Consultants, Inc. London Bay LRK M.C. Harry & Associates Studio MC+G Architecture Nunzio Marc DeSantis Architects OBMI ODP Architecture and Design Patrick Ryan O’Connell Architect, LLC. Perkins and Will Peter Pennoyer Architects PGAL View the 2023 Career Forum book: https:// www.arc.miami.edu/_assets/pdf/careerforum-book-2023-final-optimized.pdf

‘THE DESIGN OF OUR CITIES SHAPES THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES’ Carie Penabad, associate professor in the School of Architecture, has a weekly, national radio show, “On Cities,” where she speaks to architects and other thought leaders about the virtues and challenges of our cities.

By Barbara Gutierrez, UM News When Carie Penabad, associate professor at the University of Miami School of Architecture, and her husband Adib Cúre, also an associate professor in the school, designed a company building in southwest Guatemala, they brought in volcanic stones from a nearby river to pave the adjacent gardens.

Wanting to integrate the spectacular view of a nearby volcano, they fashioned a belvedere, or open space gallery, in the center of the building so workers could enjoy the volcano as one would a piece of art.

Integrating the local history, culture, materiality, and fauna is a trademark to the architecture that Penabad creates. In her many years as an architect and professor, she has pursued projects that have ranged from designing institutional buildings, housing, schools in rural Guatemala, and even mapping shantytowns in Colombia.

Penabad’s has a long-standing interest in the study of local traditions. Alongside Cúre, she has led a number of design courses entitled “Vernacularology,” an invented word that encompasses the study of vernacular traditions, from individual buildings to large settlements.

“I am passionate about cities, and I do believe that the shaping of our cities influences the quality of our lives,” she said.

This passion has led her to design numerous buildings within diverse contexts in both Miami and Latin America, as well as to study how shantytowns near Barranquilla, Colombia, are created and evolve. Working with Cúre, Chris Mader from the Institute for Data Science and Computing, and her students, she has mapped the Las Flores settlement in Barranquilla using drone technology. Her students in upper-level studio courses designed proposals for this settlement including housing, public buildings, infrastructure, and transportation projects.

These studios are ongoing at the School of Architecture, she said.

While an undergraduate student enrolled

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS at the School of Architecture, Penabad was greatly influenced by the teachings of Vincent Scully, a respected historian of architecture who was open minded and encouraged students to look for “an architecture that rises and evolves slowly to respond to local conditions,” according to Penabad.

“He encouraged us to look at a broad spectrum of architecture from antiquity to the present as well as modest structures to see how they responded in very profound ways to culture and place,” she said. This has greatly influenced her professional path.

In 2001, she and her husband created the architecture and design firm CÚRE & PENABAD, which has offices in Miami and Guatemala City. The work of the company has won numerous awards, most recently the prestigious Emerging Voices award from the Architectural League of New York. This competition recognizes a distinct design voice and a significant body of realized work.

Parallel to her professional practice, Penabad has been a faculty member at the School of Architecture since 2000. While on sabbatical in 2020, the coronavirus pandemic hit and Penabad realized that students were cut off from activities at the school while staying at home.

“I realized that they did not have access to the community of events and lectures that the school provides,” she said. “There was no sense of community.”

With the support of Rodolphe el-Khoury, dean of the School of Architecture, she launched the online lecture series “Architecture and the Great Confinement,” where she talked to urban designers, sociologists, writers, architects, and others about how the pandemic had changed the way they worked and the effects it might have on architecture and the building of cities. The venture was a success, with listeners tuning in from all over the country. “I realized the power of that medium,” she said.

El-Khoury was impressed by Penabad’s work.

“Almost overnight, Carie emerged as a media personality, with the poise and savviness of a seasoned talk-show host,” he said. “More importantly, she had the knack for asking the right questions, always yielding insights from her guests.

Clearly, she had the natural charisma and the intellectual finesse for this role.’’

That innovative lecture series led her to VoiceAmerica, a leading producer and online broadcaster of original live and on-demand talk radio programming worldwide. They asked her to do a live show, which she titled “On Cities.” It airs weekly each Friday at 11 a.m.

“At first I was taken aback,” Penabad said.

“But then I saw it as an extension of my teaching. With this platform, I could reach

thousands of listeners to discuss how the design of our cities shapes the quality of our lives. And in this way I could expand the discussion of architecture beyond the walls of my physical classroom.”

In the first four episodes, the associate professor spoke to several prominent architects—including Rahul Mehrotra, who is the chair of the Urban Design department at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, and Andres Duany, a co-founder and emeritus board member of the Congress for the New Urbanism—about the challenges facing many cities today including high density, climate change, and the lack of affordable housing.

One issue that concerns Penabad about Miami is the increasing need for affordable housing. She is excited to be designing a project in a small lot in Overtown for Catalyst Miami, a nonprofit group that serves the community. The lot is only 3,500 square feet, she noted. The project will accommodate office space, small retail units, and some affordable housing.

“In Miami we have two predominant housing models, the detached single-family house and the high-rise condominium,” she pointed out. “These small lots all throughout the city can be the sites to design alternatives and can offer new and varied models for future housing in the city. There is a lot that can be done to meet the housing demands while maintaining the essence of the place.”

Penabad has written or collaborated on three books. Most notably, she co-wrote “Marion Manley: Miami’s First Woman Architect” with Catherine Lynn. She also wrote and edited “Call to Order: Sustaining Simplicity in Architecture” with a preface by el-Khoury and an afterword

by Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, former dean of the School of Architecture. Later this year, she will publish the guidebook “Made in Miami,” which she co-authored with Cúre.

“Made in Miami” will serve as a guidebook to spots in the city that have emerged and are influenced by the different cultures that live here.

Listen to episodes of “On Cities” through the VoiceAmerica site or on podcast platforms including Spotify/Apple Podcasts: https:// www.voiceamerica.com/show/4119 FEBRUARY 2023

PROF. JOANNA LOMBARD RECEIVES THE ‘23 ACSA ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION AWARD Joanna Lombard, Professor in the School of Architecture with a secondary

appointment in Public Health Sciences at the Miller School of Medicine, has been named a Distinguished Professor in the 2023 Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) Architectural Education Awards. The Distinguished Professor Award is one of the highest honors the ACSA can bestow upon an educator and is given annually “to recognize individuals that have had a positive, stimulating, and nurturing influence upon students.”

The ACSA is an international association of architecture schools that includes all the accredited professional degree programs in the United States and Canada--over 200 schools with more than 7,000 faculty educating 40,000 students. There are usually up to five Distinguished Professor Awards given each year.

U-SoA FABRICATION LAB AIDS IN CROSS-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH Michael Cannon, Model Shop/Fabrication Lab Manager, has been working with the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science campus to help create a part being used on a NASA and National Geographic expedition. The piece was created for Dr. Ved Chirayath, who runs the Aircraft Center for Earth Studies (A.C.E.S.) over at R.S.M.A.S. It will be used for fluid lensing (MiDAR), which he developed for mapping coral reefs at new depths of up to 60’.

“We were interested in being able to help Dr. Chirayath with machining the part he needed because we can see how useful and needed his technology is to help with sea level rise and storm surge protection. Being able to map coral reefs and coastlines will help identify the areas where reefs are needed to help protect the people and buildings on our coasts. Regarding the production of parts like this, having access to C.N.C. and 3D printing equipment allows us to create full-size prototypes that can be deployed for testing before creating the final product. We look forward to hearing how our parts have worked and how we can improve them after they have been used in the field.”

Additionally, Michael is developing projects with the following: Department of Civil and Structural Engineering Department of Ophthalmology R.S.M.A.S. Campus Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

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DESIGN FOR HEROES: STUDENTS PRESENT THEIR PROJECTS AS MOVIES AT THE COSFORD CINEMA For ARC 407 upper-level studio final projects for graduates and undergraduates, Prof. Eric Firley asked his students to fully immerse themselves in a fictional world of their choice based on specific movies, books, computer games, or art pieces.

Their task comprised the creation or transformation of a built structure into a residential or mixed-use facility. Though also presented in conventional 2D drawings, special emphasis has been given to the ability to create visualizations that connect to the visual language and narrative of the chosen reference. All students have therefore been asked to submit their final project in the form of a movie that presents their project as much as the imaginary world they connect to. This final exercise, developed over six weeks, followed an analytic phase, during which the students investigated the role of space and architecture in cinematographic work, including movies such as “Parasite,” “The Passenger,” “Blade Runner” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” The final presentation occurred in the Cosford Cinema on the UM Campus in Coral Gables.

View the full list of videos: https://www. youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHKeAViMzI5mRZl_bMQRaHEExRZetYas JANUARY 2023

U-SoA LAUNCHES SOCIAL JUSTICE PRIZE The University of Miami School of Architecture is pleased to launch the U-SoA Social Justice Prize, one of the key initiatives developed by the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. The Prize funds projects by students, faculty, and staff that support advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus and beyond.

Social justice in the context of a school of architecture entails a wide range of topics: the trends and effects of climate gentrification on economically disadvantaged communities; ADA and universal design; legislature that impacts safe spaces for discussion of identity; disparity of resources resulting from urban planning policies such as redlining; development of affordable housing, and so on. Architects, planners, developers, and other practitioners working with the built environment are well-positioned to play an active role in shaping dialogue and approaches toward these issues, and U-SoA should facilitate those conversations.

The mission of the U-SoA Social Justice Prize is to actively engage the U-SoA community in dialogue and scholarship that fosters a culture of belonging within the School and beyond. Funding will be awarded to projects demonstrating an innovative approach to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Projects may be but are not limited to events, installations, exhibitions, or course creation/development and may be proposed by any member of the U-SoA community.

Read more about DEI: https://www.arc. miami.edu/resources/dei/index.html

STUDENTS FLOAT IDEAS TO HELP THE CAMPUS ADAPT TO A CHANGING CLIMATE As part of the first undergraduate climate resilience course, 36 students got a chance to learn about the pressing issue from 13 different faculty experts and offer their own suggestions.

By Janette Neuwahl Tannen, UM News Parking lots covered with solar panels that would also collect rainwater. More rooftop gardens across the Coral Gables Campus. Permeable sidewalks that allow rain to seep through them, and a canopy over the Fate Bridge.

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These were just a few ideas that students in the University of Miami’s first undergraduate climate resilience class proposed, after they were challenged to evaluate things like flood risk, tree canopy, and heat index on the Coral Gables Campus and then to offer some viable options to make it a more sustainable place to work and study.

“This class opened my eyes about how many ways there are to deal with the impacts of climate change,” said sophomore Eva Klovatskiy, who is studying architecture. “It’s also beneficial for us to understand where we are headed, and I appreciate understanding that better.”

Created by a team of faculty members with expertise in different climaterelated issues, the interdisciplinary course represented an overhaul of past teaching methods. Rather than in-class lectures, students in the course were required to watch cinematically produced videos filmed across South Florida with 13 different faculty experts in climate resilience before class each week.

They learned from associate professor Robin Bachin, who is founding director of the Office of Civic and Community Engagement and an urban and environmental historian focused on issues like affordable housing, climate gentrification, and how sea level rise is impacting development. That was a few weeks after they spent time with meteorologist Sharanya Majumdar, who studies how hurricanes and tropical cyclones form and intensify to improve prediction models.

“This class introduces students from a variety of majors to ways that they can all come together to discuss and problem solve—with a new perspective in situations dealing with climate resiliency,” said Gianell Gonzalez, a graduate architecture student, who served as a teaching assistant for the class.

During class time, students met with the faculty experts featured in the videos and also got a chance to engage with some industry experts through a virtual field trip. Then, instructors gave student teams a problem to solve related to that week’s climate-related topic. They were required to use a strategy called design thinking to address the issue—such as the degradation of coral reefs, sustainable architecture and urban planning, hurricane forecasts, and coastal engineering.

Three teaching assistants, along with film professor Ali Habashi, and class coordinator Jared Zemantauski—who also taught a section on climate law—guided students through the strategy.

“Unfortunately, you have inherited a big problem, but through your knowledge, you can help our public leaders to drive change on your behalf and promote action in positive directions,” said Sonia

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Chao, research associate professor in the School of Architecture and one of the creators of the class.

Habashi, an assistant professor of practice in cinematic arts at the School of Communication, also helped create the class and produced the video modules.

“We hope you walk away with effective design thinking strategies to face and analyze complex climate issues as they evolve,” said Habashi, an award-winning filmmaker. “These are issues that we must be thinking about in multifaceted ways, with faculty outside your chosen area of expertise. Through these intersections you can learn more and embrace uncertainty.”

Formed as an outgrowth of the University’s Climate Resilience Academy, the course was launched this fall and its creators hope to improve the class and update its content with time. Although it was a lot of information in a short amount of time, many students were interested in delving further into climate-related topics.

“I realized that climate change isn’t just climate change, but there are also a host of social issues and associated environmental issues related to it,” said Owen Kellerman, a first-year architecture student.

of a lot of issues like climate justice, the problems with coral reefs, or the impact of climate change on hurricanes and storm surge,” he said. “These are not things I had learned about before and it was awesome to have such high-quality faculty sharing the cutting-edge research they are doing, so we could learn what’s actually going on in these fields today.”

UPPER-LEVEL DESIGN STUDIOS FOR SPRING 2023 In response to the U-SoA larger community’s interest in learning more about our curricula, especially about the courses that respond to current issues, we will feature the list of upper-level studios at the beginning of each term.

These unique courses are constantly renewed with a different lineup of faculty and Visiting Critics each term. Typically, a good number of these offerings are sponsored studios that fund travel, research, or publication with the support of industry partners.

We are excited about the offerings in Spring 2023: thirteen studios covering a wide range of topics, bringing students to experiment with new techniques and technologies, and providing opportunities for experiential learning in Miami and abroad.

ARCHITECTURE IN THE METAVERSE Faculty: Rodolphe el-Khoury and Indrit Alushani The course will explore applications of XR in the production and experience of the built environment. It entails a series of experiments that probe different aspects of the XR family (Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality, Spatial Computing, etc.) and their associated techniques.

The experiments will bring XR to enrich conventional practices in architecture and potentially yield new approaches, while developing synergies with other transformative agents such as AI and Blockchain.

ABSTRACTION: HOUSE WITHOUT FORM Faculty: Florian Sauter Painting and sculpting, thus, using inherently artistic means, this studio will explore alternative design methodologies and experiment with a set of uncanny and non-familiar spatial and structural gestures. Desiring a pure architecture that is unrestrained in its imaginary potential and decidedly autonomous in its attempt to challenge from its interiority the discipline’s constitutional elements, ABSTRACTION will be the guiding tool to compensate for the lack of possible references, offer the necessary realm of expressional liberty, and ideally help identify relevant criteria to open new pathways of spatial articulation. Aiming for conceptual clarity and rigor, participants should indicate a basic willingness to dissolve architecture’s confining barriers and probe its limits.

ARCHITECTURE COMPETITIONS Faculty: Yasmine Zeghar This course is designed to allow students to support the creation of entries for the many interesting competition opportunities provided by organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Society of American Registered Architects (SARA), the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), eVolo (Skyscraper competition), International Design Award (IDA), etc... The students must comply with the competition’s rules, regulations, requirements, and submission deadlines. Through different assignments, students will learn how to create board layouts, diagrams, graphics, etc... for winning a competition and also for their final reviews. The course format includes lectures, student presentations, and desk crits. The class will conclude with a real submission of one or more competition entries.

As students presented their capstone projects last week, they drew upon the knowledge and data they had learned to navigate through the class for their presentations. Most had a strong understanding of the “urban heat island effect,” which occurs when cities replace natural land cover with a density of concrete buildings, roads, and sidewalks.

The concentration of pavement absorbs and retains heat, and this often encourages urban temperatures to rise well above those in areas with more greenspace.

Students also learned to map out tree canopy data using geographic information systems software from two data scientists—Timothy Norris, associate professor of library science, and Chris Mader, senior director of software engineering at the University’s Institute for Data Science and Computing. They also got a quick primer on how to create accurate and effective data visualizations from associate professor Alberto Cairo, an expert in the field and the Knight chair in Visual Journalism. That led student Marin Yang, a senior studying geographic and sustainable development as well as ecosystem science and policy, to create an interactive campus tree canopy map for his team’s project.

First year architecture student Jesse Jones enrolled in the class because he is interested in sustainable building. But until taking the course, Jones—who grew up in Illinois—didn’t realize the magnitude of climate issues in Miami.

“This class has helped make me aware

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to host a new type of hotel in the region.

Between the comfort of the ski village in the valley and the rudimentary services of the pass-through hotels at the higher altitude, no current offering exists that allow for such a hospitality experience on the slopes. This assignment aims at filing the gap by reducing energy consumption and analyzing hospitality programming and local market needs. The studio will culminate in a trip to La Clusaz, France, in April with a presentation to the hotel clients.

COVENANT HEALTH COMMUNITY DESIGN STUDIO Faculty: Joanna Lombard and Veruska Vasconez Studio sponsor: Covenant Health The Studio sponsor, Covenant Health, is seeking proposals for buildings, blocks, and neighborhood concepts to establish connectivity and identity for their properties in Lubbock, Texas.

Students will meet local leaders in health and community as well as national and regional design professionals throughout project development. Also located in Lubbock, faculty and students from Texas Tech University’s renowned healthcare architecture program will collaborate with University of Miami students to share expertise and insights. The outcome of this work will result in a Project Prospectus that can inform future work for the Covenant Health leadership.

DESIGN WITH CLIMATE CHANGE Faculty: Alejandro Branger Studio sponsor: Gensler The course will explore integrated design strategies that will address the ecology of the place, its use, and conservation of water, energy and carbon reduction, resiliency, and environmental impact.

HOSPITALITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND ADAPTIVE REUSE STUDIO: LA CLUSAZ, FRENCH ALPS Faculty: Côme Ménage and Megan Grehl At the top of the ski slopes of French ski station La Clusaz, there is the potential 68

LUXURY RESORT AND CLUB / ULTRA-LOW HOUSING Faculty: Ted Givens and Donnie Garcia-Navarro The studio will focus on the design of sustainable resort and luxury club combined with an ultra-poor housing neighborhood in Barbados. The design is intended to combine diverse user groups, and through the act of interweaving them develop a new architectural prototype. There are some similar examples of luxury resorts in Fiji and the Philippines supporting a local community. The designs will incorporate advanced sustainable design concepts and technologies. We will have a few lectures by experts from EGIS on sustainable development.

NECROPOLIS: A CEMETERY FOR THE LIVING Faculty: Teófilo Victoria The cemetery as an architecture project resides conceptually somewhere between the sacred and the profane, simultaneously sublime and mundane. Indeed, it could very well be the origin of the city because of all architecture, the last place of rest, at least for a moment in our lives, as fleeting and unexpected as it might be, houses spiritually, in our hearts and minds, the concept of mortality. And yet, as building project, the cemetery engages the disciplinary interest of the most mundane nature such as design and drawing, construction, composition, urbanism, landscape, geography, and geology, and because of the particulars of the site, ocean civil engineering, resiliency, and climate change.

OBMI HOSPITALITY DESIGN STUDIO: TROPICAL LUXURY Faculty: Doug Kulig, Andres Osorio, and Liora Haymann Studio sponsor: OBMI Miami The OBMI Studio will focus on providing you with tangible tools to design extraordinary Hotel destinations. Hospitality design is about creating a unique experience for the guest, a “Storied place” that blends the uniqueness of site, culture, and sense of luxury. Our team, plus invited guests, will walk you through the many aspects to consider when designing a Hotel - Programming / Operations / Architectural language / F&B / Wellness / Back of House / Storytelling. We will design a Hotel in the Caribbean, exploring the notion of Tropical Luxury. We will guide you to create your project Story and apply the design tools, and strategies learned to your unique Project.

SIMULTANEITY: BEYOND HIGH SPEED Faculty: Amina Blacksher What does it mean to be here and there at the same time? In New York for dinner, in Miami for dessert? In this studio, we will explore the notion of simultaneity. The studio will study the spatial implications of collapsed time. Using the logic of Dogon Cosmology, African Futurism, and Science Fiction, we will co-opt emerging technologies and apply ancient knowledge systems to explore the very real ramifications of ultra-high-speed mobility on the culture of the everyday.

TEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE IN SANTO DOMINGO Faculty: Jaime Correa and Carmen Guerrero Studio sponsor: Canin Associates

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS This tactical urbanism studio will produce a variety of meaningful small-scale architectural artifacts within the historic center of the City of Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic – a fabulous place where diverse cultures (African, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.) have syncretized to produce new intellectual and physical achievements. Travel expenses will be funded by the Brian Canin Award.

THE SCHINKEL STUDIO: BERLIN, WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION Faculty: Jean-Francois LeJeune The studio will investigate the issue of destruction/reconstruction throughout the example of the City of Berlin. The studio will discuss the issue of war and memory in the contemporary city. It will develop these themes through a proposal for the reconstruction project of Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s Bauakademie in Central Berlin. The program will be a Museum of Architecture/Architecture Center to present exhibitions about modern architecture between 1870 and 2000, as well as a forum for discussion and debate about the future of the city.

mapping Upper-Level Design Studio Brief WHAT WE ONCE WERE Spring 2023 U-SoA and analysis students will speculate new proposals for this contested site.

Student travel to NYC will be reimbursed.

ended in late September after a short run.

In order to extend the exhibit and offer it to a wider audience, the RAD Lab digitally recreated the exhibit and placed it in a virtual Korach Gallery.

DECEMBER 2023

“We reproduced the gallery in the

THE METAVERSE IS A GAME CHANGER FOR ARCHITECTS The RAD Lab at the School of Architecture is venturing into mixed reality projects to enhance the educational experience.

metaverse down to every detail,” said el-Khoury. “On your computer screen you can navigate the space and look around and zoom in on different panels on the wall or call up additional information.” An enhanced version of the virtual gallery will soon be available for VR headsets for a more immersive experience.

By Barbara Gutierrez, UM News Imagine that you are walking inside the Roman Colosseum in 72 A.D. and can explore every brick of the structure that took nine years to build but still partly stands in the center of Rome.

You are not in Italy. Instead, you are a student sitting in a classroom at the University of Miami School of Architecture wearing Oculus goggles. That is the kind of experience that mixed reality (virtual reality and augmented reality) or the metaverse can offer and the kind of work that the RAD (Responsive Architecture + Design) Lab at the School of Architecture has been using in experiments.

“For architects, this technology is a game changer,” said Rodolphe “Rudy” elKhoury, dean of the school and director of the RAD Lab. For architecture students, mixed reality or XR allows them the flexibility to immerse themselves inside buildings not only to explore how they were constructed but also design their own environments and contribute to that virtual world.

WHAT WE ONCE WERE Faculty: Germane Barnes Studio sponsor: Perkins & Will This studio, sited at Lincoln Center in New York City, researches the historic neighborhood of San Juan Hill. A Black and Latino enclave razed under the disguise of development. Through

The RAD Lab’s latest venture into this technology was created a few weeks ago. Students from several studio classes coordinated by professor Eric Firley had imagined how the West Grove neighborhood in Coconut Grove could be redesigned from single-family units to multifamily units.

An exhibit of 40 of the student’s projects were displayed at the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove. However, that exhibit

The metaverse is already impacting many disciplines but it is a transformative medium for architects, said el-Khoury.

Next semester, he will co-teach with Inderit Alushani, a research associate at the RAD Lab and a lecturer at School of Architecture, the “Designing in the Metaverse” class that will enable the future architects to collaborate in new ways and to leverage the technology for more advanced designs. In the first three weeks of the course, the students will meet as avatars in a virtual studio to cocreate a piece of the metaverse.

According to el-Khoury, there are discussions being held with potential donors who would invest in a project involving RAD Lab staff and students in building a digital twin of Miami Beach and all its historical buildings.

“We can reproduce them very accurately, and when you visit them in the metaverse they will seem very real,” he said. “The recreation would preserve them for posterity, against the adverse effect of climate change—at least as a virtual experience. It also provides the city and industry partners with a digital model for multiple uses, from staging planning scenarios to running simulations that visualize the impacts of sea level rise and extreme weather events.”

For architects, the new technology will become crucial since the profession is becoming more collaborative and global, noted el-Khoury.

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“Let’s say that there are architect firms that have branches here and in China,” he explained. “The architects can work here and then when they finish their work it can be picked up by those in China who continue to work seamlessly in the same virtual space.”

Those same architects can meet virtually inside the structure they are building and exchange information and redesign areas that they want to change. “So, it enables immersive and seamless collaboration despite the distance in geography,” said el-Khoury.

The use of XR technology by developers as a virtual complement to the traditional showroom is rapidly gaining traction. RAD Lab is exploring this practice, potentially in collaborating with Yupix, a Wynwoodbased company that is leading in this space. RAD Lab and Yupix are currently discussing opportunities for sponsored research to enhance the experience of architecture in the metaverse.

The potential of XR beyond architectural applications is immense and RAD Lab researchers are eager to take on interdisciplinary projects or assist teams in other academic units with technological support, such as in recent collaboration with the Frost School of Music that brought virtual imagery to the concert hall.

Last semester, a group of students participated in a course, “Religion and Sacred Spaces in the Era of Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence,” which was taught in virtual reality. It was a multidisciplinary collaboration, which included professors Kim Grinfeder, director of the Interactive Media Program at the School of Communication, William Green of the Department of Religious Studies, and Denis Hector of the School of Architecture.

The Creative Studio at the Otto G. Richter Library also offers opportunities for classes to immerse themselves in different virtual worlds.

“The pedagogical potential of XR is limitless,” el-Khoury pointed out.

PROF. GERMANE BARNES REDEFINES ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN Germane Barnes (germanebarnes.com) 70

has always wanted to be an architect.

Growing up in Chicago, he garnered an early understanding of how urban planning and the built environment can impact communities by dictating movement and modes of living. Following his civic principles, Barnes opted out of a major international opportunity, choosing instead to relocate to Florida for a commission in the economically distressed Opa- locka neighborhood.

This bold move set in motion design commissions, art exhibitions and awards, establishing his own design and architecture studio he called Studio Barnes LLC and securing an assistant professorship within the University of Miami’s architecture department, where he is also the director of the Community Housing & Identity Lab (CHIL).

Barnes’ relaxed persona belies a selfassured conviction. On one hand, he embraces expansive creative approaches freely melding the fields of art, design and architecture, and on the other, Barnes is hyperfocused on impactful place-making. This multipronged, acute approach catapulted his creative trajectory, earning him significant local, national and international recognition— these past two years adding the Harvard University Graduate School of Design Wheelwright Prize, the Rome Prize and the Museum of Modern Art New York (MoMA) to his growing list of accolades.

On home ground, Germane Barnes was announced winner of the prestigious 2022 Miami Design District Neighborhood Commission for his project Rock|Roll.

Inspired by Caribbean carnivals, Barnes has created a series of interactive sculptures and wind chimes within the urban shopping mecca for art season, which will also playfully rock ’n’ roll at the entrance of the Design Miami/ fair Nov. 30 to Dec. 4.

Barnes’ first job at age 14 was as a mural painter for the Austin Public Library in Chicago where he co-designed and completed a 20-square-foot- long mural with four fellow teens. This foray into art making informed his approach to architecture throughout his University of Illinois Bachelor of Science in Architecture undergraduate degree, as well as his Master of Architecture degree at Woodbury University in Burbank, Calif.

So, when he went to work with architect Francois Perrin, whose Los Angeles studio embraced a multidisciplinary approach, Barnes was matched to work on art installations. This included a project with renowned French artist Xavier Veilhan at the landmark modernist VDL House designed by Austrian American architect Richard Neutra. Veilhan, spotting Barnes’ talent and no doubt his French-speaking proficiency, recommended him to the Paris team of Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Jean Nouvel, where Barnes secured a position. However, it was not meant to be.

Despite being a life goal to work with a Pritzker Prize winner, Barnes did not pursue this opportunity. Instead, he had been concurrently collaborating with two of his professors, Christian Stayner and Jennifer Bonner (Stayner + Bonner), on an Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation (OLCDC) neighborhood transformation project called Made in Opa-locka. The five-year-long proposal aimed to transform the notoriously violent and drug-filled “triangle” into an area for small-business development in the arts, technology and community services—with Barnes being committed to move to Opa-locka as project lead.

Between completing his degrees, Barnes had spent four months in Cape Town, South Africa, where alongside studying he interned with Sean J Mackay Architects (SJM). A company with a mantra of thoughtful architecture, SJM initiated pro bono design projects in the city’s townships. Barnes’ experience of working in the Khayelitsha township, among other experiences, made tangible and evident the architectural and design tools that can impact living conditions and community interactions. So when Made in Opa-locka won the competition, Barnes decided that instead of being absorbed into an already-established architectural studio, he would bet on himself to garner individual recognition by working on a high-impact and meaningful community project.

In 2013, he moved to Opa-locka. Defined

by Moorish architecture built in the 1920s and ’30s by industrial designer and aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss—who had been inspired by films Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and 1001 Arabian Nights— Opa-locka was being described as a dystopic Disneyland.

Barnes explains, “Floridians would ask why I moved from Los Angeles to Opa-locka based on the city’s negative reputation. To which I would respond, ‘Why not? How do I help a neighborhood if I don’t live in it?’”

Today, Made in Opa-locka has contributed to a sizable neighborhood revival, including renovating buildings for existing arts organizations and nonprofits, developing an auditorium, artist residency and media lab, and creating spaces within family homes for enterprise. Willie Logan, president and chief executive officer of OLCDC, affirms, “Made in Opa-locka is one example of our commitment to developing not only a fair and equitable environment but the immense potential in future generations. Germane’s role in that proposal was pivotal in his development, and we are incredibly proud of his accomplishments and future trajectory.”

This defining decision launched Barnes on an unstoppable artistic, design and architectural career. MoMA curator Mabel Wilson and then- associate

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS curator Sean Anderson first contacted Barnes in summer 2019. After his second supposedly “failed” nominee submission to MoMA PS1’s Young Architects Program, Barnes’ portfolio was kept aside for a MoMA exhibition, transforming him, at age 35, into the youngest of 10 architects and designers to be featured in the historically groundbreaking exhibition Reconstructions: Architecture and Blackness in America.

accompanied by an online interactive lighting display inviting public collaboration. The commission afforded Barnes unparalleled international media attention further legitimatizing his design approach.

For this exhibition, Barnes created A Spectrum of Blackness: The Search for Sedimentation in Miami, 2020— an installation of collages, a map and spices. Using Miami’s multiculturalism as a point of inspiration, Barnes created a dozen collages of porch and kitchen spaces of varied individuals, noting the rituals around each place. These were accompanied by a map denoting Miami’s geography, specifically its relationship to land ownership, segregation and the dynamics of sea level rise. Lastly, a spice rack installation shared spices relabeled after the activity or food associated with the seasoning, as it related to the Black lived experience.

Barnes says, “In the centurylong history of the American Academy of Rome, I am the third person who identifies as Black, and the only Black male, to have won the prize in the architecture discipline, the field that founded the academy.”

Barnes shares, “This is my biggest accomplishment. Not for its monetary acknowledgment, but for its impact as the first Black architecture exhibition in the museum’s history in a city that is home to the oldest architecture department in the country.”

The publication of Reconstructions: Architecture and Blackness in America is now used as a lesson plan within the architecture department.

In 2021, Germane Barnes was commissioned by car brand Lexus to imagine its Design Miami/ booth.

“Up until this commission, I had only ever done projects centered around identity, Blackness and Black neighborhoods, and a lot of creatives who do ethnographic work get pigeonholed. Lexus was the first to say we just want you to create a design in line with our desire to be carbon neutral,” describes Barnes.

Rather than feature the actual LF-Z Electrified concept car, Lexus’ booth showcased Barnes’ reimagined wire frame car that emphasized intelligent humancentric design alongside furniture creations designed by Barnes and his University of Miami team to offer a place to lounge.

Design Miami/ Vice President of Fairs Grela Orihuela explains, “Germane did a brilliant job exploring a carbon-neutral future.

A pair of elegant swings were placed at either end of the wire-frame car, meant to symbolize humanity’s trek toward a more sustainable future. Their placement rounded out the exhibit by creating a palpable feeling of forward motion.”

Titled ON/, the installation was also

Barnes had also been announced a 2021 winner of the prestigious Rome Prize in Architecture, a prize recognizing crossdisciplinary innovation and excellence.

In addition to a monetary acknowledgment, the Rome Prize awarded Barnes a seven-month stay in Italy in 2022, where he explored the often unacknowledged and misappropriated influences from the African continent on architectural processes in Italy, and more.

Curated by Wava Carpenter and Anna Carnick of Anava Projects, this year’s Miami Design District’s design commission nominees were asked to respond to the theme Something to Talk About. Barnes’ winning project Rock|Roll took this concept further.

Drawing inspiration from the interactive and performative elements of Caribbean carnival, as well as its dynamism, color, sound and communal engagement, Barnes’ Rock|Roll celebrates Caribbean culture and Miami as a multiethnic city.

“With Rock | Roll, he’s honoring the people who helped shape this incredible city— from its founding to today—by embracing carnival’s fantastic, joyful visual language to create spaces for people to come together,” explain Anava Projects’ curators.

The word “Rock” represents large musical furry sculptures that are a nod to the feathers and regalia worn during carnival.

With room to sit inside, the sculptures rock back and forth and expand on Barnes’ ongoing interest in porch rocking chairs as ritualistic symbols of ponderance, gathering, conversation and more. “Roll” are hanging wind chimes that recall the brass drums that lead carnival processions.

Barnes’ Rock|Roll collates at a party pavilion dome, reminiscent of a sliced disco ball, which invites communal gathering.

The Anava Projects curators continue, “Germane’s work shines a light on the ways in which objects and environments reflect, amplify or diminish the lived experiences of communities, especially BIPOC communities, who have historically been excluded from design processes and planning.”

The eighth winner, Germane Barnes adds his name to an illustrious list of past winners including gt2P (2020); Fernando Laposse (2019); Dozie Kanu (2018);

Charlap Hyman & Herrero (2017); Philippe Malouin (2016); and Snarkitecture (2015).

During Art Week, the Design Miami/ fair features a fleet of Barnes’ brightly colored musical “Rock” sculptures inviting couples to sit and rock together, children to hug them and other imaginative interactions.

Barnes concludes, “Rock|Roll is a generator to celebrate a city that has allowed me to call it home for the past nine years in the most positive way possible.”

Germane Barnes is “rock” in his ardent commitment to the architectural field and to empowering historically excluded communities. He also embraces the opportunity to impact future generations of designers from all backgrounds through his teachings at University of Miami and by inviting his students to collaborate on Studio Barnes LLC projects.

He shares, “It is my goal that my studio assistants one day surpass me.”

Barnes is also “roll” in his ability to meld creative approaches to forefront aspects of our environment previously ignored, overlooked or not thought of. When prompted what he would like to see for Miami, Barnes shares a vision for better water infrastructure and flood mitigation, ecological education and smarter watersymbiotic use of materials. Barnes is two exams away from completing his architectural license.

His multifaceted embrace of creativity and his ability to harness meaningful cultural inspirations promise that Studio Barnes LLC is on a path to transform Miami’s built environment for the better— watch this space.

MRED+U CAPSTONE PROJECT INSPIRES SUNBEAM’S PROPOSAL FOR NORTH BAY VILLAGE PROJECT This past year’s Capstone Project inspired a proposal created by Sunbeam Properties for a 7.3M-square-foot project on North Bay Village, which the North Bay Village commissioners have since approved.

The Capstone Project, organized annually by the Master of Real Estate Development + Urbanism (MRED+U) program, provides students from every program in the University of Miami School of Architecture to collectively apply what they’ve learned in a real-world scenario. Each year, the SOA’s MRED+U partners with a local real

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estate developer that has underutilized land, and the students are tasked with creating a plan to make better use of the chosen site. The collaborative input of students from the SoA’s Architecture, Urban Design, Construction Management, and Real Estate programs results in a complete development proposal to maximize the potential of the chosen site.

This past year’s Capstone Project inspired a proposal created by Sunbeam Properties for a 7.3M-square-foot project on North Bay Village, which the North Bay Village commissioners have since approved. Last year’s students were able to tour the site as part of their 2021 Capstone project to determine what they had to work with and brainstorm ideas on how to utilize the available property best. By the end of the project, the real estate developer involved has multiple development proposals for their property, and the students have had an opportunity to both showcase the knowledge they’ve acquired during their studies and develop their ability to work as a team to make the various aspects of property development come together functionally.

Following the reviews of the Capstone Project and the approval of their proposal, Sunbeam Properties intends to complete its project in four phases. In a recent article, Andrew Ansin, president and CEO of Sunbeam Properties, described the project plan to include “nearly 2,000 residential units with some workforce housing apartments; 112,500 square feet of hotel space with 300 hotel rooms; 870,000 square feet of office and retail space; public space that includes a baywalk; and about 5,000 parking spaces, and open space.”

NOVEMBER 2022

U-SoA ’22 HOMECOMING KICKS OFF NEW INITIATIVE AND CELEBRATES THE CLASS OF ‘97 The University of Miami School of Architecture looks forward to welcoming alumni and friends on campus to pay tribute to our traditions and come together to celebrate the spirit that makes us Miami Hurricanes.

Every year, the U-SoA looks forward to welcoming alums and friends on campus to pay tribute to our traditions and come together to celebrate the spirit that makes us Miami Hurricanes.

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The 2022 U-SoA Alumni Homecoming Barbecue kicks off a new way of celebrating with alums by opening the festivities with a 25-year class reunion each year. This year, U-SoA looks forward to welcoming the Class of ‘97 to reunite with their former colleagues, reconnect with faculty members, and interact with students. “I’m looking forward to seeing friends and colleagues I have not seen in 25 years. I’m also looking forward to connecting with my old professors and seeing the new Murphy Building on campus.”

– Akindele Looby, Class of ‘97 alumnus and Trinidad-based Architect specializing in sustainable design in the Caribbean.

Homecoming acknowledges alums and allows them, together with current students, to show school spirit and reflect on the good times and memories made at the School. “It is often said that the college years are the best years of your life. I always look back at those years of freedom without the responsibilities of the adult world and feel lucky to have spent them as a Miami Hurricane.”

– Denise Bas, Class of ‘97 alumna and CEO of Civil Design Inc. in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Our School’s goal is to look back and celebrate the hard work and dedication our alums applied in the past, which led them to their success and accomplishments, celebrate and motivate our current students, and shine a light on future students.

A portion of the tickets purchased will be donated to an architecture student scholarship fund.

We’re looking forward to a memorable weekend of reconvening, the traditional boat-burning ceremony, and spectacular fireworks show.

STUDENTS’ DESIGNS COULD INFUSE NEW LIFE INTO COLOMBIAN SEAPORT As part of a School of Architecture studio, students spent a week in Barranquilla, Colombia, visiting residents in some of the city’s informal settlements and oldest neighborhoods. They returned to the Coral Gables Campus to begin designing structures that could help revitalize those areas and address the impacts of climate change.

By Robert C. Jones Jr., UM News The fishermen who live in Barranquilla, Colombia’s hinterland, in the small villages near the bank of the Magdalena River, were once thriving anglers, hauling in sizable catches that fed thousands and kept money in their pockets.

But development and damage to the local ecosystem diminished the population of fish in the river and in area mangroves, cutting into the fishermen’s lifeline. Now, many of them are learning to read and write, and some are giving boat tours

of the river that once sustained their livelihood.

Under an afternoon red sky in early September, Adib Cúre, an associate professor in the University of Miami School of Architecture, and 15 of his students boarded a powerboat for one of those tours. Their fisherman-turned-tour-guide told them the history of the Magdalena and of the relationship residents in some of the city’s remote, informal settlements once had with the river.

Cúre had taken his students to Colombia’s fourth largest city as part of a semesterlong architecture studio to design buildings and structures on a parcel of land in the neighborhood of La Loma, which is adjacent to the Magdalena, the historic city center, and the informal village of Barlovento. Barranquilla officials hope the students’ efforts will help revitalize the city’s outskirts.

“The Barranquilla of my childhood is very different from the city that exists today,” said Cúre, who, with his family, emigrated from the city when he was 12. “It was more compact and less developed, and life took place mostly in the streets, from playing to shopping. There were no large malls; those came much later. But over time, most people who lived in the areas within and around the city center began to move to the city’s edge. This is when their relationship with the river was completely abandoned and given over to industries. The city center emptied and became highly informal.”

For the past decade, however, Barranquilla government officials have been implementing plans for what Cúre calls “a return to the river.” And it all starts with the parcel of land for which his students have designed structures.

Their Vernacularology Studio is aimed at maintaining Barranquilla’s vernacular traditions with a new set of modular buildings and with new public spaces.

Affordable housing units, civic buildings, a ferry terminal, and a school are among the projects they have created and will submit to Barranquilla officials in the hopes that those designs will be incorporated into an existing masterplan Cúre says is too “monotonous and sterile” and fails to address the effects of climate change.

Using a network of arteries, a canal would be extended through the Barlovento village to collect excess rainfall and protect streets from flooding and sea level rise.

“Structures would be elevated 5 feet above ground and equipped with pitched roofs and gutters that would collect rainwater into storage tanks for the community,” said Teymour Khoury, one of the architecture students involved in the project. “And our designs also call for engaging the river by providing new docks for boats.”

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS excellence in design while exploring the nature and science of the profession. The U-SoA is proud of its students, faculty, and alumni for their exceptional work.

2022 AIA Miami Design Award Winners SMALL FIRM OF THE YEAR Atelier Mey (Profs. Chris & Shawna Meyer): House in a Garden STUDENT OF THE YEAR Teagan Polizzi Antoniazzi Architecture Inc. (Alumnus Giorgio Antoniazzi): The Cypress Cottage KoDA (Alumnus Wesley Kean): Sunset Island Residence and Lake House

Fourth-year architecture student Teagan Polizzi and her classmate, Gray Burke, designed a community center that would serve as a staging point for the annual Carnival of Barranquilla, one of Colombia’s most important folkloric celebrations that features dancing, music, and parades and is held on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday.

“We designed with the needs of the community in mind, always thinking of the residents’ everyday needs,” Polizzi said. “And understanding those needs came from meeting and conversing with the people during our visit.”

During their weeklong stay in Barranquilla, the students walked city streets and neighborhoods, examining buildings and infrastructure while talking to residents. “We learned that Barranquillans are primarily interested in modernizing their city’s outskirts with new infrastructure and in improving the public realm of the city,” Khoury said.

They met with city officials, historians, and longtime residents like the woman in the Barranquilla neighborhood Barrio Abajo, who prepared an impromptu lunch for Cúre and his students using ingredients grown in her own garden.

“She set up tables for us in her backyard, and we ate under this fantastic tamarind tree whose leaves were still dripping water from a hard rain earlier that day,” Cúre said. “The food was amazing, and the woman’s stories provided insight into what Barranquilla residents wanted for their city.”

Fundación Tecnoglass, a Barranquillabased manufacturer of architectural glass and aluminum products for the global commercial and residential construction industries, funded the trip.

“We’ve always believed in taking our students to visit the places for which they’ll design buildings,” Cúre said. “To meet the people who live there, and to understand their needs, goes a long way in helping our students. And Barranquilla has

been a laboratory for us for years now.”

Using drones and other surveying methods, Cúre, his wife, Carie Penabad, who is an associate professor at the School of Architecture, and Chris Mader, of the University’s Institute for Data Science and Computing, mapped Barranquilla’s Las Flores neighborhood six years ago. Amin Sarafraz, a research assistant professor of civil and architectural engineering, and Tim Norris, a data scientist and librarian associate professor, also are involved in those efforts.

They have also mapped other vulnerable places around the world, from a slum near Mumbai, India, to the Joe Slovo informal settlement in the Langa township of Cape Town, South Africa. “These are projects that will positively affect the lives of citizens for generations to come,” said Cúre, noting that their efforts will help such areas to get the assistance they need.

The students will present their Barranquilla designs at a final review in early December at the Thomas P. Murphy Design Studio Building on the Coral Gables Campus.

U-SoA SHINES AT THE ‘22 AIA MIAMI DESIGN AWARD CEREMONY The annual AIA Miami Design Awards intend to encourage excellence in architecture, elevate public consciousness of good design, and recognize those architects whose work enriches our environment. These awards recognize outstanding architectural projects, both built and unbuilt, that exemplify

Shulman + Associates Architecture (Prof.

Allan Shulman): Word Jumble Garage and Little Haiti Conceptual Master Plan Perkins & Will: Jackson Health System, West Campus 2022 Honor Awards LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION Prof. Joanna Lombard PRESIDENT’S AWARD Perkins & Will HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE Prof. Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk

DEAN EL-KHOURY AND SACHA BRAGGS REPRESENT THE U-SoA AT THE AIA’S LARGE FIRM ROUND TABLE Dean el-Khoury and Sacha Braggs were invited to attend the Dean’s Forum at the 2022 AIA’s Large Firm Round Table (LFRT) in Minneapolis, MN. The U-SoA was selected as one of the schools represented at the AIA, where Dean el-Khoury and Sacha Braggs discussed current challenges and opportunities in architecture education.

“Attending the 2022 The American Institute of Architects Large Firm Round Table (LFRT) Dean’s Forum in Minneapolis, MN, was truly a pleasure.

It was a privilege to not only represent my fellow classmates at the U, but also be a voice to aspiring black women in architecture. CEOs and Deans embraced student perspectives and shared their own experiences in the field. It was empowering to interact with rising student leaders from across the country.

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I am grateful we were able to come together as professionals and strive for transparency and innovative thinking to elevate the practice. Discussions such as these make me optimistic to see what the future holds. I want to thank Rodolphe el-Khoury and University of Miami School of Architecture for the invitation and experience.” —Sacha Braggs.

OCTOBER 2022

architects is to visualize a potential future, for others to look at and discuss” said Eric Firley, associate professor of architecture, who was the coordinator of the nine instructors of the course. “Such a student exercise comes with many limitations and imperfections, but it has the virtue of being genuine and as far as possible bare of personal economic interests. This is particularly important in the contentious context of the West Grove.”

gentrification, he emphasized.

The proposal to change the zoning code in some areas from single to multifamily use has already been implemented in Wynwood Norte, according to Firley, and he stated that his students were among the first to test it last year.

Architecture student Jesper Brenner decided to integrate green areas into his design of a compound of cross-laminated timber units on Plaza Street. Each of his buildings feature louvers and windows that open to several private and public decks. An open courtyard, which is lined with verdant vegetation, adds space for residents to enjoy the outdoors.

“I think this is a great project to train our minds to not only design for the sake of designing but to design with a purpose and function in mind,” Brenner said. “It is so important that architecture be used by all people.”

ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS REIMAGINE WEST GROVE COMMUNITY A special exhibit of the students’ work, which architecturally re-creates the historic neighborhood, will begin on Sunday, Sept. 18, at the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove.

By Barbara Gutierrez, UM News The West Grove is the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood in Miami-Dade County. It was the original settlement of Bahamian workers who came to work in the area and settled into single-family homes known as shotgun, or railroad, houses.

Many of the descendants of these Bahamians still live in the area, which has been nicknamed “Little Bahamas.” But like many other neighborhoods in Miami, West Grove is undergoing gentrification as many of its historic houses are being purchased by developers who raze the small structures to create large, upscale mansions, according to news reports.

About 100 second-year students from the University of Miami School of Architecture, enrolled in a spring semester studio course with nine sections, devoted their time to re-creating the future of the West Grove community in a way that it could maintain its historical ambiance and provide housing for a mixture of income levels.

Those sessions were led by lecturers Patirki Astigarraga, Maria Flores, Morgan Graboski, Sophie Juneau, Maria de Leon Fleites, Oscar Machado, Shawna Meyer, and Yasmine Zeghar.

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The students created architectural projects that would allow for zoning in the area to be increased from singlefamily dwellings to multifamily units. The goal is testing a cohesive, multifamily environment that could accommodate middle class tenants as well as those with more modest incomes.

Many of these projects will be part of the special exhibit called “Reimagining affordability for the West Grove— architectural visions from USOA students.” The exhibit opens Sunday at the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove and will run through Thursday.

About 20 physical models will be shown along with QR codes that will lead to computer renderings and detailed plan material of the projects, noted Firley.

Fashioned after the three- or four-level buildings that dot South Beach and many sections of Little Havana, the students envisioned a densification of the West Grove (in the northern part around Virrick Park). The residential units would have cross ventilation, be double-oriented, and potentially provide space on the roof for solar panels. The units would vary in size to allow for greater social mixing and different family configurations.

Firley said that the projects had the goal of providing affordable housing in an area that desperately needs it. He stressed, however, the fact that architecture alone could only lightly contribute to this aim, through the creation of appropriate spaces. He pointed out that subsidies would be needed to make it happen.

Without such funding mechanisms, these proposals will only accelerate the ongoing

Firley, who curated the exhibition together with his colleague Max Jarosz, said that he hopes that local government officials will become aware of the students’ proposed plans and consider changing the zoning.

Community groups, local schools, and some local government officials have been invited to the Sunday reception.

Rendering courtesy of Jesper Brenner.

NEW CLASS AIMS TO FOSTER CLIMATE-SAVVY LEADERS The University is offering its first crossdisciplinary course focused on climate resilience and taught by a variety of key faculty members from across the institution.

By Janette Neuwahl Tannen, UM News When she got a message last spring about a new class focused on climate resilience, University of Miami senior Sophie Walenta was itching to sign up. The more the marine affairs and ecosystems science and policy major read about the course, which is interdisciplinary, problem-driven, and discussion-based, the more intrigued she grew.

“I’d never heard of a class so upfront and modern,” she said. “It’s an urgent class, where the instructors are using an interesting way to go about problem-solving that is so relevant for our generation.”

To engage students as much as possible, the class is utilizing a flipped learning method, where the content is taught through a series of high-definition, cinematically choreographed lectures filmed across South Florida’s landscape with some of the University’s key climate faculty members sharing their niche of research.

Walenta is one of just 36 students

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS the Climate Resilience Academy, and professor of atmospheric sciences Sharanya Majumdar speaks with a senior forecaster at the National Hurricane Center about how tropical storms and hurricanes will change as the climate warms. Anthropology professor Louis Herns Marcelin takes a car ride through Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood, while chatting about gentrification and climate migration with a community leader. And Katharine Mach, professor of environmental science and policy, interviews Jane Gilbert, the nation’s first chief heat officer for Miami-Dade County, to discuss the challenges ahead.

enrolled in the first offering of the course, which is taught by 13 experts from across the University. Instructors include some of the University’s most renowned researchers in climate modeling, extreme weather, coral reefs and coastal protection, sustainable building, resilient cities, climate driven migration and disaster management, climate justice and environmental law, as well as geographic information systems, data modeling, and visualization. The course was conceptualized as part of the University’s Climate Resilience Academy that launched last spring, and faculty members hope to offer the class again every semester, adding new instructors and new modules as the course evolves.

“We are fortunate to have world-class faculty at the University who are eager to share their expertise with our students through this class and to guide them toward finding viable, sustainable ideas to help our nation tackle the many unforeseen issues that we will face in a changing climate,” said Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.

Students watch the film segments and tackle their assigned readings before the in-person discussion-based class. Then, at the start of each weekly three-hour class, they have a virtual field trip with an industry expert. For the first class, Amy Clement, climate scientist and professor of atmospheric sciences, introduced the students to University alumna Stacy Aguilera-Peterson on Zoom about her role as an ocean policy specialist for the National Science Foundation and previously, in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

For the remainder of the course, students work in a group to help answer a climate-related question using a design thinking approach. This critical thinking process—streamlined through a shared online platform—helps students collaborate to narrow the problem, and then winnow down a list of ideas into the

most impactful interventions, considering various stakeholders and even some unintended consequences.

“Climate and Resilience issues are often complex and involve a great deal of uncertainty,” said Ali Habashi, assistant professor of cinematic arts, award-winning filmmaker, and one of the principal creators of the course. “We are working to teach our students a way to embrace that uncertainty and have a solid workflow that would allow them to move forward with small, careful but meaningful steps—to develop evidence-based habits, while also understanding the importance of teamwork and collaboration for problem solving.”

Habashi and a team of current and former students cinematically produced the educational content for the class this summer. For example, Clement distills some of the major developments in climate change science while riding her bike up the Rickenbacker Causeway to the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science.

“How do we build a resilient community?

We don’t have all the solutions yet. We have to build them and that’s what’s so exciting about this class,” said Clement, who has been teaching and doing climate modeling and research for more than 20 years. “You are going to be part of thinking about solutions and designing them for the future.”

In another segment, architecture professor Sonia Chao talks about resilient urban and building design practices while walking around the Perez Art Museum Miami, which was constructed using some of these methods. Later, she chats with Jim Murley, chief resilience officer for Miami-Dade County about climate policies and adaptations already in motion locally. Marine biology professor Andrew Baker takes students on a tour of the local coral reefs and explains the biology as well as the existential threats to this species in warming oceans.

Tropical meteorologist, co-chair of

As part of the class, students will also learn to sift through climate data and glean meaningful insights from it. Data scientists and geographic information systems experts Chris Mader and librarian associate professor Timothy Norris, along with associate professor of journalism Alberto Cairo, an expert in data visualization, will lead three different data literacy classes and guide students through a capstone project where they use the University’s Coral Gables Campus as a living laboratory to understand, evaluate, and assess the relationship between trees and heat. Through the project, students will utilize these new skills to create a visualization and to make recommendations to University administrators that could help increase the resilience of the Coral Gables Campus.

Toward the end of each class, students present potential climate-informed interventions for Miami that could be implemented today. In the first class, while one group thought sustainable public transportation would be a way to mitigate global warming trends, other groups proposed adding urban forests throughout the downtown area. Sophomore Hannah Heath, who is studying marine science and geology, said she was invigorated by the chance to brainstorm strategies to moderate the impacts of climate change.

“I am glad that UM is including students in this conversation because a lot of our lawmakers are older, and we have a lot of innovative ideas. So, it feels good to have our opinion heard,” she said.

Sophomore Bailey Byers is also motivated by the course. Byers, who is studying architecture, wants to make sustainable and resilient design a focus of his time at the University.

“It’s time in history to do this,” Byers said, referring to the creation of the class.

“Learning more about climate resilience is one of my passions, so it’s exciting to see the University implement it in a course.”

Chao designed the course along with Habashi and other members of the Climate Resilience Academy’s education committee, including Norris, engineering professor and associate dean of student

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affairs Derin Ural, and Matt Acevedo, the University’s director of learning innovation and faculty engagement and executive director of information technology.

Chao said she is excited to work with undergraduate students of all disciplines and envisions the class as part of the firstyear experience at the University.

“In the same way that English and math are fundamental to a student’s higher learning experience, this course can teach them to become more resilient to climate realities, be it as individuals or as part of their community,” said Chao, who is also associate dean of research in the School of Architecture, co-director of the Master of Professional Science in Urban Sustainability and Resilience, and co-founder of the University’s Center for Urban and Community Design. “We hope that this class will make for great climate leaders. But at the very least, these students will be climate savvy and through the course they can see how they can contribute to developing solutions and driving needed change. This is chapter one of the Climate Resilience Academy, with many more to come.”

Elia was one of 18 students who took part in the School of Architecture Summer Design Studio, taught by Veruska Vasconez. The six-week studio joined forces with Go Friday, a Portugal-based design firm well-known for its innovative floating structures.

As part of the studio, the students engaged in the competition sponsored

by Go Friday to create floating houses and dwellings that could withstand strong weather, expected to become more severe with the effects of climate change.

Besides the cash prizes, the company will host a 10-day trip to Portugal for the top three winners.

Natalia Ferreira and Jose Maria Ferreira, owners of Go Friday, were present at the award ceremony.

Vasconez said the entries were of such high quality that picking the winners had been difficult. The students chose the location of where their houseboat would reside and had to take into consideration the geography and topography of the area.

“Each student was asked to pick a country, a location, and think of the problems with the environment and the problems that we are suffering with sea level rise and overpopulated cities,” said Vasconez.

Rodolphe “Rudy” el-Khoury, dean of the School of Architecture, thanked everyone for attending the presentation and said the competition embodied the priorities of the architecture program.

WINNERS OF HOUSEBOAT CONTEST DESIGN INNOVATIVE STRUCTURES Eighteen students took part in a Summer Design Studio at the School of Architecture and competed to come up with the best floating house design to withstand the ravages of climate change.

by Barbara Gutierrez, UM News Co-sponsored by a Portugal design company, prizes included cash and a trip to the European country.

“This competition perfectly aligns with our learning objectives,” he said. “We want our students to deal with real world problems and to engage with stakeholders. We also value travel and immersion in different cultures. I cannot think of a better opportunity than this competition to embrace the pedagogy of our school.”

Second place winner Vanessa de los Angeles Crespo and partner Ana Yu won 750 euros. Their design was a houseboat compound in La Parguera in Puerto Rico, which integrated the topography of the area, including mangroves.

During a ceremony on Friday at the school, she was named the first-place winner of the Go Friday competition. Her winning design of a Japanese inspired houseboat came with a 1,000 euros prize and a trip to Portugal.

Third place went to Isacio Javier Albir and Tiffany Agam. They won 500 euros. Their project was Aria, an innovative concept for grid system floating platforms that can be customized to create different configurations. Their venue was the Paris Olympics and introduced ways to promote Go Friday as part of a living exhibition on the Seine River through cafés, viewing platforms, and living spaces for dignitaries in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“I am still a little shell shocked,” she said, holding a certificate. “I did not expect this. It’s very incredible experience and I am so glad to be a part of it.”

Honorable mentions went to Carolina Illera Barberi and partner Sarah Alturkait, Emi Kopke, and Miranda Gabrielle Posey and associate Morgan Isabel Rapp.

Lauren Elia, a fourth year School of Architecture student, could not quite believe it.

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GERMANE BARNES’S ROCK | ROLL WINS 2022 MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

by Matt Hickman For Rock | Roll, Barnes has envisioned dropping fluffy and flamboyant seating pods across the Miami Design District.

The pods will be located in multiple public spaces beginning next month; they’re pictured here near Buckminster Fuller’s Fly’s Eye Dome at the Sou Fujimoto–designed Palm Court.

(Studio Barnes) Miami-based designers and creative studios never quite managed to land on—or advance past—the shortlist during the first seven iterations of the annual Miami Design District Neighborhood Commission, a site-specific public design program launched in 2015 to bring crowddrawing installations to the gallery- and boutique-packed neighborhood during its busy winter season. This year, however, curators Anava Projects, a creative agency led by Anna Carnick and Wava Carpenter, have broken that streak with the selection of architect and educator Germane Barnes for the coveted commission. Although originally from Chicago, Barnes has established his eponymous research and design practice in the Magic City and is assistant professor at the University of Miami School of Architecture, where he also serves as director of The Community Housing & Identity Lab (CHIL).

Barnes’s proposal, a multifaceted and multi-scale installation entitled Rock | Roll, was designed in response to this year’s curatorial brief, Something To TalkAbout, and selected via a competitive, invitation-only process led by Anava Projects. Rock | Roll, as the eighth annual Miami Design District Neighborhood Commission, will be installed across multiple high-traffic sites within the Design District next month, just ahead of Miami Art Week. The installation will remain on view into the new year.

“One of the things we admire most about Germane and his practice—and there are many—is his community-engaged approach, which exemplifies the most exciting directions in the field at this moment,” noted Carnick and Carpenter.

“His work is at once accessible and poetic, critical and uplifting. We’re thrilled to be collaborating with him.”

Barnes was a finalist in the 2020 cycle of the Miami Design District Neighborhood

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Commission, also curated by Anava Projects, for his Water Park | Water Mark.

A kaleidoscopic, disco ball-esque dome structure will serve as beacon for a dedicated public programming space.

(Studio Barnes) As detailed in a press release announcing Barnes’s win, Rock | Roll is a joyous fêteas-installation, a rollicking, radiant work that pays homage to Miami Carnival, a long-running celebration of the city’s vibrant African-Caribbean communities that encompasses four key events: the Junior Carnival, Panorama, J’ouvert, and the flagship costumed parade and concert. Along the Design District’s main pedestrian corridors, Rock | Roll envisions a series of oversized, flamboyantly hued “seating capsules” that sway back and forth when activated by users.

Otherworldly in appearance and and ovoid in shape, the texture and colors of Rock | Roll’s fluffy street furnishings are inspired by the feathered costumes of Carnival. Meanwhile, dangling above sidewalks and public spaces throughout the Design District will be hundreds of prismatic wind chimes—“hung like melody-making ornaments in the lush native trees and palms,” per the announcement—in a nod to steel drums and Soca music.

The centerpiece of Rock | Roll will be an architectural-scale dome structure fabricated by ALT BLD that keeps the festive vibes going with its semblance to a colossal disco ball. Brought to life by music and lights, the shiny structure will demarcate a dedicated programming area set to host sporadic dance parties (fueled by a Carnival-inspired playlist), impromptu community gatherings, storytelling sessions, and a series of talks developed in collaboration with the University of Miami’s Center for Global Black Studies and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami. A full programing schedule at the space is forthcoming.

The wooly pod-seats evoke the splashy colors and texture of Miami Carnival costumes. (Studio Barnes) “I saw this project as an opportunity to celebrate the unique character of the city that has become my adopted home and the subject of much of my most prominent research, said Barnes in a statement. “Rock | Roll is an ode to the joyful spirit that persists in Miami’s Black communities—a spirit of self-care that is so perfectly embodied in Miami Carnival culture. This city would not be what it is today without significant contributions from people who, on the one hand, look like me, and on the other reflect deep ties to places beyond Miami, especially the Caribbean and Latin America. The moral to the story is that there is space for everyone here.”

As the first Miami-based designer to score the Miami Design District Neighborhood Commission, Barnes joins a globes-spanning list of previous winners including Studio Proba and Enjoy the Weather’s Tomorrow Land (Brooklyn, Portland, Oregon; 2021); gt2P’s Conscious Actions (Santiago, Chile, 2020); Fernando Laposse’s Pink Beasts (London, 2019); Dozie Kanu’s Support System (Portugal, 2018); Charlap Hyman & Herrero’s White Rain (Los Angeles and New York City, 2017); Philippe Malouin’s The Speed of Light (London, 2016); and Snarkitecture’s Holiday (Brooklyn, 2015).

Rock | Roll follows a series of recent high-profile commissions and awards for Barnes including the 2021 Rome Prize in Architecture, the 2021 Harvard Wheelwright Prize, and the 2021 Architectural League Prize. Barnes was also one of 11 featured participants in last year’s Reconstructions: Architecture and Blackness in America at the Museum of Modern Art. More recently, Barnes unveiled Intersect, an ephemeral play pavilion commissioned for the Concéntrico Festival in Logroño, Spain.

U-SoA LAUNCHES WEB PAGE DEVOTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION The University of Miami School of Architecture strives to ensure every voice on campus feels equal and included. This webpage is dedicated to helping students navigate a variety of campus, school, and personal resources available to students.

Additionally, this page hopes to empower students in any moments of difficulty they may face throughout their time at the school, whether those difficulties be personal, among colleagues, or with faculty and staff members of the University.

In particular, the University of Miami School of Architecture believes all of its faculty, staff, and students deserve and have a right to a workplace and school environment that is free from any form of discriminatory act or hateful language.

While some instances of these may be unintentional or misunderstandings, the School believes that these situations, no matter the scale, should be reported.

It is our hope that with your continued feedback and support; the School of Architecture can continually improve at its mission of providing and fostering a culture of belonging.

We understand that navigating these situations can be particularly difficult and confusing for all. We have gathered

the information below to help students, staff, and faculty find the appropriate resources within the University to aid them in this process. Please use the diagram below as a general reference for where the appropriate resources may be for your situation. Within each section we have compiled further information and resources below for you to review and use as needed.

AUGUST 2022 A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN Welcome to the 2022-23 academic year.

The fall term launched with the largest student body to date and a host of initiatives that leverage the expanded size and scope of the school to reach for greater ambitions. We are thrilled to welcome the freshmen class with the highest average GPA, following the most selective admission process on record–the smallest percentage of admitted students from the largest application pool. Multiple faculty searches will take place in 2022-23 for the potential appointment of six new positions, including interdisciplinary hires in collaboration with The College of Arts and Science and the College of Engineering, as well as an opportunity to engage with the newly minted Climate Resilience Academy. We continue to invest in emerging technology with expanded additive manufacturing resources, including a full-scale concrete printing facility in collaboration with COBOD, the leading company in this space. We renew our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with decisive action, including the mounting of an EDI-focused teaching fellowship and a funding program for projects ranging from new courses, to research, installations, or events that support the School’s efforts in building a more diverse and inclusive place. These are some of the highlights in store for 2022-23; there are many more to look forward to, including our action-packed complement of public programs and events. Most important are the resulting achievements of our faculty and students, that never fail to impress and delight in tackling current challenges and opportunities in the built environment.

Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury PROJECT A MODEL FOR COMMUNITYBASED CLIMATE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES As part of the University of Miami multidisciplinary initiative, Hyperlocalism: Transforming the Paradigm for Climate Adaptation, residents from Homestead and Little River devised solutions to combat the effects of climate change in their communities.

By Robert C. Jones Jr., UM News The days have been unusually hot, even

by Texas standards.

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HyLo investigators incorporated into the project geospatial risk factors such as the age of residential dwellings, the prevalence of air conditioning, groundwater level and depth, and proximity to public transportation and parks, finding that such factors can have a significant impact on the extent to which climatic conditions affect residents.

The team also used data that supported residents’ claims of flooding, extreme heat, and a dearth of greenspace in certain areas.

That is how Merline Leonce, who grew up in the Gulf Coast city of Baytown, just east of Houston, describes the sweltering heat that has enveloped Miami this summer. “And the humidity,” she said, “which we didn’t get a lot of in Texas, makes it even worse.”

Leonce, who has lived in Miami for the past 25 years, has a simple solution to make the uncomfortably hot days a bit more bearable: plant more trees, which significantly can lower temperatures in neighborhoods.

Urban tree canopy is just one of the many adaptations she and a group of others produced as part of a University of Miami study that asked residents to devise action plans to combat the effects of climate change in their neighborhoods.

The project, Hyperlocalism: Transforming the Paradigm for Climate Adaptation (HyLo), assembled 28 residents from the Homestead and Little River communities, bringing them together on virtual platforms such as Zoom and Webex to share stories of how intense heat, flooding, and other consequences of a changing climate have impacted their livelihoods and to lay the groundwork on how to mitigate those conditions.

Funded by the University of Miami Laboratory for Integrative Knowledge (U-LINK), HyLo is one of the few of its kind, putting the power for change in the hands of residents instead of government entities, said Joanna Lombard, a professor in the School of Architecture and one of the project’s co-principal investigators.

“We demonstrated that it could be done another way,” said Lombard, whose work focuses on design strategies to create healthy communities. “The idea was to have a process that belongs to the citizens—a process they own.”

Over the course of a year, residents met virtually in a multitude of large and small online sessions, sharing ideas on how to 78

improve their communities. Two nonprofit organizations with strong ties in the Little River and Homestead communities facilitated the meetings: the CLEO Institute, which is dedicated to climate education, advocacy, and engagement, and Catalyst Miami, which has a mission to identify and solve issues that adversely affect vulnerable communities.

Representatives from local government planning offices also participated in the sessions, offering input and assistance on turning ideas into reality.

“What surprised me was that the residents were willing to jump in and participate despite a history of promises from past initiatives that yielded few results,” Lombard said. “They came with open hearts and a very strong and passionate vision about what they wanted to see for their communities. And the solutions they came up with were incredibly practical.”

Leonce, who lives in Richmond Heights, just north of Homestead, wanted to see more bus stop shelters installed along the stretch of the busway in southern MiamiDade that her 15-year-old daughter uses to get to school.

Little River resident Pamela Ndah said she was concerned about the lack of tree canopy and greenspace in parts of her community. But it is serious flooding that worries her most, she said, noting that standing water in her neighborhood after heavy rains makes it difficult for kids in the area to walk to a local elementary school. “Just imagine how difficult it is for a single mother who lives in this area. It can be raining, and it’s flooding, and the water is knee high, and she’s trying to get her child to school,” Ndah said.

Likewise, longtime community activist Kelli Ann Thomas was alarmed about standing water in her Homestead neighborhood, sharing images of how the ground floor of her apartment building floods after a heavy downpour.

To document the climate-related problems in their vulnerable neighborhoods, the residents shared written narratives and used the visual research technique known as photovoice, which puts cameras in the hands of participants.

“It’s a different way to get individuals within a community engaged and focused specifically on issues that impact them,” said Tyler Harrison, a professor of communication studies in the School of Communication, who served as a co-principal investigator for HyLo. “The inclusion of visuals gives a different perspective on the issues community residents are experiencing and provides a different way of sharing ideas and engaging with other community members and policymakers,” he said. “The issues and stories they bring to the table are the issues they care about most, and often their passion about the topics shows.”

Some of the online sessions served as learning opportunities for residents. Sam Purkis, for example, professor and chair of marine geosciences at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, provided information on Greater Miami’s ground topography and the underlying limestone bedrock atop which it is built.

“Miami is built atop an area that was a seabed only 125,000 years ago. The gentle undulations of the land owe themselves to fossil sand shoals and tidal channels,” Purkis said. “The limestone is like a sponge; it’s porous and permeable.

It’s like Swiss cheese, and that allows water to soak through, which is a good thing because, of course, it rains a lot in Miami. And luckily, all that rain soaks away for the most part. I think most of the flooding that the residents are experiencing are the backing up of the Miami storm drains, and that’s an infrastructure problem.”

The residents’ ideas to reduce climate change effects are turning into results.

Since HyLo virtual meetings ended, Leonce has noticed that more shelters are being erected along the bus routes.

Lombard is following up with county officials to ascertain the success in Homestead and Little River of the Million Trees Miami Campaign, a community-wide

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS effort to achieve 30 percent tree canopy cover for Miami-Dade. And the county’s Office of Resilience has implemented an environmental protection and resilience plan for Little River.

Researchers have detailed the Homestead and Little River HyLo project in PLOS Climate.

Now, investigators have turned their attention to the communities of Liberty City and Overtown, conducting online sessions with residents in those vulnerable areas.

“As cities and counties around the nation plan investments for adapting to climate change, it is critical to understand how this relates to what people are experiencing in their daily lives,” said Amy Clement, a professor of atmospheric sciences and one of HyLo’s co-principal investigators.

“There is, at present, no playbook for this. Our project was aimed at testing a novel method for bridging the gap around climate adaptation between governments and the people they are serving.”

ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING ALUMNUS BRIDGES DISCIPLINES, BUILDS A LEGACY University of Miami alumnus W.R. “Bob” Miller and his wife, Catherine, are among the School of Architecture’s most generous and loyal supporters. And with two planned gifts, they are building a lasting legacy for the school and its students.

By Pamela Edward, UM News When W.R. “Bob’’ Miller was an architectural engineering student at the University of Miami in the mid-1970s, the School of Architecture was still several years away from its emergence as an autonomous academic unit.

Yet, among the faculty members Miller encountered during his time at the College of Engineering were Andrés Duany and Bernardo Fort-Brescia, now two of the most renowned names in contemporary architecture.

Along with Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, longtime faculty member and former dean of the School of Architecture, Duany is among the founders of The New Urbanism, one of the most influential urban planning movements of the 20th century. FortBrescia is co-founder of Arquitectonica, the international architectural firm with iconic, award-winning work that includes Lakeside Village on the University’s Coral Gables Campus.

Learning from these “great professors,” as he called them, was a highlight of Miller’s undergraduate experience at the University. And it kindled in him a passion for helping future generations of students bridge the gap between architectural design and construction, through practical, hands-on learning.

This passion was manifested when the Millers made a gift in 2016 to name the B.E. and W.R. Miller BuildLab. Dedicated in 2018, the BuildLab is named in honor of Miller and his late father, Billy E. Miller, who founded the Miami-based construction firm First Florida in 1963 and served on the University’s Board of Trustees and Citizens Board.

Designed by Rocco Ceo, professor of architecture, the BuildLab houses the school’s design/build program. Here, students can bring their design ideas to life at large scale and in a safe, controlled environment sheltered from the vagaries of the South Florida weather.

Not far away is the B.E. and W.R. Miller Fabrication Lab, also named in honor of the father and son, where students and faculty members employ a wide range of digital and analog tools, including a robotic arm, to create design prototypes.

The BuildLab and Fabrication Lab are emblematic of the immersive learningby-making that is foundational to architecture education.

As a licensed general contractor and realtor (he retired from First Florida as president and owner in 2017), Miller has worked with architects throughout his career. In addition to financial support, he has lent his industry expertise to the School of Architecture. He is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Committee, and he was instrumental in developing and promoting the Master of Construction Management program and served as chair of the program’s industry advisory board.

In 2020 he funded a construction management scholarship, opening doors to opportunities for students to gain the knowledge and experience that is highly sought-after by architectural, engineering, and construction firms.

Now, Miller and his wife, Catherine, have cemented their legacy at the School of Architecture through two planned estate

gifts that will help the school advance its core vision of building urban resilience through cross-disciplinary engagement and experiential learning.

The Millers’ bequests, as well as their earlier gifts to name the BuildLab and Fabrication Lab, are part of the University of Miami’s Ever Brighter: The Campaign for Our Next Century. The most ambitious in the University’s history, the $2.5 billion campaign is set to conclude in 2025, when the University will celebrate its centennial.

Rodolphe el-Khoury, dean of the School of Architecture, pointed to the Millers’ investment in the BuildLab as the catalyst that precipitated a culture change at the school, with resources and infrastructure provided to support experiential learning.

“The students are now learning by making,” el-Khoury said, adding that “the curriculum will continue to evolve with this kind of support.”

Miller credits Plater-Zyberk with inspiring him to magnify his giving to the School of Architecture when she was dean in the early 2000s. “She invited me to become involved in the BuildLab,” he recalled.

“And I have been an avid giver ever since.”

“We see [our giving] as a way to give back to the construction community and to my alma mater,” Miller said. “I love what Rudy el-Khoury and his staff are doing to make the school special. Their efforts are seen at every level: quality of professors, the physical plant, curriculum, and new areas of learning. It’s exciting.”

Miller hopes that the planned gifts will help to propel the School of Architecture’s rank and similarly elevate the University of Miami.

“Miami is a great city. Great cities need great universities,” Miller said. “The relationship is symbiotic and must be fed.

[Giving and volunteering] gives one a great feeling of being a part of the community.”

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Marcial, Paulo Dam and José Canziani. In 2007, Alexia León was invited to teach at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. The following year she participated in the Ordos 100 initiative. In 2009, she was nominated for the Marcus Prize for Architecture and received an UFI research grant from the MAK Center in Los Angeles. She was invited to participate in the exhibition Crossing: Dialogues for Emergency Architecture at NAMOC, Beijing. She has given lectures and conferences in several universities, both in Peru and abroad. She received the Swiss Architecture Award in 2015.

GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE STUDIO FOCUSES ON LATIN AMERICA The School of Architecture of the University of Miami is proud to announce the participation of Joseto Cubilla, Alexia Leon, and Felipe Assadi as our Visiting Online Professors for the Fall of 2022.

Joseto, Alexia, and Felipe, three of the most important contemporary architects in Latin America, will be taking turns to teach a three-part 5-week long upperlevel studio - open to undergraduate and graduate students. Each of them will select a topic of their choice that will be explored and develop contemporary issues for five weeks at a time.

Joseto Cubilla (b. 1969) graduated from the National University of Asunción, in Paraguay. In 2011, he was awarded the national prize for Emerging Architecture by the Paraguayan Association of Architects. In 2012, he received an award at the VII Bienal Iberoamericana de Arquitectura y Urbanismo de Cádiz for the Pescador House, in Villa Florida.

In 2016, he was awarded the X Bienal Iberoamericana de Arquitectura y Urbanismo de São Paulo for the San Francisco Building, the XX Bienal Panamericana de Arquitectura de Quito for the Takurú House, and appointed Arquitecto de las Americas by the Federación Panamericana de Asociaciones de Arquitectos; again, in 2016, he was a nominee for the Mies Crow Hall Americas Prize Emerge / Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture Chicago. He received a Swiss Architectural Award in 2017 and has a successful practice in his hometown of Asuncion.

Alexia Leon (b. 1970) received her professional degree from the Ricardo Palma University, in Lima. In 2006, she established her own studio; in 2011, she founded a parallel practice with Lucho Marcial (Leonmarcial Arquitectos) who will also be joining her for this on-line studio. Her first work, Mori House in Playa Bonita, Cañete, Lima was one of the six finalists in the Mies van der Rohe Prize for Latin American Architecture (2000).

Her Vertical House in San Isidro, Lima, was nominated for Outstanding Project in the inaugural Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize (MCHAP) in 2014. That same year, she won an open competition for the National Museum of Archeology of Perú, in Pachacamac, in association with Lucho 80

Felipe Assadi (b. 1971) graduated from the Universidad Finis Terrae in Santiago, Chile. He holds a Master Degree from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. In 1999, he received the Premio Promocion Joven from the Colegio de Arquitectos in Chile – awarded to architects 35 years old or younger. Between 1999 and 2014, in association with Francisca Pulido, they inaugurated Assadi+Pulido. He has been a professor at Finis Terrae, Universidad Diego Portales, Universidad Andrés Bello, Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Monterrey, México, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, in México, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, in Medellín, Colombia, Universidad IUAV de Venecia, Italia, and Universidad de Los Andes, in Bogota, Colombia. He has lectured in Venezuela, Perú, México, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Argentina, USA, Italia, and Spain. His professional work has been published by Wallpaper and Architectural Review in London, by Arquitectura Viva and AV Monografías in Madrid, by the Architectural Record in NY, by GA in Tokyo, and by Domus and Casabella in Italy. His work has been exhibited in Barcelona, Pamplona, London, Quito, Tokyo, and Santiago. His profesional work extends over many territories, including: Chile, México, Guatemala, Perú, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the United States, Ecuador, and Colombia. He has been the Dean of the School of Architecture of the Universidad Finis Terrae since 2011.

JULY 2022

ARCHITECT GERMANE BARNES MINES THE NEXUS OF RACE AND DESIGN

By Janelle Zara, AD Magazine The winner of the 2021 Rome Prize talks with AD about his fellowship at the American Academy in Rome and the future of his work

At the American Academy in Rome, a Baroque villa atop the Eternal City’s second-highest hill, the recipients of the annual Rome Prize gather five days a week for lunch at 1 p.m. After loading their plates at the buffet, these 30 or so scholars and creatives in residence sit at tables that run the length of the courtyard’s loggia. That community and diversity of expertise is, according to current architecture fellow Germane Barnes, “one of the cool things about being at the academy.” While breaking bread, he muses, you could ask any question aloud, like What were the racial dynamics of ancient Rome? “And an archaeologist might chime in.” (The answer? It was complicated.)

In his own work, Barnes, founder of the Miami-based Studio Barnes and assistant professor at the University of Miami, explores the ways that race and architecture are intertwined. His project during his half-year residency in Rome focuses on the classical orders of the columns—Doric, Ionic, Corinthian—that uphold the portico, antiquity’s precursor to the porch, an essential element of the modern Black American household.

His goal is to design a new order (or “column disorder”) that abandons European standards in favor of forms and proportions rooted in Black culture.

His research mines the lesser-known contributions of North African migration, past and present, to Roman civilization, as well as the writings of Vitruvius, whom Barnes calls “the foremost authority on how to define architecture for some people.” He continues, “That doesn’t really matter to me. I want to take the rules that he thought mattered, so I can break them.”

Winning the 2021 Rome Prize was a single highlight of a momentous year for Barnes—one in which he contributed to the groundbreaking exhibition “Reconstructions: Architecture and Blackness in America” at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art, as well as to the Chicago Architecture Biennial. His projects translate theories and symbols of Blackness into physical, sometimes functional objects, installations, and spaces, breaking with historical, often Eurocentric conventions along the way.

The porch chairs that he debuted at Miami’s Nina Johnson gallery, for example, incorporate the construction materials of shotgun houses.

His piece in Chicago, meanwhile, was an homage to the block party. As he wrote: “The block party does not obey traffic regulations, it does not obey permit jurisdiction, and it most certainly does not obey traditional urban principles.” In 2021, Barnes also won Harvard’s Wheelwright Prize, the Architectural League Prize, and an inaugural grant from Theaster Gates and Prada’s Dorchester Industries Experimental Design Lab. Reflecting on this streak, he describes his ultimate goals in two ways. “The superficial version?

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS I want to be recognized as one of the best ever,” he says wryly. “But the thing I’m passionate about and attempt every single day? That’s to add more Black people to the profession.”

At the American Academy, the wall behind the bar provides a bit of historical context. Portraits of previous architecture fellows, including the late Michael Graves and Robert Venturi, show rows of mostly white faces; Barnes is the third Black recipient of the architecture prize since its founding in 1897. Hurdles on the road to diversity weren’t simply a question of representation, he explains, but also of unequal access to resources, and the economic hurdles that undermine success.

Having grown up in a self-described “upper middle class bubble” in an economically neglected area of West Chicago, Barnes considers himself fortunate that his parents had the means to support his architectural aspirations from an early age. Beyond talent, “money matters,” he says, “and that’s the honest truth.”

Now as an assistant professor, he abandons the unnecessary financial burdens for the next generation, accepting digital assignments rather than asking his students to bear the cost of printing fees. He also refuses to yell, impose allnighters, or offer internships without pay.

As a policy, Studio Barnes puts everyone’s name on a project, no matter how small the contribution. “That’s the exposure that helps you get other work.”

After Rome, he’s set to return to Miami, where for the past five years his studio has been working closely with the nonprofit Thrive Delray to build projects for predominantly Black and brown Caribbean communities in South Florida.

Thanks to recent grants, he’ll continue his column disorder project, traveling to North Africa to see, up close, the building techniques now attributed to Roman architecture. One day he hopes to realize his own columns among the neoclassical edifices of Howard University, the historically Black institution where his late elder sister studied.

“Imagine a new architecture of an alternative history, inspired by the people who actually built it.”

ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS COMPETE TO BUILD THE BEST HOUSEBOAT The Summer Design Studio has teamed up with Go Friday, a design company in Portugal, and students have entered a contest that could bring them monetary awards and a trip to the European country.

By Barbara Gutierrez, UM News Without significant global adjustments to greenhouse emissions, the climate crisis is expected to alter the planet irrevocably.

Already, weather events are undergoing change, with more powerful hurricanes, extreme droughts, and more

frequent flooding and forest fires. Faced with that future, architects are challenged to design structures that can withstand those extremes and adapt to the environment. A unique Summer Design Studio at the University of Miami School of Architecture is doing just that.

The Summer Design Studio joined forces with Go Friday, a Portugal-based design firm well-known for its innovative floating structures, with students engaged in creating floating houses and dwellings that are resilient to strong weather.

“The idea of living in houseboats is something we should take into considerationespecially living in Miami,” said Veruska Vasconez, the lecturer who teaches the studio course. Flooding is getting worse—as we saw on Brickell Avenue a few weeks ago—and the overdevelopment of high-rises is overwhelming.

“A good architect should be able to take a houseboat idea and create communities that provide a good living,” Vasconez added.

In its guidelines, Go Friday stated that floating structures were ideal for a changing climate since “in currently temperate climates, the cooling properties of water can mitigate heat if sea-level rise can be addressed.

Further, as a building system situated on waterbodies, floating architecture can also ameliorate deforestation and the increasing depletion of land.”

There are 16 students enrolled in the studio course. Some are working solo and others are working in teams.

As part of the studio, the students are participating in a competition led by Go Friday where the top three design winners would receive cash awards. In addition, those winners also would travel to Portugal and present their work before Go Friday executives. Because of the nature of the contest, students do not see each other’s projects. Instead, they work only with their instructor.

Vasconez noted that executives from Go Friday gave a presentation to the students, where they provided the basics of building a houseboat and showed students one of their prototypes.

“They gave students an open canvas,” she said. “They have to think about sustainability. And they have to redesign the houseboat, and they were asked to choose a region where the houseboat would reside.”

The structures should not surpass 1,500 square feet.

Tais Pierre, a student who will be entering her third year in the graduate program in architecture, loved the idea of the project. “What really excited me about this studio is that this could increase the tourism to Jacmel,” she said. “This could be a luxury accommodation.”

Pierre said that she thinks it would be a great way to boost tourist visits to the port town in Haiti. Her parents are from the country, and she knows Jacmel is a beautiful coastal town with an open bay and a spectacular view of the mountains.

Her proposed houseboat is a wood and hurricane-resistant glass structure that resembles a lantern. Graced with sliding doors and easy access to the water, the house has solar panels to provide energy.

The two-story houseboat has a first-floor bedroom with additional accommodations on the second floor.

All students were asked to build docking stations for their structures, as well as to add features to enhance the surrounding communities.

Pierre built docks that can hold up to 30 houseboats and are an extension of an existing boardwalk, making it easy for pedestrians to enjoy the area.

She said that since the docks are close to the urban center the houseboats could also be used for transitional housing in case of a natural disaster.

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For Vanessa Crespo and Ana Yu, the project gave them a chance to explore how to build an entire ecosystem based on mangroves in Puerto Rico’s seaside town of La Parguera. Crespo is a native of the island.

The duo’s design was a two-story houseboat built with concrete and foam to provide buoyancy, an open first floor with columns, and a second floor lined with windows and trusses that are made of recycled plastic and can be shuttered in case of a storm.

“One of the challenges was that we had never built in the ocean,” said Crespo. “So, how can we build a sustainable city that is not terrestrial and fit our project among the mangroves?”

La Parguera, a popular tourist destination because of its cays and bioluminescent bays, already has a sizable number of houseboats, said Crespo. But they are stationary. Crespo and Yu’s structures would have motors to propel them into open water.

Their circular docking stations not only accommodate the houses but provided each with a small saltwater pool. To revitalize the area, the docks also will have a number of stations for markets as well as fishing farms and an area for agriculture, so that plants can grow using the surrounding water.

“La Parguera already has a tourism base, and we see our project as a way to extend that tourism,” said Yu. Andrew “A.J.” Zegans, a fourth-year architecture student, grew up on Long Island, New York, and wanted to build his barges near New York City. Therefore, he chose Liberty State Park in Jersey City, because of its proximity to New York City.

“I decided to do it on the Jersey side of the Hudson River and there would be a ferry to take them into the city if they need to work or visit the city,” he said.

He designed a series of motorized houseboats made of steel and reinforced glass modules that can be stacked if needed. The modules range from a 20-foot-by-20-foot studio to a threebedroom model that can have up to three floors. He envisions future buyers using an IKEA type of catalog to customize the spaces. Corrugated steel shutters can be ordered for added protection from the elements, he said.

Students finished their projects during their final studio class on June 24. Go Friday executives will review their work on July 11, and then the students will learn whose designs captured the top prize.

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THE 2022 MRED+U CAPSTONE WORKSHOP The University of Miami School of Architecture has assisted communities with planning, urban design, and development projects through public workshops, design charrettes, studies, and analyses for over three decades.

This year marked the twelfth year of the school-wide Capstone Workshop, which has become an integral part of the school’s community outreach tradition.

Organized by the Master of Real Estate Development + Urbanism (MRED+U) program, the Capstone engages students and faculty from every program in the School of Architecture, including Architecture, Urban Design, Construction Management, and Real Estate. The Capstone is scheduled at the culmination of multiple graduate degree programs and provides an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge they’ve acquired throughout their studies. “It was interesting to see the collaboration between architects, developers, and construction managers.

Seeing solutions arise from conflicts was a great insight into real-world decisionmaking,” said Kevin Logue, Real Estate Development and Urbanism student.

Capstone sites are selected to present various challenges and opportunities involving housing affordability, resiliency, historic preservation, transit-oriented development, and more.

The 2022 Capstone focused on the future of the 23-acre Alper Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Miami on The Jay Morton-Levinthal Campus in the heart of Kendall. The Alper JCC provides many opportunities for residents throughout south Miami-Dade County to enjoy recreational, educational, and community activities. The JCC’s members and patrons’ members include residents of all religions, backgrounds, and ages.

Architecture student, Isabella Zayas, adds, “As a Miami native, I used to go to the JCC throughout high school to support my friends’ theatre productions and recitals.

I’ve always admired the JCC’s strong sense of community and dedication to enriching the lives of its members.”

The Capstone engaged nine faculty members and 55 students from the School of Architecture organized into interdisciplinary teams. The faculty worked with JCC representatives to determine the goals and objectives for

the workshop. The first challenge was to evaluate the nonprofit’s property and determine which portions could be opportunities to rezone and sell off to the private sector. The sale of underutilized properties would generate funds to allow the JCC to retire debt and have enough left over to improve their existing buildings and grounds and introduce new facilities to support the JCC’s programs. “The Capstone provides a real-life, hands-on experience where students and faculty from throughout the School of Architecture collaborate to craft proposals that embody best practices in livable community design and development. In the case of the Alper JCC, the students learned how to elevate and balance the needs of a nonprofit client and prospective for-profit developers and envision a thriving gathering place for the greater Kendall community,” said Dr. Charles C. Bohl, Director of Master in Real Estate Development + Urbanism Program.

Another challenge was to evaluate the JCC’s existing facilities and programs and plan for the future of the campus. The COVID pandemic adversely impacted community center programs and memberships everywhere, and the Alper JCC was no exception. In response, the JCC was interested in updating facilities and the mix of programs they offer which have focused on education, summer camps, sports, recreational activities, and arts and cultural events. Some of these programs are revenue streams (e.g., summer camps and schools), and others drive memberships (e.g., fitness facilities). Like most communities, the JCC’s programs have also been focused on youth and seniors, and they were less successful at attracting the large inbetween age groups from the community.

The teams began by looking at the surrounding context to understand the natural and built landscape and the scale and type of development around them to get an idea of what types of residential and commercial uses would be appropriate on portions of the JCC site. The students found that the JCC site was zoned for low-density, singlefamily use but was surrounded by multistory apartments and townhomes.

They also found that the County’s future land use map designates the JCC site for medium-density development in the future, consistent with the multistory development already approved and built around the site.

To understand the County planning and zoning process Shailendra Singh, the Miami-Dade County Urban Design Center Supervisor, and a School of Architecture alumni was invited to participate in a session with the students. Mr. Singh answered the student’s questions about the rezoning options they were considering for all, or parts of the site and the review and approval process

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS involved. The students learned that the JCC site was large enough to apply for a Planned Area Development (PAD) zone, which allows the flexibility to pursue best practices for livable community design, mixed-use, and public spaces that the students study at the School of Architecture. The PAD strategy allowed each student team to come up with unique scenarios and master plans for the entire 23-area site incorporating a variety of homes, apartments, grocery stores, shops, restaurants, and services, as well as a long-term build-out of the JCC campus facilities. This represented the best strategy for the JCC as it would increase the value of properties sold and provide more revenue to the nonprofit to retire their debt and reinvest in campus facilities. Real estate development scenarios were run for parcels the teams proposed selling and illustrated the financial feasibility under the PAD plan. Each team created an entirely new campus plan for housing existing and new programs with strategies for gradually implementing this over time at a pace to be determined by the JCC. “This year’s project was one of the most challenging projects in the Capstone collaborative history among the participating programs. In past projects, the level of detail was subverted to the general idea of the project. In this case, it was impossible to hide from a high level of detail. The very small territorial coverage, its suburban location, the complexity of the existing financial situation, the zoning challenges resolved by the Plan Area Development (PAD) portion of the Miami-Dade County zoning code, and the necessity to measure the pace of development in modest phases created conditions requiring a high level of professionality and commitment on all our students and faculty,” added Professor Jaime Correa.

Each team gave a formal presentation of their work and took questions from JCC stakeholders in Glasgow Hall at the School of Architecture at the Capstone Final Review. At the end of each presentation, the students highlighted how their proposals responded to the needs of the JCC, prospective private sector developers, future residents of the site, and the greater Kendall community.

Weaving together all these uses would be the walkable streets, parks, and public spaces that would underpin a community gathering place for farmers’ markets, community celebrations, and family gatherings that serves the greater Kendall community. “A Jewish Community Center is an opportunity for people of the Jewish faith and people who want to part-take in the community to be together in a creative, beautiful, functional environment. You all are the future leaders in your fields, and based on these presentations, deservedly so,” emphasized Jacob Solomon, President, and CEO of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.

Now, the stakeholders are equipped with four new scenarios filled with innovative ideas for planning, development, and programming concepts. They can choose which portions of the projects will work best for their objectives toward a successful dwelling for the community and a profitable outcome. And these students from different programs gained the experience of working together to accomplish a strategic goal. Professor Yasmine Zeghar added, “I believe the biggest takeaway for each student after this experience was working as a team. It was very challenging for them because they were from different disciplines.

However, they managed always to show that they were united, well-coordinated, and very professional.”

THE 2022 SUMMER SCHOLARS PROGRAM The U-SoA ’22 Summer Scholars program was a success with 34 students, including international students from all around the world! A big thank you to our faculty: Yasmine Zeghar (Coordinator), Cristina Canton, Oscar Machado, Israel Martinez, & Laura Beltran. And thank you to our Community Assistants and Teaching Assistants: Ana Jouvin, Matthew Jaramillo, Daniella Bueso, Gray Burke, & Carolina Rodriguez. We appreciate your participation.

Students: Clifford, Katarina Akaria; Colon, Melanie Isabella; Jouvin, Maria; Kittrell, Iii, William L; Lampsa, Lana J; Miranda, Laila Amali; Sabag, Yair Nisim; Santa-Cruz, Marco; Suarez, Isabel Elena; Adair, Gertie Kate; Aljukic, Sarah Alyssa; Alkhayyat, Mariam Khaled; Bennett, Davis Weatherby; Castaneda, Christian; Jensen, Noelle Kaci; Lewis, Eleanor Bradleigh; Lopez, Eduardo Rene; Moran, Erick; Varabyeva, Sophia; Verdeja,; Amanda Lynn; Wilson, Shanon Rose; Zanelli, Sofia Kay; Zisopoulou, Sofia; Barthet, Emma Monique; Dent, Chase Aaron; Gray, Jackson H; Johnson, Elyse; Klein, Sage Remi; Leibowitz, Dalia Abigail; Pye Allison Grace; Roytberg, Adrian; Spurlock, Julia Rose; Tamburello, Mikaela Alexa; Wardak, Ariana Faye Watch the video of their final pinup presentations here: https://youtu. be/6vJyofmAUlA JUNE 2022 SMART CITIES MIAMI CONFERENCE EXPLORES WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR DIGITALLY CONNECTED CITIES Leaders in academia, government, and

industry shared ideas on how cities can use new technologies—from cloud computing and connected devices to smart materials and sustainable construction—to maximize opportunities for data-driven growth.

By Janette Neuwahl Tannen, UM News Fabrics that can sense the temperature surrounding a person and contract or expand in response. Massive geometric shapes used to combat beach erosion in the Maldives. And weather balloons that can take flight independently, then coalesce over an ocean.

These are just a few of the projects that Skylar Tibbits and his Self-Assembly Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are working on that challenge our current ideas of what “smart” objects truly are.

“We are interested in trying to embed intelligence into simple materials and their relationship to life,” said Tibbits, an associate professor of design research in MIT’s Department of Architecture. “We want to take wood, metals, plastics, sand, and different rubbers, and advance them into smart systems. The smarter things are, the more devices they have today.

We want to make things that are smart— where smart means less and more simple but more agency.”

Tibbits was the keynote speaker for the Smart Cities Miami 2022 conference, hosted by the University of Miami’s School of Architecture and Institute for Data Science and Computing last week. The conference focused on how cities are becoming more digitally connected—a trend hastened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a forum for our larger community—not just academics, but entrepreneurs and innovators in the public and private sector building one of the fastest-growing cities in North America,” said Rodolphe el-Khoury, dean of the School of Architecture, in reference to growing investments in tech startups and real estate development in Miami and South Florida.

During his lecture, Tibbits gave examples of projects his lab explores, like seeing how wood could be manipulated based on its physical properties. He also explained how his lab is working to help guide materials toward self-assembly, reducing the reliance on humans or robots to construct products, which often adds more layers for mistakes.

“Today, we build robots and machines; tomorrow we build smarter materials and environments,” he added.

In another panel, industry leaders and University faculty members discussed the challenges and opportunities for cities with the growth of new technology.

Laércio Albuquerque, vice president

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of Cisco Latin America, said that while access to the internet was the primary concern in the past, now the mindset must shift to how the technology is used so that advances, such as telehealth, are available to everyone.

“Now is the time to use technology to include society‑and to take care of people,” he said. “We are moving toward 100 billion devices connected, so we need to use this momentum to improve people’s lives.”

Microsoft managing technical director Eumar Dias de Assis said the pandemic forced businesses and cities alike to adopt cloud computing and connectedness, but with that, these entities need to ensure they are securing their technology, as well as the systems now connected to it. He also mentioned the importance of analyzing the data cities collect to help inform decisions.

“We now have sensors throughout cities, but cities need to be able to manage and transform that data into useful information,” Dias de Assis said, adding the tech industry also needs to find ethical ways of collecting and transforming data so it represents every sector of the population.

Translating data into decisions is something Margaret Brisbane, Miami-Dade County’s director of information technology, knows well. In her conference session on the county’s evolving technology infrastructure, she noted that data guides every recommendation she makes.

In a panel about how extended reality (XR) will impact cities, Denise Mendez, a mixed reality software engineer at Microsoft, mentioned a new platform the company is creating called Mesh, which could shift meetings from 2-D video conferences to 3-D virtual reality experiences, where people could attend using their avatar or a digital hologram.

“We want to be the poster child for collaboration, and this technology is ideal for that,” said Mendez, who leads the environmental understanding and data science team.

Another discussion delved into how the building industry is shifting toward smarter ways of operating, like using 3-D printing, so that plans can be completed more efficiently. Luisel Zayas, an architect and digital fabrication expert who founded his own design firm, is exploring 3-D printing to make corals that could protect his native Puerto Rico from hurricanes. Matthew Trimble, director of product development from Chattanoogabased Branch Technology, also talked about reducing waste in construction by harnessing data to guide building designs.

“We are trying to build packets of data around how to make facades with existing building codes and materials in mind, so that we can understand wind loads, 84

climactic and other conditions, and don’t have to customize each project as much,” he said.

Senior computer engineering student Emnet Yebeltal said he enjoyed learning about all the new ideas at the conference, particularly those offered by Tibbits.

“It was cool to see the future of programming materials and how it’s moving toward building things that adapt to the environment,” he said.

Sophomore Rajvi Shah, who is studying geography and sustainable development, was particularly struck by the mention from economics professor David Kelly during one panel that many government regulations barred cities from experimenting with new technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Perhaps if we have a more experimental approach to cities, we may be able to get farther,” she said.

The second day of the conference was programmed in collaboration with Conconcreto, a Colombian construction and engineering company with a recently established base in Miami. Three panels focused on new technologies and their impact on the building industry.

PROVOST’S AWARDS HONOR INNOVATION, MENTORSHIP Provost Jeffrey Duerk lauded faculty members from diverse disciplines for their dedication to advancing the University’s mission.

By Jennifer Palma Sanchez, UM News In April nearly 100 University faculty members and leaders came together to celebrate the 2022 Provost’s Awards.

Made up of three categories—Teaching Awards, Research Awards, and Awards for Scholarly Activity—each focuses on outstanding achievements in the classroom and beyond. Hosted at the Lakeside Village, the event provided the opportunity for members of the University community to gather to celebrate for the first time since December 2019.

Among the categories, the Provost’s Teaching Awards—which include the Excellence in Experiential Teaching Award, the Discussion-Based Teaching Award, the Transdisciplinary Innovation Teaching Award, and the Luis Glaser Mentorship Award—are a commitment to supporting and recognizing exemplary

teaching, serving as a pillar of the Roadmap to Our New Century.

“We are consistently reminded that our faculty members have the ability to advance knowledge and define future learning outcomes through their work,” said Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost. “They are deserving of recognition for confronting new challenges with an innovative lens and for consistently taking new approaches to engaging with our communities.”

This year’s award recipients hailed from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. Each recipient shared how much the award, and institutional recognition, meant to them.

University of Miami Provost’s Excellence in Experiential Teaching Award Ashley Falcon, assistant professor, School of Nursing and Health Studies “It is an honor to receive this recognition.

Such a validation further motivates me to continue my efforts to offer students experiential learning opportunities that engage, prepare, and empower them to tackle the public health challenges of today and tomorrow.”

University of Miami Provost’s Discussion-Based Teaching Award Richard Myers, senior lecturer, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine “Each award has reaffirmed that the University community continues a commitment to not only sustained excellence in education, but also to steady improvement. Whenever we modify our curricula, whenever we shift learning modalities and responsibilities from teacher to student, we run a risk of massive failure.

I thrive in these environments. The 202223 Provost’s Discussion-Based Teaching Award recognizes development of two discussion-based courses that arose as experiments (one at the request of our students). In these courses, I encourage the students to fire us as monolithic slabs of content knowledge. And then rehire us as guides, as mentors, and as sources of critical feedback. For this to work, students and faculty members alike must leave the comfortable environment of the lecture hall and reassess our relationships—as co-conspirators in a shared adventure of discovery, of practice, and of development.

And as our students improve, we improve as well. It is an honor and a privilege to be part of this grand adventure. I appreciate the recognition of what we do, together.

Warts and all.”

University of Miami Provost’s Transdisciplinary Innovation Teaching Award Bill Green, professor of religious studies, Fain Family Endowed Chair in Judaic Studies “This experimental course worked because of the independence, creativity,

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS collaboration, and commitment of its students. We learned at least as much from them as they may have learned from us.”

Kim Grinfeder, associate professor, interactive media, School of Communication “I’m appreciative that the University is willing to support and experiment with new and innovative teaching modalities.”

Denis Hector, associate professor, School of Architecture “This recognition reaffirms that our ability to connect students and faculty members from various disciplines will continue to create new opportunities for interaction and expand the shared intellectual framework of the University.”

University of Miami Provost’s Luis Glaser Mentorship Award Denise Vidot, assistant professor, School of Nursing and Health Studies “As the first in my family to attend college, I was lost during most of my time as an undergraduate; however, I knew I wanted to ‘cure cancer’ after my father was diagnosed during freshman year. I lacked mentorship and was often turned away when I asked, since I had no experience. Receiving the Provost’s Luis Glaser Mentorship award is a breathtaking full-circle moment considering Dr. Glaser was my professor and the very first to plant a research seed in me as an undergraduate student at UM. When explaining that I wanted to be a physician to cure cancer, Dr. Glaser reminded me that researchers make discoveries to share with the medical profession. He then started sharing research opportunities with me, including one with the chair of Epidemiology and Immunology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC).

Unfortunately, I had a full-time job to help my family and could not afford volunteer work, so I missed the opportunities he offered. I often wonder how different things may be if I started research at SCCC in 2007 rather than in 2021. Now, as a faculty member at the same University that helped me follow my dreams, I have the privilege to honor my mentors by paying it forward to the next generation of trailblazers. I am especially grateful for opportunities to mentor undergraduates with paid research positions, via work study. A special thank you to WayWay Hlaing, Guillermo “Willy’’ Prado, Sarah Messiah, and Kristopher Arheart—my first mentorship team that has not wavered as I navigate the next season in my career.”

NEW CLASS EXPLORES LEARNING IN THE METAVERSE Students and faculty members discover some of the possibilities for the future of education through the University’s first course conducted in virtual reality.

By Janette Neuwahl Tannen, UM News When Emily Nunes arrived in class

recently, she found herself in a serene, outdoor arena near the ocean. Triangular transparent panels formed a roof over her, as Nunes stood in a manicured courtyard facing a large revolving Buddha statue. Contemplative flute music played in the background, as her classmates placed candles around the statue. The teaching assistant floated around the arena, guiding a discussion. Nearby, two classmates wore astronaut suits, while another appeared as a frog.

every week, the group met in a different virtual setting. One class took place around a campfire, with stars twinkling overhead and crickets chirping into the headsets. Another was held inside a corporate conference room, and yet another occurred in a virtual Theatre of Pompey, with a massive semicircle of seats (so no avatars felt cramped).

Students also designed their own classrooms as an assignment, reimagining learning spaces in the metaverse.

Clearly, Nunes was not attending a typical college course. Wearing an Oculus Quest 2 headset, she had entered the “Zen Oasis” a final project three classmates had created as part of the University of Miami’s first class held completely in virtual reality (VR).

“It was a surreal experience, and it was often hard to absorb all of the magnificent things we learned and experienced each week,” said junior Samantha Clayman, who is studying biochemistry and nutrition, as well as Judaic studies.

“It’s unlike any other class I’ve taken at UM,” said Nunes, a senior studying motion pictures.

Students and faculty members said the heightened sense of presence felt in virtual reality meant the class was much more engaging than learning on a video conferencing platform.

The small, discussion-based course, “Religion and Sacred Spaces in the Era of Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence,” is a collaboration among three faculty members—Kim Grinfeder, associate professor and chair of the Department of Interactive Media; William Green, a professor of religious studies; and Denis Hector, associate professor of architecture—to explore how spiritual practices and spaces will exist in the metaverse, a 3D world that people can enter using virtual reality headsets.

“Every Thursday, we’d hop on and go to this different place,” said Grinfeder, who also directs the University’s XR Initiative.

“It’s been a wild ride, and we had a lot of fun in this class discovering new ways these immersive technologies allow us to connect with each other and learn.”

While the inaugural version of the class was conducted on Zoom last spring, every class this semester was held in virtual reality. This meant the 15 students and three professors attended class as their self-designed avatar. And almost

“It’s different from watching something on a screen because there is a sense of being somewhere else,” said Green, who is also the Fain Family Endowed Chair in Judaic Studies. “For example, when you are outdoors and hear the ocean and feel the sunlight, even though you aren’t physically there, it feels like you’ve had that experience.”

Blazing trails While the college class may not be the first held in virtual reality, the practice is still rare. In developing the class, Grinfeder reached out to colleagues around the country and could not find another example of a semester-long course held entirely in VR. At the start of the semester, students said the technology was a bit challenging and they needed to take breaks from wearing the headset. But within a month, each two-hour-plus class flew by, said Matthew Rossi, a senior math and computer science major who served as the course’s teaching assistant.

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The freedom to easily change class locations kept things interesting and allowed everyone to notice the impact of different spaces. While conversations in the conference room were terse, discussions flowed more freely in the outdoor environments, Rossi, Green, and Grinfeder agreed.

how to harness new technology with the faculty members.

University leadership has also supported the class. The provost’s “Classrooms of the Future” initiative provided faculty members with a grant to buy the headsets before the spring semester. In addition, Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, recently awarded the trio, along with Rossi, the Transdisciplinary Innovation Teaching Award, an honor bestowed on just a handful of instructors each year.

Students noticed some significant differences about taking a class in VR. First, only the first few attendees can display their full-body avatars, meaning that most of the students in class simply had a head, torso, and floating hands (missing legs is a common problem in the metaverse). Also, when avatars spawned into class, they all enter in the same spot and on top of each other, which often caused some virtual claustrophobia.

“Experiences like this course provide our students with diverse perspectives and ways of thinking that can lead to deeper understanding, creative problem solving, and innovation,” Duerk said. “Part of what we want to determine is how these technologies might define classrooms of the future.”

“It’s an unsettling feeling, even though it’s not your real body, it feels like an invasion of space,” Nunes said.

Senior meteorology and marine science major Nate Taminger said the novelty of learning in VR attracted him to the course. Like many of his classmates, Taminger had never tried VR before but is glad to now be familiar with the technology.

“In college, everyone wants to try new things and explore new opportunities,” he said. “Some of my friends are jealous they didn’t do something like this.”

Building from scratch During the first few classes, students and faculty members learned how to navigate in virtual reality—they can walk or teleport—using the hand controls and headsets. Then, student teams were assigned their final project—to create a sacred space with a ritual in the metaverse that the class could visit together. Since this required some technical expertise, teams included one interactive media student, an architecture student, and College of Arts and Sciences student, which melded different strengths.

Nunes’ team created a multisensory meditation experience where participants walk through a deepening tunnel of water. At the end of the passageway, an arched door opens to a sun setting on the horizon, where visitors can step on a stone and gaze out at the ocean surrounding them. She and others were surprised to feel so immersed in the meditative ritual.

“It’s not real life, but our brains perceive it as that,” Nunes said.

Despite the learning curve, students relished the chance to delve into VR. Many also commented on how refreshing it was to take a class where they learned 86

“It was all an experiment. And we were all learning together, which was so amazing,” said Clayman. “We were also beginning that foundation of designing spaces that don’t deal with the normal laws of physics.”

Students also found it challenging to take notes with the headset on, even though there is a virtual tablet function.

A blank canvas Regardless, almost everyone involved in the class said the experience made them recognize the endless opportunities for learning and working in the metaverse.

“Right now, [wearing the headset] is like putting a brick on your face. But in the future, they will get smaller and more accessible and easier to use,” said Clayman. “And at that point I think they will readily be used in education.”

“Right now, it still feels a bit like a video game, but the experience will get more authentic over time,’’ Rossi added. “And as this technology becomes more ubiquitous, and the quality of graphics improves, it will start to feel even more like physicality.”

Taminger is excited about the possibilities for VR in his field of meteorology and marine sciences.

“I am hoping I can use it one day to show people how climate change will affect the environment,” he said. “Whether it’s going to the Great Barrier Reef to show what is happening over there or using augmented reality to demonstrate to people what two meters of sea level rise will do to their communities, this is a way to show people how their lives can change.”

In the more immediate future, students and faculty members said that using VR could enhance courses in other subjects, like architecture, art history, foreign languages, health care, and other disciplines where being in a certain space might improve the learning experience.

greater than it is in the three-dimensional world, simply because you can fabricate structures in a way that would be impossible to build in reality,” Green said.

Allan Gyorke, the University’s assistant provost for educational innovation, agreed and applauded the faculty members for tackling the first all-VR class.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg about what we can do in virtual spaces,” he said.

“If we aren’t exploring this technology, we aren’t doing our jobs as forward thinking educators in higher education.”

Sana Paul, a senior majoring in political science, found the virtual classroom to be more welcoming for people with social anxiety. She said that she believes VR classes could also improve access for students with disabilities.

“It’s not as intimidating. So, in a VR classroom, more people are speaking up than they would do in a traditional classroom,’’ she said.

Paul, who hopes to become a lawyer, also envisions the metaverse as part of her future career.

“For the 80 percent of people who cannot afford legal services now, technology like VR may be able to bridge that gap,” she said. “And in general, VR can be a powerful tool as a realm for discussion, learning new perspectives, and understanding communities.”

ARCHITECTURE GRADUATE HOPES TO BUILD A FUTURE IN NEW YORK After receiving four job offers, Katya Garcia, a Foote Fellow, will begin work for the Robert A.M. Stern Architects firm in New York City.

By Barbara Gutierrez, UM News The University of Miami campus was not strange terrain for Katya Garcia.

As a youngster, she spent many hours visiting her mom, Adina Sanchez- Garcia, who teaches English composition at the University, and enjoying various Homecoming events.

But students can also create completely new spaces.

Garcia developed her love for architecture by way of art. As a child, she would cherish all the art supplies her father purchased for her and her sister. She would happily spend time drawing figures and animals.

“The capacity to extend and reflect your imagination in the metaverse is

“In high school, I chose to study architecture. I really enjoyed it and

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS decided that is what I wanted to do,” said the 22-year-old.

But it wasn’t until she met some University recruiters at her high school, Design and Architecture Senior High School (DASH), that she realized the many offerings of the School of Architecture.

Her years at the University have been busy ones. Garcia became a student ambassador for the School of Architecture and provided tours for prospective students and mentored incoming students. She was also a teaching assistant for an introductory design class.

She graduates this week with a bachelor’s degree in architecture and minors in business management and art.

The daughter of Cuban American parents, Garcia felt it was important to explore her cultural heritage a bit more. She became an active member of the student organization Federacion de Estudiantes Cubanos (FEC) and participated in all the events highlighting the group’s cuisine and music.

She also became involved in the Homecoming Executive Committee as marketing chair and helped to promote all the events surrounding the yearly celebration and football game that brings hundreds of alumni back to campus.

“It was so exciting to stand at the Fate Bridge and watch the homecoming fireworks with all those that worked hard to make it happen,” she said.

expressiveness, an openness that I think is rooted in her time at DASH and her continued work in painting,” he added.

Lopez offered her an internship opportunity at his firm Florez Lopez Architects, where she worked with him beginning in her third year. “It gave me the knowledge of what it was like to work at a firm,” she said.

She learned how to refine her drawings by adding more details to different parts of a structure—such as refining the window moldings and refashioning a roof from a simple gable structure to a more complicated hip roof.

She would also build models and received one-on-one instruction on her work.

“I like the creativity of architecture but also the practical side which involves math,” she said. Her hard work has paid off; she received four job offers and decided to work for Robert A.M. Stern Architects, a firm in New York City.

“I am very excited to work at an architecture firm,” she said. “My dream is being able to see something I designed being built and knowing that I can sign off as a licensed architect.”

In class and as a Foote Fellow, she excelled at her work.

She cites her first-semester design studio professor, Ricardo Lopez, as having taught her many of the skills she would need to be a good designer and architect.

“I thought coming from an architecture high school I would be way ahead of everyone,” she said. “But I learned so much thanks to him and found a style that I like, which is more traditional structures.”

Lopez remembers her in that first design studio as someone quiet and hardworking.

PROF. SONIA CHAO SESSION MODERATOR AT 2100 AND THE BUOYANT CITY, ASPEN CLIMATE IDEAS CONFERENCE As sea levels rise in Miami, so do concerns that much of the City’s historic districts will themselves soon be history. Today, the urgency of the challenge is inspiring a raft of innovative ideas to keep the City afloat, including the introduction of Venice-like canals. In this session, we discussed how to create a more buoyant Miami through preservation, adaptation, and the strength of local communities.

“Katya came with a unique background in that she already had a foundation from DASH, the local design and architecture high school in the Design District,” he said. “She already had a certain confidence in the design process that allowed her to flourish and test ideas right from the start,” he continued.

“Florida is especially vulnerable to the effects of sea-level rise for a multitude of reasons, including that it has more than 1,200 miles of coastline, our lands are strewn above a venerable sponge, and most of Florida’s 20 million residents live less than 60 miles from the Atlantic or Gulf Coasts-- many of those living well below poverty levels.” (Letson, 2016)

“She has a wonderful combination of architectural rigor in composition and order, which is reflected through her drafting skills, and also an artistic

UM Professor Brian Kirtman, a contributor to various IPCC reports, has written several papers indicating that Miami Beach flood events have “significantly

increased over the last decade due to an acceleration of sea-level rise, and the slowing of the Gulf Stream. Furthermore, his research underlined that SLR would increasingly affect the daily lives of these and similar coastal communities in the region, as high-tide flooding events are expected to both increase in frequency and in magnitude over time.

Within the City of Miami Beach- as in other communities blessed with sizable historic fabrics- this presents new, related challenges, given that many of those low-lying neighborhoods are coincidently either historic districts or home to a wealth of historic buildings, in both cases guided by preservation standards to varying degrees, and those assets, anchor the City’s rich cultural legacy and identity and also may be closely tied to their overall economic vitality.

In fact, Miami Beach is home to MiamiDade County’s tourism engine. Its architecture, beaches, and convention facilities draw the largest number of visitors to the area each year. Many of those tourists also venture out to visit other sites within the County. That trickledown economy, coupled with the revenue taxes and related leisure and hospitality jobs generated, contributes to the overall economic health of the region. Thus, its viability is paramount to the economic well-being of Miami-Dade County, both at present and in the future. Therefore, historic buildings in the various Historic Districts across Miami Beach represent a significant portion of the economic engine of our South Florida economy.

To date, a combination of tourism dollars, assertive local political and civic leaders, and a healthy tax base have allowed Miami Beach to roll out its initial resiliency responses. The aim is to protect the City’s infrastructure systems, economic viability, as well as its overall livability. City leaders are confronting pressing challenges with the installation of multiple pump stations and by elevating public-right of ways.

Those interventions kicked off the City’s plan to adapt to its new reality while they continue to expand efforts to protect property values and the image of the City, particularly in its historic neighborhoods and buildings, upon which its tourism thrives. And that is precisely where the Buoyant City guidelines become central to the City’s future.

For decades, the National Park Service’s Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation Guidelines- which are referenced by most state and municipal preservation offices- has promoted ‘passive interventions’, which is to say, the less you impose upon a historic fabric, the better, more recently, we have seen a shift and their providing local authorities with a bit more latitude in recognition of the sliding degrees and variety of types of climate-related stressors and shocks. Many of us would

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agree that adaptation strategies should be more locally attuned and defined through a hyper-localized lens, but this is not necessarily an easy task, as even within the realm of historic preservation, it may be at times difficult to achieve consensus on what is the lesser of two evils. Conservative preservationism, which will lead to the total or partial loss of a built asset, or assertive adaptation, which can lead to the loss of architectural or urban authenticity.

Neither extreme seems reasonable.

As in the past, buildings and cities will evolve, but that is not where the novelty lies at this juncture; the question is whether the pace of climate adaptation responses needed can be developed by standardizing reasonable approaches and providing viable alternatives and tools to guide adaptation efforts… while being mindful of our cultural identity--- predicated upon our historic building fabric, and the enhancement of the image of the City. And that is what our conversation today will look at.

In a collaboration between Sonia Chao, Landolf R-B (CoE), and the City of Miami Beach, Resilience + Preservation, Adapting to Sea Level Rise pamphlet was launched.

MAY 2022 SPECIAL ISSUE: GRADUATION + AWARDS

differently and also did different things, reaching peers and leaders across the globe in the expanded virtual realm, while benefitting from the school’s commitment to in-person experiential learning.

Our resilience is greatly owed to your patience, perseverance, and ingenuity in adapting to the new challenges. I have great confidence in your success with career endeavors, knowing that you will leverage the expanded knowledge, compassion, and resourcefulness cultivated at the U. The Graduation and Awards issue of “U-SoA Now” was initially conceived in compensation for the cancelled Honors Ceremony in Spring 2020. Much like several other innovative new practices improvised in urgent response to the crisis and later sustained with great ensuing benefits, the special issue is now adopted as a regular feature. It is published yearly to complement the traditional ceremony with a wider scope and an expanded reach beyond the live event. With the connectivity of the digital medium, we hope to extend the celebration of U-SoA’s achievements and amplify our message of congratulations and gratitude to students, faculty, and staff for a resilient U-SoA. Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury 2021/22 UNIVERSITY + SCHOOL AWARDS HENRY ADAMS MEDAL - GRADUATING STUDENT WITH HIGHEST GPA Awarded in conjunction with the American Institute of Architects, to the highest-ranking graduating student for scholarship and excellence in a professional architecture program within the 2021-22 academic year.

Bachelor of Architecture// Cecilia McCammon Master of Architecture// Shane Jezowski

Dear Graduating Students,

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS FLORIDA BRONZE MEDAL Awarded in conjunction with the AIA Florida to the graduating students in both the undergraduate and graduate programs who have achieved outstanding academic achievement.

Bachelor of Architecture// Cecilia McCammon Master of Architecture// Nate Sullivan

Congratulations! You have made it to this significant milestone in your education.

The recognition you are getting with graduation is important and well deserved!

Congratulations are also due to family, spouses, and friends who did their fair share of work and sacrifices to help you reach your goals. Congratulations to all.

ALPHA RHO CHI MEDAL Awarded in conjunction with the National Fraternity to a graduating senior whose leadership, personality and attitude foreshadow exceptional professional worth.

Bachelor of Architecture// William Barrett Master of Architecture// Shane Jezowski

You are graduating after having adapted and thrived in unusual circumstances, helping us overcome the disruption of the pandemic with new learning media and methods. Along with the challenges you saw opportunities: you did things

FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DESIGN WORK IN THE BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM Awarded to an outstanding graduating student in the undergraduate professional degree program who has consistently

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demonstrated excellent performance in design over their academic career.

Katya Carmen Garcia & Alexia Lohken FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT DESIGN Awarded to the undergraduate design studio project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

First-Year// Diego Ascanio, ARC 101 First-Year// Kasey Ruiz, ARC 102 First-Year// William Nicholson, ARC 102 Second-Year// Josefina Caceres, ARC 203 Second-Year// Jesper Brenner, ARC 204 Third-Year// Keely Brunkow, ARC 305 Third-Year// Gray Burke & Carolina Rodriguez (Team Project), ARC 306 FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING UPPER LEVEL STUDENT DESIGN Awarded to the upper-level design studio project that displays design excellence and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the semester.

Bachelor of Architecture (Fall ‘21)// Andre de Mathis & Alexia Lohken Bachelor of Architecture (Spring ‘22)// Katya Carmen Garcia & Cecilia McCammon Master of Architecture// Shifan Wang FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING THESIS WORK IN THE MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM Awarded to outstanding graduating students in the graduate professional degree program who demonstrated excellence performance in an individual thesis.

Aleksandra Czaja Honorable Mention: Flavia Macchiavello FERGUSON SHAMAMIAM DESIGN AWARD Awarded to a student who demonstrates excellence in classical and traditional architecture.

Katya Carmen Garcia & Cecilia McCammon FACULTY AWARD FOR EXEMPLARY STUDENT SERVICE TO THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE Awarded to a graduating student whose exemplary service has contributed to the civic life of the school. Let me say this is not an easy selection to make, particularly when we have a group of students that collectively contribute so much to our School.

Bachelor of Architecture// Katya Garcia & Emily Kopke Master of Architecture// Soran Rostami FACULTY AWARD FOR STUDENT WRITING Awarded to students for excellence in research and written assignments.

Bachelor of Architecture// Mariel Lindsey Master of Architecture// Hali Keller FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DESIGNER IN THE FALL M.ARCH CORE STUDIO Awarded to the Student who best exemplifies the discipline and creativity necessary to become an innovative Architect, as emphasized in the pedagogy

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS of the first studio in the M.Arch sequence (ARC 604).

Isabella Pedrosa FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PROJECT IN THE SPRING M.ARCH CORE STUDIO Awarded to the Project that most clearly demonstrates Architecture’s agency in designing for the public good and varied constituencies, as emphasized in the pedagogy of the second studio of the M.Arch sequence (ARC 605).

Lais de Lima Weba FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DESIGNER IN THE FALL M.ARCH ADVANCED STUDIO Awarded to the Student whose studio work has been both ambitious and rigorous in its approach to confronting complex design problems through architectural media including material, technology, and structure, as emphasized in the pedagogy of the first advanced studio in the M.Arch sequence (ARC 607).

Krista Wise FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PROJECT IN THE SPRING M.ARCH INTEGRATED STUDIO Awarded to the Project that best balances the complex demands of a comprehensive architectural design – including coordinating program, site, climate, structure and systems – as emphasized in the pedagogy of the Integrated studio in the M.Arch sequence (ARC 608).

Nina Voith & Michelle Wright FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DESIGNERS THROUGHOUT THE CORE AND ADVANCED M.ARCH STUDIOS Awarded to the Student whose dedication to learning the discipline of Architectural Design has been evident in both their effort and projects throughout their career at U-SoA. This student stands out as a leader in their peer group, exhibiting a level of craft and rigor that sets a high standard for the entire M.Arch Program.

Nina Voith & Michelle Wright MASTER OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT - ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Recognizes a capacity for adapting to change, and for continually improving knowledge and skills.

Daniela Campoverde MASTER OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT - LEADERSHIP AWARD Recognizes a student for excellence in developing strategies and skills for keeping a team constantly motivated, and focused on achieving a common goal.

Andy Cabral MASTER OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT - MANAGEMENT AWARD Recognizes a student’s ability to organize and plan projects effectively

by developing systematic processes and working harmoniously with others to achieve a shared goal.

Wladimir Borges Bermudez SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE CENTER FOR URBAN AND COMMUNITY DESIGN AWARD Awarded to students in recognition of their instrumental role in the success of the endeavors of the Center for Urban and Community Design.

Tiffany Agam THE VILLAGERS PRESERVATION SCHOLARSHIPS Awarded to a student with a demonstrated interest in preservation, a noteworthy academic record, and the potential to make a significant contribution to historic preservation in the future.

Hope Kenny THE “WOODY” WOODROW W. WILKINS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING TEACHING Awarded by the Student Council on behalf of the student body to a faculty member for outstanding achievements in teaching.

Sophie Juneau & Yasmine Zeghar 2021/22 UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE CANDIDATES BACHELOR DEGREE FOR SPRING ‘22 Valentina Eugenia Alfonzo Albornett Andrew Joseph Almeida Abdullah Yahya A. Alyahya William John Barrett Leigh Bello Ciana Amanda Blair Brown Natalie Castillo Marina Colon Robin Crowder Natalia Andrea Cure Garcia Andre Mega de Mathis Jackeline Ivonne Del Arca Argueta Sarah Nicole Ercia Katya Carmen Garcia/ Magna Cum Laude Caitlin Garner Florianne Adrien Jacques Sheinya Wittney Joseph Cooper William Kaplan Jake Leonardi Mariel Delyn Lindsey Alexia Lohken/ Magna Cum Laude Thomas Long Skyler Barton Lowden Ho Ming Herman Lui Alexia Marotta Charlotte Kyra McCabe Cecilia Debary McCammon/ Summa Cum Laude Christian T. Meyer Jane Wesley Rakow Spencer Richardson Max Speziani Haochen Su James Joesph Tirado Jose Alejandro Villalobos/ Cum Laude Mackenzie Sky Wilhelm/ Cum Laude Reid Kruse Yenor BACHELOR DEGREE FOR SUMMER ‘21 Naser B A M Alkandari Nora A KH S Alkhalaf

Emily Kopke Michael Kundin Otto Gustav Mastrapa Ashanni McClam Emad Hassan M. Munshi Miranda Gabrielle Posey BACHELOR DEGREE FOR FALL ‘21 Larah Garcez Biondo Abel Andres Victores Samantha Ramos Connor Griffin Murray 2021/22 GRADUATE DEGREE CANDIDATES MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE DEGREE FOR SPRING ‘22 Alixandra Fleming Peter O. Kiliddjian Crawford Suarez Nathan Michael Sullivan Junren Tan Olawumi Faith Akinniyi Maria Cadena Aleksandra Monika Czaja Alexandra Nicole Dreybus Shane Jezowski Hali Keller Chuchen Liu Maha Tariq Malik Han Wang Shifan Wang Stephen Matthew Wisniew MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE DEGREE FOR FALL ‘21 Elaheh Mahiantoosi/ (dual) MASTER OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND URBANISM Behzad Tavakol MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE DESIGN DEGREE FOR SPRING ‘22 Flavia Lucia Macchiavello MASTER OF URBAN DESIGN DEGREE FOR FALL ‘21 Maryam Alanzi Leah Coleby Aarti Dobariya MASTER OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT DEGREE FOR SPRING ‘22 Valeria Azzato Zavatti MASTER OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT DEGREE FOR SUMMER ‘22 Wladimir Borges Bermudez Erin Elizabeth Brennan Andy Cabral Laken Garcia Horta Andres Felipe Giraldo Galvis Gisela Juliet Hackmann Tomas Tapias Reinaldo Villareal MASTER OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT DEGREE FOR FALL ‘21 Kholoud S M Abusamaan Stephanie del Socorro Tarud Esper Rodolfo Emilio Alba Perez

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EXEC. MASTER OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND URBANISM DEGREE FOR SPRING ‘22 Charles Alan Byrd Iker Guerra Iselle Christine Hernandez Timothy Lane Todd Andrew Migon Raphael Perpignand MASTER OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND URBANISM DEGREE FOR SPRING ‘22 Giuliano Ray D’Arrigo Darwyn Lenior Kelly Michael Reid Parrott Jonathan Pascheles MASTER OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND URBANISM DEGREE FOR SUMMER ‘22 Garrick William Donnelly Nataly Guevara Sebastian Echeverri Isaac Ellstein Kracer Bojan Jankulovski Taylor Jobson Patrick Aaron Jones Alexander Kantor Hyang Sook Kwon Christopher Jack Labianca Kevin Patrick Logue Benjamin Mashaal Omar Mehany Taylor Knight Mcharg Christopher Alexander Montoya-Redlich Donovan James Perry Santiago Jose Rodriguez Florez Cameron Dwyer Schoeb Gian Troche Dionysios Constantine Vlachos MASTER OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND URBANISM DEGREE FOR FALL ‘21 Mariana Cordoba Michael Steinbaum Stephen White Jacob Frisch 2021/22 THESIS FACULTY/THESIS ADVISORS Joel Lamere (Coordinator) Juan Calvo Elizabeth Cronin Victor Deupi Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury Joachim Perez Glenda Puente Veruska Vasconez

Olawumi Akinniyi// AFLOAT: REVITALIZATION OF MAKOKO WATERFRONT COMMUNITY Thesis Advisor: Juan Calvo 90

One third of Makoko residents are surviving in unsuitable housing conditions on water. Overcrowding in the cities has caused slums to spread and shantytown suburbs to emerge in the water. Living conditions hygiene is abysmal, uncontrolled pollution, and the government aims to demolish the shantytown of Makoko in Lagos, Nigeria. Sea level rise is claiming land.

While government approach to housing production has been through a provider system, which is responsible for the high cost of finished houses.

The revitalization method is based on a give and take algorithm. First initiative: build modular floating housing structures on outskirts. Decimate structures and rubble to widen waterways and create structure at the urban scale. Create more charging stations and add photovoltaic panels to select structures to introduce power to the community. Select dilapidated houses on stilts replaced with floating frame multiuse structures embodying the three pillars of the community: faith, education, and commerce.

Cost reduction through implementation of the beneficiaries in all aspects of the project design. Indigenous materials and traditional construction techniques. The culture stays intact, and the dwellers standard of living is raised.

Maria Cadena// THESE SITES ARE ALIVE: CREATING URBAN CONTEXT AROUND DRUG OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITES Thesis Advisor: Veruska Vasconez A record-high of 96,779 drug overdose deaths occurred between March 2020 and March 2021, right during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an increase of 28.5% from the 78,056 deaths during the same period in the previous years. The increase in these figures is attributed to the loss of access to treatment, rising mental health problems and wider availability of dangerously potent street drugs.

One approach that is proving to reduce the number of deaths from drug overdoses in the implementation of safeinjection sites, which first became popular in the 1980s. The first safe-injection site opened in Switzerland and are now popular in Canada and northern Europe.

These sites have proven to reduce overdoses since medical professionals can assist with a possible overdose.

Nonetheless, there is a push against safeinjections, as many believe safe-injection sites promote the use of drugs instead of decreasing the use of them.

The aim of this project is to introduce safe-injection sites in a neighborhood of Allapattah, one of the oldest neighborhoods of Miami, FL. This facility will be incorporated within a mixed-income, mixed zoning urban area. By incorporating safe-injection sites in a mixed zoning, mixed income area, it is hypothesized the stigma around the facility will decrease and therefore serve as a typology that can be implement in other urban settings around the United States.

Winner of the FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING THESIS WORK IN THE MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM

Aleksandra Czaja// UNBOUNDED: TAXONOMY OF BORDER INHABITATION Thesis Advisor: Joachim Perez Boundary is essentially a matter of consciousness and experience, rather than of facts and law. When the border is not only a line, but also a zone where geographical, political, and social factors emerge, border habitation can create a common alternative future to overcome the current fragmentation. The thesis questions the usage of borders as a tool of division and segregation, proposing instead a place of encounter. The design aims to changes the concept of boundaries into a tool for connection, through adaptation as a form of sustainability.

Boundaries are currently viewed as formal features that spatially separate states or regions and serve as a means of control. Borders act as a barrier while separating people, within political, ethnic, social, and/or religious contexts. Borders historically were thought of as places.

Therefore, what if borders are seen not as that which is either fixed or that as such must be overcome, but as an evolving structure that has practical merits to create a system where groups assemble and cross. Recognizing the strength and effectiveness of boundary consciousness, nationhood, or any other collectivity that claims distinctiveness for itself, Statemaking process could be based on the experiences of the society either looking to create a new place and identity, or unifying with another cultures. The objective of state-making is to investigate how the border acts as a major feature in bringing disparate areas together rather than dividing them. The unification of

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS two sides is meant to represent optimism for nations destined to become one.

Instead of a strict and permanent line that divides nations, state making expresses possibility and demonstrates that it is the people, not the state, who create the desire for peace.

Alexandra Dreybus// RESPONSIVE PHENOMENA Thesis Advisor: Elizabeth Cronin, Advisor Secondary Advisors: Ruth Ron & Indrit Alushani With the ever increasing relationship between humans and technology and the emergence of virtual spaces, one wonders if an architectural sense of atmosphere can be maintained. Can virtual spaces evoke a sense of atmosphere?

One must first answer the big question: What is atmosphere? By extracting a cohesive definition from leading architects and artists, this thesis first will explore that question and work towards distilling a general consensus of atmospheric criteria.

This project is an exploration into built space informed by the human body.

The research presented previously and the continuation of this research includes ideas that are led by feminist concepts and practices or methods of making, largely the feminist practice of collaboration.

By observing the history of feminist objects, we begin to understand the feminist methods of making that are able to inform ideas on the spatializing of the body as a built form. What we can take away from this is that there many different feminist practices that become methods of making. What can be noted about these methods of making is that they are often self-referential, referring to ideas of interiority, domesticity, collaboration, or the body itself. The proposition for this project is that in the process of actively de-objectifying the body, a spatial object can be made to physically represent these ideas. All of the research that is compiled about feminism in architecture and in the built environment, and the human body in space, can be compiled into a conceptual design which aims to spatialize the object.

This information has since led to the experimentation of what it means to spatialize the body, and the built analysis of this idea through a collective style of creation. this research and the continuation of it includes ideas that are informed by the feminist concepts and practices or methods of making, largely the feminist practice of collaboration. Then using this information, the intention is to design and build a full scale occupiable object or that of a piece of furniture.

Miami-Dade County’s Haulover Park is one of a chain of Florida’s east coast barrier islands. Designed by William Lyman Phillips and established in 1948 as a premier beachfront park, Haulover currently provides ocean access to a county of nearly 3 million people some of whom reside as far as 30 miles from the sea. With 23% impervious pavement, 17% tree cover, and few remnants of its historic plant and animal life still present, the park provides an opportunity to investigate the site’s pre-development ecology, cultural history, and present day role in the face of climate change impacts, as a foundation upon which to develop a proposal for its future.

In his influential text, Design with Nature, Ian McHarg describes the evolutionary importance of collaboration – through which a species survives by their merits of strength or cunning, and thrives by teaming up with other species both flora or fauna, to mutually benefit. (McHarg, Ian L. 1971. Design with nature. New York: Natural History Press.) Analysis of this process at Haulover Park informs the development of this proposal. This project seeks to draw upon Florida’s southeastern, coastal ethnobotany as a foundation for a collaborative landscape that enhances the ecological health of the park and its capacities for coastal agriculture through sustainable farming and foraging, providing grains, produce and game for a series of experimental kitchens and a niche restaurant, UMAMIAMI. The project illustrates the potential to advance foodbased coastal restorations as an approach to climate change that integrates humanity into its ecology.

The exploration of phenomena is not new to architecture, and neither is the human desire to question the relationship between humans and technology, but the next step is to synthesize these two questions by looking at how humans manipulate technology and technology manipulates human behavior. Ultimately, this thesis will use a generative process to make an installation based on this question and the atmospheric criteria: light, tension, embodied experience, and balance.

Shane Jezowski// A LOCAVORE LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE FOR THE FUTURE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY’S HAULOVER PARK Thesis Advisors: Rocco Ceo, Joanna Lombard & Veruska Vasconez Alixandra Fleming// SPATIALIZING THE BODY: AN INQUIRY INTO DEOBJECTIFYING THE BODY IN A SPATIAL CONTEXT Thesis Advisors: Elizabeth Cronin & Veruska Vasconez

The barrier islands along South Florida’s eastern coast have been transformed over the last 100 years as dredged fill expanded their borders and mangroves were traded for pavement.

This transformation has exposed the coastlines to the perils of sea-level rise.

Hali Keller// CLIMATE-INDUCED MIGRATION: A SOCIALIZED RESPONSE Thesis Advisor: Veruska Vasconez Secondary Advisor: Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk

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Climate change is relentlessly diminishing the world’s inhabitable regions and nature’s ability to support humanity as we know it. Rising temperatures, surges in natural disasters, and rising sea levels are a few of the climate issues that will force significant populations of the United States to reconsider where they live. Current climate models predict migration patterns with mass migration to cities, creating rapid urbanization and pushing already struggling infrastructure systems beyond capacity.

Cities and many targeted communities will need to prepare for the influx of climate migrants to minimize the impact on existing economic, environmental, and social biases.

This thesis explores how socially vulnerable populations, who are exposed to the most severe impacts of climate change, can be supported when facing forced migration and; how cities can actuate their social responsibility by supporting incoming populations.

Accordingly, this thesis will explore climate migration within the United States by considering both moderate and severe projections for change. The moderate projection will look at Birmingham, Alabama, and the severe focuses on Buffalo, New York. In each city, the project will expand upon existing city-generated master plans and utilize urban infill for the socially vulnerable migrant populations to help integrate them into the communities.

In this model, the infill program will be comprehensive with built-in and systematic support, including marketplace and food services, health services, community centers, and employment counseling in conjunction with housing, accommodating different sized families and individuals, incorporating these components within the overall architecture.

Olha Khymytsia// TEMPORARY HOUSING DESIGN FOR UNDOCUMENTED TEENAGERS (13-19 YEARS OLD) IN PARIS: USING MUSIC AS PART OF INTEGRATION PROCESS Thesis Advisor: Veruska Vasconez Housing situation for asylum seekers in Paris is getting worse every year. The more people are coming to the city, the more complicated government makes the process of getting housing for them.

Living on the streets is the most difficult for teenagers. Complicated process of getting all the documents and education influences their health and emotional well-being.

Implementing common/public spaces in housing where they can learn and practice music will boost their memory, build task endurance, lighten the mood, reduce anxiety and depression they have due to their conditions, stave off fatigue, improve 92

response to pain, and help work out more effectively. The proposed project is a mixuse building consisting of the housing, practice rooms, and public areas, and the heart of the building is the concert hall.

Flavia Macchiavello// HEALTH BOOTH: A CARE-PLATFORM FOR THE UNDER SERVICED POPULATION Thesis Advisors: Rodolphe el-Khoury & Deborah Franqui

Paris Rive Gauche is an emerging area known for its contemporary architecture, embodied by the book-shaped towers of Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand. Offices, lunch spots, and chain stores fill stateof-the-art buildings along Avenue de France, while Seineside quays are home to riverboat bars and Piscine Joséphine Baker, a floating swimming pool. Cité de la Mode et du Design is an arts center with a fashion school.Covering an area of 130 hectares including 26 hectares of cover over the railway tracks of the Austerlitz station, Paris Rive Gauche is the largest urban planning operation carried out in the capital since the Haussmann works of the 19th century.

This most recent pandemic has claimed, not only the lives of many, but the facilities that hold those most vulnerable.

Hospital overcrowding is slowly subsiding, 28% of health staff has left the field of medicine - meanwhile the population is trying to rehabilitate professionally, financially and mentally. Post-covid has found itself with a major public distrust on a structure meant for healing.

This thesis aims to branch the interrupted relationship between health facilities and the large portion of the under serviced population. The transitory deployable design will emphasize patient dignity and care, health education and maintain the continuance of patient care model.

This research attempts to investigate the impacts mobile health can have on communities of people who have been directly affected by the inaccessibility of health and wellness.

Peter Ohanik Kiliddjian// PARADISE MADE: URBAN MANUFACTURING IN A CITY AT RISK Victor Deupi Industry has been gradually excluded from the American city. The role of urban industry in the health of national and local economies, urbanism, social equity and the natural environment has become clear. Advancements in technology and sustainable manufacturing have introduced a “maker-culture” based on 3D printers and digital design. The result is grassroots innovation that happens cleanly and efficiently, allowing small-scale manufacturing to be reintroduced into dense urban centers and engage with the public.

Honorable Mention for the FACULTY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING THESIS WORK IN THE MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM

Maha Malik// AURAT KI ZAMEEN: A GENDER SENSITIVE COMMUNITY CAMPUS Thesis Advisor: Juan Calvo According to the United Nations, “Health is a fundamental human right indispensable for the exercise of other human rights. Every human being is entitled to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health conducive to living a life in dignity”. Pakistan is a signatory of multiple United Nations Human Rights treaties, yet it’s fiercely traditional society still upholds rigid social norms that obstruct women’s access to basic rights. While the saying “Women are the heartbeat of our nation” is often heard, gender based constraints on women engrained in the culture and often put women at risk. These constraints are characterized by limited mobility, weak decision-making autonomy, and restricted access to resources.

The proposed project aims to create a gender sensitive community campus in Khushab Forest, a rural part of the country where the traditional conservatism is especially prevalent.

Social norms are respected through strategic design choices that ultimately allow for the gender based constraints to be lifted. Through this project, women are able to act independently and

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS without fear. The primary focus is to allow unfettered access to the medical system.

This is supported by the secondary focus, enrichment programming.

Through architecture, women are able to experience autonomy in a way which fundamentally betters their quality of life.

architecture must take a step back and analyze its own role in global resource consumption. In 2018, the US produced over 600 million tons of construction and debris waste - 85% of which is made up of concrete and asphalt.

Nathan Sullivan// UNAPOLOGETIC: CONSIDERING URBAN ENVIRONMENTS FOR AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS Thesis Advisor: Victor Deupi Autism Spectrum Disorder is a diverse group of neurodevelopmental conditions that can affect a person’s approaches to socializing, communicating, and learning.

While the spectrum comes with its challenges such as executive functioning disadvantages and susceptibility to sensory overload, those on the Autism spectrum are simply individuals that view the world in a different way than others.

Soran Rostami// NEURO-ARCHITECTURE FOR SPIRIT: RIDERSHIP AND NATURE Thesis Advisors: Juan Calvo, Joanna Lombard & Denis Hector According to the U.S. Census bureau, over 150 million people commute to work by car; approximately 7.6 million commuters rely on public transportation. Commuting by public transportation comes with a long list of potential stressors. Many of which are out of our immediate control.

External stressors include speed and time of commute, noise, the behaviors of other commuters, control and security, air pollution, materials aesthetic qualities, circulation, etc. These stressors can have a ripple effect if an unexpected train delay means you will be late to your morning meeting or to pick up the kids, or have to potentially miss whatever is on the schedule for your evening.

We would argue that a responsible Architecture seeks radical changes, not incremental changes, and imagines itself a positive role force in a postextractive future. This thesis proposes several strategies toward such an idea within architecture, each enabled by a technology only recently available to the architectural realm: robotic fabrication and automated assembly.

Unapologetic presents a criticism of modern day architecture and urban planning practices by exploring the idea of ableism in architecture. Built environments have the ability to provide a space for those who inhabit it to thrive - however, most autistic people will find themselves in an environment that provokes them.

This “call to action” on what now needs to be considered when designing urban environments culminates in an unapologetic installation to be constructed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The installation will take the users through a complex narrative that will pose questions, provides answers, and leave the user reflecting on what they have experienced. By the end of the installation, the visitor will come out with a better understanding of what autism is and what the future for this diverse population needs to look like.

Incorporating cultural, communal and therapeutic elements within the urban fabric, this thesis aims to develop urban happiness through designing a new Metrorail station in Miami city, FL (Dadeland North Station) that injects good mental and emotional comfort through versatile and human-centric designed conditions which creates an infrastructure for respite and source of happiness against the social and urban stress of the city living.

A new architecture typology not only in accordance with the aesthetic conceptions of architecture but also with a stress-relieving psychological response to improve the emotional state of residents and increase the sustainability of city development will be the aim of this thesis.

Architecture and construction must reflect on its wasteful practices, from its use of high carbon footprint materials, inefficient architectural strategies, and its structures that are destined for short life spans. LEED’s incremental shifts in its efficiency standards and quotas are insufficient and don’t truly resolve the urges of our time.

Han Wang// (RE)PLACED PERMANENT HOUSING FOR DISPLACED PEOPLE Thesis Advisor: Glenda Puente

Junren Tan, Chuchen Liu & Crawford Suarez// THE ROBOT GROUP Thesis Advisors: Joel Lamere & Brandon Clifford As the ecological crisis deepens,

In 2020, nearly 41 million people - a record high - were displaced and forced to migrate worldwide according to the International Population Movement Observatory. 75% of those who migrated did it due to an environmental disaster.

While the largest vulnerable populations are most heavily in Asia, the United States is home to many high-risk zones along its east and west coast, including Miami - one of 11 sinking cities that could disappear by 2100 with 70% of its residents at risk.

The majority are located in high-value real estate areas, which has already started a gentrification process in many low-income

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neighborhoods located inland.

Miami already experienced devastating climate events and where the future looks risky, many people will not have a choice but to stay. This project aims to provide these groups with an affordable house and create a harmonious and comfortable living environment for them to cope with the possible displacement caused by climate change.

plastic pollution and use plastic materials to build sculpture, the marine plastic pollution visualization. First, the installation itself and the surrounding environment of the space attract people close to the installation.

The installation’s visual expression of marine plastic lets people feel the rejection emotion of ocean rubbish.

different functions and occupancies for residential architecture. Home offices, make-shift remote learning, and isolated areas of the home were used to accommodate a different work-life and ultimately, a new work-life balance.

Architects and engineers solve, and design buildings based on occupancy, codes, and standards that exist to protect the public safety and this thesis presents the opportunity to engage with increasing and more effective natural ventilation standards and procedures in Miami to address the multi-functional nature of home-life and home-care accommodation.

APRIL 2022

Shifan Wang// OCEAN PLASTIC EDUCATION SCULPTURE: DO WE REMEMBER? WHAT WE DO WITH THE OCEAN… Thesis Advisor: Elizabeth Cronin This thesis proposal creates a new form of series city education sculpture installation. This new sculpture installation will also have integrated with the abstract art form and trigger people’s environment protection motion, especially in the ocean plastic pollution field. In recent years, the overfishing of marine resources, seawater pollution, and garbage dumping are transported to different worldwide regions along with ocean currents, invading marine ecological environments worldwide. The plastics will also be visible or invisible to the naked eye and negatively impact the whole Bioecological environment. Like Plastic particles are found in food eaten by humans, and the marine creature will be wrapped in plastic. So, I want to design a new form of sculpture to mention how terrible the ocean ecological environment is and use the sculpture to evoke people’s moods. We should do something about it instead of ignoring it.

The thesis will focus on amplifying the existence of marine plastic pollution through the reshaping installation space, shape, and visual expression. The people’s emotion of threat to marine pollution will be evoked through their visual observation of the monument, arousing people’s concern about marine pollution and breaking the concept that marine pollution has nothing to do with people’s lives. As the Italian artist Rosana Orlando claims, the plastic itself makes no fault. People’s plastic using methods cause marine plastic pollution. So, on the other hand, the thesis will also explore when people are facing and observing this installation and how it will impact people’s emotions and behaviours.

The project will track the origin of marine 94

Stephen Matthew Wisniew// RESILIENT AND HEALTHY RESIDENTIAL DESIGN: POST PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS IN MIAMI Thesis Advisors: Joachim Perez & Dr. Esber Andiroglu The impetus of this thesis was the recent and still present COVID-19 pandemic and the actions that the public made to the residential settings that included self-quarantine at home and home care.

The increased risk to life, health, and safety was a cause to determine how architecture might build and design a healthier future for the public, our clients, and our obligation as engineers and architects to re-evaluate life, health, safety requirements regarding proper ventilation for home care, and other requirements for home care when ill or sick with Covid-19 symptoms, or other ailments. In addition, we seek to determine how we might live more healthfully in homes and residences creating isolation zones and areas for home self-care and quarantine using natural and mechanical ventilation for better indoor air quality and protection to infectious disease in Miami specifically.

A cultural shift in staying at home when one is sick became normative in the outbreak of Covid-19. This initiated expanded residential functions, programs, and occupancies during this time-period, and summarizes to the home is not just a shelter. The home, architecturally speak- ing is a significant structure of vital importance to residents and families. Many workers in office and business spaces began to work remotely from home. Children and college students attended classes from home. These changes resulted in

CLIMATE RESILIENCE ACADEMY USHERS IN NEW ERA OF RESEARCH, SOLUTIONS The University of Miami will launch a new Climate Resilience Academy, a functional research and coordinating hub supporting the University’s academic units and pursuing an interdisciplinary approach that links with private and public partners to solve impacts of climate change and other complex global issues.

By Michael R. Malone, UM News The University of Miami’s Climate Resilience Academy, which will officially launch on Earth Day, April 22, constructs a novel functional academic framework that is collaborative at its core and highlights the University as a loadstar for leading positive hemispheric and global change to address issues of the climate crisis, sustainability, and resilience.

As one of the nation’s top research institutions located in a community considered “ground zero” for experiencing serious impacts from climate change, especially in the area of sea level rise, the University of Miami is uniquely positioned to be a driver for solutions that will benefit society.

“The concept of ‘resilience’ is foundational to the history and mission of the University,” Frenk added. “Far from just a byword, resilience is first and foremost how our people face the inevitable element of change.”

The formation of the new academy was propelled to fruition through a $5 million commitment from Eric T. Levin, a former University trustee and the former president of the University’s Citizens Board, which represents business leaders throughout South Florida. The gift is part of the University’s fundraising campaign, Ever Brighter: The Campaign for Our Next Century. The most ambitious in the U’s history, the campaign is set to conclude in 2025 when the University celebrates its centennial.

Quickly following the April 22 Earth

// HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Rodolphe el-Khoury, dean of the School of Architecture, and Sharan Majumdar, professor in the Rosenstiel School’s Department of Atmospheric Sciences, led the planning process that established the foundations of the academy and defined its mission while building a team of collaborators within and beyond the University.

“South Florida is particularly stressed by climate change, and we are a ‘living lab’ even if we don’t want to be,” Majumdar noted. “Rising sea levels, changes in weather patterns, and extreme heat, are affecting the health of humans and society, our living environment, and the economy.

Day launch, the University will host a symposium on April 25 to showcase ongoing climate resilience research, begin its search for a founding executive director to oversee the academy, and fine-tune plans for a new academic “resilience” course to be featured in the fall semester.

Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, highlighted the academy’s unique design and its timeliness and value for the University and the South Florida community.

“The academy—our first at the University— is best described as an interdisciplinary functional structure that will bring together experts both from within the University and others through partnerships and relationships to ensure the necessary expertise to solve challenges that are by their very nature interdisciplinary. Modeled after the National Academy of Medicine and National Academy of Engineering, the Climate Resilience Academy brings together our best and brightest from across the University to not just pursue research but to gather and deploy their collective knowledge,” Duerk said.

Climate and climate resilience is certainly an immediate interdisciplinary challenge, he added, suggesting that the University is ideally suited to lead the effort to address it.

“If you look across our units, schools, colleges, and programs, there is a consistent theme of being at ground zero for climate change and the impacts of that—from the Rosenstiel School’s incredible expertise in terms of climate change, weather, and hurricanes to the College of Engineering’s expertise in civil engineering and new technologies to the School of Architecture’s knowledge of building environments,” Duerk pointed out, emphasizing that the expertise and interest crisscross the University like a thread.

He noted in particular that University interest in migration as a global issue— and Miami’s own history as a magnet for so many immigrant groups—may prove invaluable as the next migration crisis may well be propelled by climate change, both

from continent to continent but also within more focused geographic regions where the University’s departments of sociology, anthropology, history, and political science have deep expertise.

“What’s unique is when you stand high enough and look down on the University, this thread is fairly easy to trace throughout in terms of our understanding, appreciation, research, and scholarship on topics related to climate and climate resilience,” Duerk said.

The provost said the new academy aligns seamlessly with the University’s aspirations to be hemispheric, excellent, relevant, and exemplary, and will deepen its dedication to support the local community.

“This new academy will make our expertise more overt and accessible and, most importantly, increase the awareness that the University not only harbors extensive expertise but also the profound desire to assist South Florida in finding solutions to pressing problems,” Duerk emphasized.

The provost pointed out that the academy will focus on three intersecting thematic platforms of research—infrastructure and environment; human and societal health; and economic development.

Levin has leveraged his experience as a financial strategist, investor, and consultant to offer his thoughts on establishing the academy and sharing information on what areas of focus and expertise potential partners in the private sector are hoping the University can address.

“Climate change is a big problem— the challenge of our lifetime—and it’s imperative to get others involved and be collaborative to tackle these big problems,” Levin said.

According to Levin, the University wanted to “put its stake in the ground in terms of being a leader in this area,” and the academy will not only focus the University’s efforts in this area, but get business, government, nonprofits, and other universities involved in this endeavor.

“Building resilience to tackle these large and difficult problems needs experts across many disciplines to develop a unified, collaborative approach, and the Climate Resilience Academy will do this by bringing together the diverse talents of our students, researchers, and faculty across our schools and colleges,” he added.

The academy also serves to bring new talent to the University. It is meant to identify areas of potential growth and support academic units in mounting searches for joint faculty appointments that defy conventional disciplinary and departmental boundaries. “Figuratively speaking, it is a United Nations for interdisciplinary and interinstitutional efforts, facilitating appointments, brokering deals, mounting big proposals, and shepherding complex projects that break the silos,” remarked el-Khoury.

Majumdar and el-Khoury recognized Levin’s generous gift and University leadership for the vision to develop the initiative—especially during the turbulent pandemic period.

“It has been an incredibly fulfilling experience to co-lead this stage of the academy’s development together with Dean el-Khoury and inspiring to hear everyone’s keen ideas and interests in resilience, and their eagerness to train future generations of students and build partnerships to address these important local and global issues,” Majumdar said.

David Kelly, academic director of the sustainable business master’s degree program and co-chair of the Sustainable Business Research Cluster, noted the economic benefits the academy’s efforts will yield.

“Companies are increasingly focused on adaptation and resilience to climate change, and the academy will work together with companies and municipalities to ensure that the most evidenced-based adaptation and resilience strategies are implemented,” said Kelly.

His own research has documented the substantial returns from resilience infrastructure investments—a business

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development that will benefit the local economy and potentially the University through its many resilience-related projects already underway.

“Our research at the Climate Resilience Academy will use big data, causal inference, and other advanced statistical techniques to measure the economic impact of resilience investments, which will help direct limited resilience dollars to the most productive uses,” said Kelly, also one of the principal instructors for the resilience course to be offered in the fall.

Amy Clement, a professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the Rosenstiel School, serves on the advisory board for the academy and is one of a large cohort of faculty members who will collaborate to teach the fall class.

“The academy is part of a national trend where universities are recognizing that there are problems that are immediate and can’t be solved by looking through the lens of any one discipline,” Clement said. “Climate is one of those, and Miami is one of those cities where there’s no more delaying with the impacts of climate that are already here.”

Through her research, Clement has had extensive interaction with the public sector, nonprofits, and governments.

“Governments, in particular, have been very engaged because they’re the ones being tasked to do something about sea level rise, monitor and understand these trends and technologies better, and generate new designs for infrastructure, among other areas,” she said.

“Those are all things that we could be responsive to at the University if we have the right framework—and that’s where the Climate Resilience Academy comes in,” Clement pointed out. “The University has an important role in figuring this out because there’s no playbook for it—this is an unprecedented change that we’re experiencing in an unprecedented time.”

Clement highlighted that students will benefit from the internship opportunities offered through the academy partnerships.

“These partnerships will deliver very tangible internship opportunities,” she said. “Students are being nurtured for internships in a private and public sector that is waiting for them at the end of this academic chain.”

Ali Habashi, assistant professor of professional practice in the School of Communication; Derin Ural, associate dean of college affairs in the College of Engineering; and Sonia Chao, associate dean of research and co-director of the master of professional science in urban sustainability and resilience in the School of Architecture serve as the co-chairs of the education committee tasked with developing the innovative, problem96

based, multidisciplinary first-year course to be offered in the fall that will empower students to become resilient themselves and enable them to spark change in society.

heat officer as the keynote speaker and presentations of 10 University Laboratory for Integrative Knowledge (ULINK) funded projects that propose solutions for climate-related challenges.

The class will include an hour per week of asynchronous, pre-recorded lectures and approximately 2.5 hours of synchronous, problem-driven and discussion-based classes. It also will provide a multifaceted approach to building resilience that will include flipped learning.

Rodolphe el-Khoury, dean of the School of Architecture, and Sharan Majumdar, professor in the Rosenstiel School’s Department of Atmospheric Sciences, who together led the planning process that established the foundations of the academy, welcomed students and community guests to the symposium geared to promote a resilience culture and to build momentum for the new initiative.

“Whereas we already had a great awareness of resilience due to the multiple achievements in many of our schools and colleges, what this course does so handsomely is to help students understand that resilience is actually dependent on multiple factors that have to be layered onto each other in order to effectively consider how to drive positive change,” explained Chao.

Ural noted that course development was informed by a range of existing classes, such as Chao’s introductory course for the urban sustainability and resilience master’s degree program, as well as other innovative academic modalities offered at the University. The resilience class will become part of the University’s PETAL initiative, or platform for excellence in teaching and learning.

“The pandemic has presented the growing need to be resilient, as individuals, as families, as communities, and especially as a University,” Ural said. “This class is designed so that students will be ready for these challenges—they will be resilient as human beings and resilient in their communities.”

Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, noted that the inaugural symposium—a green certified event—represented the aims of the academy to address climate and resilience issues collaboratively and across multiple disciplines.

“This first symposium, which brings together a community of scholars, serves the University’s mission as a convener but even more importantly extends beyond convening and studying to ultimately deploying solutions and finding solutions that are actionable,” Duerk said.

Eric T. Levin, a former University trustee and former member of the University of Miami Citizens Board, described his motivation to donate $5 million toward the initiative, a gift that propelled the formation of the academy.

“Climate change is the challenge of a lifetime, and here in Miami we sit at the epicenter of the climate challenge,” Levin said. “It’s imperative to get others involved to work collaboratively to tackle these big problems,” he added.

“The academy is designed to complement and enhance the University’s existing strength, to create more dialogue and form an organization platform that will foster long-lasting relationships and partnerships with stakeholders in South Florida and well beyond,” explained Levin.

SYMPOSIUM OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO REIMAGINE HOW WE LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY Inaugural Climate Resilience Academy Symposium highlights extreme heat as a critical climate change stressor and spotlights the first resilience projects destined to progress through the University’s new academy partnerships.

By Michael R. Malone and Janette Neuwahl Tannen Following the official launch of the Climate Resilience Academy—the new interdisciplinary research and instructional hub—on Earth Day, the University hosted the inaugural symposium at Lakeside Village Expo Hall on Monday that featured Miami-Dade County’s first chief

He suggested that many of the projects fostered through the academy will “ultimately become entrepreneurial ventures which will implement business solutions to the stressors of climate change, create more revenue, and become self-sustaining and financially additive to the overall mission of the University.”

Keynote speaker Jane Gilbert, named the county’s chief heat officer 10 months ago and who served previously as the City of Miami’s first chief resilience officer, welcomed the call to engage a new army of advocates and experts to develop solutions for climate change and related stressors.

“It’s going to take people from across all fields—design, architecture, education, law, policy, business,” said Gilbert. “The

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS increasing costs of extreme heat create an urgency and gives us the opportunity to reinvent how we live, move, work, and play in a resilient way.”

In contrast to the property damages from environment disasters like flooding and hurricanes that are so visually compelling, Gilbert noted that extreme heat—which impacts health, lives, and livelihood—is the deadliest weather-related killer, more devastating and pervasive than any of the other climate-related hazards combined.

“In South Florida we have chronic rising heat, and it doesn’t hit us all equally,” Gilbert pointed out. “Some people are more exposed day in and day out, and most [threatening conditions] are preventable through education, mitigation, and communication.”

She noted that her office and a recently convened climate and heat health task force are focused on developing solutions, such as a heat vulnerability assessment, and a resilience tool kit.

Ten different teams presented TED-like talks on their ULINK projects. These projects, which have been funded in their incubator phase by the University, seek broader support and financial backing that may well be provided through the partnership focus of the new Climate Resilience Academy.

This year’s projects include “Living with Spinal Cord Injuries and Climate Change: Risk and Resilience in Miami,” “Climate Gentrification: Creating Tools to Drive Community-Lead Neighborhood Resilience,” “Comprehensive Approaches to Heat-Related Equity in Miami-Dade,” and “The Future of Miami’s Main Artery: PortMiami,” among others. View a full listing of the projects.

Elvis Baffoe, a Ph.D. student in civil engineering, attended the symposium to learn more about the University’s sustainability efforts and said that he was glad he did.

Baffoe maintained that looking for solutions to climate change is a practical response that many Universities should be doing.

“If we can come up with strategies to combat climate change through a symposium like this, I think it will be very beneficial to the world. And I hope the University will do this annually,” he said.

Claudio Rizzi, a Ph.D. student in finance, was at the forum to present a poster about his research on climate risk for the financial markets. However, he also enjoyed listening to the keynote speech, along with the U-LINK presentations.

“It was good to meet others doing similar work and to integrate other ideas into my finance research,” he said. “For example, I am learning that the ways different researchers are calculating pollution or assessing flood risk could be very useful to me.”

ARCHITECTURE STUDENT WANTS TO HELP UKRAINE RISE FROM THE ASHES Olha Khymytsia, a Ukrainian graduate student in the School of Architecture, is keeping track of historical structures damaged in the Russian invasion of Ukraine in hopes of helping her country rebuild.

By Robert C. Jones Jr., UM News Between working on her master’s degree thesis and creating new technology for homes of the future, Olha Khymytsia keeps track of the almost-daily entries to a heartrending list: historic buildings and landmarks in her homeland of Ukraine that have been damaged or destroyed by Russian bombs and missiles.

From churches in Donetsk to a library in Kharkiv to a monument in Kherson, nearly 250 structures of historical significance are on the list, compiled and placed on the internet by Ukrainian citizens who are documenting the destruction of their country.

Khymytsia, a graduate assistant at the University of Miami School of Architecture, looks at the list at least once a day.

She wants the world to know that along with the ever-growing humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, her homeland’s architectural heritage is at risk of being erased, as its buildings, landmarks, and public squares continue to be reduced to rubble by Russian rockets.

“Architecture helps make us different.

It’s one of the most effective ways of representing a country’s culture, its history,” said Khymytsia, who was born and raised in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. “Until now, we may have taken that for granted. But now, I believe we’re all realizing just how important architecture is and that it should be preserved.”

Professor of architecture Jorge L. Hernandez echoed her sentiments.

“Architectural heritage is about memory and history,” he explained. “And those

two things are and have always been embodied in places. That’s why we are so drawn to different sites.”

Ukraine is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, all of which Khymytsia has visited. And while none appears to have been damaged in the war, scores of other cultural sites have been harmed, according to the United Nations-run agency.

Russian artillery, for example, damaged a menorah at the Drobytskyi Yar Holocaust memorial complex in eastern Ukraine about a month after the war started, according to Ukraine’s ministry of defense.

And in the early stages of the conflict, invading forces reportedly burned the Ivankiv Historical and Local History Museum to the ground, destroying the 25 paintings by Ukrainian folk artist Maria Prymachenko.

The attacks, if deliberate, would be violations to the provisions of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, to which Russia, ironically, is a signatory.

“It’s the eradication of our culture, our history,” Khymytsia said of the attacks.

But she remains optimistic, hoping for the war’s end and a Ukrainian victory. “Only time will tell,” she said.

When armed conflict does cease, the 24-year-old Khymytsia, who as a little girl would watch an American-made home makeover show on Ukrainian television, wants to return to her homeland and use her architectural skills to help rebuild it.

She believes there is an opportunity to not only replace what has been destroyed but also to improve upon it. “We’ll have the chance to modernize the country in certain areas.”

To help in its rebuilding, Ukraine will have several examples to follow of countries that reinvented themselves after the ravages of war reduced their infrastructure to rubble.

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“There’s Poland, Ukraine’s western neighbor, with its wonderful capital city of Warsaw,” said Hernandez, an authority on architectural history who helped restore a dozen churches in Cuba. “Warsaw is a fantastic example. It was reborn after essentially being reduced to rubble by Nazi Germany. It was the will of the people to recreate the urban landscape and skyline of Warsaw. And there are other case studies, many of them quite well known.”

As for now, Khymytsia continues to keep abreast of the latest developments in the war by watching television coverage and reading newspaper articles.

Her mother and father still live in Lviv, which until recently had been largely unaffected by the war. That changed on April 18, when the city reported its first wartime deaths after Russian missiles hit a military warehouse and a commercial service station two milesfrom Khymytsia’s home. Among the dead: an acquaintance of one of her best friends.

“But out of the ashes and crumbled concrete,” Khymytsia declared, “Ukraine will rise again.”

Road at Southwest 212th Street. Town authorities estimate the project will open within four to five years.

School of Architecture backed by a by Conconcreto’s gift of $150,000 over the next three years.

“The project’s first year would be for the design phase, followed by a year or so for the bidding and permitting phase and, finally, the last two to three years for the groundbreaking and construction,” says a press note from the town.

Three contributions in the amount of $50,000 from 2022 to 2024 will support research in digitalization of construction, robotics in construction, building information modeling (BIM), additive manufacturing (3D printing) and sustainability.

After the public meetings and authorities work on the final design, the town is to receive bids and secure construction permits.

The Town of Cutler Bay is run only by 32 full-time employees while serving 45,000 residents, Mr. Casals told the newspaper.

“We want our residents to know that we’re an extremely financially-prudent town,” said Mayor Tim Meerbott.

The town partnered with the University of Miami’s School of Architecture and with Professor Erick Valle of Valle Valle & Associates to design nine different conceptual site plans, based on resident feedback collected at public involvement meetings prior to the vote.

The property was previously zoned mixed-use, allowing 480 more units to be developed. The town acquired the parcel in 2020 to prevent the potential development and is now aiming to provide more green spaces to the community.

CUTLER BAY, IN COLLABORATION WITH U-SOA STUDENTS, READY TO DEFINE ITS NEW MUNICIPAL COMPLEX Now that Cutler Bay voters have approved a $37 million general obligation bond to develop a park, community center and municipal complex transforming 16 acres into the heart of the community, public meetings will begin to define the vision, including its features and amenities.

Town residents would see an estimated property taxes increase of $89 per year for 30 years. Nonetheless, it is possible that the bonds would not be issued all at once, and instead in series over several years.

The town currently doesn’t have other general obligation bonds.

The designs already put together by UM students to conceptualize the vision for the project include amenities such as an amphitheater, event spaces, water features, a dog park, a kids’ playground, and parking. Other designs use the Everglades as an inspiration, with educational and recreational features and a trail.

One design includes buildings raised to provide a safer space during high floods, stormwater infiltration through the use of an aquicludes to drain water, a recreation of the Florida pinelands, and a demonstration garden that serves as a learning lab.

The development is to be on Old Cutler 98

“We are motivated to apply innovative technologies to everyday life, and we also want the School of Architecture at the University of Miami to deploy its innovative knowledge and creative thinking,” said Juan Luis Aristizabal, Conconcreto’s president.

The “Conconcreto Research Unit” will be housed in a dedicated room within the modeling and fabrication facilities at the University of Miami’s School of Architecture. This collaboration will enable sharing of knowledge- and best practices by both institutions. It also provides opportunities for students from the School of Architecture to intern with the company.

A conference on Smart Cities jointly held

by Conconcreto LLC and the University of Miami will showcase the research in the context of current trends and innovation on May 19th and 20th in Miami.

“We are thrilled to have Conconcreto LLC as an industry partner. Their values and efforts align with our strategic priorities including, the investment in technology for a resilient future.” said Dean of the School of Architecture, Rodolphe el-Khoury.

MARCH 2022

U-SoA AND REBUILDING TOGETHER MIAMI-DADE CHARLES AVENUE 3D HOUSE INITIATIVE

Officials have been working on putting the project together since October, Rafael Casals, town manager, told Miami Today.

“We’re certainly excited,” he said the day before the vote.

The Miami-Dade County Elections Department results show that 3,341 residents (66.28%) favored the bonds, while 1,700 (33.72%) were against. Only 5,057 residents, 17.53%, cast their vote by mail out of the 28,840 registered voters.

The concept of Smart Cities has become increasingly important as urban centers face new challenges in terms of traffic, environment, and safety. This need for innovation makes it important to continue to the progress in the academic world through research in strategies that help to consolidate Smart Cities.

CONCONCRETO LLC AND U-SoA ESTABLISH RESEARCH COLLABORATION Conconcreto LLC and the University of Miami have agreed to set up a research fund within the university’s

The Project The Coconut Grove 3d Printed House Initiative at the University of Miami School of Architecture started by collaborating with the University and Rebuilding Together Miami-Dade to help rebuild a house for a family in Coconut Grove whose previous home was damaged during a hurricane. Shortly thereafter, the couple was enrolled in a program with the City of Miami to rebuild the home.

Cost overruns and delays following the Covid-19 Pandemic led to Rebuilding Together Miami-Dade and the University

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS of Miami School of Architecture partnering together, where the two collaborated on a proposal using 3D printing technology to rebuild the house. The initiative began in September of 2021 and has continued to move through a research and design phase. The initiative aims to utilize digital fabrication, in particular, concrete 3D printing to rebuild the shell of the house and traditional construction to build the interior of the house. The team for this project consists of a range of students from the M. Arch, B. Arch, Construction Management, and Real Estate programs to think through the project on a wide range of issues. Students have met with the owners of the lot to discuss the aesthetics, culture, constructibility, and economics related to the project. At the same time, the students have been investigating the opportunities and limitations provided by using a large format 3d printer to print at full scale. The project aims to complete the design phase by April 1st and move into permitting and construction over the summer of 2022. With the designs nearing completion, a heightened focus on fundraising is needed to cover the construction costs for the project.

To donate, please contact Rebuilding Together, Miami-Dade.

The People Born July 25th, 1953, Linda was raised in Coconut Grove by her single mom Bessie Thompson Haithman. A creative and compassionate outlook on life was instilled in her at an early age which shaped her into becoming a representative of her community. Linda attended and graduated from Coral Gables Senior High School in 1971. She then went on to start her career as a secretary for Pancoast Architects.

Five years and several jobs later, she opened a business of secretarial/clerical services provided to the general public.

She completed her working career with Macedonia Mission Baptist Church.

After her mother’s passing in 2006, Linda became committed to working to improve her community by being part of the Coconut Grove Village West Homeowner’s and Tenant’s association (HOATA). She is a part of several associations such as the Community Advisory Committee, Coconut Grove Negro Women’s Club, the Historical Cemetery Association, and the Coconut Grove Village Council. Alfred Williams was born on April 7th, 1943, and raised by a single mom, Lucille Hannah. Alfred, along with his younger brother Edie Lee Peters lived in Attapulgus, Georgia.

They eventually moved south to Miami, Florida, in 1951, where he graduated from George Washington Carver Senior Highschool. After graduation, following his curiosity, he attended the National School of Meat Cutting in Toledo, Ohio.

Upon returning home, he attained various jobs throughout the years, such as the Griffin Roofing Company, the Maintenance Department at the University of Miami,

and later retired from a Winn Dixie Store in 2005 after 31 years of service. Alfred and Linda met in 1971, and after a long courtship, they married in 1983 and had a son, Alfred Jr. Alfred, and Linda both enjoy many activities. Still, some of their favorites include sewing, cooking, and barbequing with friends and family.

VIRTUAL REALITY: LIMITLESS DESIGN AND COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES

By Steve Wright Collaboration, innovation and cuttingedge technology has long been at the base of a U-SoA education. So it comes as no surprise that Assoc. Prof. Denis H. Hector is part of an inventive trio of faculty combining to teach a course on architecture and religion in the context of virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

Hector joins William Green, a professor of Religious Studies, and Kim Grinfeder, Director of the Interactive Media Program in the School of Communications, to focus on religion, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality. They taught the course together last year, but this year students were able to fully engage into the metaverse via Oculus 2 virtual reality headsets – which allows the entire class to meet virtually.

“Bill Green and I have been collaborating on a class focused on sacred space the last five years,” Hector said. “Much of, of the greatest architecture is religious and we explore the mutual dependence of architecture and religion with our students “Kim works in the area of XR (extended reality) and his VR/interactive media expertise has expanded the realm of investigation to immaterial reality which strengthens the collaboration.”

Hector, who has been part of SoA long before VR and AI were part of our vocabulary, said that after a short period of adjustment virtual experience is not remote or artificial rather it creates real haptic experience. The course is a part of the University’s QEP towards the implementation of discussion-based learning and that virtual reality allows us to visit and experience cathedrals, mosques, temples and other religious sites, experience them together and discuss their significance and affect interactively in the virtual site.

“The course is truly interdisciplinary both the students and faculty are grounded in different disciplines. We have readings in architecture, readings in religion,

development of virtual reality from the communications side to help establish a common framework for our discussions,” Hector said. “We put all this out there – encountering real phenomenon just not in physical space – and the students discuss their perceptions.”

Hector said it is interesting to see the perceptions of space through the lens of architecture, religion and communications students. “The architecture students speak about buildings differently in this class more personally and experientially - than they do in SoA design courses,” he said.

VR allows us to test the boundaries of what makes space real and what makes space sacred.

In the virtual world, 15 students and three faculty members will be in the same space, but obviously not in the same room. Hector said the level of immediacy, collaboration and sharing is incredibly promising as a teaching tool.

The final project is the design a ritual in a sacred space. In the first year of the course, which was conducted more two dimensionally before everyone had VR goggles, one of the projects created a Roman Catholic Confession ritual via AI and another proposed a virtual Hadj.

This year, working in cross-disciplinary harmony, the final deliverables promise to be as boundless as the metaverse.

INNOVATION, VISION, AND COLLABORATION TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF REAL ESTATE If the past few years have made anything clear, it’s that changes are happening in our world and more will be needed if businesses are to survive and compete, especially in the real estate markets of tomorrow.

By UM News Scarcity of labor, shifting consumer priorities, corporate social responsibility, and preparing for scalable growth are just a few of the top concerns facing society on a global scale. The short answer for all of them uncovered in this year’s University of Miami Real Estate Impact Conference was simple - the time has come to stop relying on decades-old solutions and start building the real estate industry of the future.

For this, the 10th annual event, participants and attendees gathered on campus at the Donna E. Shalala Student Center on Friday, February 25th, hosted by the School of Architecture and Miami Herbert Business School and the School of Law. Presenters included several of the world’s top thought leaders in real estate development, construction, technology, hospitality, government, and finance, who discussed Miami Momentum: Building the Global, Entrepreneurial, Tech-Friendly City, and the dramatic shift currently underway as Miami enters the next chapter in its evolution to a major world capital.

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resort and hospitality economy.

While the city itself has been experiencing many years of steady growth, rapid changes have been taking place lately, pushed in part by the pandemic, but also through new perspectives in terms of tech business, hospitality, culture, and an environment ripe for strategic real estate investment and development. This year’s speakers offered perceptive observations into all of these situations, what the future may yet hold, and what the professionals of today and tomorrow must do to capitalize on the opportunities ahead.

“As an institution of higher learning, our foremost directive is to serve as a conduit for knowledge, and to inspire our students, faculty, alumni, and greater community to apply those skills and insights in meaningful ways,” said Lynn Hackney, Principal for Community Three as she helped kick off the event. Her remarks were echoed by Charles C. Bohl, PhD, Professor and Director for the School of Architecture’s Master of Real Estate Development + Urbanism Program. “The University of Miami has become an interdisciplinary powerhouse offering programs in every field connected to the real estate industry under one roof,” he said. “We operate as partners, not silos, in providing rich, interdisciplinary experiences for our students that mirror the real world relationships between disciplines and professions.” “Our students and alumni are the problem solvers and industry leaders who will play pivotal roles in shaping resilient, livable and affordable communities for decades to come” The distinguished panelists each took that sentiment further, adding the perspectives gained over dozens of years of hands-on work in their respective fields.

Meaningful Place Making Entrepreneurship, and its growing connection to diversity, culture, and community building were highlighted as important movements impacting all industries by Sheila Johnson, the dynamic

founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, and co-founder of BET, and Laurie Silvers, Co-CEO, Hollywood.com, Chair, UM Board of Trustees. Johnson explained that the brands that are succeeding today, including her own, are doing so as a result of being inclusive and authentic to the people and stories of a place. As examples, she cited her numerous successes in Middleburg, VA - a quaint horse-country town that Johnson has transformed into a must-see cultural destination by founding the Middleburg Film Festival, and the Family Reunion Food & Wine Festival, in addition to an equestrian-themed Salamander Resort & Spa. The film festival has become one of the most influential film events for up-and-coming filmmakers and future Academy Award winners. Family Reunion is an annual celebration of the Black and Brown culinary traditions that are ingrained into the local culture.

Together, the two events serve to carve out a path for Middleburg’s growth while also preserving and honoring its past, a balance Johnson said is vital in developing destinations with significance.

She then shared how this same concept of inclusiveness and authenticity drew her to her latest project, a Salamander Resorts partnership with The Aspen Institute in Aspen, CO. As one of the world’s key thought leaders in how the world can create a fair and just society for all, The Aspen Institute’s mission aligns perfectly with what Johnson has seen as the emerging trend in forwardthinking hospitality development. As people continue to look for experiences that enrich and benefit their lives, the old paradigm of rigidly controlling the brand narrative, she said, was fading.

“We have to start recognizing what I call the double-bottom-line. If you help your community, it comes back to you. That’s how we need to move forward.” For Miami, where rich cultural diversity has long been a key component of the city’s dynamic, Johnson’s words serve as valuable guideposts for future development of the

Rising to Meet Development Demand Adding another dimension to the conversation regarding the evolution that must take place if cities like Miami are to achieve their global destinies, Jason Ballard, Co-Founder & CEO of Icon; Eric Feder, President of LENx; ; Amit Haller, CEO of Veev; and Kenneth A. Smuts, President of Renco, USA delved into the rapidly emerging field of alternative building technologies. From 3-D printed full-scale livable homes, to composite materials that assemble on site in days, to completely integrated smart walls that bring plug-and-play simplicity to plumbing and electrical construction, the panel not only revealed a world of exciting possibilities for real estate, but also underscored the critical need for the industry to adopt these new technologies and others like them. “In a world where materials like lumber are skyrocketing, and labor costs keep accelerating, the ‘same old story’ just doesn’t cut it,” shared Smuts. The panelists agreed that while nearly every other industry in modern society has evolved to incorporate technologies, real estate construction has lagged far behind. In a global economy that is making things faster and more affordable every single day, buildings are taking longer, costing more, and providing less quality to end users, Haller observed. “It shouldn’t be that way, and it doesn’t have to be.”

The panel then detailed the difference between what is happening in real estate today vs. what could happen as soon as tomorrow. Ballard showed video of Icon’s revolutionary construction-scale 3-D printing robot. ICON’s technology has already been successful in building 100 Bjark-Ingels-designed homes in 60 days in Austin, TX - making them not only some of the most high-profile properties in the area, but also some of the most affordable within their market.

The dramatic reduction in labor costs is also a key benefit offered by Renco, whose plug-and-play molded composite blocks were used to build 100 marketrate apartments in West Palm Beach and 200 multi-story structures in the Middle East in a matter of a couple of weeks, without cranes or heavy equipment, and with only a handful of workers, none of whom were specialized construction trades. Veev’s innovative wall systems are pre-manufactured with electrical and plumbing already integrated. On-site, the wall panels assemble to each other with simple connections, again eliminating the need for typical construction trades. Across all three technologies, the materials are mold-free, waterproof, termite-proof, and are made from renewable and even recycled sources.

“Developers with an eye towards value and profitability will need to look outside the box.” Ballard stated. “This has to change. We all need to demand it,

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS architects, builders, designers, and even homeowners.” Miami saw growth of 2.1% in just one year, making it one the #6 fastestgrowing regions in the entire country. To continue that pace, faster, smarter, and more resilient development options must be embraced.

Miami as the New Global Epicenter The global real estate panel brought together three panelists who shared their direct knowledge of diverse international markets and the rapid innovation and adaptations they are seeing in response to the opportunities and trends accelerated by the pandemic around the world. Bernardo Fort-Brescia, Principal of Arquitectonica, Sonny Kalsi, CoCEO of BentallGreenOak, and Marcelo Kingston, Managing Partner of Multiplan spoke about Miami’s contemporary emergence as a global destination that resonates with post-pandemic livework lifestyle preferences, particularly for tech and venture capital businesses and workers. The three all agreed that many countries and cities haven’t faced such rapid widespread change to the patterns of how and where we live, work and shop since WWII. “Wherever there is an imbalance in the market between industrial, residential, and commercial development, cities are feeling those gaps very acutely,” offered Kalsi. Kingston also highlighted that political stability continues to figure strongly in where companies and people decide to go.

facts, and interpreting what those figures mean for future projections. “The City of Miami is enjoying low unemployment at 1.4%. We’re the #1 city in Florida for pandemic recovery, and in the top three in the nation,” said Suarez. “Miami has also been ranked #1 in happiest and healthiest residents. These are solid platforms from which to pursue monumental global-scale expansion.”

Suarez, who is a Miami native, recalled how quickly Miami went from the unofficial capital of Latin America to what people now call “The Capital of Capital” because of the large number of start-ups, companies looking to level-up, venture capital firms, and investors who come to Miami.

“Growth is the ultimate goal of every person in charge, or, at least it should be,” said Mathrani. “Supply and demand are never stagnant, but they have to remain sensibly balanced to attract growth, otherwise people and companies will go elsewhere.” Suarez then shared that the city is seeing an influx of investment at unprecedented levels, and city leadership’s primary goal right now is to make sure that growth can continue. “Miami has the ability to grow 10 times over if we do this smart and we do it scalable. In saying ‘yes’ to new opportunities, we must also be sure we’re saying yes to the greater good of the people of Miami, not just now but for generations to come.”

As for Miami, Fort-Brescia noted the evolutionary waves the city has experienced over the past four decades and the persistence of skeptics who have doubted the city’s advancement. He noted that the building blocks of a global city have been nurtured over many years and set the stage for the dramatic transformation of Miami through the pandemic including: favorable taxes and a business-friendly regulatory context; an international atmosphere made possible by a diverse culture, and; a flourishing tropical urbanism of cities and neighborhoods that have been created by sophisticated developers and architects and appeal to tech, venture capital and entrepreneurial companies and workers. Fort-Brescia proudly stated, “Nothing compares, no place I’ve described, is as amazing as what’s happening in Miami.The future here is bright!”

The UM Real Estate Impact Conference 2022 was made possible through the support of more than 100 sponsors, including presenting sponsors, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, the Kislak Family Foundation, and Witkoff.

Maintaining Momentum The closing keynote conversation took up the topic of how to sustain and build on Miami’s forward progress as a global, entrepreneurial, tech-friendly city. The discussion began with a question posed

by Arnaud Karsenti, Managing Principal of 13th Floor Investments of “just how far can Miami really grow?”

The Port and the City: Beirut for All Award: Student Merit Award Students: Alexia Lohken, Yufei Huang, Andre Mega de Mathis, and Jiaxin Li Professor: Jean-Francois Lejeune

Sandeep Mathrani, CEO of WeWork, and Francis X. Suarez, Mayor of the City of Miami, answered by examining current

FACULTY AND STUDENTS WIN CNU’S 2022 CHARTER AWARDS Winning projects include:

In August 2020, one of the largest human-caused, nonnuclear explosions in history destroyed the port and adjacent neighborhoods in Beirut, Lebanon. A University of Miami team drafted a plan to rebuild Karantina, one of the damaged neighborhoods, with an urban and

architectural vision based on human-scale design principles.

The Port and the City: Beirut for All calls for 1,500-2,000 homes, employing vernacular courtyard designs rather than the generic high-rise model that has dominated since the end of the Lebanese Civil War. The students preserved and improved the network of streets in the 225-acre neighborhood and respected community integrity, highlighting institutions like schools, sports centers, fire stations, neighborhood parks, and fish markets.

Re-Envision Albany Award: Merit Award in the Emerging Project Professors: Adam Bonosky (an alumnus of the Master of Urban Design Program) For more than 50 years, residents of Albany, New York, have endured the effects of I-787, an elevated freeway that divides the city from its waterfront and neighborhood from neighborhood with a massive access road and imposing on-ramps. Past initiatives to remove the highway have gotten nowhere, because formidable forces—such as state DOT workers that use I-787—are aligned to protect the status quo. But now, the recently formed Albany Riverfront Collaborative has emerged with a compelling, bold plan called Re-Envision Albany that is gaining momentum. Since the grassroots group launched in November, more than 6,000 people have signed an online petition in support of the plan. The vision of a green waterfront, with human-scale development reuniting neighborhoods, is gaining widespread attention.

Carlton Landing Award: Merit Award in The Region: Metropolis, City, and Town Architecture firm: DPZ CoDESIGN Carlton Landing is the first new urban town in the US to be legally incorporated, an important milestone.

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The rural Oklahoma community is focused on green design and selfsufficiency—The independent mindset comes from its remote location 20 miles from the nearest Interstate, and a oneto-two-hour drive to Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The town, 20 percent built, is designed for more than 5,000 residents when complete in about 2040.

Launched during the Great Recession in 2009, Carlton Landing took a “light imprint” approach to stormwater infrastructure that has saved millions of dollars in development costs while sustainably filtering rainwater without piping. This approach uses less pavement, and adds to the town’s unique character— creating for example, its unusual boardwalk pedestrian paths (see photo at top). Carlton Landing launched the state’s first rural public Charter School, and the community is building civic and agrarian infrastructure, such as community gardens, from scratch.

FEBRUARY 2022

can’t escape it. Therefore, the impact is multiplied. It’s much stronger, bigger, and more emotional, and these films can get a message across in a more impactful way.”

Dorne saw the film, “Clouds over Sidra,” as part of an Interactive Media class in the School of Communication.

The experience solidified her decision to apply for and accept a Plus One Scholarship to spend an extra year at the University learning how she can blend immersive technology and music to amplify the power of film.

“Virtual reality has had the impact of making me think about other people and going to places I couldn’t go,” pointed out Dorne, who is also developing a virtual reality application with the programming help of Varun Krishnan, first-year Miller School of Medicine student. “In terms of education, that’s so powerful.”

She is part of a growing community of University students and faculty and staff

Learn in a virtual location For example, students can attend classes and learn in a virtual location of their choice using virtual reality headsets. This is something that Grinfeder, along with William Green, professor of religious studies; and Denis Hector, associate professor of architecture, are exploring this semester in the second edition of their course, “Religion and Sacred Space in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality.” They hope that every class can be held in a different sacred space around the globe, with both students’ and professors’ avatars sitting around a virtual discussion table (using University-owned Oculus Quest headsets to attend).

Using augmented reality (or AR) applications, digital images or information are layered on top of our physical environment. These apps can be viewed through either a phone or tablet’s camera or by using headsets like the Magic Leap One or the Microsoft HoloLens 2. Today, AR is used widely to create architectural models that allow users to touch or click on certain areas of a building and learn more about them, said Rodolphe el-Khoury, dean of the School of Architecture.

Last fall, students in the senior design studio class displayed AR models of their proposal for Cutler Bay’s new Town Hall and a neighborhood redevelopment project near Atlanta at the School of Architecture’s Homecoming tent. Using tablets or their own phone cameras, visitors could see an augmented version of the students’ design, with information like the water and elevation conditions for each site and expected population density. They also could visualize greenspaces within the model.

UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY LEAPS INTO THE ‘METAVERSE’ Four years into the XR Initiative, University of Miami students and faculty and staff members conceive new ways to solve problems and improve education by using immersive technology to connect in a network of virtual worlds.

By Janette Neuwahl Tannen, UM News Léa Dorne still vividly remembers visiting a Syrian refugee camp and standing inside a family’s United Nations trailer in Jordan.

But she wasn’t actually in the Middle East. Dorne observed the family’s reality through an Oculus Quest headset while watching a film shot in virtual reality (VR).

“It’s very different than seeing a video clip on your smartphone,” said Dorne, a senior majoring in music business at the University of Miami. “When a movie surrounds you [in virtual reality], you

members exploring the use of immersive technology—which includes virtual, augmented, and mixed reality—to improve the world around them. The University’s XR Initiative, launched in 2018 with Plantation-based Magic Leap, continues to evolve across three campuses as more students and faculty members develop projects that utilize immersive technology and can be viewed on a growing variety of devices and headsets.

“The Internet will become immersive, and this is how we will experience things online,” said Kim Grinfeder, director of the XR Initiative and chair of the Department of Interactive Media.

It comes at a time when immersive technology is becoming a critical tool to engage in the metaverse—or a virtual version of society—which could be even more convenient for students, professionals, and educators in times of necessary isolation.

“We are investing in emerging technology n a variety of platforms to ensure greater access to immersive learning experiences,” said el-Khoury, adding that the school is also utilizing virtual reality and that lecturer Ruth Ron’s Introduction to VR and AR class has gained a steady following. “At Homecoming, we wanted the students’ designs to be as accessible as possible, so that people could use their phones as a lens through which they could view and interact with the project.

When headsets become more pervasive, this will be an even more immersive experience. And we are preparing students for that reality, which we anticipate will be prevalent in the future.”

Grinfeder has watched the desire to utilize immersive technology steadily progress since he worked on his first VR project in 2014 at the School of Communication.

“The University of Miami is well-prepared and ready when it comes to immersive technologies,” he said. “And I’m thankful that the administration had the foresight to notice how important these technologies are and to invest in them.

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS That was very forward-thinking, and it’s why we’re not behind the curve today.”

Grants offered to build new XR products Each year, through the XR Initiative, more students and faculty and staff members who want to explore the field are learning how to incorporate augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality into their research and scholarship. Those with an idea to advance their field of study can apply for funding through the University’s XR grants and the Provost XR Awards.

So far, 32 faculty members and 11 students have received funding to produce XR applications. Dorne received a grant to build an app inspired by synesthesia: a neurological condition where two of a person’s senses are experienced simultaneously—like if certain sounds elicit images or colors. In her app, users can play different notes on a drum, and each note elicits a different colored firework on the horizon. Soon, the drum notes are powering a ship forward through the ocean, and the player engages in a rhythm duel with an enemy ship.

“My intent was to incite a spark in people’s creative minds to establish connections between two forms of art,” said Dorne.

“So, the user can be playing a drum set, and by playing certain patterns or sequences it triggers a visual narrative.”

Berk Basarer, a senior studying electrical engineering, is launching “AR Translate,” an application that offers users real-time language translation using an augmented reality headset, so that people could communicate even if they do not speak the same language. With the app, users would see real-life subtitles of what the other person is saying and could express themselves in their preferred language.

Gaining firsthand knowledge Currently, at least 26 University courses incorporate virtual and augmented reality into their curriculum. There are also several places on campus where students and faculty members can experience immersive technology.

All University students and faculty and staff members have access to the XR Community Lab on the third floor of Richter Library, although appointments are recommended. In addition, students and faculty members in the School of Communication can use the XR Studio, and students and faculty members at the School of Architecture can visit the Responsive Architecture and Design (RAD) Lab and its VR/AR facility.

On-the-ground training in how to program for virtual reality (typically using software called Unity) can be gained through classes at the School of Architecture, School of Communication, and in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Computer Science.

Students who want an accelerated experience can also serve as an apprentice in the UMIT Innovate program. Director Max Cacchione leads a team of student programmers at UMIT Innovate who work with students and faculty members to bring their extended reality ideas to life. Although some of his first trainees were computer science and software engineering students, he said, interest in learning how to program for virtual and augmented reality expanded to other corners of the University.

“There’s more student interest in learning how to navigate immersive technologies, and each year our team grows about 30 percent,” Cacchione said. “Students benefit from the program by obtaining a job at UM, a Unity Certification, and experience working on an agile software team. The University also benefits from the creation of intellectual property and grant opportunities through projects driven by faculty who employ UM Innovate students.”

Computer science professors Ubbo Visser and Viktor Milenkovic agree. Visser teaches an introduction to game programming course that is open to all undergraduates and is always full. Milenkovic teaches classes in computational geometry, or the mathematics behind 3D programming for virtual and augmented reality. But he also serves on the XR Initiative’s advisory board.

“We teach the principles, so people understand what’s going on and what’s possible in this medium,” said Milenkovic, who is also chair of the Department of Computer Science.

Some of their particularly skilled students often do an independent study, and two graduate students recently worked with Milenkovic and Visser to finish an XR application. Their app, “Intuitive Interface for Human-Robot Interaction,” uses augmented reality headsets to create a personalized 3D map of a house, which is then used to train human support robots to navigate an elderly person’s home.

much clearer in 3D, which is possible using augmented reality. This collaboration was recently awarded a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

Faculty members can also enlist the help of professionals at the Institute for Data Science and Computing (IDSC) to develop applications in extended reality. Manouj Govindaraju, a software engineer at IDSC, is working with several faculty members who received XR grants this semester.

“Smart Assistant,” conceptualized by communications professor Ching-Hua Chuan, will help line workers train and refine their skills using artificial intelligence and augmented reality headsets that will track each step of a process and then redirect the worker if they forget a step, helping them to become more efficient. Another application devised by Delia Cabrera DeBuc, research associate professor of ophthalmology, and Dr. Ranya Habash, assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology, aims to help clinicians diagnose neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s, at an early stage.

The app will simulate a virtual reality grocery store trip and then track a patient’s brain activity to see if they struggle to remember what they need to buy.

Grinfeder is pleased to see a rise in student and faculty enthusiasm for immersive technology, which grows as more useful ideas are proposed each semester.

“That Magic Leap launch really pushed everybody at the University to think about immersive media and what the metaverse could become, and now we’re starting to see the fruits of it,” he said. “A lot of the applications we’re currently getting are well-grounded ideas that demonstrate an understanding of how these technologies can be leveraged. And while this idea of the metaverse might have caught some people at other institutions off guard, here at the University of Miami, that’s not the case.”

“Someone will come in wearing AR goggles, and they will map out the home and furniture. So, the robot knows where their bed is and where the bathroom is, for example,” Milenkovic explained.

A world of opportunity As XR equipment and technology become more accessible, faculty members are coming up with valuable ideas about how to integrate the technology, according to Cacchione, which is keeping his student team very busy.

The UMIT Innovate team is now starting work on an application—devised by engineering lecturer Diana Arboleda and associate professor James Giancaspro—to teach statics. This is an area of physics critical to young engineers that is difficult to comprehend in a 2D textbook but is

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE SERIES ACCENTUATES PROGRAMS, RESEARCH Informal salon gatherings are being held on Thursdays throughout the month of February in the school’s courtyard to highlight graduate programs and research by faculty members and students. The sessions are open to the entire University of Miami community.

By Barbara Gutierrez, UM News How does Miami-Dade County prioritize the need for resilient projects throughout the county?

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How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed the real estate market in South Florida?

What kind of building materials can be used to withstand the ravages of climate change?

All these are issues relevant to University of Miami School of Architecture students and many others in the University community.

That is one of the reasons why the school has launched a series of gatherings to highlight its graduate programs as well as the research being carried out by faculty members and students.

These salons­—the brainchild of Sonia Chao, research associate professor and associate dean of research—offer an informal gathering spot to exchange ideas and network.

“It is an opportunity to come together as a community to discuss issues that we know to be relevant not only to our profession but also to all of those we engage with across disciplines and in our region and to highlight interdisciplinary investigations and actions,” Chao said.

“These are occasions to celebrate current research endeavors while we reconnect or connect with our peers, students, alumni, and community.”

The salons are held outside in the courtyard of the school every Thursday in February, beginning with a reception at 6 p.m. The gatherings are open to the University community and the public.

The first salon, held on Feb. 3, was curated

by Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, director of the master of urban design program, the graduate program at the school. Many of the participants were professors who had taught in the program.

“I hope the students will have a new understanding of the field, how it ranges from the large scale of planning to the detail of architecture, and that the specifics of urban design—buildings and public spaces—can have a powerful influence on social and environmental concerns,” said Plater-Zyberk.

Among the faculty members teaching urban design are a significant number of researchers and scholars whose publications are renown, she said, and librarian Gilda Santana had set up a table to exhibit many of them at the event last week.

This week, Armando Montero, director of the construction management program, will lead a “What is the future of architects in construction?” session. It will highlight the work of the program with contributions from a panel that includes five of its faculty members, a representative from local government, and professionals in practice— including Stefan Chin, partner of Peckar & Abramson, and Jane Decker, director of the City of Doral building department.

The School of Architecture’s new graduate program director, Joel Lamere, also will be part of the panel discussion.

Chao, who is also the co-director of the new interdisciplinary Master of Professional Science (MPS) in urban sustainability and resilience program has curated a panel for Feb. 17. “What does building resilience entail?” will be addressed. Chao has invited MPS students to moderate the session, as well as several members of the community who have worked with her on research projects and who co-teach with her. Among these are architect Jaqueline Touzet of Touzet Studio and Katherine Hagemann, resilience program manager for adaptation of the Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience. Tim Norris from the Institute for Data Science and Computing and professor Louis Herns Marcelin, director of the MPS in global health studies, will round out the panel.

There will be a small exhibition highlighting initial student research in the county’s Little River Adaptation Action Area—where the county is attempting to curtail sea level rise in one of the most vulnerable areas in Miami that is prone to flooding.

Students in the urban sustainability and resilience program are also working with Norris, a data scientist in University Libraries.

He is guiding them and facilitating their use of an app Chao has edited to gather building and urban data, which in turn informs her research about the vulnerability of the terrain in the Little River area—part of her newly awarded U-LINK grant.

The last salon of the month, “What has been the impact of COVID-19 on South Florida real estate and what does its future hold in the pandemic era?” will be held on Feb. 24. It will be co-curated

by Chuck Bohl, professor and director of the graduate program in real estate development and urbanism and Mark Troen, lecturer in the same program, and will highlight student research.

Two other initiatives have been created

by Chao to increase the knowledge of research and creative work being carried out at the school as well as to nurture their growth. An internal monthly newsletter was launched in September providing School of Architecture faculty members and students with links to research, articles, competitions, workshops, and grant opportunities.

In the coming months, a new online portal will be available on the School of Architecture’s website, and it will highlight and make more readily accessible faculty research, peer-reviewed publications, exhibitions, and creative work.

GROUNDBREAKING UNIVERSAL DESIGN COURSE TEAM TAUGHT BY HUSBANDWIFE DUO DEBUTS AT U-SoA Steve Wright, an award-winning journalist and marketer, and Heidi Johnson-Wright,

a lifelong public servant and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) expert, have teamed up to teach a course this semester at U-SoA. The course focuses on Universal Design – a concept that is essential to creating access for people with disabilities, but also adds comfort and ease of use for all.

Johnson-Wright has used a wheelchair for mobility for 40 years and brings her practical experience as well as her 30+ years of professional expertise to the classroom. Wright is America’s go-to journalist for reporting on architecture, town planning, mobility engineering and urban policy – as they relate to people with disabilities and access for all.

“The course belongs to U-SoA’s long tradition of community building. It sustains its commitment to diversity and inclusion and ensures that U-SoA graduates are prepared for the evolving social and cultural landscape,” said Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury.

Universal Design is extremely relevant because the United Nations has identified more than one billion people in the world have disabilities and Centers for Disease Control research has proven that one in four people in the United States will experience some form of disability.

“This is the fulfillment of a dream, the fruits of a decade of labor researching, exploring and building a course for a school of architecture,” Steve Wright said.

“The COVID pandemic has proven that the way we build and plan our environment MUST be safe, accessible and inclusive for all. We are eternally grateful for U-SoA Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury’s leadership in making this unique course a reality.”

The Wrights are donating 100 percent of their pay to support further outreach and education about Universal Design on a global scale. Funds will be used for travel expenses that support pro bono presentations on design for all at planning, architecture, urban design, engineering and similar placemaking conferences, conventions and symposiums.

The late architect and planner Ronald L. Mace, FAIA, founder of the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University, coined the term universal design. He defined it as “the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.”

“For centuries, everything from a home entrance step to park benches has been designed for a 5-foot-10 able-bodied male, an approach that excludes the majority of people,” Johnson-Wright said.

“Less than one percent of all housing in the U.S. is readily accessible to people who use wheelchairs. That’s why we must create architecture, planning and

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS design usable by everyone to the greatest extent possible without adaptation or specialization.”

JANUARY 2022

PROF. JOEL LAMERE TAKES THE REINS

By Steve Wright Prof. Joel Lamere, the U-SoA’s new Graduate Programs in Architecture Director, approaches his duties with a balance of education in core design knowledge blended with preparing students to be perpetually empowered to adapt to new tools and technology.

The nature of architecture is flux; there’s a lot of stable core knowledge necessary to become an architect, of course, but the way we design and the way we build are both contingent on technologies that are evolving exponentially,” he said.

“Even the outstanding technology and lab capabilities we have today – those will be rapidly advancing and changing during the graduate student’s career.”

Lamere praised Prof. Allan Shulman, the previous director, for solidifying essential elements of the programs and having long discussions with him to form curriculum adjustments and changes built on a solid core.

“One cannot, at this point, even imagine an architecture of the future that doesn’t engage computational design processes, augmented reality environments, and so forth,” Lamere said. “The disruptions will be more profound still: robotic fabrication, automated construction, outsourcing enabled by instantaneous communication and virtual collaboration, and A.I. replacing human labor throughout the creative disciplines.”

the field – preparing our graduates to be lifelong learners.”

Lamere emphasized that technological progress is not, in itself, enough to tackle the world’s many problems. Lamere believes that technology can foster more collaboration, which in turn can help with diverse community building, but for architecture to truly address issues of equity and inclusion, it must reconsider who it serves beyond its clients. “A more just architecture will need to commit to a broader constituency, and codify what qualifies as a public good in such a way that those interests cannot be ignored.”

He added that U-SoA Graduate Programs in Architecture “have the distinct mission to prepare architects to be good in two senses: to be good at being architects, which means navigating rapid changes in the profession, but also good as citizens, focused on how we can be agents for positive change in the world.”

Steve Wright (@stevewright64) is a Pulitzer-nominated, award-winning writer who blogs daily at: http:// urbantravelandaccessibility.blogspot.com/ TRANSFORMING STUDIO COURSES WITH INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY A new type of Upper-Level Studio course launched this Spring as a pilot program exploring remote learning for pedagogical opportunities. The course leverages video conferencing and other digital media to bring an international team of Visiting Critics to the virtual classroom, beginning with Lebanese Starchitect Bernard Khoury, who leads the first module from Beirut. He is followed by Nashid Nabian, the architect of the Iranian Pavilion in Expo 2020 Dubai, joining from Tehran, and finally Robert Levit from the University of Toronto’s Daniels Faculty. The global makeup and perspective are made possible by new methods and means acquired during the pandemic, one of several instances where adaptation prompts innovation in teaching and research at U-SoA.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched mega tourism projects in the ancient desert city of Al-Ula. “The projects implemented by the Royal Commission will recalibrate the history of Arabia and help recast the future of a nation that can trace its origins back for millennia,” says Jean-François Charnier, the director of the French agency for the development of AL-Ula. More recently, 100 hundred “International Architects” were invited by the Royal Commission to “...create a constellation of dwellings that enable the visitors of the site to experience AL-ULa’s exceptional cultural and natural wonders – and connect with one of the planet’s most sublime landscapes.”

The brief demands from the architects to “conceptualize a contemporary dwelling that responds to the exceptional heritage and landscape of the region, its culture and climate - while acknowledging the vision for the development of a global culture, art and architecture destination...”

Students will be asked to work individually on architectural proposals, which respond, re-question, or reinterpret the Royal Commission’s brief as it is outlined by its invitation to the “100 International Architects”. They will also be asked to evaluate and take into consideration their respective architectural interventions in the context of a more comprehensive project driven by political, cultural, and economic agendas.

The three modules of the Spring UpperLevel Studio course consist of the following topics:

2. ARCHITECTURE & NATIONAL BRANDING

by Nashid Nabian

Lamere received his Master of Architecture degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Before joining the U-SoA, he was Assistant Professor of Architectural Design and Homer A. Burnell Chair at MIT. “Our approach is very consistent with the roadmap vision of lifelong learning at the U-SoA,” he said. “With the ecological, economic, technological, and social disruptions that will characterize the coming century – we have to prepare students for this uncertainty, not mere competency. This requires fostering many kinds of literacy and an expanded view of

and rich history. It is home to a series of important historical and archaeological sites such as Mada’in Saleh, which is Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also considered one of the most developed 1st-millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula.

1. THE (IM)POSSIBLE PRESENT OF ALULa: scheming the most marvelous past and the brightest future

by Bernard Khoury Al-Ula valley is located 300km north of Medina in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The area is notable for its natural heritage

The World Exposition, known in the media and for the global community as the World Expo, is coined by some as the Cultural Olympics of Nations. Building on the first-hand experience of designing for the Iranian Pavilion in Dubai Expo 2020, the module is an exercise in evaluating different agencies that Architecture as a discipline has in the realm of national branding while responding to the global theme of the Expo. The question at hand is, “How to maintain specificity in a hyper-connected and superbly flattened world?” or in other words, “How to be

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architecturally local and global at the same time?” in designing a national pavilion.

The module will initiate with an overall report on how the idea of the Iran Pavilion in Dubai 2020 Expo emerged from transdisciplinary conversations, how it was developed to an architectural project, how it was built, and how it is being received by the general public after the inauguration ceremony. The seminar will then lead to a short exercise in which each student is responsible for critically evaluating one national pavilion against both its branding strategy of the nation-state that it represents and the overall theme of the Expo; “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.” This initial study will be followed by the design exercise, which is focused on delivering an alternative design for the studied national pavilion by the student.

3. CROWD | GATHER | FORM

by Robert Levit What are the forms that gather us together as publics? What are the figures of architecture that figure us? This studio will ask these questions through the vehicle of a new market building in Toronto, where a cosmopolitan population from around the globe is concentrated in a city amid exponential growth. Uncharted institutional and urban forms are shaping Toronto’s future. This studio will explore a dramatic nexus in which formal innovation and archaic form overlap. New geometries, new vaults, shell forms -- unleashed in the mid 20th century, in Latin America, Spain, and Italy -- inaugurated an incomplete project of reinventing the past. The confluence of the unprecedented and the uncannily familiar in new-tech hypostyle halls and strange new thin-shelled forms are vehicles that we will explore as a means of sheltering crowds and shaping the space of public life in one new institution: a 21st-century market space.

in urban resilience. One of the priorities is to enlist high-profile practitioners and experts from different cultural and professional backgrounds to bring relevant knowledge and experience to the academic context, revitalizing curricula and school culture with new perspectives.

The Arquitectonica Resilient Future Forum (ARFF) is the latest addition to these strategic initiatives. This is a multi-year program generously funded by the Dean’s Advisory Committee Chair, Bernardo Fort-Brescia, and Arquitectonica Foundation. In Its inaugural 2022 iteration, ARFF enables an international multi-institutional collaboration on ULI’s Hines competition, with Centre for Landscape Research Director Fadi Masoud (University of Toronto) and Victor Perez-Amado (Ryerson University) joining U-SoA faculty Versuka Vasconez, Joanna Lombard, Mark Troen, and Alex Morcate, in a two-week intensive workshop with students from all three institutions.

The 2022 ARFF workshop includes 50 students from 9 different disciplines and 4 universities who are working on teams to investigate questions of climate, economic, and social resilience at scales that range from individuals and their neighborhoods to communities and the larger region. The intensive challenge of the ULI Hines Student Design Competition provides the forum for this expansive interdisciplinary exploration.

The Competition’s 2022 Challenge Brief engages resilience in its fullest expression as the project addresses the legacy of environmental and racial injustice that has shaped the present-day site and study area in Oakland, California, as well as the recent decade of planning efforts seeking to establish restorative initiatives. Closing this immersive workshop on 24 January with the Competition submissions, a late spring exhibition of the work is planned after all phases of the Competition conclude.

FALL 2021

ARCHITECT DESIGNS AN ‘ELECTRIFIED’ VISION FOR THE FUTURE Tapped by Lexus to create an exhibit for the luxury automaker’s LF-Z carbon-neutral electric car, the School of Architecture’s Germane Barnes created an installation that will highlight Design Miami/.

By Robert C. Jones Jr., UM News With the finishing touches to architect Germane Barnes’ newest creation already in place, all that awaits is the big reveal.

That will come on Dec. 1, when his work will be displayed at Design Miami/ on Miami Beach.

In many respects, the location couldn’t be more fitting. The coastal city has been dubbed ground zero for sea level rise.

And the installation created by Barnes, an assistant professor in the University of Miami’s School of Architecture, offers a solution to the cause of rising seas: reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere via zeroemission transportation options.

His work is a full-scale, 3/8-inch-thick wireframe sculpture of Lexus’ LF-Z zeroemission electric concept car. He created the exhibit for the luxury automobile brand to showcase its vision of an “electrified” and “carbon-neutral” future.

Synchronized LEDs and spotlights will illuminate the car as guests stroll past it in Pride Park opposite the Miami Beach Convention Center.

“We were also inspired to show the global reach of technology,” said Barnes, a winner of the 2021 Architectural League Prize for Young Architects and Designers and a 2021-22 Rome Prize Fellow at the American Academy in Rome.

“Because of the way COVID has forced artists and others to present their work virtually or to be a part of their work virtually, we knew we could take advantage of that,” he explained. “So, there are some digital components within

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS the installation that are tied to social media platforms that allow individuals who can’t physically be in Miami Beach to still be a part of the exhibit and still have a role in its execution. And we feel that’s in line with Lexus’ core design principle of human-centered design.”

When Lexus, one of the sponsors for the upcoming international design fair, approached Barnes and his private design studio with the idea of creating the installation, he immediately jumped at the opportunity, making the decision to involve his students in the design process and to rely on the resources of a hightech School of Architecture lab.

Working within his Community Housing and Identity Lab (CHIL), Barnes’ students played a critical role in the project, designing the furniture elements that complement the installation and assisting in some of the technical components.

“It’s been rewarding to see their designs become reality,” Barnes said. “They’re pretty excited that what they’ve come up with will actually be part of the installation.”

The furniture—which, in an obvious nod to Lexus’ philosophy of being carbon neutral, is made of wood, not plastic— helps accomplish the exhibit’s goal of also serving as a social-gathering spot, Barnes said. “A space where people can sit, relax, maybe charge their cellphones, just take a break from the busyness of the fair, while at the same time learning about the electrified future that Lexus envisions.”

For the installation’s high-tech, interactive features, Barnes turned to the school’s Responsive Architecture and Design (RAD) Lab, which specializes in smart technologies and ubiquitous computing.

Indrit Alushani, a research associate in the RAD lab, said the lab team was very excited to help Barnes integrate the social aspect into the technology of the installation. “We wanted the work to extend outside of the physical bounds of Miami and have a global outreach,” Alushani said. “So, we researched ways on integrating RGB [red, green, blue] LED lights to respond to requests from people around the globe. We found solutions through surfboards, Arduinos, and various application plug-ins to change RGB colors as requested by those interested in participating on this interactive piece.

The installation will display wash lights on white walls as the backdrop of the wireframe-hanging car.”

opportunity to showcase the talent at the University of Miami,” he said “The students working on this are extremely gifted. For their talent to be displayed to the world on this platform is huge.

“It also affords me an opportunity to follow the legacy of many other talented designers who were tapped to do this in the past for Lexus,” Barnes continued.

“It means a lot to be acknowledged as a designer on the rise.”

Then, there’s what Barnes refers to as the “cool” aspect of working on the exhibit.

“When I was a kid growing up in Chicago, my mother would always tell me her dream car was a Lexus,” he said. “And in hip hop culture, Lexus is a prominent brand. Considering that’s what I was born into, this project sort of defines my upbringing. So, it’s pretty cool to be able to live the thing that you watched on music videos growing up.”

ONCE AGAIN, U-SoA HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR ITS INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE IN ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN Several awards were presented to U-SoA recipients at the AIA Miami’s Design Awards Gala on the night of Oct. 29.

The annual AIA Miami Design Awards intend to encourage excellence in architecture, elevate public consciousness of good design, and recognize those architects whose work enriches our environment. These awards recognize outstanding architectural projects, both built and unbuilt, that exemplify excellence in design while exploring the nature and science of the profession.

Congratulations to our U-SoA 2021 recipients!

2021 AIA Miami Design Awards RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE Honor / Brillhart Architecture - Jacob Brillhar, Associate professor - Brillhut

To make the wireframe sculpture itself, Barnes turned to Portland, Oregon-based fabricators Matchless, which worked on a tight time schedule to complete it.

Merit / Brillhart Architecture - Jacob Brillhar, Associate professor - Stewart Avenue Residence

Barnes is honored to have led a multifaceted design team on the project.

“It’s a great platform to showcase the talent in South Florida and a great

UNBUILT PROJECTS Merit / Cure & Penabad - Carie Penabad, Associate Professor and Adib Cure, Associate Professor - Hope House

STUDENT PROJECT Merit / Sofia Contreras Ojeda BArch Student and Sofia Silva, BArch Student Miccosukee Museum 2021 HONOR AWARDS STUDENT OF THE YEAR Juan J. Chinchilla, BArch Student SAMUEL KRUSE SILVER MEDAL FOR DESIGN Jose A. Gelabert-Navia, AIA, Professor SUSTAINABLE DESIGN ARCHITECTS OF THE YEAR Shawna M. Meyer, AIA, Lecturer and Christopher Meyer, AIA, Assistant Professor During the award ceremony, Professor Rocco Ceo was also introduced and congratulated as a new AIA Fellow.

14TH ANNUAL U-SoA GOLF TOURNAMENT WAS A MEMORABLE DAY OF GOLF, PRIZES, NETWORKING, AND PHILANTHROPY Another successful Rome Golf Tournament was enjoyed by 120 golfers and the Rome Golf Committee members, accompanied by U-SoA faculty, staff, students, and alumni. This year’s tournament took place on Friday, Nov. 5, at Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne.

Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury kicked off the tournament with opening remarks; then, it was game time. The day progressed into a silent and live auction which included a University of Miami signed football, hotel stays, restaurants, fitness gift certificates, and more.

This year, we’re celebrating over 30 years of the Rome Program. A big thank you to our generous golf sponsors who participated, and a special thank you to ABM Building Value, our 2021 Presenting Sponsor. Your generosity raised over $115,000! All net tournament proceeds will benefit the Tom Spain Rome Program endowment, support the Rome program and provide scholarships that enable our students to spend a semester studying in Rome.

Congratulations to the tournament winners: 1st Place: Alpha Wrecking 2nd Place: Kibler Construction 3rd Place: Plaza Construction

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Thank you to the driving force behind the tournament – our committee members: Robert Behar, Behar Font George Cuesta, Cuesta Construction Alex MacNamara, University of Miami Albert Menendez, M Group International William Real, Civic Construction Alex Remos, Pines Construction Luis Revuelta, Revuelta Architecture International Tom Spain, Tournament Founder, University of Miami School of Architecture Professor (retired) Frank Vilar, Vilar-Hoynack Construction Company

THE AUGMENTED REALITY EXPERIENCE Homecoming 2021 was all about exposing our U-SoA students to new technologies and putting the spotlight on real-world Augmented Reality apps.

Featured at our U-SoA Homecoming tent was the Augmented Reality application developed by the RAD Lab, which showcased the models of two Urban Design/Masterplan Studios. The studios were ARC407-609 and ARC407-510, the first taught by Donnie Garcia-Navarro, in conjunction with two other professors, Atlanta locals Laura Heery and Merrill Elam, and the latter by Erick Valle. Both studios explore architectural interventions at different scales and impacts, allowing the students to interact and dialogue with city leadership, neighborhood leaders, real-world conditions, and interdisciplinary experts.

Donnie’s studio (ARC407-609) tackled the issue of an urban design project in an area of Atlanta; the AR app used a physical plane model and overlayed a series of layers in the AR, enabling the user/viewers to understand the project better. The technology allowed several

digital models and information to overlay on top of a single physical model. This way, less physical space would be used, and more of the information would be stored in the app. This project had a series of filters where context was shown, a Google satellite map, student models, and the Greenway design. The students were able to identify and propose projects that focused on solar trees, pedestrian walkways, collecting stormwater through parks, and enabling access to healthcare.

Erick’s Cutler Bay studio (ARC407-510) used a CNC physical model where they left the area of proposals empty so the AR app could populate it. There were three proposals selected so that people who entered could switch between them.

The app worked through a QR code that the camera needed to scan every time it changed between the proposals.

The RAD Lab has developed a similar project to this for High Rise Miami: http:// rad-um.com/projects/miami-high-rise Our students felt that this was a great way to understand the project in a more personalized way. This could be an app used on an individual’s phone, and the user could explore the projects at their own pace and time. The Responsive Architecture Design Lab (RAD-UM), led by Dean El-Khoury and research associate’s / lecturer’s Indrit Alushani and Donnie Garcia-Navarro, provide tools and support for studios to implement these new technologies and explore the intersection of architecture and embedded technology.

Thank you to our students who participated at our Homecoming 2021 tent: Ethan Blatt Alicia Colon Daina Montano Conor Quigley Farha Reshamwala Ann Yu BUILDING WITH 3D PRINTERS MAY HOLD PROMISE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING A collaborative project to rebuild a home in historic Coconut Grove using a 3D concrete printer lays the foundation for the School of Architecture to explore new construction technologies and may serve as a prototype to address the housing crisis.

By Michael Malone, UM News A University of Miami School of Architecture team is advancing a collaborative project with the 3D construction firm Printed Farms that will provide an innovative living space for a Miami family while offering the opportunity to improve these new technologies that hold such promise for the future of housing.

“The construction industry has a lot of room for improvement—it’s basically the same today as it was 100 years ago,”

according to Armando Montero, an assistant professor of professional practice who’s overseeing the project team. “We’ve been looking at the use of construction technologies in our curriculum, and this research project is a great opportunity for the University and for us to explore a technology that could seriously impact affordable housing.”

Montero noted that the advisory board overseeing the development includes members from the top construction companies in South Florida and even some global representation.

One of those members, W. Robert “Bob” Miller, who earned his Bachelor of Science in architectural engineering from the University in 1977, was instrumental in engaging the school’s team in the reconstruction of a home located in one of Coconut Grove’s Neighborhood Conservation Districts.

Miller, who serves as chair of the Master of Construction Management Advisory Board at the School of Architecture, is a director on the national board of the nonprofit Rebuilding Together and has collaborated for years with Rebuilding Together MiamiDade, a local nonprofit organization that provides free rehabilitation services for lowincome, elderly, and disabled homeowners.

Rebuilding Together had identified a Coconut Grove home, badly damaged years ago, for reconstruction and negotiated with the City of Miami to engage a builder.

Miller approached the City of Miami and suggested using the new 3D printing technologies for the rebuild instead of traditional construction, Montero acknowledged.

“This opens the door to use this technology and to go in and design and build a house,” he said.

Max Jarosz, director of fabrication and an adjunct lecturer, is heading the small team engaged in the collaborative Coconut Grove project. While the school is working most closely with Printed Farms, which touts having “the fastest and most flexible 3D concrete printers globally,” Jarosz said collaborations with other firms are also advancing.

The team shared initial designs last week and, based on feedback, is now redesigning plans to satisfy the client and fit the flavor of the historic Bahamian neighborhood where the home is located.

The documentation process should be completed, and the permit process launched this semester, according to Jarosz.

The new technologies pose some challenges to permitting, but the University’s participation and support should facilitate the process, he said. The 3D concrete printing—which takes only 10 or so days—should begin by April or May.

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FEATURED NEWS HIGHLIGHTS competitive pricewise,” Montero added.

“These are formulas that still need to be worked out and this project gives us the chance to do just that.”

Montero explained that the first connection with Printed Farms was made several years ago. Architecture students traveled to a site in Wellington, Florida (central Palm Beach County), to view a 3D barn the firm was building.

“It’s pretty much the same thing, just a matter of scale and materials,” he continued. “This technology has a development curve; and while it’s not the most feasible right now, it shows a lot of promise for addressing industry needs.”

“The students were mesmerized—it’s a wonderful technology with a lot of promise in the construction industry,” Montero said. “We decided to look into it further to start a collaboration and highlight our program in some way.”

With 40 years in the industry, Montero said that poor productivity and waste of resources are a couple of his major pet peeves. These increase construction costs, which inhibits more affordable housing projects. In this crisis area, he pointed to a range of benefits and the “hidden plus” that 3D structures offer over traditional construction.

The home reconstruction in Coconut Grove and the current economic situation have presented the opportunity.

Montero cited the labor shortage and rising costs of lumber and other building materials.

“It’s not getting any better with the lack of workforce and increased costs. 3D gives us the advantage of not wasting materials—you don’t have lumber that’s thrown out,” he said. “And a 3D printer doesn’t get tired after 10 hours of work, so the productivity is better.”

Several years ago, the school participated in a mission in Haiti to try to help residents redevelop after an earthquake, Montero reported. Utilizing resources that were available in the natural environment was pragmatic and essential. Part of the problem at the time was finding something they could build with—soil, rocks, what could be useful? The new technologies are better suited to address this challenge.

The technology has improved since then, but there are a range of challenges and complications that must be explored before it can be truly competitive.

“That’s one of the reasons were jumping in, so that we can help solve these issues,” Montero said. “We can start experimenting. We have the lab and students already printing on a smaller scale, printing architectural models in miniature,” he added.

“In addition to issues of sustainability—labor and materials—resiliency is much higher for wind loads, and it’s insect free and fire proof because of the nature of the material,” he explained, adding that even home insurance would be lower because the house would be assessed as more secure and a lower risk.

“These are all things that affect a family on a tight budget.”

Jarosz added that the 3D printer construction addresses a stigma often associated with affordable housing that it generally doesn’t look as fancy—and still keep the cost competitive.

“A concrete 3D printer allows for more complex geometries. We can change a wall from straight to being curved in different ways to highlight different site conditions and move around trees,” he said. “We don’t have to cast molds and concrete.”

The shorter time frame for construction also helps reduce the cost.

“Time is money in terms of construction,” Montero noted. “If we work out some of the kinks in the experimental phase of using this technology, you could print a house probably in a couple of days, depending on what percentage can be printed and how much hand finished,” he said.

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FACULTY NEWS //

NOVEMBER 2023

PROF. GERMANE BARNES PRESENTS “UKHAMBA” Professor Germane Barnes, Miami-based artist, architect, educator at the University of Miami School of Architecture and award winning designer on the rise will showcase Ukhamba at the MDC Wolfson Campus until February 24, 2024 and on MDC North Campus from March 11 to May 26, 2024.

Named after a type of African woven-wood basket, Ukhamba is a 10-foot-tall circular structure built of curved wooden elements stacked in horizontal layers. Its construction, with four arched entrances, invites visitors to walk inside and congregate but allows the surrounding plaza and urban landscape to remain visible through the structure.

Inspired by Barnes’s time working abroad in South Africa, as well as in Miami, Ukhamba not only responds to Miami’s sub-tropical climate but also unites architectural elements typical of diasporic communities of African and Caribbean origin. It comprises a pavilion that appears part basket, part traditional breeze wall.

Ukhamba is a space for reflection on our relationship to the built environment, urban design, its histories, and cultural memories. Barnes’s pavilion continues the artist’s exploration of themes of spatial identity, migration, the cultural influences of the African diaspora, and its contributions to classical architecture.

Primarily using materials found in South Florida, the artist has focused on sustainability and has designed a structure in dialogue with the history and natural environment that surrounds it.

ASSOC. DEAN SONIA CHAO PRESENTS “PREVENTING CLIMATE GENTRIFICATION THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING” Associate Dean Sonia Chao will be

speaking on November 17 at the Annual Climate Leadership Summit a major regional event hosted by the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact to share knowledge, showcase climate action, engage leadership across sectors, and mobilize the collaboration needed to tackle this significant challenge at scale.

Many are grappling with housing affordability and the cultural effects of gentrification on communities throughout South Florida. In addition, the climate change crisis is compounding the housing affordability crisis with climate driven gentrification. This Seaside Chat will discuss solutions to build wealth and prevent displacement through ways to preserve naturally occurring affordable housing while also making homes climate ready, zoning strategies to increase supply, and the most effective adaptation strategies for different types of residential building typologies.

The session will also touch upon existing initiatives and programs currently being run by municipalities within the Compact.

with leading experts in a variety of fields engage some of the greatest challenges facing our cities today including climate change, affordable housing, embedded technologies, infrastructure design, the arts, urban policy, social mobility, and much, much more. Tune in every Friday at 11 AM (EST) 8 AM (PST) so that together we can design a better world.

Friday, November 17 HELLE LIS SØHOLT Cities for People Founding Partner & CEO of Gehl Architects OCTOBER 2023

JOINING HOMECOMING CELEBRATIONS, DEAN EL-KHOURY SHARES HIS VISION AT ‘THE UM EXPERIENCE’ PROF. GERMANE BARNES SELECTED AS DESIGN ARCHITECT FOR THE FRED ROUSE CENTER FOR ARTS AND COMMUNITY HEALING Transform 1012 N. Main Street (Transform 1012), a Texas-based non-profit coalition, is thrilled to announce Professor Germane Barnes of B-arn-S Architects + ch_studio as their architect and design partners to transform the former Ku Klux Klan Klavern No. 101 Auditorium in Fort Worth into The Fred Rouse Center for Arts and Community Healing in an act of reparative justice.

The design team’s goals for the building reflect Transform 1012’s sentiments when acquiring the building in 2021—the space should not be demolished, it should instead be transformed through adaptive reuse to represent and serve the communities targeted by the KKK and to promote community healing.

“ON CITIES” WITH PROF. CARIE PENABAD PRESENTED BY VOICE AMERICA Did you know that the quality of our daily lives is directly influenced by the design of our built environment? Our homes, our work, the way we move, and where we play are all shaped by the design of our cities. This thought-provoking, new show from architect, urban designer, and Professor Carie Penabad, examines the complex forces that shape the making of our physical world. Lively conversations

The Audrey R. Finkelstein UM Experience will showcase renowned faculty and groundbreaking advancements at the University of Miami.

By Maeve McQueeny The Audrey R. Finkelstein UM Experience lecture series returns during Alumni Weekend and Homecoming with three thought-provoking discussions exploring the evolution of the University of Miami to become an even greater force for good.

This year’s edition on October 27 features conversations with the University’s chief academic officer Guillermo “Willy” Prado, M.S. ’00, Ph.D. ’05, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs; community trailblazer Erin Kobetz, vice provost for research and scholarship and tenured professor in medicine, public health sciences, and obstetrics and gynecology; as well as historian, designer, and author Rodolphe el-Khoury, dean of the School of Architecture.

Provost Prado will analyze the significance of the University’s recent invitation to join the Association of American Universities (AAU)—the pinnacle of higher education in this country and the world, comprised of only 71 comprehensive research universities—during his talk “The University

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FACULTY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS of Miami: From Infancy to an Elite Comprehensive Research University.”

As provost, he oversees the deans of the 12 schools and colleges and senior administrators involved with research, undergraduate and graduate education, and other academic areas. Prado is a professor of nursing and health studies, public health sciences, and psychology at the University. His work has been featured in the Miami Herald, NBC, Univision, and CNN en Español.

to hear discussions led by distinguished University of Miami faculty.

Vice Provost Kobetz will spotlight the power of research and community through her talk “The Story of a Tar Heel Who Bleeds Orange and Green: How UM Became My Alma Mater By Choice.”

Kobetz is celebrated for her work in the South Florida community. She leads the Game Changer mobile clinics, which bring cancer screenings, health information, and research opportunities directly to patients. She founded Patnè en Aksyon (Partners in Action), Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s first-ever community-academic partnership in Little Haiti, to address the increased risk of cervical cancer among residents through community-based participatory research and intervention. She also oversees the Firefighter Cancer Initiative, a Universitywide interdisciplinary program founded to better document and understand the excess burden of cancer among Florida firefighters and identify novel, evidencebased methods for reducing risk.

Dean el-Khoury will share his vision of a smarter, more connected, and healthier world through responsive homes and interconnected smart cities in his talk “Smart Cities; Responsive Homes.”

El-Khoury has been featured in national and international media outlets, including WIRED Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, the Space Channel, and BBC World, for his work exploring climate resilience, sustainability in architecture, and enhanced responsiveness in buildings and smart cities. El-Khoury leads the Research and Development (RAD) Lab, a research unit dedicated to embedded technology and robotics aiming at enhancing responsiveness and resilience in buildings and smart cities. His current research in architecture focuses on applications for information technology, aiming for enhanced responsiveness and sustainability in buildings and smart cities.

He is also working on the application of robotics and embedded technology in architecture in projects and prototypes for interactive and responsive environments, including immersive environments and multisensory architecture.

The UM Experience (UMX) was created through a generous endowment by the late Audrey R. Finkelstein, A.B. ’38, to offer alumni the opportunity to return to campus

VILLAGER SUPPORT LAUNCHES PROF. JOSE GELABERT NAVIA’S NEW BOOK CELEBRATING ARCHITECTURE OF CORAL GABLES The new book Coral Gables, a part of the Coffee Table Journeys Collection, by author-illustrator Professor Gelabert-Navia will be unveiled at a reception and book signing event on November 7 at the Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Avenue. The free event is open to the public and will be held from 6:30-8:30 PM, during which the author will give a short presentation followed by the book signing. Books will be available for sale.

A practicing architect with the firm Perkins + Will, Gelabert-Navia is a professor and former Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Miami. His teaching focus has been in the areas of architectural design and the related history of colonialism and globalization.

“The Villagers are delighted to be instrumental in bringing this book to the public,” said Susan Medina, Past President of The Villagers. “Professor GelabertNavia’s work will help immortalize and celebrate the incredible accomplishments of George Merrick’s architectural team who began building Coral Gables 100 years ago.”

JUST PUBLISHED: “THE URBAN HANDBOOK” BY PROFS. ERIC FIRLEY AND VICTOR DEUPI An insightful and revealing look at the intersection of housing and urban design.

In the newly revised Second Edition of The Urban Housing Handbook, Professors Firley and Deupi deliver a design and analysis tool for housing practitioners, students, and researchers. The book outlines the characteristics of 30 of the most notable housing types from around the world, studied against a background of increasing densification.

Each of the 30 chapters includes a fullyexplored traditional example followed by one or two contemporary projects of similar spatial configuration that address changing trends in architecture and urban design.

AUGUST 2023

According to Professor Gelabert-Navia, most of the illustrations included “are the original monuments Merrick did in his time.”

A resident of Coral Gables for more than 30 years, he selected the sites he felt were more iconic.

Since 1966, The Villagers have awarded more than 230 grants to more than 80 organizations and awarded 200+ university scholarships to advance historic preservation. Through educating, advocating, fundraising, restoration, and documentation The Villagers work to preserve the cultural and architectural heritage of historic sites and neighborhoods in Miami-Dade County.

PROFS. SHAWNA AND CHRIS MEYER HONORED WITH AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Atelier Mey received the 2023 American Institute of Architects Florida Design Award

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of Excellence in Sustainability for House in a Garden in Coconut Grove, Florida.

PROFS. ADIB CURE AND CARIE PENABAD’S ARCHITECTURE OFFICE RECEIVES ACCOLADES [2023 AIA FLORIDA DESIGN AWARDS] The American Institute of Architects announced Cure & Penabad Architecture & Design was the recipient of two prestigious AIA Awards for 2023. The jury, composed of architects from Panama, reviewed over 250 submissions. Project Peach, in Miami received a Citation Award for Unbuilt Design and Allora, in Guatemala City received an Honor Award for Masonry Architecture.

[ARCHDAILY] The online platform, ArchDaily curated a selection of the Best Unbuilt Architecture projects which highlight office spaces. Project Peach by Cure & Penabad Architecture & Design was chosen as one of seven projects to be showcased.

PROF. JOANNA LOMBARD SPEAKS FOR A 1000 FRIENDS OF FLORIDA ON THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN COMMUNITY DESIGN AND PUBLIC HEALTH This September, Prof. Lombard will speak at the 2023-24 Dr. John M. DeGrove Webinar Series, Monday the 18th, from noon to 1:30 pm. Her lecture will focus on the elements of healthy communities and how they can enhance physical and mental wellness through social interaction, physical activity, and connection to nature. She will address how healthier design can help ameliorate the impacts of climate change, and the impacts on disadvantaged communities.

The talk will conclude with a conversation on strategies to integrate healthier design into communities with Victor Dover, FAICP, principal / cofounder of Dover, Kohl & Partners and coauthor of the landmark book Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns.

JUNE 2023

PROF. ELIZABETH PLATER-ZYBERK AND ANDRES DUANY AWARDED HONORARY DEGREES BY YALE UNIVERSITY During its 322nd graduation ceremony, Yale conferred honorary degrees on nine remarkable individuals who have achieved distinction in their fields.

“The nine individuals we honor this morning serve as examples to you, our graduates, to encourage you to aspire to excellence, to value those elements of human character that they embody: creativity, curiosity, discipline, integrity, and a passion for public service,” said Yale President Peter Salovey during the university-wide Commencement ceremony.

In awarding the 2023 honorary degrees, President Peter Salovey read the following personalized citation: From the corridors of this campus to the sidewalks of Seaside and beyond, yours is an architectural partnership of enduring impact. Together you saw the potential for building pedestrian-friendly environments and communities that foster connection— and your masterful designs have brought that vision to fruition and revolutionized practices worldwide. Transformers of town planning, for renewing our concept of the urban environment, and for advocating “smart growth” and walkable cities over unsustainable sprawl, we proudly present you both with your second Yale degrees, Doctor of Fine Arts.

Partners in marriage as well as professionally, Duany and Plater-Zyberk met as undergraduates at Princeton University. The Cuban-American Duany was raised in Barcelona, while PlaterZyberk, whose architect father and family immigrated to the United States from Poland, grew up near Philadelphia.

Both of them credit their childhood environments for instilling in them a powerful sense of the value of traditional urbanism. After graduating from Yale, the couple relocated to Miami, Florida, where they co-founded Arquitectonica, known for its striking modernist designs. In 1980, they launched their own firm, now named DPZ CoDesign, focused on alternatives to suburban sprawl and public participation in the design process. In 1992, they

co-founded the Congress for the New Urbanism, dedicated to advancing urban ideals including diversification, environmental responsibility, transit, and pedestrian-first design. They remain active in the organization, which meets annually and now counts more than three thousand members.

CÔME MÉNAGE RECEIVES 2022-2023 “EUROPE 40 UNDER 40 AWARD” Côme Ménage - READ Architecture Design DPC (France) has been awarded 40 under 40 Architects Europe in the 2022 class.

The “EUROPE 40 UNDER 40®” is an annual awards program initiated by The European Centre to highlight and distinguish the next generation of architects and designers who will impact future living and working environments, cities, and rural areas. It is an annual celebration of innovation and creativity.

The program is open to all young architects, landscape architects, urban planners, and industrial designers currently under the age of 40, working independently, in a firm, or on a specific project as the lead designers.

U-SoA FACULTY MEMBERS FEATURED IN UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME’S ARCHIVES OF NEW TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE The University of Notre Dame’s Archives of New Traditional Architecture (ANTA) featured U-SoA faculty in their Vol. 4 (Fall 2022) issue. This issue contains: 1. An essay by Jean Francois Lejeune 2. An essay by former Dean Javier Cenicacelaya

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FACULTY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS 3. A conversation with Elizabeth PlaterZyberk and Andres Duany 4. Featured projects by Jorge Hernandez, DPZ Co-Design, Cure and Penabad, Martinez Alvarez, Trelles Cabarrocas, De La Guardia Victoria, and Khoury Vogt

PROF. ROBERTO BEHAR AND ROSARIO MARQUARDT’S “THE HOME WE SHARE” DEDICATED AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY “The Home We Share” (2022) consists of three individual works of striking pink art that simultaneously serve as instant landmarks near Yeh College and New College West while offering all Princeton students a variety of spaces for social encounters and platforms for free expression and togetherness. Flower Fields Forever, Forget Me Not and Dreaming Room invites students to a unique set of fragments of a collective open-air home and develop a new sense of freedom and possibilities in their home away from home at Princeton. The low-tech interactive projects are simultaneously familiar, intimate, and unprecedented inventions.

“We understand architecture as public art,” said Rosario Marquardt and Roberto Behar of Miami-based R&R Studios, which designed the works. “Our forte is making artworks that perform as social sculptures and tools for the pursuit of happiness.”

“The Home We Share” enriches Princeton University Art Museum’s exceptional outdoor art collections and brings new meaning and emotion to life on campus. As Haskell Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Mitra Abbaspour noted, “Sited at three distinct points of congregation or entry to the new colleges, these fantastical sculptures invite communal gathering and provide a setting for individual contemplation.”

MARQUARDT’S “THE HOME WE SHARE” The Home We Share by Rosario and Roberto of R&R Studios celebrates Princeton University’s distinct public service and social engagement culture.

Our intention is to highlight and further enable the experience of friendship and camaraderie students will always associate with their passage through Princeton. We understand architecture as public art. Our forte is making artworks that perform as social sculptures and tools for the pursuit of happiness. Our works bridge popular culture and contemporary art, erase boundaries between art and life, and aim to bring new meaning and emotion to the public realm.

> PROFS. ADIB CURE AND CARIE PENABAD’S “ALLORA” PROJECT Until the mid-1980s, Guatemala City extensively used brick construction for its housing. This subtle material reflected an immediate connection to place and supported an industry of craftsmen that produced the material itself. Allora explores brick construction and its implications on urban form and composition to revive this tradition. The proposal develops an urban plan comprising five housing types that vary depending on location. The precise dimensions of the units are conceived and linked to the basic dimensions of a single brick (9x14x29cm) to avoid the “cutting” of any bricks on site.

PROF. SARA VELASQUEZ VOTED MIAMI BEACH DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MEMBER Sara Velasquez was voted unanimously to become a Miami Beach Design Review Board Member. This is one of the most prestigious design review committees in Miami-Dade County. Boards and Committees provide a tremendous service to the City of Miami Beach. These volunteers give hundreds of hours of their own time and expertise to advise the City Commission on matters of particular concern.

APRIL 2023

U-SOA FACULTY WORK FEATURED ON KOOZARC >>

PROF. STEVEN FETT RECEIVES THE FLORIDA REDEVELOPMENT “BEST OF” AWARD FOR PLANNING STUDIES Steven Fett was presented with the Florida Redevelopment “Best of” award for Planning Studies for his firm’s work on the Margate CRA Building Design Regulations.

> PROF. ROBERTO BEHAR AND ROSARIO

each regulation. Throughout, and for each regulation, there are actual photo images or diagrams with supporting text descriptions that illustrate a “good example” versus a “bad example” and identification of the physical locations of these “good” or “bad” structures or designs. This approach has made it an extremely user-friendly regulations document that entices users’ interests rather than intimidates them.

PROF. VICTOR DEUPI UNVEILS HIS LATEST BOOK Victor Deupi’s latest book, Pavilion Living: Architecture, Patronage, and Well-Being, has been published by Oscar Riera Ojeda Publishers. On March 16, Deupi presented the lecture, “Barnyard Bouquet: On Stables and Wineries,” at the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art (ICAA), Southern California Chapter.

The award jurors stated, “The MCRA Building Design Regulations both graphically and textually illustrate new design standards for developments within the redevelopment district of the Margate CRA.” The document heavily emphasizes pictorial images and diagrams to illustrate WWW.ARC.MIAMI.EDU/NEWS-AND-EVENTS/USOA-NOW // 113

PROF. NELSON ALVAREZ SHOWCASES HIS JERUSALEM COLLECTION Nelson Alvarez has completed his Jerusalem photography collection, featuring the Armenian Quarter, Christian Quarter, Jewish Quarter, and Muslim Quarter.

MARCH 2O23

Below he writes his Jerusalem Statement: Why Genius Loci?

PROF. JOSE GELABERT-NAVIA’S WORK ON DISPLAY Jose Gelabert-Navia participated in the CopperBridge Foundation and North Miami CRA show, A Visual Code: Art Deco & Modernism Exhibit, which opened at the Scott Galvin Community Center on April 4, 2023. The show runs through April 30, 2023.

ICAA FLORIDA CHAPTER’S LECTURE SERIES ON MEDITERRANEAN ARCHITECTURE FEATURES PROF. ELIZABETH PLATER-ZYBERK On April 12, the ICAA Florida Chapter hosted a Lecture Series on Mediterranean Architecture, which featured an interview between Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Founding Partner of DPZ Co-Design & University of Miami School of Architecture Dean Emeritus, and Stefanos Polyzoides, Partner of Moule Polyzoides Architects, Santa Barbara, California and Dean of Notre Dame School of Architecture. This series on Mediterranean architecture, urbanism, practice, and design are all important and relevant aspects for the city of Coral Gables and its residents.

In Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture, Christian Norberg-Schulz, 1979, Rizzoli, genius loci is described as representing the sense people have of a place, understood as the sum of all physical as well as symbolic values in nature and the human environment catering to a holistic engagement of all the senses as against the dominant privilege for the ocular sense or the visual.

In Norberg Schulz’s description of the genius loci, four thematic levels can be recognized: the topography of the earth’s surface; the cosmological light conditions and the sky as natural conditions; buildings; symbolic and existential meanings in the cultural landscape.

Norberg Schulz gives a special place to natural conditions, distinguishing three basic landscape characters: romantic, cosmic, and classical.

These are also understandable as ideal types. Both buildings and the symbolic meaning of a settlement are important for the genius loci concept as expressions of society’s cultural interpretation of place. Genius Loci is the intangible quality of a material place, perceived both physically and spiritually, as the spirit or sense of a place.

PROFS. SHAWNA AND CHRIS MEYER WERE RECOGNIZED AS 2023 JOHN G. WILLIAMS FELLOWSHIP INDUCTEES Shawna and Chris Meyer are honored to be recognized as 2023 John G. Williams Fellowship inductees. The fellowship is responsible for bringing into the Fay Jones School of Architecture+Design Distinguished visiting professors leading critical practices worldwide since its inception in 1998.

“We want to thank Dean Peter MacKeith, department head of architecture John Folan, associate Dean Ethel GoldsteinMurphree and Marlon Blackwell for the recognition and kind words offered at the Fellowship Celebration. Last but not least, thank you to Sue Hein for continuing the legacy of John G. Williams. Shawna and Chris are proud to be alumni of Fay Jones School and now even more as 2023 fellowship inductees.”

— Shawna and Chris Meyer

Why Corto Maltese?

Corto Maltese is an imaginary character in the Italian comic books created by Hugo Pratt in 1967. These comics have historical, geographical, and cultural references but are not bogged down by weighty characterizations. Corto is an ironic sailor man, an anti-hero traveler who prefers freedom and imagination to wealth, and he is a modern Ulysses able to make us travel to the most fascinating places in the world. Citizen of the world by choice? Lover of its own unconditional freedom. Once Corto Maltese: said, “Waste your time ... out of this labyrinth, you will find nothing!” “I’m not a hero, I like to travel, and I don’t like rules.”

PROF. JAIME CORREA RECEIVES ADDISON MIZNER AWARD The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art Florida Chapter is pleased to announce the 2022 Board Designated Addison Mizner Award Recipient for: PEDAGOGY: Prof. Jaime Correa Director of Undergraduate Program In Architecture, School of Architecture, University of Miami The ICAA awards program celebrates the

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FACULTY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS achievement of excellence in the fields of Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Urbanism, Craftsmanship, and the allied arts. The awards are named for Addison Mizner, the architect whose civic and domestic works defined the standards of excellence in composition and craftsmanship for classical and traditional design in the early years of urban development in Florida.

day, including climate change, affordable housing, embedded technologies, infrastructure design, urban policy, and much, much more.

communities. Block parties in big cities.

Even incorporated the materials of South Florida shotgun homes into an installation about Black hair.

The show airs on the VoiceAmerica network every Friday at 11 AM (EST) and 8 AM (PST) and is also available on Voice America or via Apple, Spotify, and other digital platforms.

Germane thinks about all the ways physical architecture influences bigger structures like politics and culture. His art has been displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and right now you can catch his installation titled Rock | Roll at the Miami Design District.

Learn more and tune in: https://www. voiceamerica.com/show/4119

PROFS. ADIB CURE AND CARIE PENABAD’S “PEACH PROJECT“ PUBLISHED ON KOOZARCH AND DIVISARE One of Adib Cure and Carie Penabad’s Miami projects, Peach Project, was recently published on KoozArch and Divisare.

Project description: If Miami is to address the challenges of climate and affordability, it must densify its neighborhoods through incremental growth that allows more participants to benefit from current development trends. To this end, the Peach Project seeks to invest in the historic, black neighborhood of Overtown by creating a new headquarters for CATALYST Miami, a non-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering grassroots networks in the community. The project is developed as a new building type with micro-retail, offices and affordable housing units.

View the project: https://koozarch.com/archipelago/peachproject https://divisare.com/projects/475629cure-penabad-peach-project FEBRUARY 2023

HOW HURRICANES AND SHOTGUN HOMES SHAPED PROF. GERMANE BARNES’S DESIGNS Germane Barnes witnessed the mad scramble before a hurricane — and he thought about everyone left behind.

Everyone who couldn’t afford to flee in a plane or a car. Those who’d be left behind after a storm, without basic infrastructure.

Without electricity or water or cooking fuel. Sometimes for weeks.

He’s thought about people riding a bus through his hometown of Chicago. How little inconveniences add up. A lack of trees for shade. Comfortable benches at a stop. How they act as barriers for the poor to move through the city.

WE WELCOME OUR NEW VISITING RESEARCH SCHOLAR, JING JING The School of Architecture welcomes a new Visiting Research Scholar, Jing Jing, who recently arrived in South Florida. Jing is a Ph.D. Fellow in Urban and Regional Studies at the School of Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE) of the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.

Jing’s doctoral research is titled Urban Connection: How public space plays a role in combating loneliness. Her advisor at the KTH is Tigran Haas, known to many of our Miami faculty who have worked with him on conferences and publications.

Jing received a scholarship to complete a sub-study paper titled “Becoming Third Place in the Context of Ageing in Place” and a cover essay for her thesis while at the University of Miami.

Germane thought about these things like an architect.

PROF. CARIE PENABAD LAUNCHES “ON CITIES” Carie Penabad has launched a new national radio show entitled ON CITIES. The program examines the complex forces that shape the making of our built environment and the ways that the design of our cities influences the quality of our lives. Weekly conversations with leading experts in a variety of fields engage some of the greatest challenges of our

On the Jan. 9 episode of Sundial on WLRN, Germane talks with host Carlos Frías about his connection to South Florida. The founder of Studio Barnes has been living and working in South Florida for a decade, where he’s an assistant professor at the University of Miami School of Architecture and the director of their Community, Housing & Identity Lab. He’s also an artist. Someone who spends his time trying to understand not just physical spaces — but the people and communities who use them. He’s studied the role of the front porch in Black

GULNOZA KULDOSHEVA, COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS PROGRAM FELLOW AND PAST VISITING SCHOLAR, COMPLETES HER RESEARCH Gulnoza Kuldosheva, Community Solutions Program fellow, who was

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a visiting scholar at the School of Architecture during the fall ‘22 semester, has completed her research and returned to her home in Uzbekistan. Her research explored the impact of urban design on the economy of cities. While at the “U,” she participated in the SoA Introduction to Urban Design studio and engaged a number of faculty in other departments.

Just before her departure, she translated into Uzbek the Charter for the New Urbanism, much to the delight and appreciation of the leadership of the Congress for the New Urbanism!

The Community Solutions Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is a professional development program for emerging community leaders working on environmental issues, peace and conflict resolution, transparency and accountability, and women and gender issues.

JANUARY 2023

To introduce the panel, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava welcomed guests and thanked Cortada for his environmental activism in South Florida. Levine Cava called on young audience members to be changemakers to combat climate change.

PROF. VICTOR DEUPI INTERVIEWS MOSHE SAFDIE AT MIAMI BOOK FAIR Victor Deupi was on stage with the celebrated architect Moshe Safdie at the Miami Book Fair on November 20, 2022, discussin g his life, work, and new autobiography. On December 7, Deupi moderated a panel on “The Indigenous and the African in Modern Cuban Architecture” at Harvard University’s Afro-Latin American Research Institute’s 2nd Continental Conference. He also delivered a paper on “Extolling the Vernacular in the Modern Cuban House.”

Dr. Deupi was also recently elected the President of the DOCOMOMO US / Florida Chapter for a 2-year term.

DECEMBER 2022

PROF. GERMANE BARNES FEATURED IN PLACES JOURNAL Recently, Places published a sevenpart narrative survey, Field Notes: Design Activism, in which more than six dozen designers and design educators worldwide respond to the calls for meaningful change—indeed, transformation—echoing today in practice and pedagogy. In this survey, Germane Barnes contributes to Field Notes on Design Activism: 1.

“Design activism is work that requires heroic effort and dedication. That is not to be confused with work that requires a hero. Ethical architectural practice requires constant communication in feedback loops with local constituents.

Part of that approach is explaining to your students that architecture’s current racial makeup skews significantly White, so knowing how and when to use the talents you will develop responsibly as an ally are essential skills. This is work that must incorporate real-world approaches.

It is necessary work. It is our job to do it correctly.” — Germane Barnes.

Read more: https://placesjournal.org/ article/field-notes-on-design-activism-1/

“We need public buy-in, and we need to welcome broad civic engagement and pressure from the residents, students, and future generations [to fight climate change],” Levine Cava said. “Climate change will affect all of you the most, and we are counting on you to be the agitators, the disruptors, and to make sure that we do not retreat from these commitments.”

The discussion was moderated by David Kelly, professor for the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School, academic director of the sustainable business master’s degree program, and co-chair of the Sustainable Business Research Cluster.

It featured Cortada alongside Sonia Chao, associate dean of research and co-director of the Master of Professional Science in urban sustainability and resilience program in the School of Architecture, and Brian Haus, professor and chair of the Department of Ocean Sciences at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science.

The panelists discussed their academic and research-focused approaches to climate solutions. They noted that the threat of climate change is one that people living in Miami must tackle with a comprehensive strategy that includes research, community, and passion.

PROF. SONIA CHAO PRESENTS HER APPROACH TO CLIMATE SOLUTION The University of Miami community on Monday got an exclusive sneak peek of a TED Talk by Xavier Cortada, professor of practice and three-time alumnus. The event included a panel discussion about climate change impacts, research, and solutions in South Florida.

By UM News How do we best engage the public around climate issues?

It is a question Xavier Cortada, a University of Miami professor of practice and three-time alumnus, has spent his life answering through socially engaged art.

Cortada addresses the question in an upcoming TED Talk, and members of the University of Miami community got an exclusive preview of the talk during a screening on Nov. 28 at the Bill Cosford Cinema. The event included a panel discussion with University experts about climate change impacts, research, and solutions in South Florida. The event also marked the launch of Miami Art Week as part of Art Basel, which begins on Dec. 1.

Chao highlighted one of her research projects in which she and a team of researchers analyzed data, including federal insurance rate maps, land zones, and building structures, to develop a tool that would detail how buildings are at risk of sea level rise to address their specific vulnerabilities. She said that she hopes research like hers helps communities make informed decisions.

“We hope that this tool becomes a useful tool. Not only to citizens, because it allows them to understand what their reality is and to help them make choices, but it also helps those in government to make their choices. They have limited resources, and we have entrusted them to make decisions on our behalf that will best serve us as a community,” she said.

The discussion focused on how increasing awareness in the South Florida community of the threats of sea level rise is an integral part of the complex strategies that will be part of the climate crisis solution.

Cortada shared how he uses his art to inspire awareness throughout Miami.

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FACULTY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS “As an artist, I try to ensure that the broader society finds the relevance of [climate issues] at a time when it might not be obvious,” he said.

In 1984 the nonprofit TED—which stands for technology, entertainment, and design—started bringing together experts in technology, entertainment, and design for public-speaking presentations at its conference. The topics for these TED Talks grew and so did the presenters, who are usually limited to 18 minutes each. “Countdown,” TED’s climate action initiative, launched in 2019 with a focus on talks about accelerating solutions to climate change.

Cortada’s TED Talk recounts a trip to Antarctica in 2006, where he discovered how dire the climate crisis is. Inspired by his visit, Cortada turned to socially engaged art. He founded the “Underwater HOA,” an interactive art project which aims to generate awareness of rising sea levels in Miami and engage people to take action against climate change by providing a space where homeowners can address its impending impacts.

The art pieces depict South Florida’s vulnerability to sea-level rise, specifically the vulnerability homeowners within South Florida face. Using paintings made from the melting ice Cortada saw in Antarctica, local homeowners then install a “marker” in their front yard that depicts the house’s current elevation above sea level.

Prior to the event, attendees were invited to take part in Cortada’s participatory art project “HELLO,” which was launched with Levine Cava in 2021, and the “Underwater HOA,” where participants could use an interactive map to see where their home lies above sea level. Visitors took nametags from the “HELLO” project and instead of identifying themselves with their names, identified how many feet above sea level they live.

Sara Hooper, a first-year student studying economics and neuroscience, and Luke Norris, a sophomore studying ecosystem science and policy, are student interns for the Xavier Cortada Foundation. Together with Cortada’s team, they work to bring his art projects to life in the community.

the audience. Matthew Justin, a first-year student studying architecture, asked panelists about future alternatives to natural barriers, like mangroves, to reduce natural disasters. Haus discussed the advent of man-made hybrid structures with natural attachments, like coral reef or seagrass barges, to replace sea walls.

As a member of the Student Government’s ECO Agency, Justin had previously helped Cortada plant mangrove seedlings along the canal near the Miami Herbert Business School as part of the Reclamation Project.

“It was super cool to come to hear what Professor Cortada had to say after meeting him at the business school,” he said.

PROF. STEVEN FETT PRESENTS NEW RAILVOLUTIONARIES: THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION PLANNING CAREERS On Sunday, October 30th, 2022 five transit experts from across the country joined SoA students for a discussion on the future of multi-modal transportation.

The event, part of the broader “RailVolution” conference, was organized and moderated by SoA Lecturer Steven Fett and featured Chicago City Planner Ernest Bellemy, transit consultant Steven Granson, Los Angeles senior transit planner Ezra Pincus-Roth, Houston transit planner Ross Griffey and David Goodman, an SoA alum from Jacobs. Rail-Volution is the hub and spark for a network of leaders, practitioners, and advocates inspired by the potential for major transit investments to shape more vibrant and equitable communities. The Rail-Volution network shares the belief that the focus of any new investment is not so much the project – whether rail, bus, trail, or development – but the people and what they want their communities to become.

The event concluded with questions from

NOVEMBER 2022

GERMANE BARNES EXPLORES BLACK IDENTITY IN UNSETTLED AT NINA JOHNSON GALLERY As a Black man, architect Germane Barnes values African migration because it is the essence of his ancestors, he says.

In an exhibition of his work, “Germane Barnes: Unsettled” at Nina Johnson gallery, he explores both memory and identity related to these values.

“Their migration was forced through enslavement while mine is free and a direct result of their sacrifices,” says Barnes. He speaks of “processes and culture” and of working in a field that “often ignores the African continent in favor of Eurocentric design ideologies.”

The specific body of work is a result of the artist’s recent time in Italy as a fellow of the American Academy in Rome, where he researched and explored North African influences of classical architecture and design.

The artwork is “Unsettled” because Barnes is an ever-evolving designer who continues to explore and learn more about his ancestry. “It’s also representative of how Black people across the globe are often not allowed to settle anywhere outside of the African continent. Anger, resentment, and xenophobia are especially audible towards Blackness everywhere,” he says.

He’s also exploring the influence of built environments on Black domesticity.

His history and global history heavily influence his practice, and he believes architecture can be used to tell stories that are otherwise left behind.

“I know the importance of how art can reach people in a way words can’t,” Norris said. “You know the saying ‘A picture is worth a thousand words?’ We’ve done murals and art in public places to create awareness [about climate change].

Awareness is important, but it’s really about awareness and action.”

Cortada noted that socially engaged art provides a mechanism to bring different people together over a shared challenge and gives people a sense of agency and responsibility in the climate crisis.

faculty with guests from the global architecture community, the UIC series brings together new and familiar voices like Go Hasegawa, Camilo Restrepo, or Sean Canty that integrate contemporary discourse and criticism into the school in fresh and playful ways.

PROF. CHARLOTTE VON MOOS DISCUSSES HER RECENT WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO FALL LECTURE SERIES As part of the University of Illinois Chicago Fall lecture series, Charlotte von Moos discussed and presented recent work on November 17. Pairing school

In addition to exploring migration from an African perspective, Barnes’ exhibition also relates his personal journey from Chicago to Cape Town, then Los Angeles to Miami.

“I am a Chicago-born designer whose parents, grandparents, great grandparents, great-great grandparents, are descendants of enslavement. And through their

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bravery and triumphs, I have been given tremendous privilege. They found their way to Chicago through the Great Migration, and I use architecture to tell their brilliant stories of perseverance,” explains Barnes, who is an assistant professor and the director of the Community Housing & Identity Lab (CHIL) at the University of Miami School of Architecture.

In 2021, he received the Rome Prize for Architecture from the American Academy in Rome, which is given to support innovative and cross-disciplinary work.

He recently was awarded the 2022 Miami Design District Annual Neighborhood Commission for his multi-scale installation “Rock | Roll,” which will be displayed in November. The series of seating capsules, which are meant to be activated by passersby in the public spaces of the Miami Design District, is rendered in vibrant colors. An architectural-style dome is suspended overhead as part of the installation.

Architecture is the artist’s way of expressing himself, of telling stories through tectonics or rituals of space. His mission is to make architecture a griot, an orator of stories. Barnes, as an architect, also investigates the relationship between identity and architecture in his research and design practice.

“I loosely associate my work and process with anthropology in that I am more interested in the ways we use space and manipulate the intentions of the architect than the physical space of architecture.

I find a greater connection between the user and their culture in that process.

I attempt to design in such a way that blends culture and history,” he says.

thrilled we have the excuse to share his work with his hometown,” says Johnson.

– Jonel Juste, ArtburstMiami.com

conference series alongside other speakers, including Shigeru Ban, Tatiana Bilbao, Assemble, Hashim Sarkis, Camilo Restrepo, Philippe Rahm, and Cecilia Puga.

OCTOBER 2022

CHARLOTTE VON MOOS’S BOOK RECOMMENDED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES Prof. von Moos’s book “In Miami in the 1980s” was recently discussed and recommended by Eve M. Kahn in the New York Times. Ms. Kahn writes that the book “focuses on memorable but disposable postmodern buildings commissioned by newly minted millionaires. The architect and researcher Charlotte von Moos led a contributor team (artist Max Creasy, architect Kersten Geers and curator Niels Olsen), exploring homes, offices, transit hubs, and civic gathering places with nautical white railings, magenta and yellow facades, and sawtooth profiles. The designers were as prominent as the artist Isamu Noguchi and the firm Arquitectonica, and some buildings were given ancientsounding names, which nonetheless offered no protection from neglectful owners and abusive tropical winds.”

GERMANE BARNES TAKES CENTER STAGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT THE UCLA AUD FALL 2022 LECTURE SERIES Germane Barnes’ award-winning research and design practice, Studio Barnes, investigates the connection between architecture and identity, examining architecture’s social and political agency through historical research and design speculation. Mining architecture’s social and political agency, he examines how the built environment influences black domesticity.

Barnes is also an Assistant Professor and the Director of The Community Housing & Identity Lab (CHIL) at the University of Miami School of Architecture. His work has been featured in a variety of international institutions and platforms; last year, Barnes won the 2021 Architectural League Prize, the 2021 Wheelwright Prize, and the 20212022 Rome Prize in Architecture, among other honors.

Read more: https://aud.ucla.edu/newsevents/events/fall2022-germane-barnes

The work in “Unsettled” includes two tapestries, furniture that uses materials that reference migration, and five twodimensional works. The purpose of the project was to reintroduce the art of hand-woven tapestries in contemporary design by using rigorous traditional techniques and premium materials with stellar workmanship. The featured tapestries are maps that highlight redlining and segregation.

Throughout “Unsettled,” Barnes examines Black migration within and outside of the continental United States while blurring the lines between design and architecture.

“We have long championed the overlap and intersection of art and design, finding Germane who is a pioneer in this space, particularly as it relates to histories of the African Diaspora within the United States,” says Johnson, whose gallery in Little Haiti is presenting the exhibition.

“Knowing he was living in Miami made me certain we would have much to work on together. Since then, the world has taken notice with so many accolades. I am

SAUTER VON MOOS TAKES PART IN THE XII BIENAL IBEROAMERICANA DE ARQUITECTURA Y URBANISMO IN MEXICO CITY Prof. von Moos takes part in the XII Bienal Iberoamericana de Arquitectura y Urbanismo in Mexico City. Under the general title “Habitat al Margen” they deliver a lecture in the accompanying

GERMANE BARNES DEBUTS “INTERSECT,” AN EPHEMERAL PLAY PAVILION AT THE CONCÉNTRICO FESTIVAL IN LOGROÑO, SPAIN Early this month, the Spanish city of Logroño hosted the eighth edition of its annual architecture and design festival known as Concéntrico. Nestled along the Ebro River in northern Spain’s winefamous Rioja province, the city has hosted 91 ephemeral installations and 42 exhibitions and talks during the run of the festival’s seven previous iterations.

This year, Concéntrico showcased another batch of jury-selected urban interventions from an impressive cohort of international designers and artists including, among

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FACULTY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS others, Associates Architecture (Italy), Tableau (Denmark), SKULL Studio (Czechia), Rintala Eggertsson Architects (Norway), Konstantin Grcic (Germany), BudCud (Poland), Yemail Arquitectura (Colombia), Matali Crasset (France), and Miami (via Chicago)’s very own Germane Barnes, an architect and educator who serves as founding principal of multidisciplinary design practice Studio Barnes.

For Concéntrico 08, Barnes, 2021 recipient of the Harvard GSD’s Wheelwright Prize and a 2021­–2022 Rome Prize fellow, conceived Intersect, a popup play pavilion in the heart of Logroño that invited passersby to engage with the surrounding urban environment as one big theater. MAS Context, a Chicagobased nonprofit led by architect, editor, and curator Iker Gil, supported the installation. Gil, a native of Bilbao, also served on the jury of Concéntrico 08.

Intersect took its name from the playscape’s three roughly 30-footdiameter “land circles” converging at a 15-foot-tall wooden superstructure to create a “zone of occupation for individuals which reference different components of a theater.” The installation’s location at the intersection of Gran Via and Daniel Trevijano Street, “at the actual crossing of major sidewalks,” was meant to “reinforce the idea of the city as a theatre to be celebrated,” detailed a description of the work.

Dubbed the Stage, Intersect’s first circular zone was envisioned by Barnes as an open-air arena of sorts for theatrical (or not-so-theatrical) modes of expression illuminated by solar-powered lights affixed to the underside of the structure.

Spectators could sit and rest on modular seating created by the arc of the ground circle. The second zone was the Garden, which featured five circular, plant-filled baskets suspended from the superstructure.

Finally, there was the Curtain, a crowdpleaser comprised of thin threads encircling a segment of the installation. While the Curtain held obvious appeal to frolicking younger users, the thrill of making a dramatic public entrance—i.e. parting and then sashaying through—a long, dangling portière never really gets old.

be on hand the evening of November 10 to lead a discussion and present a screening of his award-winning short film You Can Always Come Home. More info about that event and the rest of the series can be found here.

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- Matt Hickman

AUGUST 2022

STEVE WRIGHT EXPANDS ON CAMPAIGN FOR UNIVERSAL DESIGN COURSE Steve Wright co-created and team-taught a groundbreaking course on Universal Design at the U-SoA in Spring Semester 2022. He incorporated the course into several activities and accomplishments, including: A presentation titled “The Humble Sidewalk,” covering and its essential role in daily life, especially for people with disabilities, at the 58th Making Cities Livable Conference in Paris. https://www. imcl.online/2022-paris

Being honored by the City of Miami and City of Coral Gables with commendations honoring the creation of the Universal Design course at the U-SoA.

PROF. G. MARTIN MOELLER, JR. ANNOUNCES THE PUBLICATION OF THE LATEST EDITION OF HIS “AIA GUIDE TO THE ARCHITECTURE OF WASHINGTON, D.C.” G. Martin Moeller, Jr., Assoc. AIA, adjunct lecturer at the University of Miami School of Architecture, announces the publication of the latest edition of his AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, DC, published by the Johns Hopkins University Press on behalf of the AIA|DC Chapter.

An essay “Why Universal Design is critical to CNU--Too many architects, planners, transportation engineers, and urban designers reduce the ADA to some kind of onerous hurdle that must be leaped” in the Town Square journal of the Congress for New Urbanism. https://www.cnu.org/ publicsquare/2022/06/15/why-universaldesign-critical-cnu A cover story “Five Epic Accessibility Fails in Miami” in the Miami New Times, an article previewing the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. https://www.miaminewtimes.com/ news/five-accessible-design-fails-inmiami-14684031 An analysis of the ADA and the built environment in “United Spinal and the Americans with Disabilities Act -- On the front lines from passage to enforcement and beyond” https://unitedspinal.org/ united-spinal-and-the-ada/

Concéntrico 08 ran from September 1–6.

As noted by the festival organizers, the latest edition expanded its “usual focus to explore new urban practices: locations that emerge from constant listening to continue to raise debates that look at the city itself.”

Serving as a guest on the Active Towns podcast, hosted by John Simmerman, on “Universal Design Benefits Everyone – Mobility for All Ages and Abilities” https://www.activetowns.org/2022/05/31/ universal-design/

On the topic of people and objects coming together, Barnes is also a featured participant in INTERSECTIONS: Where Diversity, Equity and Design Meet, a forthcoming series of talks and workshops held at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Barnes will

Appearing on the Aesthetic City podcast, hosted by Ruben Hanssen, on “Universal Design, Accessibility for All in a Holistic Design Approach.” https://anchor.fm/ the-aesthetic-city/episodes/14---SteveWright-Universal-Design--Accessibilityfor-All-in-a-Holistic-Design-Approach-

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM ANNOUNCES LATEST PUBLIC ART INITIATIVE BY R&R STUDIOS “We are delighted to announce the latest additions to Princeton University Art Museum’s public art initiative. The Home We Share, a trio of outdoor sculptural installations by the Miami-based R&R Studios, are now nestled into the lush landscape of two brand-new residential colleges, Yeh College and New College West. Rosario Marquardt and Roberto Behar, the artist team at the helm of R&R Studios, describe their works as “social sculptures and tools for the pursuit of happiness.”

Collectively titled The Home We Share, the individual works—Flower Fields Forever, Forget Me Not, and Dreaming Room— present a field of enlarged pink, yellow, and orange flowers; a rose-colored, elongated table and benches encircled with festival lights; and a bright, oversize living room sofa and carpet, respectively. Sited at three distinct points of congregation or entry to the colleges, these fantastical sculptures

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invite communal gathering and provide a setting for individual contemplation. The works bring domestic comforts into the natural landscape and the wonders of nature into communal living spaces.” — Princeton University Art Museum

JUNE 2022

JULY 2022

PROF. JOSE GELABERT-NAVIA PUBLISHES THREE NEW PORTFOLIOS OF ORIGINAL DRAWINGS Prof. Jose Gelabert-Navia published three new titles in the Journeys Collection: China, Italy, and Taos - Santa Fe.

“I LOVE YOU” SOCIAL SCULPTURE BY R&R STUDIOS U-SoA Professor Roberto Behar and Rosario Marquardt from R&R Studios present ‘I love you,’ an emotional monument that professes its love along the Alexandria Waterfront, VA. As part of Roberto and Rosario’s team at R&R Studios, alumni Georgie John and Siying Cheng, as well as U-SoA summer interns Joao Ribeiro and Kailyn Wee, also contributed to the project.

Weaving together visual arts, architecture, design, and the city, Miami-based R&R studios presents I LOVE YOU, a social sculpture and place of encounters that celebrates friendship and camaraderie along the Alexandria Waterfront, in Virginia, US. The project is designed as an emotional monument and portable square composed of two elements, a rose-hued neon and metal sign rising 15 feet high above a pink ground mural emulating a giant carpet 36’ x 76’ rendered with blossoming flowers. I LOVE YOU becomes an instant landmark, bringing people together with a universal and personal message at the same time.

A bright message for a kinder society

PROFS. VICTOR DEUPI AND ERIC FIRLEY’S ESSAY, MIAMI AND VENICE: RADDLED SPLENDORS IN SEARCH OF RESILIENCE PUBLISHED Victor Deupi and Eric Firley’s essay, “Miami and Venice: Raddled Splendors in Search of Resilience,” from the Italian Pavilion of the Venice Biennale was published in Resilient communities = Comunità resilienti, Volume 2, edited by Alessandro Melis, Benedetta Medas, and Telmo Pievani (Ladispoli: D Editore, 2022), 181-88.

According to R&R studios (see more here), the I LOVE YOU installation inspires positive action and an avalanche of personal memories and wishes. It confronts the overwhelming solicitations that abound in today’s metropolitan surroundings with an unexpected, unprecedented brilliant notion, passing on the message that a better society is conceivable. Together, the sign and the carpet make the outline of a room that is open to anyone.

I LOVE YOU is a poetic piece that moves back and forth between public and private, intimacy and monumentality, social place and landmark, fiction and fact. The Miami-based firm explains, ‘Like Alice in Wonderland, who changes scales to shift her sense of reality through dreams, I LOVE YOU presents physical evidence of the amazing as part of daily life.’ The artwork is the most recent public art project in the continuing New Views in Old Town series at the Alexandria, VA waterfront, which is organized by the City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts and was on display from MArch to November 2022.

PROF. CHARLOTTE VON MOOS’S BOOK IN MIAMI IN THE 1980S PUBLISHED Title: In Miami in the 1980s Subtitle: The Vanishing Architecture of a “Paradise Lost“ Contributors: Max Creasy, Kersten Geers, Charlotte von Moos, Niels Olsen Editor: Charlotte von Moos Publisher: Buchhandlung Walther Franz König A new book from architect Charlotte von Moos explores “the vanishing architecture of a ‘Paradise Lost’” — Miami in the Eighties, the decade of Miami Vice, Arquitectonica’s pastel-colored buildings, large beachfront houses, and other South Florida creations.

Although it starts with a handful of video stills from Miami Vice — one of them famously capturing the bright red stair of Arquitectonica’s iconic Atlantis apartment building on Biscayne Bay — In Miami in the 1980s: The Vanishing Architecture of a “Paradise Lost” is hardly a winking glance back to a time and place of style and excess. The subtitle hints at how Charlotte von Moos, who not long ago arrived in Miami from Basel, Switzerland, has infused the book with what she describes as “a melancholic mood” brought about by her encounters with notable buildings on the precipice of their demolition and a public uninterested in their fates. In Miami in the 1980s is a call to protect what remains of the city’s extraordinary buildings and infrastructure created four decades ago. What follows is a visual tour through Von Moos’s excellent, highly recommended book.

This book brings together a group of essays, a photo series, and a catalogue of selected projects of Miami’s 1980s architecture—some built, some unbuilt.

The text and the accompanying images celebrate a period in American architecture when, in Miami, the subtropical nexus of the Americas, art and architecture were intensely interconnected, and Miami architects were partaking in the discipline’s international discourse. Triggered by the case of The Babylon, Arquitectonica’s first building, which after having been designated as protected landmark in 2016 was in 2019 sadly demolished, Charlotte von Moos’s research was driven by a sense of urgency about today’s lack of care for such remarkable projects, even more at

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FACULTY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS stake given South Florida’s contemporary challenges like climate change.

SHEPHERDING RESILIENCE AND RESEARCH AT U-SOA Prof. Sonia Chao was named the new Associate Dean of Research in the Fall 2022 term and under her guidance three new initiatives were established at the School. The first of these is the monthly U-SoA Research Newsletter, which consolidates resources aimed at assisting faculty and students to expand their research initiatives. The second initiative she launched was the Springterm Salons series, which took place in February 2022 at the SoA Courtyard, with each session drawing attention to the graduate programs at SoA and to the research being led by their related directors and affiliated faculty. The third initiative she will launch later this year is an online bibliography of faculty research, publications, exhibitions, and professional work. As for her own research, Prof.

Chao continues to be actively engaged within climate sustainability and resilience initiatives, building upon her nearly two decade-long engagement in this research area. Earlier this spring semester, she was awarded a second ULINK grant, on this occasion, as a Co-lead Principal Investigator, along with RSMAS Prof. Villy Kourafalou, directing an interdisciplinary team of UM scholars who are focused on the topic: “Developing resiliency tools and metrics and co-designing an expert and stakeholder coalition to sustain predictions on the health of South Florida’s Biome through a human, urban, and environmental transect” (View More: https://ulink.miami.edu/projects/ resilience-challenge/04-developingresiliency-tool/index.html).

Over the past academic year, Chao has had two peer-reviewed journal papers, (Chao, S., Ghansah, B., Grant, R., An Exploratory Model to Characterize the Vulnerability of Coastal Buildings to Storm Surge Flooding in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Journal of Applied Geography, 04-2021 and Chao, S.R. and Ghansah, B., Storm-Surge Modeling for Assessing Vulnerability of Historic Buildings in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

APT Bulletin: The Journal of Preservation Technology, 52(2/3) 2021), as well as two conference peer-reviewed papers (Chao S, R., Li M., Zablah C., Pedagogical Shifts and multi-institutional and interdisciplinary partnerships during the COVID era to address Climate Challenges

and enabling community engagement.

ACSA 110th Conference. Conference proceedings- May 2022, and Chao S, R., Ghansah B., Block Group Social Vulnerability to Storm Surge Flooding: Case Study of East Little Havana-Miami.

UIA 2020 RIO. 27th World Congress of Architects. Submission ID: 1141, Conference proceedings June 2021).

Alongside Dean Alice Hovorka from York University, Sonia has been invited to serve as the ‘Guest Editor’ for a Special Issue of the Journal of Climate + Development, which will highlight several of the papers submitted for peer-review during the virtual one-day conference, which took place last year, entitled: Sub-Tropical & Tropical Coastal Resilience: Social, Economic, and Physical Adaptations in South Florida. Over the past two years, Sonia has been closely working on the development of the Climate Resilience Academy that is led by Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury and Prof. Sharan Majumdar, initially co-leading the Provost’s Planetary Resilience Faculty Working Group, and more recently, serving on the current Academy’s Faculty Advisory Committee and its Education Committee, where in the case of the latter, she is collaborating with other UM faculty to define the curriculum for the forthcoming universitywide introductory undergraduate course focused on climate resilience. Sonia will be delivering one of the modules in that course focused on “Resilient Cities.”

At the recent opening event for the Climate Resilience Academy, six posters illustrating her various types of resiliencerelated projects or research initiatives were included in the related exhibition, including her research into the evolution of architectural pedagogy: The Nantucket Experience; highlights of her Community Engagement efforts, such as those in Haiti and other regional collaborations.

The posters also highlighted her resilience research, in particular the findings from her recent NSF grant and her development of the novel ‘Storm Surge Building Vulnerability’ additive model, as well as her investigations on Resilient Housing Alternatives utilizing Shipping Containers as a structural shell, Breaking Down Silos- hemispheric dialogues (virtual resilience conference) and the recently launched U-Link project.

(View more: https://news.miami.edu/ stories/2022/04/climate-resilienceacademy-ushers-in-new-era-of-research,solutions.html).

More recently, Prof. Chao has moderated two conference sessions, once again focused on resilience and at significant venues. The first of these was at the Sub-Tropical Design conference, moderating the session entitled ‘The End of Disposable Architecture,’alongside architects Jacqueline Touzet (Touzet Studio) and Pat Bosch (Perkins & Will-Miami) in April 2022 (View more: https://www.designsubtropic.com/ tickets). During the Aspen Climate Ideas conference in May 2022, Sonia was one

of two UM faculty members to partake in the conference directly, moderating the session entitled 2100 and the Buoyant City. Alongside her were Miami Beach Chief Resilience Officer Amy Knowles, SoA Alumna and Miami Beach Historic Preservation Director Deborah Tackett along with UM colleague Prof. Allan Shulman and architect Rene Gonzalez. At the beginning of this event, Sonia Chao and Amy Knowles publicly launched the first in a series of user-friendly pamphlets entitled “Resilience + Preservation,” that intersect historic preservation and resilient design. The series includes five pamphlets, each one focused on a different neighborhood, structural type, architectural style, and neighborhood.

Chao and CoE Prof. Landolf RhodeBarbarigos have been elaborating the series on a pro-bono basis and thanks to funding from Dade Heritage Trust, UM CUCD Research Assistants collaborated as well. The pamphlets will be available through the U-SoA website before the coming Fall semester and will also be available via the City of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County. (View more: https:// www.aspenideas.org/sessions/2100-andthe-buoyant-city?ajax=1 and https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=gAENhywvyKc).

To cap off Sonia’s academic year, in April she received the University of Miami Provost’s Excellence in Experiential Teaching Award “in recognition for outstanding scholarly accomplishments” in 2021 (View more: https://messages. miami.edu/messages/2021/05/05-27-21provost-teaching-awards.html) and she was bestowed the honor of leading the faculty procession during the University of Miami’s undergraduate graduation ceremony, serving as its Grand Master.

PROF. VICTOR DEUPI INTRODUCES EXHIBITION ON CUBAN MODERNISM Victor Deupi led an ArtLab class at the Lowe Art Museum with CAS and SoA students curating a digital exhibition on Cuban modernism tilted titled Adiós Cuba – Hola Cubanidad. The exhibition will live in perpetuity on the Lowe’s website and can be seen at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ b77382595e5645dab40b7edcf5d1d849.

Deupi also had his book Emilio Sanchez in New York and Latin America reviewed by the Cuban American scholar Lisandro Pérez, see: Pérez, L. (2022). Emilio Sanchez in New York and Latin America,

by Victor Deupi, New West Indian Guide / Nieuwe West-Indische Gids, 96(1-2), 181-182. View more: https://doi. org/10.1163/22134360-09601035

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Steve Wright’s expertise in urban design was showcased in an April Planning Magazine article “In Praise of the Humble Sidewalk.” https://www.planning.org/ planning/2022/spring/in-praise-of-thehumble-sidewalk/ Early in the spring semester, Wright published a Planning Magazine article on best practices titled: “8 Major Roadblocks to Inclusive Streets--Mistakes to avoid and best practices to embrace for infrastructure that meets accessibility needs.” https://www.planning.org/ planning/2022/winter/8-majorroadblocks-to-inclusive-streets/

PROF. RAFAEL TAPANES TEACHES THE HISTORY OF THE MERRICK GARDEN AT CORAL GABLES PREPARATORY ACADEMY MINORCA CAMPUS Rafael Tapanes taught the students of the National Elementary Honor Society about the history of the Merrick Garden at the Minorca Campus.

“Thank you to Architect and University of Miami Professor Rafael Tapanes for teaching the students of the National Elementary Honor Society about the history of the Merrick Garden at the Minorca Campus.” —Coral Gables Preparatory Academy

PROF. STEVEN BROOKE DOCUMENTS GEORGETTE’S TEA ROOM HOUSE Steven Brooke is documenting the restoration of Georgette’s Tea Room House in the Brownsville neighborhood of Miami.

The two-story, 4,100 square-foot Streamline Modern building was a guest house and meeting spot for Black entertainers and community activists.

Famous entertainers such as the Ink Spots, Billie Holiday and Nat “King” Cole once ate and slept at Georgette’s Tea Room during their Miami performances in the 1940s and 1950s.

STEVE WRIGHT PUBLISHES SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS No Person Left Behind: Truly Inclusive Design - https://www.planning.org/ events/activity/9232032/ Mobility Matters: Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make - https://www.planning.org/ events/activity/9232026/

Wright’s author credit in the spring issue of On Common Ground Magazine featured his U-SoA teaching. He wrote the cover story on “Sustainable Development Solutions.” https://www.oncommonground digital.org/oncommonground/ spring_2022/MobilePagedReplica. action?pm=2&folio=4#pg4 He further explored his consistent them of diversity/equity/ inclusion+accessibility in urban design in another featured On Common Ground article “Equity is Essential.” https://www.oncommongrounddigital.org/oncommonground/ spring_2022/MobilePagedReplica. action?pm=2&folio=20#pg20 Wright wrote an essay for the Strong Towns influential website titled: “A Strong Town Designs Its Places for All, Not Just Cars.” The April opinion piece opens with an image of Wright and JohnsonWright teaching in action in their U-SoA classroom and the article lists their U-SoA credentials to bolster their expertise in street design that is safe for all people of all abilities and ages. https://www. strongtowns.org/journal/2022/4/15/astrong-town-designs-its-places-for-allnot-just-cars In April, Wright was a featured expert on the Arrested Mobility podcast, speaking on “Sidewalk Riding II: Micro-mobility & Persons with Disabilities.” The podcast is hosted by Charles T. Brown, the founder and CEO of Equitable Cities LLC—an urban planning, policy, and research firm working at the intersection of transportation, health, and equity.

In May, Wright shared his expertise on “Universal Design & Urban Planning” on the Life Possible with Karen Roy podcast.

Roy, a wheelchair user for 33 years and I am a Brand Ambassador for Numotion, featured Wright co-creating and team teaching at the U-SoA. https://www. stitcher.com/show/life-possible-witha-disability/episode/episode-30-stevewright-discussed-universal-design-urbanplanning-202944420 Johnson-Wright, who has used a wheelchair for mobility for four decades,

joined her husband on an hour-long, indepth look at caregiving for United Spinal Association. Interviewed by renowned broadcaster Paul Amadeus Young, they also talked about the opportunity to teach young architects and designers about Universal Design at the U-SoA. The program: “United on Wheels - Episode 42 - The Frontlines of Caregiving with Steve & Heidi Johnson-Wright” is featured on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=NFTjL2qoCVw APRIL 2022

ON DISPLAY >> SOME FRAGMENTS: SAUTER VON MOOS [EXHIBITION] SAUTER VON MOOS: SOME FRAGMENTS 20 MARCH TO 8 MAY 2022 MUSEUM IM BELLPARK, SWITZERLAND In this exhibition, Sauter von Moos arrange their work - in the form of texts, models, photographs, plans, and details according to thematic priorities, following a kind of intellectual superstructure.

Thus, looking at their realized and future projects through the lens of specifically defined terms - presence, surrealism, archaism, freedom, loss, and space-time the results of their building, research, and teaching activities are loosely remixed and reordered. Curated by Hilar Stadler and Gerold Kunz.

[PUBLICATION] Some Fragments With Texts by Florian Sauter and Charlotte von Moos Published by Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König 2022 Softcover, 19.5 x 12.4 cm 108 pages, 21 illustrations ISBN: 978-3-7533-0189-1 This collection of aphorisms by Sauter von Moos is an inevitably fragmentary attempt to investigate architecture’s status quo from both within and without; in other words, it stems from both the world of making and the world of thinking about buildings today. Looking at an undefined phenomenon in motion, it is naturally hypothetical and suggestive, but also neither a defense nor an explanation of the architects’ work—on the contrary, it is an elaborate effort to avoid a position of lucidity that could be read as a dogma.

At best, the reflections presented add up to an all-embracing philosophy of design, a portable piece of thought, which reflects on architecture in a non-

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FACULTY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS linear way through the lens of six loosely related terms: presence, surrealism, archaism, freedom, loss, and space-time.

There’s a much greater understanding of how interconnected things are now, so taking that systemic approach to design is becoming reallyexciting. The pandemic accelerated this I think, as it reminded us how connected areas such as spatial design and public health are, for example, so it’s not possible to go back to a system where we’re designing in isolation.

MARCH 2022

What new markets are you seeing emerge?

10TH ANNUAL ADDISON MIZNER AWARDS The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art Florida Chapter proudly presents the 2021 Addison Mizner Award for Renovations & Additions - Under 5,000 SF U-SoA recipients by the ICAA Florida Board. Congratulations to Richard John and Martinez Alvarez Architecture!

What defines your school’s approach?

What makes the University of Miami special is that we don’t have a single uniform approach. We encourage students to have multiple interests, allow them to explore multiple disciplines, and allow them to really get a comprehensive understanding of design from multiple perspectives.

How do you balance the creative and commercial?

My personal ideology is that the academic informs the commercial. So as you continue to shape designers intellectually – and focus on their creative goals and skill sets – then those things eventually become adopted in the commercial realm. The two work in tandem.

There’s a lot of mixed reality work going on with our students, such as integrating VR or AR into physical space. That’s not new, but the way our students are engaging with how to use infrastructure to mediate the digital is definitely novel.

But I think the biggest innovations we’re seeing is in building materials, because the students understand that this is key in tackling environmental issues. This might be new versions of concrete or more robust sources of sand that in turn don’t deplete our resources.

Can you give us three names to watch from recent graduates?

Jenerra Albert, who is now at the Jax Group. Jennifer Lamy, who is working at Adjaye & Associates. And Amber Kountz, who was Gensler’s Rising Designer.

What excites you most about this next generation?

PROFS. CARIE PENABAD & ADIB CURE DELIVERED KEYNOTE LECTURE AT AIA LOUISIANA’S CELEBRATE ARCHITECTURE 2022 Celebrate Architecture 2022 features speakers whose work reflects varied— yet highly complementary—approaches to material mastery in architecture, though an alternative title for this year’s symposium might just as well be Uncertainty.

CÚRE & PENABAD is a Miami-based architecture and design firm led by Carie Penabad and Adib Cúre, who insist on the importance of architecture and the design of the city as a singular investigation where inquiry and realization, poetry and practicality, history and invention are inextricably linked.

They approach material, site, and form with equal emphasis. When the use of brightly colored mosaic tiles were used to line a logia around Oak Plaza in Miami, the blending of the architecture with the shadows cast from neighboring oak trees created a seamless merger between a building, a city, and a landscape.

INTERVIEW WITH PROF. GERMANE BARNES Interview with Camron PR and Germane Barnes, Prof. & Director of the Community Housing Identity Lab.

To be completely frank, they are so much braver than my design generation was. They have no problem questioning pedagogy. My generation knew there were issues, but weren’t able to fight those infrastructures. This next generation really questions things – they hold me accountable and they hold the professions accountable.

What are the big themes that your students are focused on?

I think nowadays across the board – from industrial design, architecture, landscape and urban planning – there’s a much larger focus on design and advocacy. And so you see a lot of academic programmes shifting their processes to be more inline with this, which makes us all better as designers and educators, because we’re no longer just designing in isolation.

We’re designing for people.

And do you think these will become the industry drivers of tomorrow?

I’m super interested in seeing what happens at a managerial level, because we’ll certainly get a much larger influx of diverse designers, but will they be empowered to implement their ideas?

That’s the part I’m always interested in will the ideas reach the top and create real change...

What are the big industry opportunities and challenges on the horizon?

PROF. VICTOR DEUPI’S NEW BOOK WINERIES OF THE WORLD: ARCHITECTURE AND VINICULTURE FEATURED IN MAXIM Twenty-five beautifully designed wineries by contemporary architects from around the globe form the basis of one of the season’s chicest new books—Wineries of the World: Architecture and Viniculture

by Oscar Riera Ojeda and Victor Deupi.

Impeccably published by Rizzoli, the wineries on display in the book run the gamut from state-of-the-art structures in Napa Valley and an Italian winery estate in the hills of Tuscany that marries technology with tradition, to an Australian enterprise “at the cutting edge of organic viniculture,” all examples of the “finest taste in both wine and design.”

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Rather than “repeat established, even ancient traditions cultivated over centuries throughout Europe,” Rizzoli notes, “the contemporary architecture of wine has become a modern celebration of place, reflecting the topography of the landscape in which a winery is situated, the agricultural heritage, and at times the regional vernacular.”

As Deupi, who teaches architectural history, theory and design at the University of Miami School of Architecture puts it, “Architecture and wine have been intimately connected since the very earliest societies serendipitously discovered that the fermentation of grapes was in fact a gift of the gods.”

As for the modern winery, “there are few building types today that are so universally cherished and loved,” he notes. “Typically found throughout the world where pastoral Arcadian landscapes allow for the cultivation of grapes or vine-growing, there are as many differences in the premises that accommodate the simple art of winemaking as there are in the regional, climatic, and topographical conditions that encourage the planting of vineyards.”

Although winemaking can take place in a variety of buildings and locations, “the structures that house such processing facilities require greater sophistication today, as they must [not only] respond more efficiently to energy and resource consumption, material lifespan and green building practices,” Deupi points out, but also “suit the particular winemaking processes of the estate, and provide a compelling image that is universally recognized as part of the ever-expanding tourist and consumer market for wine.”

Certain traditions go back centuries, as “at least from 1400 onwards, many of the wine-producing families, chateaux, and names we celebrate today came into prominence,” he writes. “The rise of international banking and the establishment of credit throughout the Mediterranean made Florence the financial capital of Europe. Banking families such as the Antinori in Tuscany not only had a splendid new palace designed in the center of Florence…. but since the late 14th century had also been producing wine on their substantial Tuscan properties.”

It was in the latter half of the 19th century that the term “winery” came into common usage, Deupi notes, “and the architecture of wineries began to develop along the same stylistic lines that were fashionable in architecture in general. One could find all’antica (in the manner of the ancients), Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical buildings, exotic nonwestern stylistic variants, as well as rustic vernacular forms, wherever grapes were being grown and wine was being made.

This pattern lasted well into the first half of the 20th century even though economic uncertainty, political upheaval, and the Prohibition movement disrupted wine production and trade throughout the world.”

Deupi, who with this book has firmly established himself as one of the foremost experts on the subject, goes on to explain that “the second half of the 20th century saw modern winemaking reach new heights of prosperity,” while architecture “became a necessary vehicle for renovation, expansion, and the creation of an up-to-date corporate or family identity.”

In this new era, “Northern California took the lead in the development of the modern winery through a series of bold investments and innovative designs.”

Soon wineries around the world began experimenting with architecture.

The list of celebrity architects commissioned by well-known wineries since then includes the likes ofZaha Hadid, Renzo Piano, Santiago Calatrava, Ricardo Bofill, and Lord Norman Foster, among others. Deupi points to two standout projects that “not only represent the celebrity culture of contemporary architecture, [but] have also become synonymous with the world of modern wineries and the variety of approaches that are possible.”

The first is the Dominus Winery in Napa Valley, designed in 1994 by famed Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, who imbued the minimalist stone-walled structure with an “enigmatic sense of monastic simplicity.”

PROFS. VICTOR DEUPI & JEANFRANCOIS LEJEUNE PRESENT THEIR NEW BOOK CUBAN MODERNISM: MIDCENTRY ARCHITECTURE 1940-1970 Profs. Jean-Francois Lejeune and Victor Deupi recently gave presentations on their new book Cuban Modernism: Mid-Century Architecture 19401970 (Birkhäuser, 2021) at Princeton University’s School of Architecture and Spanish Department (February 2, 2022), at the Wolfsonian–FIU and the Miami Design Preservation League (October 27, 2021), the Miami Center for Architecture and Design (October 21, 2021), and at Books & Books, Coral Gables (September 29, 2021). The book continues to receive critical acclaim in academic journals around the world.

And In 2005, Frank Gehry completed what is perhaps the coolest winery ever created, for Marques de Riscal in Rioja, Spain, which is also a world-class, five-star resort and is part of Marriott International’s Luxury Collection—as featured in our 2020 article on the World’s Most Beautiful Hotels.

“These two projects reimagine the winery as a bold experiment in architecture and landscape, technology and innovation, agriculture and industry, hospitality and heritage,” Deupi enthuses.

More recently, he notes, “wineries have begun to explore less monumental and expressive forms of architecture and have instead embraced more nuanced approaches to cultural landscapes, green viticulture, justifiable building systems and materials, and vernacular architectural contexts,” which the authors decided to focus on for this book.

And in the best of them, he writes, “the care and craftsmanship that is so clearly discernible in the making of these modern wineries is equivalent to the attention that is given to the cultivation of grapes.”

PROF. JEAN-FRANCOIS LEJEUENE PUBLISHES HIS NEW BOOK RURAL UTOPIA AND WATER URBANISM: THE MODERN VILLAGE IN FRANCO’S SPAIN Prof. Jean-François Lejeune has just published a new book titled “Rural Utopia and Water Urbanism: The Modern Village in Franco’s Spain.” The book, which is a result of his doctoral dissertation defended in May 2019 at the Technical University of Delft (TU Delft, The Netherlands) and was published in

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FACULTY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Berlin by the architectural publisher DOM Publishers.

PROFS. CARIE PENABAD AND ADIB CURE PANELISTS IN THE MIGRATION AND URBANIZATION IN THREE CONTINENTS CONFERENCE Papers presented during a three-day conference hosted by the University of Miami Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas will explore how migration influenced nine different cities on three continents.

by UM News Every day dozens of people gather at the iconic Domino Park along Miami’s Calle Ocho to play a game that is as beloved to Cubans as baseball.

That gathering place, as well as the hundreds of “ventanitas,” or small windows, selling Cuban coffee that dot Miami’s urban landscape, are some of the ways that the city has been transformed by a Cuban presence.

Carie Penabad, associate professor in the School of Architecture, and her colleague Adib Cure, associate professor in practice, will explore the many ways that Miami has been changed by migration in their paper “Cross Cultural Urbanisms: The Case of Miami.” It will be presented during the “Migration and Urbanization in Three Continents Conference,” hosted virtually by the University of Miami Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas on MArch 24, 25, and 28.

Penabad and Cure’s paper reads in part: “The mass migration of Cuban exiles to Miami in the years following Castro’s revolution had a profound effect on the political, social, and physical structures of the city.

“As wave upon wave of Cuban immigrants arrived on the shores of Biscayne Bay, they sought to recapture, recreate, and reinterpret Cuban culture amidst the largely alienating landscape of the American post-war city.”

Besides Miami, eight other cities on three continents will be similarly analyzed by top academics to determine how different migrations changed the social, economic, and physical landscapes of the metropolis.

Those cities are: Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, and Mexico City in Latin America; New York and Los Angeles in the United States; and Stockholm, London, and Barcelona in western Europe.

“We hope this kind of analysis will be useful to both scholars and city planners and those who work in the development of cities and immigration authorities, nationwide and locally,” said Alejandro Portes, professor of law and Distinguished Scholar of Arts and Sciences. “Our purpose is to bring

together literatures on urban and migrations studies to see how successive migration flows have shaped the physical and social structure of the cities that have received them over time.”

Portes has been working on putting together the conference with his colleague Margarita Rodriguez since the summer. Rodriguez is a lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Criminology and a faculty research fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas.

Felicia Knaul, director of the institute and a health economist, said that migration is a defining issue in our region.

“The Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas is honored to be working under the leadership of Alejandro Portes, a leading scholar in this field. By examining the linkages between migration and urbanization across some of the world’s greatest cities, including Miami, professor Portes and his colleagues are once again enlightening our understanding of key trends that had been understudied,” she said.

each city and how it was shaped as each migrant group settled and incorporated within its boundaries.

One interesting overview was about Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.

“This paper tells the tale of a city that until very recently only received a very limited migrant flow, mainly from nearby countries like Finland and Norway,” he said. But after the war in BosniaHerzegovina in mid ’90s a new flow of refugees arrived from places like Syria and Africa, he noted.

“The new migrations can be seen as making the city more cosmopolitan, but it has also created occasions for conflict and interethnic struggles that were not there before,” he said.

All the essays presented at the conference will be compiled and edited into a special issue for a major journal, said Portes. The three-day meeting is open to the University community and the public.

FEBRUARY 2022

The conference will bring together top academics including Marcelo Cavarozzi, professor of the Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires; Ariel Armony, director of the University Center for International Studies at University of Pittsburgh; and Philip Kasinitz, presidential professor of sociology at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Discussants will include Rebecca Sharpless, professor at the University of Miami School of Law and director of the Immigration Clinic; Larry Liu, Department of Sociology, Princeton University; and Lorenzo Cachón, professor of sociology of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

Portes said that they asked each presenter to provide an essay that would offer an overview of what happened to

RESILIENCE IN CONCRETE Resilience in Concrete by Carmen L.

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Guerrero, presents a privileged insight into the design and construction of the awardwinning Thomas P. Murphy Design Studio Building through a series of interviews with the main professionals responsible for its conception, design and construction: the lead architects Bernardo Fort Brescia, Ray Fort Brescia and Thomas Westberg: the builders Thomas C. Murphy, Erin Murphy, Nick Duke and Jason Anderson; the curtain wall manufacturer Jose Daes, the School of Architecture project manager Carmen L. Guerrero and University of Miami Project Manager Gary Tarbe.

The book offers insight not only into the making of the building, its interiors and the impact on the University of Miami School of Architecture before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also a sumptuous, detailed photography to provide a thorough understanding of this inspiring, tailor-made environment in which to educate the architects of the future.

JANUARY 2022

Barnes also said it was important to him to use the commission as an opportunity to give his students the experience and exposure that comes from working with a global brand for a high-profile event like Design Miami.

PROF. GERMANE BARNES’ LEXUS INSTALLATION IS FEATURED AT DESIGN MIAMI Local architect Germane Barnes has worked with students at the University of Miami to create a wireframe sculpture of a conceptual electric car for Lexus at Design Miami.

Called ON/, the installation is a one-to-one scale sculpture of Lexus’ LF-Z Electrified Concept car made from steel wire.

The sculpture is suspended in the centre of a white stage decorated with bespoke furniture and illuminated by constantly shifting coloured lighting, which people can customise remotely using an online tool.

The installation is intended to represent the ongoing electrification of Lexus’ vehicle lineup as part of its drive to become carbon neutral.

PROF. STEVEN BROOKE FEATURED AT 2022 XPOSURE INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL Award-winning architectural photographer Steven Brooke will examine the paradigms of the 600-year tradition of architectural documentation and their applications for contemporary architectural photography.

Referencing the work of genre painters such as Vermeer and deHooch, view painters such as Piranesi and Canaletto, and modern masters such as Edward Hopper, Giorgio de Chirico, and Hugh Ferris, the talk will explore the rules for vertical and horizontal alignment; the use of border verticals for exteriors, interiors and streetscapes; proportional systems; standard shapes for architectural depiction; precise timing for exacting shadow control; and the attainable goal of compositional excellence.

Steven is continuing his work on his Miami Historic Neighborhoods project, documenting neighborhoods throughout Miami-Dade County. Photos from his Miami Historic Neighborhood Project are being used by Megan McLaughlin and Plusurbia Design for their books on Miami Neighborhoods.

He is also currently working with Dr. Denise Wallace, owner of the Ace Theater in Coconut Grove, documenting the entire restoration process of this historic structure.

school is located here. Let us do it. We have talented people here too.”

According to Barnes, the idea of doing a wireframe sculpture came from a desire to create a dramatic installation while minimising materials and transport emissions.

“I wanted to achieve an installation that stayed true to Lexus’ mission of a carbonneutral future,” he told Dezeen. “So the car is wireframe because the more materials that would have been needed to make, the less that would have enforced that new pivot.

Shipping a physical car across the globe to here, again, goes against trying to build a carbon-neutral future.”

Swings suspended underneath white arches stand at each end of the wireframe sculpture, which Barnes said are meant to symbolise that “we’re MArching forward into this new future” while also nodding to Miami’s art deco architecture. Barnes is a Miami-based architect and assistant professor at the University of Miami School of Architecture. He said he believes it is important that Lexus chose to commission an architect from Miami to work on the project, rather than talent imported from elsewhere in the US or abroad. “I’ve been coming to Design Miami for eight years now and every time I come, I see work by some amazingly brilliant architects, artists, designers,” he said. “So I saw David Adjaye, I saw Daniel Arsham, I saw SHoP Architects, I saw Harvard GSD. And I’m just sitting here like, ‘Does Miami not also have talented people that could have been chosen?’ And so I said to Lexus, I was very forthright, I said: ‘Hey, I live here. Our

Barnes is co-credited for the project with his students at the University of Miami, who worked closely with him on the concept and realisation of the installation. “We want to look forward to the future and the best way to do that is to empower those who are coming after you,” Barnes said. “My entire solo career is based on the model of working with my professors, who gave me an opportunity,” he added. “So when I was given the same opportunity, I felt like I had to pay that forward and say to my students: ‘Hey, would you all like this opportunity to showcase your talents, because this may be something that springboards you into a career.”

The ON/ installation is currently on show at collectable design fair Design Miami, which takes place in Miami Beach from 1 to 5 December alongside the Art Basel Miami Beach art fair.

Other installations at Design Miami this year include an interactive digital projection created by Austrian design studio Mischer’Traxler for French champagne house Perrier-Jouët.

Mercedes Benz also unveiled a solar-cellpowered electric car designed with late fashion designer Virgil Abloh to coincide with the fairs, while visualisation artists Charlotte Taylor and Nicholas Préaud released an NFT artwork based on an OMA-designed sculpture.

Photography is by Steve Benisty.

XPOSURE 2022: PROF. STEVEN BROOKE TALKS ABOUT CAPTURING ARCHITECTURE The 2022 edition of the annual photography festival featured Brooke’s seminar titled – ‘The Depiction of Architecture: Historical Precedents and Contemporary Applications’. The seminar explored the concepts of the age-old tradition of architectural documentation and their applications for contemporary architectural photography.

A recipient of the National Institute Honour

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FACULTY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Award in photography from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Steven Brooke has contributed for over 20 years as a photographer for various architectural publications.

Back to the beginning Beginning his architectural photography career in 1979, Brook has attributed his inspiration to artists such as 17th and 18th-century painters such as Jan Vermeer, Pieter de Hooch, Giovanni Antonio Canal (commonly known as Canaletto), Giovanni Battista Piranesi. Modern masters including Giorgio de Chirico and Edward Hopper (considered to be one of America’s greatest modern painters) have also had a significant impact on Brooke’s works.

Referencing the works of a few of the above maestros, Brooke’s seminar spoke about capturing the image as works of art with specific rules. He spoke in length about the rules for vertical and horizontal alignment; the use of border verticals for exteriors, interiors and streetscapes; proportional systems; standard shapes for architectural depiction; precise timing for exacting shadow control; and the attainable goal of compositional excellence.

design and the engineering of our subjects.”

Meet the expert Steven Brooke is an internationally known photographer of architecture, landscape, and interior design and has had his photographs published in various publications.

Having worked for over 30 years, Brooke’s accomplishments include the Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome, the AIA International Book Award for his noted Views of Room, and the Historic Preservation Award from Dade Heritage Trust among others. He is a Fellow of the Albright Institute in Jerusalem and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Miami School of Architecture, teaching architectural photography and composition.

FALL 2021

Four years ago in 2017, the first crosslaminated timber (CLT) manufacturing facility sourcing SYP in the Southeastern United States went into production. The development of a PRG-320 certified SYP panel was a big step towards a viable mass timber product that is regionally sourced and produced—a new material language to be explored, molded, and constructed.

Xposure to late Renaissance, Golden Age and Baroque Brooke’s discussion furthermore focused on the early 16th to late 17th century time period. He explained, in particular, the nuances of architectural documentation – a 600-year-old tradition – and its application for contemporary architectural photography.

“People were incidental in an image; they were for scale and to direct the eye while axial compositions dominated that era when architecture itself was the focus and the subject,” said Brooke.

For ease of understanding, he divided the principles of architectural depiction into five basic categories during his seminar.

“Horizontal and vertical alignment, proportion systems and rectangular armatures, border verticals, basic shapes for architectural photography, and processing for perfection.”

The only five-time winner of the Photographer of the Year Award of AIA’s Florida Chapter, Brooke stressed the desire for perfection in photography today. “Digital photography gives us an opportunity to emulate the masters who have set the standards for architectural depiction. I think we are now entering the next golden age of architecture with incredible advances in camera and lens and AI-based post-production software,” said the Miami-based professor.

A long-time advocate for historic preservation, Brooke also emphasised his real hope for the profession of architectural photography. “… the faithfulness of the architectural depiction will always match the precision of our

The Wood Basket, an unlikely protagonist The mass timber market, and infrastructure, is expanding across North America, moving south from Canada into the Pacific Northwest and finally arriving in the Southeast in U.S. Forestry Region Eight—a.k.a. “The Wood Basket.”

Still an adolescent in mass timber, the region is struggling to find an identity.

Current dialogues in [mass] timber, specifically professor Kiel Moe’s AN oped in MArch, acknowledge embedded characteristics in place, climate, forest, and tree species, and emphasize the role of these conditions in building and building practices. Embracing these ideas of locale and territory, the wood basket is composed of Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) (a generic term for the four most common pine species: Loblolly (Pinus taeda), Longleaf (Pinus palustris), Shortleaf (Pinus echinata), and Slash (Pinus elliottii)) and in recent years has produced 63 percent of the total timber volume harvested in the United States.

Southern Yellow Pine has entered the arena with a structural building agenda as well as a material aesthetic geologically unique to the Southeast.

A LOOK INTO SOUTHERN FLORIDA’S GROWING TIMBER CULTURE BY ASST. PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER MEYER Miami-Dade County is known for its art deco buildings, subtropical climate, and a youthful exuberance ready to embrace the moment as exemplified by Maurizio Cattelan’s 2019 Banana at Art Basel.

By UM News Miami-Dade is also notorious for hurricanes, looming sea level rise, and pioneering rigorous structural building codes coined the “Dade County Code” that set global standards for High Velocity Hurricane Zones [HVHZ]. These high standards have branded Miami as one of the most complicated cities to build in when employing traditional or accepted methods, disregarding innovative approaches perceived as ‘newness.’

Art, urbanism, policy-making; the Miami culture thrives on challenging the how of things. The confluence of creative, practical, and impending environmental forces lay heavy on South Florida as the once distant future becomes the present. The pressing question facing Miami-Dade is, can the city embrace changes to building policies and foster innovation to construction assemblies that focus on energy and the environment?

With the implementation of the CLT manufacturing in the Southeast Wood Basket, all the components of a mass timber infrastructure are now regionally located, reinforcing a localized construction ecology. The growing of trees, managing forest growth and health, harvesting timber, milling and the creation of mass timber products define a concentrated system boundary–that is if the Southeast can commit to building with wood. Consider the alternative narrative for the Southeast: A dependency on trees grown, milled, and processed in Europe, hauled by truck to port, shipped across the ocean and again trucked to the construction site, greatly expands the footprint of the construction ecology. Sadly, this is a competitive route as seen through an economic lens, but it is often extremely out of balance when viewed through the lens of energetics, regional construction ecologies, and carbon. Vital to the mission of the mass timber agenda is to develop the nascent American mass timber infrastructure, affirming realities of carbon and energy in addition to economics. Setting an architectural agenda for materials that are regionally grown and processed requires regional building needs.

The Sunshine State The dark horse amongst the Southeast

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is Florida. A state covered with over fifty percent forested area, in 2019 Florida contributed 514,739 thousand cubic feet [MCF] of timber products; this raw-material resource is a potential economic, cultural, and environmental driver for the state. Even with available regional wood resources, the majority of the structures erected remain committed to cementitious building products. As of today, the majority of the wood fiber harvested and processed for commercial use is exported as pulp and pellet. Florida is equipped to lead with forests as a renewable building resource; the impending hurdle in getting Florida forests to build Florida buildings are needed innovations in Florida State building codes, specifically within the HVHZ. As most of the United States adopts codes to build with mass timber, Florida, in particular Miami-Dade County is the last frontier to be explored, and the final task is to make with mass timber.

Building The Agenda In 2019, the University of Miami School of Architecture’s Littoral Urbanism Lab [LU_Lab] set out to build a new material agenda for Miami: A culture of renewable material resources, using wood in Miami and Florida. With the award of a USDA U.S. Forest Service Wood Innovation Grant, “All That is Solid, Platforms for Wood Innovation,” a team was established to develop and deliver educational initiatives, fostering a knowledge network across Miami and Florida. Specific agendas focused on the development of mass timber building methodologies and adapting building policies specific to Miami Dade’s HVHZ, the country’s only subtropical urban network.

As the network of industry partners came together, it became evident the true test of the viability of SYP cross-laminated timber in Florida would be to learnthrough-doing, and something had to be built. The LU_Lab, an academic venture, formed a collaboration with Atelier Mey, a think-and-do design practice in Miami which positions the agenda within a larger project of pragmatic and projective design thinking. Realizing the first mass timber project in Miami committed the project team to addressing the hurdles of building with wood in the HVHZ, finding answers to these questions and implementing the solutions. Through this academic/practice partnership, a national knowledge network of manufacturers, mass timber builders, engineers, and policy makers worked together to develop a process that tuned the CLT elements to the relentless South Florida environmental forces such as high-wind impact resistance, and lamella adhesion.

Constructing the Building The project currently being realized, House In A Garden, is a single-family residence, a one-story structure in the heart of Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood. Slated for completion this

December, the CLT portion was erected earlier this June. At 1,800 square feet, the scale of the first project submitted to the city of Miami and Miami Dade County was critical. However, the project still embodies all the components of building, detailing, and material language resolution: A foundation, walls, roof, and apertures, but at a scale palatable for county and city code reviewers to encounter mass timber construction methodologies, specifically CLT, for the first time and work together to understand its position within the HVHZ building code. The entire structure was erected in only two days. Day one concluded with working through site logistics, thunderstorms, and the installation of 15-of-the-19 wall panels. On day two, the remaining four wall panels and all eight roof panels were installed.

The innovative envelope assembly exploited CLT’s thermal performance and pre-manufactured precision processing to reduce construction timelines by streamlining the erection phase. The offsite digital pre-fabrication and on-site logistical coordination was an amazing two-day success. During the design phase, the design team worked closely with regional manufacturers, structural engineers, and modeled thermal analyses to develop innovative strategies to reduce material, energy, and carbon generation.

Asserting wood as the sole structural element re-establishes the connection between regional ecologies and renewable material resources through solid wood building products. House In A Garden is committed to the use of Southern Yellow Pine, sourced in-state and manufactured in the southeast, materials regionally grown and processed for regional needs.

Miami-Dade County building department charted a course into uncharted.

The construction of one building in Miami-Dade County is more than a shift from one material to another, or from one construction technique to another, but instead aims to connect the entire system, from Forest to Building.

Chris Meyer, AIA is a practicing architect and principal of Atelier Mey, the director of the LU_Lab, and an assistant professor at the University of Miami School of Architecture. His partner, Shawna Meyer, AIA is a principal at Atelier Mey and a collaborator with the LU_Lab.

PROFESSOR BARNES CONTINUES TO LEAD THE DISCUSSION ON RACE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT Professor Germane Barnes, Director of the Community Housing & Identity Lab (CHIL), continues to provide perspectives on race and the built environment.

His latest project, Block Party, is a featured proposal of the 2021 Chicago Architecture Biennial: The Available City.

Additionally, as co-editor of MAS Context Issue 33: Vigilantism, Professor Barnes’ research, and design contributions have recently been the focus of numerous design publications: Cultured / Wallpaper / Arch Record / Journal

The goal of this initiative was to construct a healthy and environmentally responsible building from regional resources and labor.

The process proved to be an exercise in untangling decades of reactionary building policies, and longstanding traditions which for those working in the mass timber arena will not be surprising. The fear of new building processes somehow outweighs the fear of a vastly grim future directly related to currently unsustainable building practices. In the physical aspect of building, House In A Garden addresses antiquated building policies to accept emergent material assemblies- extending the forest of North Florida in a very real way into Miami.

Buildings are the product of policies. It is imperative our policies reflect a conscious and responsible architecture. It should no longer be acceptable to look the other way merely because looking at our reality will force us into addressing the longstanding problems reinforced through our complicit behaviors. Bringing the smallin-scale, large-in-impact project to the

CHANGING OF THE GUARD On August 15th, Prof. Carie Penabad stepped down from her roles as Associate Dean of Research and Director of the B. Arch. Program at the University of Miami School of Architecture.

During Carie’s tenure, the School dramatically grew its undergraduate program, more than doubling its

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FACULTY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS incoming class size. Carie expanded the format and platform of the final design reviews and helped develop a series of new awards that acknowledged design excellence across the architecture curriculum. Carie led the school’s successful NAAB accreditation as well as multiple committees and searches, including the new Emerging Practitioner Teaching Fellowship. With Allan Shulman, she co-chaired the international faculty search that culminated in five faculty appointments—the most significant number of hires in recent history—with a potential for a transformative impact on the school. While on sabbatical, she initiated an interview series entitled Architecture and the Great Confinement that promoted a global dialogue focused on the pandemic’s recent events and its impacts on architecture and the design of future cities. For these efforts, Penabad was awarded Leadership in Education awards from both the AIA and the ICAA. Carie continues to pursue her efforts in research and teaching while investing more in Cure & Penabad, the creative professional practice she co-founded with Adib Cure. In recent years, the firm has received greater recognition and, in February of 2021, was awarded the prestigious Architectural League’s Emerging Voices award for its body of work and its potential to influence the field of architecture.

“I would like to thank Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury for giving me the opportunity to lead alongside him for these past six years. It has been a great honor to serve the U-SoA faculty, students, alumni, and staff. I believe the School is a unique institution committed first and foremost to the relationship between architecture and the building of cities. It educates students in the foundational and timeless principles of the discipline while embracing innovation. This is a unique combination that sets our School of Architecture apart from the rest.”

one of the initiators of the New Urbanism movement and served as a “Climate Reality Mentor” in Al Gore’s initiative.

He teaches design studios, theory, and visual representation and leads the yearly Canin Urban Design Studio.

Jaime has won the Woodrow W. Wilkins Award for Outstanding Teaching, the MRED+U Professor of the Year Award, the Excellence in Civic Engagement Award, and the Excellence in Mentorship from the University of Miami. He is the author of various books, peer-reviewed articles, and book chapters and holds terminal degrees from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, University of Cambridge, and the University of Pennsylvania.

His professional practice explores the intersection between architecture, art, philosophy, culture, and urbanism. ”I am truly humbled by this new appointment and, at the same time, excited and committed to serving at the pleasure of Dean el-Khoury. May his time be spent in the advancement of true knowledge, the promotion and support of the work of my colleagues, and the happiness and welfare of our students. If you have seen me in action, you know that there has never been one second of my adult life in which I have not been thinking about the amelioration of cities, architecture, design, and the global environment; may this be the perfect opportunity to generate academic responsibilities ensuring that future generations can attain the same, or better, physical prosperity and greater aesthetic qualities. May I be guided to lead my colleagues, our students, and friends to think within and outside of the box to solve the design and technical problems that are humanly needed to come triumphant as we face the immediate future and the forthcoming environmental crisis. I ask for your faith and prayers to serve with moral integrity and intellectual honesty and to dispel the typical human obstacles that thrive on inaction, opposition, and procrastination.

May this become a paradigm for my professional practice, and may I be able to lead, facilitate change, plan, capitalize on the history of our school, and organize our beautiful scholarly community with all your help and with my commitment to live by example. Wish me the best of luck; I am ready; in fact, I have been ready for the longest time.”

Jaime Correa has succeeded Carie as Director of the B. Arch. Program. Dean elKhoury appointed this role in consultation with faculty and staff and with his experience as the former director of our Master of Urban Design in mind. Jaime is WWW.ARC.MIAMI.EDU/NEWS-AND-EVENTS/USOA-NOW // 129

NOVEMBER 2023

TERME DI SPADA WINS URBAN GUILD AWARD Grace Levey and Jack Chazotte were honored with the Urban Guild Award for Student Work, recognizing their outstanding achievement.

Terme di Spade, undertaken during the spring of 2023 as part of the ARC408 course, was executed while studying abroad in the city of Rome.

"Terme di Spada is a bathhouse inspired by the ancient Roman balneum that populated the city of Rome and the empire at large. Contrary to the monumental scale of bath complexes on the outskirts of the city, these hyperlocalized fixtures of the city provide the traditional amenities of termes in a more compact and accessible form.

Located at the intersection of Vicolo del Polverone and Via Capo di Ferro, the project aims to redefine the two existing piazzas in a manner that restores the elegant hierarchy of the piazzas as documented in the 1748 Nolli Map of Rome, without compromising the presence of the neighboring Palazzo Spada or Madonna della Quercia.

BENJAMIN MARTIN FINALIST OF LONDON VERTICAL FARM COMPETITION Benjamin Martin has emerged as a finalist in the London Vertical Farm Competition, showcasing his design, Agrarian Infrastructure, which tackles a societal problem with a futuristic vertical farming solution.

“I am seeking to understand a vertical farm as infrastructure-- not just a oneoff. The brief locates the site at a vacant industrial lot. To think of the vertical farm as infrastructure, it is important that it serves the public good. Therefore, it was important to integrate the structure into the urban fabric by creating a park and farmer’s market. Seeing this as a futuristic conceptual design, I idealized the form of the structure and went in an abstract direction. The form is slim at the bottom to situate itself around existing buildings. The larger massing at the top allows for harvesting above the city skyline closer to the sun, wind, and rain. The farm’s cross-section highlights the support functions such as animal farming, energy/ water storage, hydroponics, aquaponics, and a water collection system. Finally, infrastructure is repeatable and ubiquitous.

Therefore, it was important to conceptualize a vertical farm that could be located in various places throughout an urban area.

Agrarian Infrastructure can facilitate hyperlocalized farming, food, and services to the surrounding neighborhoods.”

Student: Benjamin Martin Professor: Yasmine Zeghar

BENEDETTO REBECCA GOES VIRAL FOR THE DORM EDIT Benedetto Rebecca brings his creative talents to life within the dorm rooms of the University of Miami, where a captivating before-and-after interior decoration project went viral, showcasing a remarkable transformation.

“As I started studying at U-SoA and solving hypothetical design scenarios, I was filled with excitement and inspiration from the other students and faculty.

Terme di Spada serves as a public fixture for the community, without compromising privacy within the facility.

From the entrance, patrons are guided toward two varying experiences with changing rooms situated between these facilities. Underground, the project offers smaller baths that follow the order of traditional ancient Roman baths, housing a tepidarium, a caldarium, and a frigidarium. These pools are developed to offer a calming experience for guests and residents of the surrounding neighborhood.

As the patrons then move upward through the complex, the top floor of the bath complex provides a larger-scale pool and event space.

Together, the facility blends the historical precedents of the eternal city with a modern perspective on community spaces."

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STUDENT NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Professor Yasmine Zeghar encouraged me to explore interior design and something inside of me clicked. Why don’t I use the power of design to solve an issue I feel is rarely talked about...dorms.

The Dorm Room Edit came to be and I watched a lifelong fear of mine turn into a passion project that would lead me to opportunities and experiences I never could have dreamed of. The Dorm Room Edit is my mission to change the perspective of dorm room design from an architectural and interior standpoint through my own experience. I used my dorm as an opportunity to challenge myself as a designer and as each month went on my dorm felt more like home. It started with me decorating a new area in my dorm each month and posting it to social media, eventually getting featured on HGTV and Apartment Therapy, later leading me to become a student editor at Dorm Therapy.

What I’ve learned throughout this experience and studying at U-SoA is how important architecture is to the world and how greatly our environments influence us. College is a transitional time of life, and my goal is to design dorms that will comfort students and inspire them to be the best that they can be."

Student: Benedetto Rebecca Professor: Yasmine Zeghar Photography by Benedetto Rebecca.

AUGUST 2023

SAMANTHA NOWAK FEATURED IN MADAME ARCHITECT Third-year B.Arch student Samantha Nowak reveals the challenges and rewards of studying architecture.

In her interview, Samantha talks about what she looked for in selecting where to study architecture, and what she looks for now for her internships and future employment. She advises those considering studying architecture to tour the schools they are interested in to get a feel for the studio culture.

SUMMER INTERNSHIPS SET U-SOA STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS. HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS.

MIRNA OBEID Mirna Obeid is a 2nd year B.Arch student who interned with Drummond Projects in Washington, D.C. "My transformative summer internship at Drummond Projects in Washington, D.C. proved invaluable. Working alongside an exceptional team with astounding skills, I contributed to four diverse projects, from residential to commercial. Through this experience, I honed software proficiency and witnessed architecture’s real-world intricacies. Learning to create drawings tailored to clients' needs and engaging in effective communication, I began understanding the profound impact of architecture on people and communities.

Above all, this unforgettable journey instilled in me a profound appreciation for designing with purpose and intention, fueling my passion for shaping meaningful spaces, and setting a strong foundation for my future as an architect."

MATTHEW TREBRA Matthew Trebra, a 4th year B.Arch student interned at Populous in Kansas City.

DANNY FERRER Danny Ferrer, a 4th year B.Arch student completed his second summer internship with BTBB Architects in Macon, GA which specializes in historic renovations.

LUCIA MILLER RECIPIENT OF RODOLFO CARDENAL MARTINEZ SCHOLARSHIP Congratulations to Lucia Miller for being awarded the Rodolfo Cardenal Martinez Scholarship at the AIA Palm Beach Design Awards!

“I primarily worked on schematics for a variety of projects such as affordable housing complexes, renovations of commercial buildings, as well as government buildings. I had practical experience working with customers and cultivating those relationships. I feel fortunate to have worked with an architect whom I have been able to get to know from the previous summer through this year and look forward the possibility of developing more skills with BTBB in the future.”

“This summer at Populous I worked on collegiate sports architecture with the Athletic Master Planning team. I had the opportunity to work on the concept design for major collegiate athletic facilities across the country, from designing entire campus athletic cores to developing new state-of-the-art arena proposals. It's been really rewarding to be able to have the freedom as an intern to be such an active part of the design process and create architecture that fosters such energizing and electric atmospheres. Interning at a top architecture firm like Populous has taught me a lot about the value that well-designed athletic and venue spaces can have on human connection, performance, and experience.”

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“I heard about London Bay from the U-SoA Career Forum where I met members of the London Bay team. At London Bay, I worked on the design team for high-end custom homes on the West coast of Florida. I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of the London Bay team!”

explaining my progress and getting insight from everyone at the firm. I also had the opportunity to join in construction site visits as well which I really enjoyed and learned a lot from!”

ISABELLA ZAYAS AND KAYLA REMBOLD B.Arch students Isabella Zayas (left) and Kayla Rembold (right) worked at G.P. Schafer in New York City over the summer.

[Kayla Rembold '24] "I was so happy to land my summer internship at G.P. Schafer Architect through our school's career fair. It was an enriching experience, as I had the opportunity to learn from talented professionals and contribute to projects that align perfectly with my future design goals. I'm incredibly grateful to have been part of such a wonderful firm that shares my passion for classical architecture and design. The knowledge and skills I gained here are invaluable for shaping my career in the field."

[Isabella Zayas ‘24] "I found out about this internship through the University of Miami Architecture Career Fair. I've always been interested in residential architecture and classical design so I was really happy to come into contact with a firm that aligned with my interests and passions. I worked on a project that was in the preliminary pricing stage of the design process so it was really interesting to explore the technicalities involved in such an integral stage of design. Overall, I was looking for an immersive, hands-on experience and I'm so grateful I received just that!"

JORDAN KEKST B.Arch 2nd year student Jordan Kekst interned at Gabbay Architects in Los Angeles, California.

“I worked as an intern at Gabbay Architects, a prominent architecture firm in Beverly Hills. I am fortunate to have been given a lot of substantive, technical assignments with great mentoring. These projects taught me about the practical side of architecture and gave me the opportunity to experiment with some design aspects. I loved doing working drawings, structural documents, permit applications, and packets to send to engineers, clients, and the city. Everyone was so welcoming and supportive and I am very grateful for all of my mentors, the knowledge, and experiences at Gabbay.”

BEN MARTIN AND CHRIS STINSON B.Arch students Ben Martin (left) and Christopher Stinson (right) interned at Torti Gallas and Partners in Washington D.C. [Ben Martin '24] "This was my second summer at Torti Gallas, and I am so thankful for my experiences. I was introduced to this opportunity through the Architecture Career Fair last year. During my time with the company, I worked on a mixed-use mixed-income housing development in Alexandria, Virginia. I am so grateful to have worked somewhere that values a building and its role in the community."

[Christopher Stinson '25] "I received this internship through the Architecture Career Forum this past Spring. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Torti Gallas and appreciate the company's culture and community. I worked on a Choice Neighborhood Initiative project in the Deanwood neighborhood in DC. It was exciting participating in the project and engaging with community members. I appreciate the community-centered design values, the continued development, and the discussions practiced at Torti Gallas. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to practice and explore my interests in design."

SAM NOWAK 4th year B.Arch student, Sam Nowak worked at Newman Architects in New Haven, Connecticut.

MATTHEW GAYNOR Matthew Gaynor is a rising 3rd year B.Arch student. He interned with London Bay in Naples, Florida.

“It was such a great experience and everyone was incredibly supportive. Half of my time was dedicated to research and I chose to develop a tool for the firm to use as a framework for resilient architecture.

In the picture you can see my first pin-up

KEELY RAE BRUNKOW B.Arch student Keely Rae Brunkow is in her last year at U-SoA. She interned at Studio MC+G Architecture in Miami over

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STUDENT NEWS HIGHLIGHTS the summer.

“Learning from the talented people I worked alongside and having a better understanding about the professional side of architecture (which we don’t get at school) is what I cherished most about this experience.”

JUNE 2023

VILLAGERS ANNOUNCE 2023 U-SoA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS The Villagers Historic Preservation organization has awarded three $5,000 scholarships to students studying in the field of preservation. Two students from the University of Miami’s 5-year Architecture program and one student studying for a master’s in Historic Preservation at the University of Florida.

Students Grace Levey and Sacha Braggs have both been involved with preservation projects while at the University of Miami (UM). Levey, a stellar student with many honors, will be able to continue her final year of study at UM. Braggs was a previous Villager scholarship recipient who received many honors while at UM. The grant will allow her the opportunity to spend a semester studying preservation in Italy.

“The scholarship validates my desire to go into historic preservation and gives me the opportunity to explore preservation in other countries and bring ideas back,” said Braggs.

Oscar Niemeyer and derived a concept that belongs in today's modern world."

— Hamza Waris Archisource's Drawing of the Year celebrates outstanding drawings and imagery created worldwide by students and professionals. The widely recognized aspirational award series showcases the most accomplished works.

BENEDETTO REBECCA'S INTERIOR DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURED IN HOUSE BEAUTIFUL AND VOGUE LIVING Benedetto Rebecca's photography was been featured in House Beautiful Magazine and Vogue Living, "Inside a 1930s Brooklyn Townhouse Dreamt up by Charles Cohen Designs."

"Having the privilege to say I've been featured in House Beautiful and Vogue Living this early in my career is something I couldn't be more proud and grateful for. When my former boss turned friend, Charles Cohen, and I were discussing me photographing this project, I was so excited because it was a true full-circle moment. I had seen the house almost complete a year earlier when I was his intern, so going back one year later and photographing it was transformative.

He and other mentors over the year encouraged me to start taking photography more seriously, and I'm happy I did. I see this achievement as an opportunity to encourage myself to stay on my path and hopefully inspire other young creatives never to be too afraid to follow their dreams, no matter how big they may seem!"

origins are a collage of African, European, and indigenous traditions, which can be seen through the hand-made objects of the parades: masks, floats, costumes, and instruments. Planning for the Carnival is a large community undertaking; its year-round preparation is as important as the event itself. The places in which the Carnival is prepared are rather informal.

Costumes are made in backyards, dances are practiced in streets, and floats are constructed in temporary warehouses.

The proposed project, Mundo Momo, introduces the city’s first permanent infrastructure dedicated to the Carnival.

The building will provide Barranquilla with a new level of innovation to expand the Carnival while preserving its rich history.

Made of concrete and steel, the building responds to its tropical climate using vernacular building principles. The design is a mostly open-air structure with a limited program sealed for air conditioning. Users can move flexible doors, curtains, and louvers to accommodate weather and activity.

The long metal roof is punctured with skylights and wind chimneys to provide light and ventilation. The program includes classrooms, costume workshops, float fabrication space, dance studios, and stadium seating. Mundo Momo is equally an urban project as it is an architectural one. The building is located on La Loma, an island along the Magdalena River in jeopardy of development at a scale too large for the city. Our team presented a master plan which more thoughtfully integrates La Loma into Barranquilla’s climate and urban fabric and uses Mundo Momo as an example for future urban projects. This entire body of work engages the spirit of Barranquilla through innovative drawings and physical models.

Project Type: Permanent infrastructure dedicated to the Carnival of Barranquilla, Colombia. The program includes classrooms, costume workshops, float fabrication space, dance studios, and stadium seating.

The project was designed in Prof. Adib Cure's 'VERNACULAROLOGY' studio last semester.

APRIL 2023

ARCHISOURCE ANNOUNCES SHORTLISTED DRAWING OF THE YEAR AWARD 2022 U-SoA students Jesper Brenner and Hamza Waris were awarded Archisource's Shortlisted Drawing of the Year 2022.

"This studio project invited students to reimagine the urban landscape in Brasilia.

Our design process started with studying the original designs by Lucio Costa and

U-SoA STUDENTS WIN DESIGN COMPETITION Gray Burke and Teagan Polizzi are winners of the Non Architecture Award 2022 Competition for their project, "Mundo Momo," under Architecture & Interiors.

The Carnival of Barranquilla, Colombia, is a culmination of culture and tradition celebrated annually before Lent. Its

GO GLOBAL SDGs IN ACTION STUDENT CHALLENGE Nabanita Majumder, one of our Master

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of Professional Science in Urban Sustainability and Resilience program students, won the Best Overall Student Development Goals in Action Project in the York University Go Global SDGs in Action Student Challenge.

Funded by the Government of Canada’s Outbound Student Mobility Pilot Program Global Skills Opportunity (GSO), York University’s Go Global SDGs in Action Student Challenge aims to empower York students and their peers around the world to take action toward the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a global lens. Through facilitated discussions, workshops, and immersive abroad opportunities, York students and their peers will develop global competencies, leadership, digital fluency, and project management skills necessary to take action on SDGs. Students will learn and experience the opportunities and challenges of leading community action for social change by participating in the program.

and peers who have supported me during my journey. I would also like to thank my former professor, Steven Fett, for being an excellent instructor and encouraging me to apply for this opportunity.

Although I graduate in May 2024, this is only the beginning for me, and I'm excited for what's to come." — Emmaus Yonas MARCH 2O23

CANIN URBAN DESIGN STUDIO TRAVELS TO SANTO DOMINGO Temporary Architecture in Santo Domingo - Canin Urban Design Studio traveled to Santo Domingo with Profs.

Carmen Guerrero and Jaime Correa.

The students identified public sites for producing temporary pieces of architecture with a high degree of content and meaning.

The National Office of Historic Preservation in the Dominican Republic, under the leadership of Juan Mubarak, will be hosting a series of meetings with stakeholders invested in the redevelopment, preservation, and adaptive reuse of buildings and spaces in the historic center of the City of Santo Domingo.

Team: Nabanita Majumder (University of Miami) Jose Ignacio Reyes (Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Chile) Gurjit Toor (York University) Colin Maitland (York University) Hiba Sundhu (York University)

AIA DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP In recent years, the AIA Miami has sponsored the Diversity Scholarship, dedicated to helping minority students of architecture with financial assistance. This year, Christopher Stinson and Emmaus Yonas were recognized with the award and presented with $2,000 each.

"Winning the AIA Miami Diversity Scholarship is an incredible honor and opportunity. I appreciate the commitment and dedication to promoting diversity in architecture which is recognized and apparent in this opportunity. I thank the selection committee for believing in me and my potential, and I hope to extend this opportunity to others. I would also like to thank my family, friends, and mentors who have supported me throughout my academic and professional journey. I look forward to using this scholarship to further my education and contribute to creating more equitable and inclusive spaces." — Christopher Stinson "It means a lot to be recognized for my work, and I am honored that AIA Miami believes in me and wants to aid me in pursuing my Bachelor of Architecture degree. I appreciate all my family, friends,

STUDENTS ATTEND THE 75TH NATIONAL ALPHA RHO CHI CONVENTION Four members of Alpha Rho Chi Agamedes Chapter, Cat Calhoun, Matt Jarmon, Celeste Landry, and Didem Erbilen, attended the 75th National Alpha Rho Chi convention to partake in business sessions and risk management lectures.

At the closing banquets, Alpha Rho Chi Agamedes Chapter President, Didem Erbilen, won the John R. Ross scholarship receiving $1,000.

"The Alpha Rho Chi 75th National Convention we attended in Nashville, Tennessee, was a great opportunity for us to see how the fraternity runs at a national scale, especially since we haven’t been able to attend anything in person for the past few years due to the pandemic, so it was a lot of fun getting to network and see the impact we have. I was very excited to win the John R. Ross Scholarship at the celebratory banquet at the end because it felt like a proud accumulation of all the hard work I had been putting into the organization for the past few years. I was very surprised when they called me up since I believe no one from our chapter had won it before, especially as one of the newest chapters in the organization and I was not expecting it at all, so we were all super excited! The past weekend wouldn’t have been as great of an experience as it was if it wasn’t for my three other members, Celeste Landry, Cat Calhoun, and Matthew Jarmon, and I can’t wait for next year’s convention!" — Didem Erbilen

In addition to the Temporary Architecture in Santo Domingo - Canin Urban Design Studio, several other SoA studios have traveled to different locations for field-work.

"To engage in responsible documentation and critical analysis, the School of Architecture continues its support of in-person visits to cities and architecture worldwide.

This semester, the second-year housing studio, coordinated by Professor Frank Martinez, visited the new town of Windsor, in Vero Beach, to understand the contemporary re-interpretation of the typological structure of buildings in the Spanish City of Saint Augustine.

Several upper-level studios also involved sponsored travel expeditions: Professor Lejeune’ studio visited the City of Berlin where his students engaged in the documentation of the famous Bauakademie site by Karl Friedrich Schinkel; the studio of Professor Germane Barnes visited New York City to collaborate with urban design students from The City College of New York, at the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture under the direction of Professor Julio Salcedo-Fernandez; the studio of Professors Carmen Guerrero and Jaime Correa worked with the National Office of Historic Preservation in the Dominican Republic, under the direction of Juan Mubarak, to identify sites for architecture installations and ephemeral buildings which would

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STUDENT NEWS HIGHLIGHTS potentially hold some of the most important cultural events in the historic city of Santo Domingo; the studio of Professors Megan Grehl and Come Menage will be travelling to Switzerland to finalize their documentation of one of the many derelict hotels on the ridges of the alpine mountains; and, finally, the studio of Professors Joanna Lombard and Veruska Vasconez will be travelling to Lubbock, Texas where they will be designing the grounds of a hospital community with students in the Master in Urban Design and Bachelor of Architecture."

— Jaime Correa

award two academic scholarships, for each Spring and Fall semesters, during the 2022-2023 school year: a first-place scholarship award of $1,500 and a secondplace scholarship award of $1000.

DECEMBER 2022

Learn more: https://frdaonline.com/ scholarship/

JANUARY 2023 UNIVERSITY CONNECT GENSLER MIAMI PROGRAM 15 students have been recommended to the University Connect Gensler Miami program this year.

“We are happy to see how engaged and dedicated they are to making the most of this opportunity! The students all have been working with their mentors and came to our office for a tour.”

—Lorena Knezevic, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP. 2022 URBAN GUILD AWARD WINNER Grace Levey, 4th-Year student, wins the 2022 Urban Guild Award under the "student work" category.

This award celebrates built or unbuilt design work which exemplifies criteria in either Design Excellence or Design Exploration but is performed by a student(s).

The Guild Awards program acknowledges design work that best exemplifies the Guild’s mission and increases public awareness that this type of design work is eminently achievable. It is toward these goals that the program is oriented.

Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 52 locations across Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and the Americas. Founded in 1965, the firm serves as trusted advisors to 3,500 active clients in virtually every industry.

Guided by determined optimism, we believe the power of design can spark positive change and create a future that promotes equity, resilience, and wellbeing for everyone.

The project consisting of 16 individual units was designed in a way that strengthens the existing community by providing both the middle class and affordable housing on a currently underdeveloped lot.

The project is divided into four modules, each consisting of 4 units connected through a shared entrance and courtyard.

View photos taken by the Miami Hurricane photo team: https://www. themiamihurricane.com/2022/10/24/ gallery-2022-lantern-festival/

NOVEMBER 2022

COLLEGIATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WINNER Samantha Nowak won first place in the Florida Roof Deck Association’s 2022 Fall Scholarship offering.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF MINORITY ARCHITECTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE BArch students Jaylin Cole (2nd year) and Mykayla Pauls (3rd year) attended the National Organization of Minority Architect’s annual conference on behalf of our University of Miami Chapter. The conference was a chance for our students to connect with different Black, Indigenous, and People of Color professionals doing amazing things for their communities. Our representatives attended various architecture-related workshops and had the opportunity to network with minority students and professionals across the country. Events like these are crucial in supporting our minority students and increasing the diversity of professionals in the field. The Miami Nomas chapter would also like to thank U-SoA for giving our students this opportunity and look forward to next year.

The Florida Roof Deck Association, Inc. (FRDA) is a Florida statewide association representing contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers involved in the manufacture and installation of Lightweight Insulating Concrete Roof Decks. The FRDA will

“It was an amazing and transformative experience that inspired me to be better as a student and a leader. I especially appreciated seeing professionals who looked like me and will cherish this experience forever.” – Mykayla Pauls.

Although various related professional organizations and awards programs share some aspect of these goals, the Guild Awards Program is intentionally structured to be distinct from other awards programs.

Wynwood Norte Project Summary: Wynwood Norte is located at the northern edge of the City of Miami’s urban core. Historically, it has been an affordable, close-knit, and culturally rich community.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS HOST LANTERN FESTIVAL The Asian American Student Association collaborated with the School of Architecture Student Council to host the 2022 Lantern Festival on Friday, Oct. 21, in the Architecture Courtyard. Festivities included free boba, food trucks, games, and other cultural activities.

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AUGUST 2022 MEET U-SoA SUMMER INTERNS

“It has been an amazing experience collaborating with the team at R&R Studios. Thanks to our fantastic colleagues, we each further honed our skills as we contributed to the office’s workflow! We learned a lot, and we are extremely grateful to have landed the opportunity.” — Joao.

NICHOLAS AMADORI Internship at Affiniti Architects

ROBBY UPTON Internship at Patrick Ryan O’Connell

“It is a privilege to be an intern at Affiniti Architects. I am growing professionally every day, thanks to my new colleagues who share their expertise with me. I am learning what it is like to work in an architecture firm.

The experience I have gained so far inspires me to develop and reevaluate my workflow.

I am excited to see what else I will learn in the upcoming weeks.” — Nicholas.

“We are delighted to have Robby Upton join our firm for our 2022 Summer Internship Program. Robby is a rising 5thyear architecture student at the University of Miami School of Architecture.

Welcome to the PRO Architect Family.

We love having you here.” — Patrick Ryan O’Connell firm.

summer. FBA focuses on commercial projects, notably sports, government, and education. I am incredibly excited and grateful to be a part of this team!”

JULY 2022 MEET U-SoA SUMMER INTERNS

TEGAN POLIZZI, GRAY BURKE, & JUAN CHINCHILLA Interning at Cure and Penabad “We are working on a few very fun projects, including affordable housing units, a courtyard house, and a mixed-use urban project. We have been designing, drawing, and making lots of models!”

REBECCA STEWART & GABI PEREZ Internship at Studio Anda “We are so excited to be interning here at Studio Anda. Our firm specializes in highend residential properties in Miami and the Bahamas, and is mostly comprised of U-SoA alumni. While assisting on the first interior design project of the firm, we got to visit the site in Cat Cay. By working on projects in varying phases, it has allowed us to see how a concept becomes reality.”

— Rebecca and Gabi.

SACHA BRAGGS Interning at Looney Ricks Kiss (LRK) “I first heard about LRK as our school prepared for the Career Fair. Through our school’s Career Fair, I learned more about LRK’s principals and a broad range of services before securing an internship there. I’m happy to intern with LRK because they care about creating meaningful work for communities.”

MATTHEW GAYNOR Interning at Fawley Bryant Architecture

KAILYN WEE, JOAO RIBEIRO & SIYING CHENG Internship at R&R Studios with Professor Roberto Behar

“I was first introduced to Fawley Bryant Architecture at the SoA Career Fair. After a discussion with the FBA leadership team, I was offered a position for this

TEODORO BUERES & ZAC CRONIN Interning at Hart Howerton “We got in contact with Hart Howerton through the U-SoA Career Fair this past spring.”

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STUDENT NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

INTERNATIONAL VELUX AWARD This year’s International VELUX Award ’22 in the in the category Daylight Investigations: Martian Light was given to Gray Burke / Prof. Yasmine Zeghar Hammoudi. This is the first time U-SoA has participated in this competition!

“The year is 2120, the Earth has been run dry of its resources and the only solution to survival is life on Mars. But how will we adapt to the lighting conditions of the harsh Martian glare….? Is the future of VELUX products in the prospects of space?”

made the top shortlisted candidates for the Milan Navigli Canal Challenge.

Participants were tasked with conceiving the Milan of the future by envisioning a symbiotic relationship between the city and its historic Navigli canal. Projects were asked to focus on environmental ​​ aspects of design for improved urban sustainability - friendly design, mobility, and the relationships between water and urban spaces.

Read more: https:// architecturecompetitions.com/ naviglicanalchallenge/ The Milan Navigli Canal Challenge was run in collaboration with Riaprire i Navigli Association – “Reopen the Navigli Association’’ – and Primitivo studio Milan, who are proposing a complete renovation of the existing canal. The goal of these groups is to create a new way for the city to operate, with competition entries performing as a potential means to inspiring the general public.

EMI KOPKE FEATURED IN TEDxUMIAMI TALK Emi Kopke stunned us with an inspiring TedxUMiami talk on “Mother & University of Miami Student.”

JUNE 2022

AIA EMERGING PROFESSIONALS AWARD Nathan Sullivan won the AIA Miami & Ft. Lauderdale Emerging Professionals Awards Studio Project of the Year for his project Unapologetic.

“Unapologetic is an installation on the National Mall in Washington, DC that advocates for autism awareness & acceptance. As a person on the autism spectrum, I knew throughout my time in architecture school that I wanted my final thesis project to reflect mine and other autistic people’s experiences with the built environment. I had a great time collaborating with my thesis advisor Victor Deupi and couldn’t be more excited that the project won Studio Project of the Year.

I hope that the project will continue to grow and evolve as I continue my career as an architect.”

MILAN NAVIGLI CANAL CHALLENGE Tiffany Agam and Michelle Wright

APRIL 2022

THE VILLAGERS ANNOUNCE 2022 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS The Villagers have awarded two $5,000 scholarships to university students with an interest in historic preservation and restoration.

Emi is a 5th-year architecture student with minors in elementary education, psychology, and art—but most importantly, a 2-year-old sidekick. With an extensive passion for humanity and making the world a better place, Emi shares how the lessons she instills in her own baby have given her a new lens for viewing everyone who walks this earth to be treated with the same love and respect as “someone’s baby,” and that it’s never too late to shift the paradigm in how society interacts.

Listen to her talk, beginning with an intro at 2:05:10: https://livestream.com/ accounts/2263400/events/10330474/ videos/230576407

Hope Kenny is in her final year of the University of Miami’s five-year School of Architecture program. With intern experience renovating and restoring historic properties, Kenny wrote in her application, “My passion for architecture goes hand in hand with historic preservation.” She plans to remain in Miami after graduation, explaining, “My program introduced me to the beauty within Miami of older, more traditional and beautiful buildings.”

Working on a master’s degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Florida, Nigel Rudolph is committed to historic preservation in Florida. A Peruvian-American, Rudolph is expanding upon his undergraduate degree in cultural anthropology and a postbaccalaureate program in ceramics, as well as work experience as a cultural resource management archeologist and as an archeologist for the Florida Public Archeology Network.

MARIEL LINDSEY RECEIVES VARIOUS OFFERS FROM PRESTIGIOUS GRAD SCHOOLS Mariel has been recognized for her hard work and has received offers from five ivy league graduate programs, including

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Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Princeton, and the University of Pennsylvania, and received offers from Carnegie Mellon and the University of Michigan. In addition, a few architecture firms have expressed interest in hiring her for internships before starting her graduate program in the fall.

What are three words you would use to describe U-SoA? “Engaging, Diverse, and Interdisciplinary.”

What is a recommendation or motivational/inspirational message you would give to your fellow students?

“I have found it incredibly beneficial to make the most out of the invaluable resources and opportunities that the school provides; what happens before and after the classes can and should be a continuation of the in-class exposure and learning process.”

“I consider myself blessed to have achieved so much. I thank God most of all and my parents and family for their love and support. I also want to express my sincerest thanks to my UM SoA professors for guiding me and helping to prepare me for this moment.” - Mariel.

BENNY REBECCA’S DORM ROOM TRANSFORMATION FEATURED IN APARTMENT THERAPY Benny Rebecca was featured in Apartment Therapy College Room Tours this month.

GRAY BURKE WINS ARCHISOURCE DRAWING OF THE YEAR 2021 Gray Burke, currently a 3rd year student in the B.Arch program, has been awarded a prize in Archisource’s Drawing of the Year 2021 competition. His drawing is currently being showcased with all the finalists in their Virtual Exhibition.

“From the first day I stepped into my dorm, I knew I wanted to make it something special, and after months of editing, it’s finally reached a point that it feels like home. I want to use this time to thank everyone so supportive of this journey.

Putting so much time and effort into decorating a dorm that you only live in for a little amount of time may seem pointless to some, but to me it’s the complete opposite. To me, it’s my safe space and one that deserves attention. My main goal was to inspire people and show them that you can live beautifully no matter where you are. Something that the inspiring @ eyeswoon (via Instagram) taught me through her work. As long as you have positive energy and a good outlook, things will always turn out just like they’re supposed to. I hope everyone enjoys and I cannot wait to see where this path leads.”

Check out his dorm room transformation here: https://www.instagram.com/p/ CcYPF9BlC6P/ MEET U-SoA STUDENTS

What do you plan to do after you graduate? “Pursue my journey of weaving the incredible knowledge that I have gained into a new applicable model that can contribute to the global housing affordability challenge.”

MARCH 2022

ACCESSIBLE ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION WINNER Congratulations to U-SoA student Tiffany Agam on winning first place in her essay and illustration for the “Accessible Architecture” Competition.

This event is part of a competition series focused on accessibility and is run in tandem with The Home for the Blind competition, which sought designs for the home of a single-blind occupant. “The Reimagined Architectural Toolbox” is an analysis and proposal of ways to integrate thoughtful, inclusive design strategies at the start of the architectural process rather than as an afterthought.

HOPE KENNY WINS VILLAGERS AWARD SCHOLARSHIP Each year The Villagers award scholarships to students with a strong interest in historic preservation, a noteworthy academic record and the potential to make a significant contribution to historic preservation in the future. The purpose of the scholarship program is to foster professional development in historic preservation in the State of Florida.

“I’m super appreciative to be one of the recipients and excited to possibly pursue historic preservation in the future!” - Hope.

What is something you are looking forward to within your U-SoA journey? “The MRED+U weekly industry professional speakers and their inspiring/insightful stories that drive me to think and leave me wondering and looking forward to the next speaker’s new puzzle piece.”

“To question the perceptions of how we design architecture is to reassess the nature of our existence in this world.”

— Tiffany.

OMAR MEHANY Egyptian Fulbright scholar in the MRED+U program

Read more: https:// architecturecompetitions.com/ accessiblearchitecture/

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STUDENT NEWS HIGHLIGHTS FEBRUARY 2022

U-SoA STUDENT NOMINATED TO PARTICIPATE IN PLACES: JOURNAL’S SUMMER 2021 WRITING WORKSHOP Hali Keller is a 3rd year Master’s candidate at the University of Miami School of Architecture and received her B.A. with distinction in Architectural Studies from Ithaca College. Her interests include architectural history, interior design, and women in architecture. Places published Hali’s essay in December 2021. You can read her essay as it speaks to the history of women and architecture entitled “No Apology in a World of Men”: Marion Mahony Griffin and Women in Architecture Curricula. The topic for the workshop was “Responsibilities.”

MEET U-SoA STUDENTS

STUDENT HOPES TO FOLLOW GRANDFATHER’S STEPS INTO ARCHITECTURE Motivated by her grandfather’s career and time spent with him, Sacha Braggs is determined to pursue a career in architecture, so that she can one day restore dilapidated commercial buildings in her hometown of Dallas.

By Ashley A. Williams, UM News Persistent and eager, Sacha Braggs arrived at the University of Miami in 2019 on a mission to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps and become an architect.

“Though he passed when I was young, I feel like the little time that I was able to spend with him, building small figures, had a lasting impression on me,” said Dallas native Braggs. “He devoted his whole life to his Department of Housing and Urban Development career.”

SHANE JEZOWSKI Master of Architecture; Thesis student and McLamore scholarship recipient What is one recommendation you would give to your fellow students? “Be an active participant in sculpting your education.

What you learn is dependent on your efforts and interests, so do not accept the path of least resistance.”

Which is your favorite professor so far?

“I have worked closely with several faculty members at UM, and all of them have played crucial roles in how I approach, untangle and design our built world. I must credit Denis Hector for being such a versatile educator and thinker. His pedagogy is fluid and flexible, while maximizing the growth of each student in his courses.”

What do you plan to do after you graduate? “I hope to use my creative problem-solving skills to continue Florida’s ecological preservation and restoration through architecture and landscape design.”

Today, Braggs is in her third year of the School of Architecture’s five-year, accredited professional program—which leads to her obtaining a bachelor’s degree in architecture.

Early in Braggs’ life, her mom observed how artistic and mathematically inclined she was for her age. To ensure she received the best education possible, her mom decided to move her and her younger sibling from the inner city to the suburbs. “Coming to the University of Miami was important because I wanted to be somewhere that was diverse.

Somewhere that I could be exposed to more cultures.”

Braggs said her time at the University has so far provided her with a rich cultural experience. It has also given her the opportunity to explore social organizations, too. Currently, she is involved in four student organizations that provide a perfect balance of philanthropy, spirituality, connection, and fun.

She is a member of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students; KAOS, a coed hip-hop dance team; and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). She is also the co-president of Kids in Culture, a student volunteer organization that strives to show local young students that college is attainable regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.

“We go to the local community centers and interact with the kids there to provide tutoring services, and we play games and just engage with them on Fridays,” said Braggs, who represents one of the small number of Black women in STEM-related fields in the nation.

LaTosha Ramsey, assistant director of student retention and programs in the ’Cane Success Center, has become Braggs’ mentor. The two met through FCA, as Ramsey hosts the weekly women’s Bible studies.

“FCA is a safe space for our students to grow in a Christ-like environment,” said Ramsey, who describes Braggs as reliable and an overall great person. “With young ladies like Sacha, and others, we want to teach them the Bible scriptures yet give them the space to interpret it and relay it to their everyday lives.”

Braggs said she is grateful for her FCA family and is grateful to have Ramsey serve as a mother-figure while in Miami.

“I love to spread God’s love and word across the campus through fellowship and volunteering,” she said.

Nearing the finish line of her program, Braggs finally feels like she has adjusted to campus life and is continually navigating her architectural education.

Although arduous at times, she knows the reward of becoming an architect one day will be well worth it.

“I knew coming into this major that the curriculum would be challenging,”

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said Braggs, who was awarded several scholarships based on her high school academic performance. “There can be a lot of long nights, or you know, no sleep at all. And sometimes that can be hard, but I feel like seeing the work that you can create is so rewarding at the end.”

Thanks to her student-employee position at the School of Architecture, she has met several faculty members. She said getting to know them beyond the classroom setting has allowed her to see the boundless career options her future field holds.

“We have wonderful professors who actually have jobs within the field and being a professor isn’t their only occupation,” said Braggs. “Some of them work in multiple countries and even own their own firms. I feel this makes them more insightful.”

In the future, Braggs hopes to give back to inner-city communities by creating a non-profit business that restores commercial buildings in the inner city, where marginalized people often lack access to basic resources.

“We’ve all seen these abandoned places in towns and cities that have nothing in them,” said Braggs. “I feel like if I were able to rejuvenate, and not gentrify, these places by giving [marginalized people] somewhere to live . . . they can have access to food, shelter, and other resources that would allow them to thrive.”

Thank you to the two leaders of this initiative: Lorena Knezevic, former student, and former part-time faculty at the U-SoA, and Yasmine Zeghar, full-time faculty member and coordinator of this program at the U-SoA. Without these two remarkable people, this program would have never been started.

MEET U-SoA STUDENTS

FALL 2021 ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS HELP DESIGN CUTLER BAY MUNICIPAL COMPLEX Twelve students from an upper-level studio class have spent the semester working on how to transform 16 acres into an area with a city hall, police station, community center, and a park.

By Barbara Gutierrez, UM News Students from the University of Miami School of Architecture have partnered with the Town of Cutler Bay in a unique project to help design a new municipal complex and park on 16 acres of land in the heart of that community.

KHALIL BLAND 2nd year from Philadelphia, PA “Architecture gives you the freedom to use the creative part of your brain, it’s an art that works with science to design places and buildings where people can live, interact, work and play. You get a lot of opportunities to showcase your creativity and art while designing structures.”

ANN YU 4th year from San Diego, California What words would you use to describe U-SoA? “Opportunity, Companionable, Exploring.”

Why did you choose architecture as your major? “My art background led me to consider majors in the design field and ended up with architecture.”

GENSLER PROGRAM: UNIVERSITY CONNECT SPRING 2022 LAUNCH The new Gensler Program, University Connect, aims to partner with the University of Miami School of Architecture to provide mentorship opportunities for students. Congratulations to our Spring 2022 winners, Carolina Rodriguez (with Shamim Ahmadzadegan), Michelle Saguinsin (with Lorena Knezevic), Teagan Polizzi (with Arturo Arroyo), Teodoro Bueres (with Christian Hernandez, Gray Burke (with Leo Salom) and Benedetto Rebecca (with Asya Gevorkyan)!

have completed your studies? “I am planning on some time to travel the world, then working towards my license.”

Did you know that you wanted to study this before you got to UM? If not, how did you discover it? “Yes, I applied specifically to the university with a B.Arch program since my goal is to be a licensed architect.”

What’s been your favorite class for this major? “Study abroad, travel around Europe and learn about places and buildings.”

What about this major is exciting to you?

“The beginning of a creative process is always exciting, whether it is studio work or elective. It’s always fun to have a direction for a project and continue developing it.”

What are you planning to do once you

The area for the project is on a stretch of land on Old Cutler Road, north of SW 212 Street, that the town acquired on a land swap. Cutler Bay hopes to build a city hall, police station, and community center adjacent to the park on that land.

“We want not only to transform this into a park and municipal complex but for it to become the emotional heart for our town, and a central gathering place for our community,” Mayor Tim Meerbott said in a video message posted to Instagram. “I am happy to announce that we have partnered with the University of Miami School of Architecture to help us conceptualize our vision.”

Twelve graduate and undergraduate architecture students enrolled in an upper-level studio class have devoted the fall semester to researching, talking to Cutler Bay residents in town hall meetings, and designing how to transform the now empty land into a place to be seen and used. They aim to design public buildings that are truly for the public to use daily.

“The collaboration with Cutler Bay plunges the students into a real-world scenario where they learn a great deal by addressing the complex and sometimes competing needs of various stakeholders with their designs,” said Rodolphe el-Khoury, dean of the School of Architecture.

Erick Valle, an adjunct visiting professor and practicing professional who teaches the studio course, said that the project is interesting since students have to reimagine how a modern municipal complex would look, keeping in mind the needs of the residents and the demands of the fauna in the area.

“This kind of experience is as real as it gets,” said Valle. “Students get to interact with many of their clients through workshops held in Cutler Bay. The town manager and mayor want as much interaction as possible.”

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STUDENT NEWS HIGHLIGHTS for Living with Rising Seas” from Spring 2021. This exhibition features work from U-SoA students. Their projects entail “a master plan of the entire Nantucket area: Brant Point and its waterfront estates, the downtown, and the historic district along Washington Street, a main commercial artery of traffic.” The project was led by Sonia Chao.

Featured students: Tanner Wall, Thomas Long, Camila Zablah, Paula Christina Viala (grad students in the new MPS program) and Michael “Mischa” Ganom.

That interaction with residents is what has fueled many of the students’ projects.

“There is also a lot of greenery throughout, since Cutler Bay is known for its greenery.”

Sarah Ercia, a fifth-year student, said that during the interaction with the residents she realized that they were focused on having recreation areas, but also wanted to keep a lot of the surrounding nature and native vegetation intact.

Additional steel tree structures will be added to the design to bring shade from the sun during the day and provide a colorful light show at night, noted Vincent.

Ercia’s design did just that by integrating pine trees throughout her model, which also included a manmade lake with surrounding walkways that could be used for visitors to enjoy the pinelands and drive their golf carts—which many residents of Cutler Bay do regularly.

In addition to the municipal buildings, Ercia also included a clubhouse and several areas for families to enjoy themselves—a playground, splash pad for children, and a dog park.

Among the challenges with the project is that the land is in a flood zone, so buildings must be elevated to withstand flooding. All the students designed their buildings 10 feet above the sidewalk to allow for this, according to Valle.

To address environmental issues, Vincent and Posey built green roofs on each of the buildings with grass, solar panels, and tubs for water retention.

“I think the project will have everything a family needs,” said Posey. “It has places for kids and places for grown-ups to hold events and meetings.”

On Saturday, Dec. 4, the students will present their final projects for critique to professors, architects, and members of the Town of Cutler Bay government and community. The meeting will be held at Glasgow Lecture Hall on the University’s Coral Gables Campus.

OUR CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS HOLD A WORKSHOP FOR THE ICAA FLORIDA CHAPTER The Classical Architecture students held a workshop in partnership with the ICAA Florida Chapter on November 6 in Glasgow Hall. Mason Roberts of RAMSA flew in from New York to host the workshop, where he instructed the students on how to hand draw the base and capital of the Corinthian order in addition to a brief history of the canon and its proportions. The 20-odd undergraduates who attended were pleasantly surprised by the complexity and challenged themselves to produce compelling drawings.

The amphitheater also provides another gathering place for residents to watch plays and concerts and stage other community events.

“The water is our focus point, and the buildings hug the water,” said Vincent.

“Over the last 20 years, our scholarships programs have supported the education of emerging design talent, with nearly $200,000 being awarded in the last year alone. Gensler offers several different programs in the U.S. annually for architecture and interior design students, and one U.K. Bursary.”

Watch the interview with Cutler Bay Mayor Tim Meerbott and Dean El-Khoury: https://youtu.be/dWWztClP9Ig

“I put all the buildings to the left in the site where there is less flooding,” Ercia said. “I built an amphitheater and a lake to the right of the property. The amphitheater creates another basin.

If there is flooding in that area, it will eventually drain out.”

Miranda Posey and Christelle Vincent are both fourth-year architecture students.

For their design, they were inspired by the Everglades. They envisioned several water features in the Cutler Bay complex that are hugged by buildings with rounded corners that seem to be fully integrated into the scenery.

GENSLER SCHOLARSHIP WINNER Congratulations to U-SoA Master of Architecture student, Amber Kountz, one of the recipients of the 2021 Gensler Rising Black Designers Scholarships!

U-SoA STUDENTS FEATURED IN THE ENVISION RESILIENCE NANTUCKET EXHIBITION The Envision Resilience Nantucket exhibition “Envision Resilience: Designs

“The application of drafting meticulous proportions and creative gestures of the capital produced an inspiring balance of the arts and resulted in beautiful drawings among my peers.”

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NOVEMBER 2023

20 YEAR REUNION TOUR U-SoA extended a warm welcome to the Class of 2003, inviting them back to campus for a reunion tour and homecoming BBQ. The tour commenced in the Academic Services conference room, where a delightful slideshow presentation brought back fond memories of amusing poses and hairstyles, filling the room with laughter.

Following this, the journey carried on with visits to the Murphy Building, Korach, and the Glasgow Gallery, all expertly guided by a dedicated student ambassador.

Thank you to the Class of 2003 for being a proud Cane!

SYDNEY MAUBERT 20’ RECEIVES ELLIES CREATOR AWARD THROUGH OOLITE Sydney Maubert holds degrees in architecture from University of Miami and the Yale University, with double minors in writing and art. Currently, Sydney is the inaugural fellow at Cornell’s Strauch Fellowship, where she will teach and produce research (Fall 2022- ongoing).

She sits on the board of the Center for Architecture’s Scholarship Committee (2023). She has assisted in teaching courses at Yale University, Morgan State University, City College of New York, and the University of Miami. She is the June 2023 Artist in Residence at the Everglades (AIRIE). She most recently won the Ellies Creator Award through Oolite for her project, Queen of the Swamp.

Learn more about Queen of the Swamp: https://www.sydneyrosemaubert.com/

Nicole (Corbett) Meeks Amber (Adamski) Evans Ellen Buckley Robert Rollins Jason Cadorette Nathan Butt Raymond Riparip Marc Rosenberg Marian Martinez Christian Moreno Matthew Blumenthal Xuan Florez Ligia Ines Labrada OCTOBER 2023 ALUMNUS UNLOCKS THE POWER OF ARCHITECTURE THOUGH INNOVATION For Christian Giordano, B.Arch. ’97, president and co-owner of Mancini Duffy, a national design firm based in New York City, architecture is not just a profession—it is a lifelong passion.

By Benjamin Estrada, UM News Architecture blends artistry and functionality, shaping the spaces we inhabit and influencing the way we experience the world around us. For Christian Giordano, B.Arch. ’97, president and co-owner of Mancini Duffy, a national design firm based in New York City, architecture is not just a profession but a

lifelong passion. In a recent conversation, Giordano shared insights into his architecture journey, highlighting the importance of early influences, technological evolution, and the creation of groundbreaking tools.

For many in the profession, the spark of fascination with architecture is ignited at a young age. Giordano is no exception. He recalled, “I think that with most architects, it’s just something that you’re interested in from very early on, whether that comes from Lego playing or model making or involvement around construction. My mother was obsessed with design and was always doing renovations in her house. I liked the construction part of it, and that sparked the idea.”

Throughout high school, he explored his passion for architecture through self-study and hands-on projects. “I would get architecture books. That is what I wanted for Christmas. And I did a lot of model-making,” he explained.

He created intricate models, including remote-controlled cars, buildings, and even dollhouses for relatives. Despite not having formal architecture training or experience, Giordano’s early dedication to learning and honing his skills laid a solid foundation for his future career.

Giordano’s official architectural education began at the University of Miami, where he earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree, further cultivating his passion and developing essential skills. Giordano reflected on his time as a ’Cane, saying, “It was a great experience overall. I cherished that time for many reasons. There was a series of professors who were genuinely excited about architecture. They loved it.”

One key aspect of his Miami education was a focus on traditional architectural principles. This approach, focusing on drawing and physical models, would later prove to be a valuable asset in his career.

Giordano explained, “At the University of Miami, there was an emphasis on

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ALUMNI NEWS HIGHLIGHTS historical architecture, proportion, drawing, and the hand-eye connection.

That was a very informative way of learning for me.”

Even as technology advanced in the field, Giordano continued to rely on these traditional skills. “Still, to this day, when I sit down to design, I start out with pencil and paper,” he said.

Following his undergraduate studies at the University, Giordano pursued a master’s degree in architecture at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He explained how his education at the U provided a strong foundation, while UCLA exposed him to a different perspective. This well-rounded education, combining traditional and progressive schools of thought, prepared Giordano for the diverse opportunities he would encounter in his career.

better understand client interactions and business management. He also noted that architects often don’t pursue the profession for monetary gain but instead for the love of design. He advised, “I think that for those looking to go into the field of architecture, it’s definitely something that you have to have a passion for.”

Giordano’s journey through the world of architecture underscores the power of early influences, a balanced education, and the pursuit of innovation. He hopes that through the transformative potential of technology and collaboration in architecture, he and his firm can benefit the entire industry for years to come.

the Indigenous population in the Choco province of Colombia. Bennett Kyle Resnick received an honorable mention for his design of a remote shelter village in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

“It was a great surprise,” said Elia. “The other projects were very beautiful, so I was honored.”

Inspired by work she did in high school with an organization called Free the Girls, which helped women who had been victims of sexual abuse and trafficking, Elia set out to build a community that used locally sourced materials and provided opportunities for the women to

As a ’Cane, Giordano secured an internship at the Miami branch of the architectural firm Swanke Hayden Connell Architects, originally based in New York.

The owner of the firm, Richard Carlson, suggested that if he ever wanted a job in New York, he should reach out. Giordano later returned to New York, where he contacted Carlson and got his first job in the city, a decision that not only kickstarted his career but also led him to meet his future wife. This Miami-to-New York connection played a pivotal role in shaping Giordano’s professional and personal life.

Through his commitment to improving the architectural process, Giordano created The Toolbelt, a patented software suite that revolutionizes collaborative 3D modeling and decision-making in architecture. Giordano explained the motivation behind The Toolbelt: “The hardest part of any design process is actually not doing the design. It’s helping the client make decisions.” He highlighted the conventional back-and-forth process in architecture in which design changes and client feedback often elongate project timelines.

Giordano envisioned a more efficient and collaborative approach. “What a normal architecture process can do in three weeks, we can do in three hours,” he said.

The software lets clients make real-time design decisions, fostering cooperation and transparency. The Toolbelt’s impact has been profound, with Giordano stating that clients who experience its innovative processes never want to return to traditional methods. They appreciate the clarity and involvement in the design process, resulting in a seamless transition from design to the final product.

When thinking of young and aspiring architects, Giordano encourages them to gain hands-on experience through freelance work or personal projects. He believes these experiences help architects

HOUSING DESIGNED TO ASSIST ABUSED WOMEN WINS AWARD The safe spaces for women in Mozambique, created by former student Lauren Elia, captured the top honor in a contest sponsored by the School of Architecture and Portugal-based firm Go Friday.

enhance their dwellings so that they felt ownership over the project.

By Barbara Gutierrez, UM News Amultiunit residential community set in the flatlands of Mozambique, Africa, to house women who are escaping sexual trafficking and abuse, earned the top prize of the Go Friday design contest, sponsored by the University of Miami School of Architecture and the Portugalbased design firm.

Called “The Safe Haven of Mozambique,” the project is composed of several modules measuring 10 feet by 10 feet that house bedrooms and communal bath areas for the women and their children.

Additional areas included a community center for group activities, a communal kitchen, and a rain garden where residents could meditate in a safe space.

Lauren Elia, a spring 2023 graduate of the School of Architecture, earned the accolade from among 13 students in a summer studio course led by Veruska Vasconez, lecturer at the school. The students were tasked with designing emergency shelters that could be easily assembled and that did not resemble the usual tents used in refugee camps.

The project could be as small or as large as needed, Elia noted. And modules can be easily added to accommodate more residents.

Go Friday collaborated with the school and provided the winner of the top project with a cash prize and a one-week trip to Portugal to visit its headquarters.

Isabella Adelsohn received second place for designing a community for

Mozambique has one of the highest incidences of sexual violence in all of Africa, according to news reports and research conducted by the United Nations and UNICEF.

She designed each area using local hardwoods and bamboo and integrating the landscape of the region, keeping in mind the heavy rains that affect the area and its intense heat. A series of weighted pulleys opened and closed louvers to provide cross ventilation in the rooms.

A special cistern would collect rainwater.

And the water would be treated, so it is safe for drinking, she said.

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Elia envisioned that the modules would have panels with joinery that easily can be snapped into other prefabricated panels, as well as thatching for the roof that could be made of light fabric or palms woven by the Mozambique women.

“The thatched roofs are made out of palms,” she said. “The women could help with this work, and it would give them a sense of purpose. They could also pass on this knowledge to other women.”

Vasconez said the winning design “beautifully captured the essence of community resilience by seamlessly integrating the local culture and addressing the area’s specific needs. It stood out for its thoughtful incorporation of Indigenous elements, reflecting a deep understanding of the community’s identity.”

ranges from completely new, mixeduse neighborhoods to strategic urban infill. Clients range from for-profit developers planning new communities to municipalities struggling to protect local character while accommodating growth. As Principal, Jeremy will focus on solidifying Union’s regional and national leadership in neighborhood design.

Design Firm, 40 Six Four. A Registered Architect in New York and New Jersey.

A Graduate of the University of Miami School of Architecture (Class of 2001).

She is the immediate past-president of the AIA Brooklyn Chapter and the Co-Chair of the Housing and Land Use Committee of the Brooklyn Community Board 14.

Jeremy joined Union in 2012 after a decade with Torti Gallas and Partners. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College and a Master of Architecture with a post-professional degree in Suburb and Town Design from the University of Miami.

A lover of all things sun and sand. As passionate about design as she is about being of service to the community. A bibliographic reference on Wikipedia.

An aficionado of pens & pencils. An enthusiast of long drives and french fries.

What was your favorite part about studying at U-SoA? “The weather was a huge reason I chose to go to UM, but what I appreciate the most now is how it made me think. The U-SoA taught me how to appreciate the journey to finding the right solutions to good design. We took our time to draw and understand a place’s essence before we even started to think about the studio projects. It taught me how to think about what thoughtful design is truly about.

Spending time on drawings and the details can make you appreciate what good design is truly about.”

And, she added, “the emphasis on creating a sense of community was evident in every design aspect, fostering a spirit of togetherness and mutual support.”

Elia designed the project with the goal of creating a place where abused women could feel a sense of community.

“These women have been through so much that I don’t know if they ever will feel safe,” she said. “But I think that having a place that is their own instead of living on the streets or with some random person will provide them some sort of comfort.”

APRIL 2023

TOMAS FRECHETTE PROMOTED TO SENIOR ASSOCIATE AT PICKARD CHILTON ARCHITECTURE STUDIO Pickard Chilton, an award-winning architecture studio in New Haven, Conn., announces the promotion of U-SoA graduate Thomas Frechette, to senior associate.

Thomas Frechette AIA brings more than 30 years of design experience on a broad range of innovative corporate, mixeduse, research, and cultural projects. He is currently co-leader of the design of the CoStar Group’s new campus in Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Frechette holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Miami and received his Master of Architecture from Yale University School of Architecture.

What are three words you would use to describe U-SoA? “Challenging, Transformative and Memorable” What is a motivational message you would give to current students? “It’s okay if you don’t get the concepts of professional practice class. This time is about learning how to think about it.

Don’t spend your time trying to create designs that stand out. Make everything you design fit in; create beautiful, meaningful things. Enjoy the courtyard.

Bask in the wonderful lectures that you will attend. The best takeaway that you will get from your education is the experience!”

DECEMBER 2022 MEET U-SoA ALUMNI

MARCH 2023 MEET U-SoA ALUMNI

JEREMY LAKE PROMOTED TO PRINCIPAL AT UNION STUDIO ARCHITECTURE & COMMUNITY DESIGN Jeremy Lake, Class of ‘20, MA in Architecture and Suburb and Town Planning, has been promoted to Principal with Union Studio Architecture & Community Design.

Jeremy Lake has been at the heart of Union’s commitment to designing connected, walkable, human-scaled, and equitable neighborhoods and places for over a decade. His completed work

TALISHA SAINVIL, is the Principal of her own Brooklyn-Based Architecture and

ADELA PIERSON, Class of ‘88, is a Registered Architect / Senior Project Manager at Ware Malcomb.

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ALUMNI NEWS HIGHLIGHTS After graduating from U-SoA, Adela worked with several renowned local architecture firms specializing in highrise residential and hospitality projects.

She has also had her own practice, where she mainly did private residences and medium-sized commercial projects. She is presently working at Ware Malcomb as a Senior Project Manager.

for 2023! EPAP is AIAPV’s annual competition recognizing outstanding EP leaders and providing them with a yearlong opportunity to hone their leadership skills through mentorship with AIAPV’s Group of Fellows. In addition, each EPAP winner receives a $500 cash award and a stipend for professional development activities.

What’s your greatest memory at U-SoA? “I was impressed with the richness of so many different nationalities. U-SoA has people from all over the world, and I had the opportunity to learn about many cultures and traditions. Miami, as a city, is a melting pot; that is one of its best attributes.

The Class of 2023 will be honored at AIAPV’s October 20 Design + Leadership Awards, and we invite you to join us there to recognize them. This year’s class includes five outstanding EPs selected from 11 impressive nominees. They were chosen by a jury of AIAPV Fellows, based on an evaluation of their leadership potential.

I also remember how my professors went out of their way to teach us. They encouraged me to imagine and think outside the box. I especially remember Professor Millas for his patience and enthusiasm in class. But what I remember about him the most was his humanity. He always treated all of us with respect and kindness.”

What advice would you give to our current students? “Architecture is a fascinating field. It’s a world where imagination meets reality. It is a rewarding experience when what started as a simple sketch becomes a real structure. The U-SoA has an outstanding program with very talented professors where you learn how to accomplish this fun but challenging task.

Take advantage of the opportunity you now have to learn from the best architects out there.”

“Caitlin earned her degree in Architecture from the U-SoA and is a member of the Torti Gallas + Partners’ Design Staff. She is a leader of the firm’s sustainability efforts and hopes to focus on environmental, social, and economic aspects of sustainability—particularly regarding quality, affordable housing at all income levels. Caitlin is working to develop a personal set of best practices for balancing all aspects of sustainability.”

—Torti Gallas.

distinguishable results characterizing one’s career in a manner over and above what is normally expected.

Denise is the second female in the Chapter’s history to receive this great honor since the Chapter’s inception in 1947. Denise has been a constant leader for AIA Palm Beach. She has served in every officer position on the AIA Palm Beach Board and she currently serves as a Trustee on the AIA Palm Beach Foundation Board where she has been instrumental in bringing an architectural exhibit of AIA Palm Beach design award winners to downtown West Palm Beach.

She has been involved for several years now in the Foundation’s annual golf tournament which raises funds for scholarships for architectural students from Palm Beach County. In addition to working to fund scholarships, Denise has worked directly with Middle and Highschool students and has developed educational content to engage and expose them to the profession of architecture. Denise was the founding chair of the Women in Architecture Committee for the Palm Beach Chapter and has organized and participated in multiple events to help promote the viability and visibility of women in the field of architecture. Denise served as chapter president in 2018 and assisted with advocacy efforts. Her AIA activities extend beyond Palm Beach County; she also serves on AIA Florida Committees.

A native of Puerto Rico, she was recently invited and included in AIA Puerto Rico’s Women in Architecture 2022 exhibit.

Denise is the CEO of Civil Design Inc. in West Palm Beach, Florida, and specializes in Sustainable Design Services.

NOVEMBER 2022

OCTOBER 2022

JAMES H. ANSTIS FAIA GOLD MEDAL AWARD WINNER BY THE AIA PALM BEACH Denise A. Bas-Arzuaga, AIA, was awarded the 2022 James H. Anstis, FAIA Gold Medal Award by the Palm Beach Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

WINNER OF THE AIA POTOMAC VALLEY CHAPTER EMERGING PROFESSIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM Caitlin Smith, Associate AIA, is a winner of the AIA | Potomac Valley Chapter Emerging Professional Awards Program

This award recognizes an individual architect in Palm Beach County who has distinguished himself or herself in a manner resulting in a profound impact on the profession over an extended period of time. This is the highest award that AIA Palm Beach can bestow on one of its members and only one may be given in a year. Any individual who has been a member of AIA for a minimum of 10 years is eligible. The individual’s long-term, noteworthy accomplishments in the AIA, as well as community organizations or governmental bodies, must demonstrate

HOMETOWN HERO U-SoA alumna and faculty member, Laura Beltran, was featured at the Miami Hurricane’s football game as a “Hometown Hero,” which honors a

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fan that has served in a branch of the U.S. military. Being Colombian, she was featured as a Hispanic veteran for Hispanic Heritage Month. Thank you, Laura, for your service!

Branch: United States Marine Corps Years Served: 2009-2013 Rank: Corporal Tours: Two to Afghanistan in aid to OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom), 2011 & 2012

Awards for The Court: Award of Excellence Environmental Sustainability Honor The ASLA Florida Design Awards Program encourages the advancement, expansion, and recognition of the Landscape Architecture profession by honoring projects that blend environmental and artistic principles that emphasize beauty, function, and the sustainability.

MEET U-SoA ALUMNI

Medals/Achievements: Navy Unit Commendation medal Marine Corps Good Conduct medal National Defense Service medal Afghanistan Campaign medal (w/ 2 stars) Global War on Terrorism Service medal Sea Service Deployment ribbon (w/ 2 stars) NATO medal - ISAF Afghanistan Various letters of appreciations Expert rifle qualification badge (4X) AUGUST 2022

AMANDA ROSENFELD AND TEAM WINS THE AIA FLORIDA’S ‘22 UNBUILT CITATION AWARD Amanda Rosenfeld and her team at HKS Architects won the AIA Florida’s 2022 Unbuilt Citation Award for their project.

“So thankful to be part of this amazing team and for the recognition of all of our hard work!” – Amanda Rosenfeld.

HKS Architects, ODA, MD Studio, EDSA, Shipyards Mixed-Use Development, Jacksonville, Florida.

DEPT. WINS ‘22 ASLA FLORIDA DESIGN AWARDS Dept. won two 2022 ASLA Florida Design

DANIEL CLAVIJO, who attended U-SoA almost 11 years ago, began his first Design I class with Prof. Oscar Machado. A few weeks ago, he finally visited the building that was the subject of his first project on the precedent study: Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s Court Gardener’s House. In the second photo, he is standing in front of the building he drew as a student.

What was your experience at U-SoA? “I knew from a young age I wanted to become an architect, and one of the top reasons I chose U-SoA was how well the program was structured and that we would be engrossed in architectural drawing and design from Day 1.

Additionally, as an B.Arch accredited program, it was important to me so I could eventually become a licensed architect without necessarily going the route of an M.Arch. The studio format and small class sizes with a dedicated faculty member were excellent ways to make great connections and friends and fostered an environment where we all could learn from each other. And of course the Rome program is an amazing, immersive experience!”

What was your experience taking Prof.

Machado’s class? “All of U-SoA’s faculty

are exceptional and I’m sure I’m not the only one, but I will certainly say Prof.

Machado had a huge impact on me. As my first Design professor, he helped lay a foundation on how I think about design, focusing on concepts like proportion, elements of classical architecture, Vitruvian principles, etc. He would always take the time to patiently go over your work with you and provide sound advice.

Anyone who has had Prof. Machado will know what a great educator, mentor, architect, and overall human being he is. It never matters what stage of your career you are at, academically or professionally; Prof. Machado is always concerned about your growth and well being as you’re on the architectural journey (and your personal one as well).”

Can you tell us about the project you worked on? The first design project was a chapel and small religious retirement complex on a site next to the Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables, but in order to make a more informed design we had to do precedent research - an important first step for all architecture because we should be grounding our designs on the Masters of design from the past, which ultimately can be brought all the way back to nature and the universe’s design. I was assigned Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s Court Gardener’s House, which I always thought was a bit of a strange building to analyze considering it was so small and perhaps insignificant when you might compare it to others projects like the Pantheon, but there certainly was a lot to study from it including the incorporation of the garden and courtyard as an axis mundi.

I might be making this part up, but for some reason I think Prof. Machado at the time told me that I would have to go some day and visit Schinkel’s work, and imagined or not, that stayed with me.

So this summer some travel took me to Berlin, Germany and I knew I had to make the trip to nearby Potsdam to finally see this building in real life. It’s located in the Sansoucci Park (think a German Versailles) and there they actually refer to the complex as the Roman Baths. I like to think I made something of a full circle to appreciate in person both the simplicity and complexity that exist in this little known yet terrific design.

What are you doing now in your career?

I recently graduated from my MBA program at NYU Stern School of Business with a focus on real estate, finance, and economics which I always wanted to accomplish as additional skillsets to my architectural background. My work mainly focuses on high end residential design in Palm Beach, FL in a firm I’ve worked since my final years at UM, and I also do some projects in a design firm I’ve established myself with the ultimate goal to design and develop my own buildings.

I’m usually presenting new residences and renovations every month before the Palm Beach’s Architectural and Landmarks

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ALUMNI NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Commissions as well as its Town Council.

As a fun side project, I am also trying to get a LEGO creation of the Villa Rotonda

by Andrea Palladio approved to become a real set you could find in store. It’s another building that has stayed with me since beginning at U-SoA and that I was also finally able to visit this summer.

JULY 2022

Global Architecture & Interior Design Awards ’22!

ready for our next adventure.”

— Max Speziani

Project Category: Private Residence

MEET U-SoA ALUMNI

The clients wanted to create a home that would not only become their primary residence, but also a place for their entire family to spend time together and create lasting memories. Yet, the occupants were not the only stakeholders in the design. In addition to supporting the requirements of a growing family, it would also need to support a growing and eclectic art collection while still remaining connected to nature.

MEET U-SoA ALUMNI DADS A special feature in celebration of ‘Cane dads on Father’s Day 2022.

LEAGUE PRIZE WINNER Isaac Stein, Dept. — Design Principal, and Maggie Tsang won the 2022 League Prize award. This is an annual competition that The Architectural League has organized since 1981. Open to designers ten years or less out of school, it draws entrants from around North America.

“We are so honored to be awarded the League Prize and to be included in such an amazing group of young practitioners and designers. We are really grateful to the Arch League for recognizing our work and for all they do to support creative design practices.”

— Isaac Stein His recent accomplishments also include The Good Neighbor Stormwater Park in North Miami, FL, awarded a 2020 Florida Gold Coast APA award for Innovation; Completed construction in 2021 on a boutique hotel called the Court in Seaside, FL, which won a 2022 Design Award from ASLA Florida; Working with Buffalo Bayou Partnership in Houston on the concept design of 5-acre park on Buffalo Bayou’s East End. Learn more: https://archleague.org/dept/

TESS PAULOSE, Class of ’09, is an AIA Miami Associate, on the Miami Center for Architecture & Design board, and designer/manager at Stantec’s Miami office. She believes in the continued pursuit of finding design solutions to better the built environment.

HUMBERTO & MAX SPEZIANI UM BBA ’86/MBA Class of ’97 U-SoA B.Arch, Class of ’22 Humberto, tell us a little about yourself and your family: “UM has been part of my life since I started as a freshman in 1981 and continues as an administrator for the last 37 years. I am so proud of my children, who have also had the opportunity to experience UM, from Mini Canes to graduates. This year my two sons graduated, my oldest, Matthias, from Law School and Max from Architecture.

The experience they have enjoyed is tremendous. I have seen Max mature in the last five years, from the long hours in his studio to interning at Zyscovich Architects, spending the Spring in Rome, and going to New York for graduate school this fall.”

Max, what’s your greatest memory at U-SoA? “One of my most memorable moments at UM will be the Rome program, the friendships I develop and the opportunities to explore Italy and other countries were incredible. What made this special was that my dad spent two weeks with me before classes started and we explore Rome, visit Milan and Florence.”

“Max, never forget how loved you are, always believe in yourself and know that you will go far.”

— Humberto Speziani

GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS Principal + Founder of KoDA, Wesley Kean, and his design team announced their project ‘Lake House’ was selected as a WINNER in the Rethinking the Future

“Dad, thank you for always being there with your love, guidance and patience and thank you for everything that you have given me. I enjoyed our trips around the world, spending time together, you and I,

Aside from working on multiple highend residential projects within the past seven years at Stantec, Tess is one of the editors for the all-office monthly newsletter, which recognizes and acknowledges staff’s achievements, and is also an active member of the office Community Engagement group, which promotes various volunteer opportunities within the community. When Tess isn’t drafting details or storyboards, she’s actively sketching and participates in the annual “Inktober” 31-day ink challenge.

What was your favorite part about studying at U-SoA? “The comradery amongst students and the smaller studio sizes helped facilitate it. Also, nothing beats winter in Miami –studying and attending lectures outside never got old!”

What is your best memory of U-SoA? “The South Quad conference hosted by our AIAS chapter. It was SoA’s first time hosting a conference of that magnitude, and I was lucky enough to be on the board with an amazing group of individuals, which led to an incredible weekend of lectures, office crawls, and getting to meet other architecture students from the South/Gulf region.”

Is there anything else you would like to add? “Never underestimate the power of sketching by hand! While sophisticated software will take you far in this profession, the best-laid plans and ideas are often done still with a simple paper and pen. They also get you brownie points with professors during studio reviews.”

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JUNE 2022 By far, my best memory is the Rome program, which not only provided unique educational experiences (think doing a watercolor painting in a piazza using espresso as paint or sketching different areas in the Roman Forum) but also a lot of personal growth by being able to travel around Europe.”

How proud are you of your mom?

“I am extremely proud of my mom. Apart from being the family’s matriarch, she is a trailblazer who advocates for the profession inexhaustibly. Her legacy is a lot to live up to.”

— Alex Goldstein MARYANN PANDO-AVDAKOV, Class of ‘88, is a Project Manager at Gresham Smith.

What was your favorite part about studying at U-SoA? “The total experience was amazing, but something stood out that shapes my design philosophy to this day. Our studios were located in former dormitory buildings that had been repurposed. I appreciated the recycling and adaptive reuse of one building type into another function. This showed me that not all architecture has to be new, buildings and spaces can be repurposed, additions can be complementary, and the use can change as needs change.”

What are three words you would use to describe U-SoA? “I am U!” What was your best memory at U-SoA? “The Beaux Arts boat races on the lake.”

What is a motivational message you would give to our current students? “Take the time to appreciate the knowledge and experience being shared with you.

Even more, appreciate the incredible talent, knowledge, and dedication of the professors who are such an integral part of the education process at the U-SoA!” Is there anything else you’d like to add?

“Studying at the U-SoA inculcated fundamental principles of architecture that I have been able to implement throughout my career. Additionally, as a native of South Florida, having Miami’s local context and ongoing evolution as the setting for my architectural education during my time at U-SoA was priceless.

Currently, the privilege of sharing my extensive professional architectural experience in the realm of healthcare and making a difference for the local community is truly rewarding. Finally, continuing to work with the University of Miami as a Senior Designer/ Project Manager with Gresham Smith Architects is the highlight of my career thus far! It is an honor and allows me to stay in touch with my architectural roots!”

MARIA CADENA TO WORK WITH GENSLER’S RESEARCH FELLOWS THIS SUMMER “Two weeks ago, I graduated with a Master of Architecture from the University of Miami School of Architecture, where I focused my studies and thesis on understanding the relationship between health and the built environment, something I have wanted to explore ever since I completed my undergraduate degree in Public Health at the American University.

I am excited to share that I will continue to explore this concept as one of Gensler’s Research Fellows this summer.

I will be working with a team of experts to research the future of healthcare design, the built environment, and the development of healthy cities.

What’s it like working on projects together with Alex? “What a wonderful experience it is to work together. I am thankful every day that I can spend so much time with my daughter creating spaces that people can enjoy. What could be better than working with a great architect who also happens to be my daughter!”

How proud are you of your kids? “I am super proud of my kids. They are great people who are making a positive impact on this world.”

— Nati Soto

After the conclusion of my summer fellowship, I will be joining Urban Design Associates | UDA as an Urban Designer! I am excited to start my career as a designer with two wonderful organizations and I am so thankful to everyone who has helped me get to this point.”

— Maria Cadena MEET U-SoA ALUMNI MOMS A special feature in celebration of ‘Cane moms on Mother’s Day 2022.

SABRINA MENDOZA & KAYLA REMBOLD UM alumna and Associate Provost for Academic Affairs U-SoA Class of ’24 “From the time Kayla could first hold a pencil, she has been sketching the world around her and expressing herself through art and photography. So I was not surprised when she told me she wanted to design spaces for people to work, play, pray, heal, and learn. The University has been a wonderful part of my life and I’m so grateful to the faculty and staff of the School of Architecture that now inspire and guide my daughter to make the most of her education at the U.” — Sabrina Mendoza

NATIVIDAD SOTO & ALEX GOLDSTEIN Ferguson Glasgow Shuster Soto, Inc. What’s your best memory of attending U-SoA? “I have many fond memories from my time at U-SoA. I made a solid group of friends and had some wonderful professors I still keep in touch with.

“My mom has been a role model to me and has taught me so much about what it means to be a hard working woman and mother. I am so thankful for all the sacrifices she has made to let me pursue my dreams.”

— Kayla Rembold

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APRIL 2022

building with my colleagues, both fellow students, and faculty alike. The small-scale classroom experience made relationships and connections stronger.”

What are three words you would use to describe U-SoA? “Rigor, Research, Vernacular.”

What was your best memory at U-SoA? “Sketching buildings and urban spaces throughout Europe as a medium for understanding them better.”

STEFANI FACHINI WINS THE COMPETITION FOR THE NEW RESEARCH CENTER IN SEVILLA Congratulations to U-SoA alumna Stefani Fachini and her team on winning the competition for the New Research Center in Sevilla!

meeting might prove to be just what is needed for the client and the architect to agree on a design right then and there.”

2. “Participate in your AIAS and NOMAS and continue to do so in AIA and NOMA. You will find that they will create a great network and help you grow as an architect.”

MARCH 2022 MEET U-SoA ALUMNI

A motivational/inspirational message you would give to current students.

“You’re at a moment in your life where everyone around you is immersed in free thought and creative questioning.

Recognize this, harness it, then use it to change the world.”

The European Commission awarded first prize to Bjarke Ingels Group, BIG, in an international architectural competition to choose a concept design for the future permanent site of the Commission’s Joint Research Centre site in Seville (Spain).

The BIG proposal will cover the entire JRC site with a cloud of solar canopies, sheltering the plaza, garden, and research building underneath, just like the ‘pergolas’ – shaded passageways – that are typical in Seville. The canopies consist of square lightweight photovoltaic sheets, supported by a forest of slender columns. The roofscape will cascade down from the centre of the site to head height at its periphery, creating various public spaces underneath.

AMANDA ROSENFELD, Class of ‘13, is a Project Designer at HKS, Inc. What was your favorite part about studying at U-SoA? “Learning how to work as part of a team and developing connections with my classmates that persisted into my professional career.”

D’ANN TOLLETT, Class of ‘03, moved to New York after graduating to work with the acclaimed firm Ferguson & Shamamian Architects, where she has been an Architectural Designer for the last 18 years. During that time, she’s had the good fortune to work on apartment renovations in New York, renovations to homes from Palm Beach to Los Angeles, and ground-up estates in Connecticut.

Last year, she achieved a personal goal and completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training program. Later this year, she is looking forward to indulging my other favorite passion, traveling, and plans to explore Brazil and Argentina.

The new JRC Sevilla for the European Commission by: Bjarke Ingels, João Albuquerque, Angel Barreno Gutiérrez, Stefani Fachini, Giulia Frittoli, Hanna Ida Johansson, Nir Leshem, Gonzalo Coronado, Jose Gómez Carbonell, Miquel Perez, Luca Fabbri, Matthew Reger, Elena Ceribelli, Pietro Saccardi, Raphaël Logan, Saina Abdollahzadeh.

What was your best memory at U-SoA? “I have so many great memories with my friends and our professors, but I will always remember the amazing travels and experiences studying abroad in Rome and participating in the designbuild studio with Rocco and Jim. I also cherish the silly times in the studio during our late nights.”

MEET U-SoA ALUMNI

What is a motivational/inspirational message you would give to current students? “Always remember that all the hard work and late nights will pay off, but make sure to have fun and enjoy your time at school making friends and memories!”

What is your favorite part about studying at U-SoA? “Hands down, the people I met. My professors’ breadth of knowledge and enormous talent were awe-inspiring, and their passion for architecture was contagious. My annual visits to recruit from the U-SoA highlight my year as I get to re-connect with so many former professors. I also learned immensely from my classmates, who brought a broad range of backgrounds and skills to the studio. And I’m lucky enough to count many of them as close friends today.”

Advice you would give to students?

1. “Continuously develop the divergent skills of public speaking and hand sketching. While these talents sound vastly different, they have the same goal: to communicate your message successfully. Architecture is a service profession, and we need to ‘sell’ our design and our work to the client. Good public speaking skills allow us to do so verbally, and good hand sketching allows us to communicate with the client visually. A quick five-minute sketch at a

What is a motivational message you would give to current students?

“It’s never too late to change courses.

Before starting graduate studies, I worked as a grant writer for the University and fell in love with the U-SoA program while raising money for scholarships and capital projects.

I continued working full-time while pursuing my degree – but I was energized to get through those “allnighters” by my studio projects, the faculty, and my classmates. I’m extremely

WESLEY KEAN, Class of ‘10, is the Principal & Founder of the Miami-based design firm, KoDA. What was your favorite part about studying at U-SoA? “The relationship

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grateful to the school and its teachings for setting me up so well for the many opportunities I’ve been blessed with.”

under my breath. It was completely unlike me to do such a thing, but luckily for me, Norm was the only one that heard and chuckled. From that point on, we slowly became friends to best friends to eventually husband and wife!”

MARA WINE COHEN & MATTHEW COHEN, Class of ‘13 Could you tell us the story of how you two met? “We sat next to each other in a building systems class in Glasgow and became friends.”

ELVIRA FREIRE-SANTAMARIA, Class of ’95, recently announced Elvira FreireSantamaria’s promotion to Principal at Stantec, Inc. Elvira has served the Miami design studio as a tenured leader, architect, and senior project manager.

She plays a pivotal role in fostering a collaborative culture amongst staff. Her exemplary attention to detail ensures that projects are delivered thoughtfully and efficiently. She has served on both largeand small-scale projects across several sectors, including residential, government and hospitality.

Stantec is a global design firm with offices all around the world, including Miami, where they provide integrated architecture, engineering, and interior design services.

What was your favorite part about studying at U-SoA? “The faculty and visiting professors were very supportive and wonderfully talented in the art of architecture and passing on their knowledge.”

What are three words you could use to describe U-SoA? “Comradery, learning and the “U.””

What U-SoA program(s) were you both in? “5-year Bachelor of Architecture, and we both did the Certificate in Historic Preservation. Matt was there from freshman year and minored in Business.

Mara transferred at the beginning of the third year and minored in Business Law.” What were your best memories at U-SoA? “In our 5th year, we had a design studio with Roberto Behar to design a hotel by the High Line in NYC. Together with the full class, we took a trip to NYC and explored the surrounding sites. Matt is from New Jersey, and his favorite restaurant was close by, so after doing the context research, we went with studio classmates there for dinner (it was also on Matt’s birthday!).”

What are you up to these days? “We’ve been married 4 1/2 years and have a 7-month-old baby girl and a 3-year-old pup. We are both licensed architects in Miami, Matt is working at STRANG Design, and Mara is working at CallisonRTKL”.

FEBRUARY 2022 MEET U-SoA ALUMNI IN LOVE A February special feature. In celebration of Valentine’s Day 2022, we are featured alumni couples whose story together began at the University of Miami School of Architecture.

What were your best memories at U-SoA? “There are so many to choose from! Our time at U-SoA is always reflected upon so fondly. We collectively made some of our best friends in the program, many of which were even in our wedding party. I think the best memories probably revolve around getting lunch from the farmer’s market and sitting in the courtyard with our friends before studio or walks to get junk food and snacks at 2am for studio dance parties whenever we had to pull an all-nighter.

Studying abroad through the Grand Tour of Europe during the summer of 2012 is also one of my favorite memories.”

What are you up to these days? “Norm and I got married in December of 2016 and just welcomed a sweet baby boy, our first, in November of last year. We’re both located in Vero Beach, Florida. Norm is currently working at Moor, Baker and Associates. I’m at Merrill, Pastor, and Colgan Architects. We both mostly work on high-end residential projects.”

Any other funny/interesting stories you would like to share? “In school, Mara used to make fun of Matt for wearing socks and sandals to the studio… now, she always wears socks and sandals!“

What is your best memory of U-SoA? “Spending late nights in the studio with fellow classmates working on projects.”

What is a motivational message you would give to current students? “Use your time wisely, pace yourself and make sure you have a good balance between your academic and social lives. University is where you build strong networks. Also, if given the opportunity, spend a semester abroad. It’s a fantastic experience.”

What U-SoA program(s) were you both in? “Initially, we were in all of the same freshman classes. Norm and I notably became closer through Wendy Caraballo’s studio class and Oscar Machado’s drawing course. After that, we tried to take as many classes as we could together throughout our five years in the program.”

LISANDRA NUNEZ & ERNESTO MORALES, Class of ‘12 Could you tell us the story of how you two met? “We met during high school during the summer of 2002 and started dating that same year. We have been together for 20 years.”

DANIELLA CIOFFI & NORMAN KENNEDY, Class of ‘15 How did you two meet? “We met during the School of Architecture freshman orientation. I arrived late and just inserted myself into one of the groups that Norm was in, unbeknownst to me at the time. We were all standing in front of the Academics Services office, and our guide said something funny to which I replied with a The Office (tv show) quote

What were your best memories at U-SoA? “We loved our time at the School of Architecture and our studio life with our classmates and professors. One of our most fun experiences was the grand tour of Europe; it was our first time abroad. We both worked at the administration office during our time at UM, and we were a big family, which we miss.”

What are you up to these days? “We have been working with a developer in Downtown Miami called The Melo Group,

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We are part of their architecture and construction management team.”

CATHERINE O’SULLIVAN & MIKE O’SULLIVAN, Class of ‘12 Could you tell us the story of how you two met? “It was the first semester of my first year; I saw Catherine through the glass look-through in the door of the adjoining studio, and I made it a point to stop in and chat with her, and the rest is history.”

What were your best memories at U-SoA? “We both have great memories of the Rome program, the Eco-Tent Design/ Build studio for Everglades National Park, and the various local design charrettes that we were fortunate enough to partake in together. There were a lot of opportunities for vital individual growth and development through other courses. Still, these programs fostered team building that resulted in shared experiences and cherished friendships that have outlived our time at the U-SoA. Individually, Mike had such great experiences working in the model shop for three years with Adrian Villaraos and as a TA for the first furniture studio with Austin Matheson. Catherine enjoyed working in Academic Services with Ana Regalado, Luis Abella, Jude Alexander, Julia Pizarro, and the current and prospective students. She also thoroughly enjoyed Steven Brooke’s photography course, which was a new addition to the program electives and essential to training the architect’s eye.”

What are you up to these days? “Catherine worked with CURE & PENABAD for eight wonderful years on various architectural and urban design projects. After the birth of our daughter, she has been focused on completing licensure and enjoying motherhood.

Following graduation, Mike transitioned into Construction Management and joined Coastal Construction, where he worked on the Miami Beach Edition and the Four Seasons Surf Club. He is currently working with Fontainebleau Development on a unique high-end single-family build on Indian Creek.”

JANUARY 2022 MEET U-SoA ALUMNI

VALÉRY AUGUSTIN is a designer, educator, and founder of the awardwinning design practice, DNA Architecture + Design. He received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Miami in ‘96, a Master of Architecture from UCLA, and is licensed to practice in California, Florida, and Texas. Actively committed to practice and academia, Valery is an Associate Professor of Practice and Director of Global Studies at the USC School of Architecture.

What was your favorite part about studying at U-SoA? “The lifelong connections I’ve made with friends and faculty.”

What was your best memory at U-SoA? “Funniest memory was accidentally breaking the window of the slide library while playing soccer with my studio mates.

I’ll never forget the look on Professor Jean-Francois LeJeune’s face!!”

A motivational/inspirational message you would give to current students: “Never stop learning and stay curious.

Architecture is a lifelong education that only gets better the further you go along.”

SHAILENDRA SINGH, Class of ‘99, received his Master of Architecture in Suburb & Town Design. Shailendra has been the Urban Design Director at Miami-Dade County’s Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER), Development Services Division, for nearly twenty years now. The Urban Design Center he heads is responsible for carrying out numerous neighborhood design initiatives within the County. These community workshops, or Charrettes, have helped the Department create vision plans for the future growth of target areas and for the creation of form-based zoning codes that would implement those plans.

What was your favorite part about studying at U-SoA? “Being mentored by a diverse group of professors and practitioners, who are some of the most talented people in the field of architecture and urban design in the country (well, no surprises there for a region known for being ground zero for the birth of New Urbanism!).”

What was your best memory at U-SoA? “The study tour at the iconic art school ‘Bauhaus’ in Dessau, Germany. Just being able to soak in the ambiance of the place for a month while competing with three other visiting Architectural Schools on design competitions was one of the most memorable experiences.”

A motivational/inspirational message you would give to current students.

“As architects and urban planners, we are not just practitioners of a singular discipline, but have a moral responsibility to learn, understand, and become experts at related fields as well. Public-Works (Roadway Design), Parks (Open Spaces), and DERM (Environmental Resources) are just a few that have a say in what we, as designers, envision or propose on a site, and we need to be mindful of that.”

“I will be forever grateful to the amazing faculty who guided me during my years at U-SoA. They were supportive, encouraging, and demanding in the best ways possible.”

LIGIA LABRADA, Class of ‘01, is the Founder and President of Miami-based UNUM Consulting. With nearly 20 years of hands-on experience in every aspect of architecture, construction, project management, and business development, Ligia focuses on developing and executing growth strategies for her clients.

What was your favorite part about studying at U-SoA? “ROMA. Having the opportunity to live in a city where we lived and breathed Architecture, History, and WWW.ARC.MIAMI.EDU/NEWS-AND-EVENTS/USOA-NOW // 151

Art first hand was magical. It provided a deeper appreciation of our profession; the craft, the means & methods. Architecture is a truly well-rounded career.”

What’s your best memory at U-SoA? “Building a boat for the cardboard boat race and realizing it was too big to bring it down the stairs, so we had to bring it down from the second-floor landing...(lol).”

A motivational/inspirational message you would give to current students: “Architecture prepares you for endless career opportunities; you’re privileged.”

“Great changes happen when we’re sometimes uncomfortable; embrace it.”

MICHAEL MCGRATTAN, Class of ‘06, is currently a Senior Associate at Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP in New York, NY. While at Robert A.M. Stern Architects, he has worked on academic and government projects, including the UConn Downtown Hartford Campus in Hartford, Connecticut, and the Virginia General Assembly Building in Richmond, Virginia.

Recent projects he has worked on include a mixed-use development in San Francisco, California, and a high-rise apartment building on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

What was your favorite part about studying at U-SoA? “The amazing professors!”

NATALIA MIYAR is an architect, designer, and founder of London and Miamibased practice, Natalia Miyar Atelier.

Her residential and hospitality work is internationally resonant, spatially intelligent, and intricately crafted. She is also the originator of capsule furniture, wall coverings, and rug collections.

What was your favorite part about studying at U-SoA? “The people. I learned enormously from my peers and my professors. To this day, I still think the most talented group of architects taught me, and I am very grateful to them.”

What was your best memory at U-SoA? “Studying at U-SoA was one the most immersive experiences of my life – it was 24/7 – so it’s hard to pinpoint just one. I remember working through a hurricane (a mild one) with my studio colleagues to meet a deadline and loving every minute.

I have wonderful memories of working on my thesis under the guidance of Professor Jorge Trelles. His enthusiasm for beauty in all aspects of architecture and design was, and still is, inspiring. And I loved the studio abroad experience in Rome.

Nothing beats learning in situ – this is an essential experience for any student of architecture.”

A motivational/inspirational message you would give to current students: “Architecture is the most rewarding profession. You can positively impact so many by creating spaces that enrich people’s lives. I never lose sight of the fact that my work is for others, not myself, and that learning about people – who they are and who they hope to be - is an integral part of my job. Engage fully with the collaborative experience that is nurtured at U-SoA to learn to work with and for others, and you will learn to design (and live) in a meaningful way.”

FALL 2021

Three words to describe U-SoA: “Welcoming, Passionate, and Quirky” What was your best memory at U-SoA? “Grand Tour of Europe” A motivational/inspirational message you would give to current students: “Travel as much as you can, draw every day, and don’t spend 24/7 in the studio.”

RICH HUBACKER, CLASS OF ‘93, TO LEAD AND GROW DLR GROUP CULTURAL ARTS PRACTICE Rich Hubacker offers extensive industry knowledge and experience in cultural and performing arts facility design.

for performers and audiences alike.

Hubacker has focused his career on working collaboratively with clients to develop guiding principles and values and to transform those into built environments.

He approaches sustainability in a holistic manner, examining potentials at both building and district scales to create design solutions that offer improved social, physical, and emotional experiences for all. He actively seeks out opportunities to apply integrated design practices to optimize building performance and has completed numerous projects that exceed initial performance and sustainability goals.

“The profound impacts of how we live our daily lives and the work that we do can no longer to be underprioritized. As an architect, it is my responsibility to ensure that my children and grandchildren benefit from the projects that our teams design today,” said Hubacker.

“Rich brings the design acumen, industry knowledge and connections, and leadership qualities needed to grow our practice in Washington, D.C. and along the east coast. He challenges design staff to think creatively and is a trusted mentor to young design professionals in the firm,” said DLR Group Senior Principal Paul Westlake, FAIA, IIDA, who leads the firm’s global Cultural+Performing Arts studio.

Hubacker earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Miami in 1993. In addition to practicing architecture, Hubacker is a music lover and has a knack for building things. He builds his own bicycles and guitars and performs with local Washington D.C. bands ranging from an acoustic duet to a five-piece funkrock band.

ABOUT DLR GROUP DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse. Our promise is to elevate the human experience through design. This promise inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients; local communities, and our planet. DLR Group is 100 percent employee-owned and fully supports the initiatives and goals of the 2030 Challenge, and is an initial signatory to the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.

Rich Hubacker joins DLR Group to lead and grow the firm’s Cultural+Performing Arts practice in the northeast. Working from the firm’s Washington, D.C. studio, Hubacker manages integrated design teams that specialize in creating spaces where communities can gather to celebrate the arts and shaping memorable experiences 152 // HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE’S DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, “U-SOA NOW”

ALUMNI NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Fab Lab

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U-SoA 2023 Currents Lecture “Context by Catalyst”

by Islam El Mashtooly/ OBMI 11/1 12:15 pm Glasgow Architect of Curated Stories

2022 U-SOA LUNCHTIME LECTURES* 09.12 FELIPE ASSADI 10.10 JOSETO CUBILLA 11.07 ALEXIA LEON 12PM ON ZOOM Meeting ID: 926 6363 0123

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Islam El Mashtooly is an architect, urbanist, and educator, who embraces a design philosophy which has the human condition at its heart. He is committed to architecture that supports and enhances communities, with a philosophy emphasizing harmony within context, alongside the climate, culture, and traditions of the MENA region.

His contribution to urban design has been acknowledged both regionally and internationally.In 2015 Mashtooly was awarded Middle East Young Architect of the Year and the Outstanding Individual in the Middle East Consultant Awards.Twelve months on, his project Uptown Makkah won the Residential Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin. The year was rounded off for Mashtooly with an AIA ME Honorable Award for his Egyptian Science City project. The 16th Venice Architecture Biennale, held in 2018, saw him curating the Egyptian National Pavilion.

Mashtooly has retained his position in the top 50 Most Influential Architects in the Middle East for five consecutive years. He has continually been nominated for regional and international architecture awards, winning the United International Architects Award in Baku, and the Competition entries - Future Projects at World Architecture Festival in Amsterdam for his Baghdad Design Center.His work embodies a sense of the architecture vocabulary that fuses urbanism and design. Ambitious to dive into a contemporary rational interpretation that embraces sensibility, variety and sensitivity, his architectural vernacular has humanity at its heart with community, connectivity and the natural world organically evolving from a base in the personal.

CS GENERAL MEETING, . 48, OLD ERY, 7 - 9 ny ?'s, email ntha @ 3@miami.edu gress Report aign begins

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U-SoA ROME PROGRAM GOLF TOURNAMENT, BILTMORE HOTEL, 7:30 AM, RSVP @ arc.miami.edu/ golf2023 //

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SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE ROME PROGRAM GOLF TOURNAMENT You are invited to a day of golf, prizes, awards, food, spirits and fun.

The golf tournament will be held at the Biltmore Golf Course, 1210 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134 on Tuesday, October 24th, 2023.

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TECNOGLASS LECTURE FILIPE LOURENÇO + GABRIELLA GAMA, MURPHY, 5:30 PM + GLASGOW, 6:30 PM, ZOOM MTG ID: 95810409697 //

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Progress Report Campaign closes at 11:59 PM

U-SoA ALUMNI HOMECOMING BBQ, U-SOA COURTYARD, 6-10 PM, RSVP @ arc.miami.edu/ homecoming2023 //

PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP COURSE GUEST SPEAKER TALKS: TONY BURKE, RINKER, 12:20-2 PM //

Registration, Breakfast and Networking start at 7:30 a.m. with a shotgun start of 9 a.m.

BE A SPONSOR!

The Health, Safety + Welfare of Architecture

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Marlon Blackwell + Meryati Johari Blackwell/ MARLON BLACKWELL ARCHITECTS “Radical Practice” 9.06.23 5:30 pm/ Murphy 6:30 pm/ Glasgow [ZOOM MTG ID 970 3998 1575]

The University of Miami School of Architecture Fall 2023 Tecnoglass Lecture Series

The Health, Safety + Welfare of Architecture 9.06.23 Marlon Blackwell + Meryati Johari Blackwell/ MARLON BLACKWELL ARCHITECTS [ZOOM MTG ID 970 3998 1575]

1.5 Continuing education credits (CEU) offered. Sponsored by The Miami Chapter of American Institute of Architects. contact social.arch@miami.edu for more info.

10.11.23 Kim Yao/ ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH OFFICE [ZOOM MTG ID 922 6652 0954]

10.18.23 Filipe Lourenço + Gabriella Gama/ APPARATUS ARCHITECTS [ZOOM MTG ID 958 1040 9697]

11.08.23 Kevin Daly/ KEVIN DALY ARCHITECTS [ZOOM MTG ID 933 1484 3476]

6:30 pm/ Glasgow Hall/ Zoom Jorge M. Perez Architecture Center 1215 Dickinson Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146 (305) 284-5000 | More info @ arc.miami.edu The profession defines the duty of the architect in terms of Health, Safety and Welfare. The demands on contemporary architectural practice are stretching these responsibilities to include critical challenges such as social inequity, environmental stewardship, and climate change impacts. The 2023-2024 Tecnoglass series features practices that have meaningfully impacted the built environment by energizing disciplinary dedications with persistent innovation and imagination. They work through the pragmatic demands of Health, Safety, and Welfare and reach with an expanded material/formal capacity beyond traditional boundaries to tackle the big challenges we face today.

1.5 Continuing Education Credits (CEU) offered. Sponsored by: The Miami Chapter of American Institute of Architects. Contact social.arch@miami.edu for more info.

Placemaking in the Age of Identity

The work of LAA Office (a multi-disciplinary studio based in Columbus, Indiana) is engaged in a critical reversal that places public art at the center of urban design. This approach aims to shift disciplinary boundaries by embracing public art as a provocative generator of spatial conditions uniquely poised to repair the frayed urban fabric of American cities. The work builds upon contemporary ideologies like Tactical Urbanism and Creative Placemaking, while also challenging the limits of these urban philosophies.

This presentation introduces key distinctions for understanding senses of place and belonging as concepts that exist along a spectrum of tolerance.

Several alternative views of contemporary placemaking are presented as foundational to the work of LAA Office and as a way of sparking new discourse about the role of identity in the built environment.

FRIDAY 02.24.23 GLASGOW 02:00PM - 03:15PM

FRIDAY 03.10.23 GLASGOW 12:15PM - 01:30PM

LECTURE BY LILY WONG

Marlon Blackwell and Meryati Blackwell will discuss their architecture and design process and will introduce ‘Radical Practice: The Work of Marlon Blackwell Architects’ a new monograph released in June 2022 by Princeton Architectural Press. Both the book and the lecture emphasize projects in the public and civic realm, emerging from outside the established centers of architectural culture, illustrating the distinct and original voice of Marlon Blackwell Architects. Their iconic and award-winning designs span across typologies, scales, and budgets, by merging the universal language of architecture and the particulars of place. The lecture will discuss the richness of the work, its methods, and its consequences and suggest an open-endedness, at once generous and provocative, to the practice’s trajectory and interest in what a “radical practice” can be in the contemporary moment. A core principle at the heart of the practice, radical in its fundamental simplicity, is the assertion of the making of buildings and places as a constant, authentic focus.

MERYATI JOHARI BLACKWELL, AIA, ASID, LEED AP, brings over twenty-five years of experience to her role as Principal at Marlon Blackwell Architects where she also serves as Director of Interiors. Her sensitivity as a designer and knowledge of materials and details enrich every project in the office. Ati has been a guiding force in the growth of MBA, helping to transform the firm from a sole proprietorship to a thriving international practice it is today. She works alongside Marlon to thoughtfully ground and guide the design ethos as the firm grows; always supporting the creation of award-winning architecture for any place, at any scale, at any price and for anyone. With a degree in Architecture and Planning, Meryati is both a Registered Architect and a Registered Interior Designer as well as a LEED Accredited Professional.

To register, visit www.arc.miami.edu/golf2023. For additional information or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Frances Garcia-Balbin at francesgb@miami.edu.

LECTURE BY DANIEL MARTINEZ

The profession defines the duty of the architect in terms of Health, Safety and Welfare. The demands on contemporary architectural practice are stretching these responsibilities to include critical challenges such as social inequity, environmental stewardship, and climate change impacts. The 2023-2024 Tecnoglass series features practices that have meaningfully impacted the built environment by energizing disciplinary dedications with persistent innovation and imagination. They work through the pragmatic demands of Health, Safety, and Welfare and reach with an expanded material/formal capacity beyond traditional boundaries to tackle the big challenges we face today.

MARLON BLACKWELL, FAIA, is a practicing architect in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and serves as the E. Fay Jones Distinguished Professor at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas. Work produced in the professional office, Marlon Blackwell Architects (MBA), has received national and international recognition with significant publication in books, architectural journals and magazines and more than 160 design awards. In 2016 MBA received the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award. Blackwell is the recipient of the 2020 AIA Gold Medal, the Institute’s highest honor, which recognizes those whose work has had an enduring impact on the theory and practice of architecture. He is a lifetime member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

All net tournament proceeds benefit the University of Miami School of Architecture Tom Spain Rome Program Endowment, programs and scholarships for the Rome Program at the School of Architecture. All levels of golfers are welcome. Put together a foursome, twosome, or sign up as an individual.

FRIDAY 03.03.23 RINKER 12:15PM - 01:30PM

The University of Miami School of Architecture Fall 2023 Tecnoglass Lecture Series

PEP AVILES GAUDI’S AFTERLIVES

PET PLANTS Lily Chishan Wong will share her teaching and research trajectory on the interwoven relationship between architecture and plant lives. Her research uses plants as a lens to understand global logistics, coloniality, and urban development. With experience in cultural and institutional building projects and site design, her goal is to speculate on new forms of design kinship with other non-human subjects.

MONDAY 03.06.23 RINKER 12:15PM - 1:30PM

LECTURE BY VICTOR DEUPI

WEDNESDAY 03.01.23 RINKER 12:15PM - 01:30PM

LECTURE BY GERMAN PALLARES AVITIA

Life on the Border: Constructing the México/ US Borderlands In view that the world is experiencing a resurgence of extreme nationalist politics that threaten to ignite isolationist immigration policies, to gain a comprehensive understanding about trans-boundary living conditions becomes increasingly relevant and necessary. Life on the Border analyzes borders as increasingly important sites for understanding politics, human rights, race, gender, and economic equity; as geographies of conflict that exceed their physical and political delineations and resonate across constructions of identity and networks of connection, communication, and collaboration. It proposes to translate the border from a physical barrier to a social condition, and recentering the overlooked systems and subjects—human and non-human— in order to think about alternative futures for the borderlands.

ON THE PRECIPICE

Cuban Architecture, Cities, and Landscape in Peril Cuba is a fascinating source of inspiration for those who admire its culture, arts, and architecture, despite its relative isolation, intractable political structure, and related humanitarian issues. One of the few inhabited places in our hemisphere where globalization and conspicuous consumption have not left their unsavory marks, the island continues to seduce us with its stone cities, pristine waters, rhythmic landscapes, and tropical artistic culture. Cuba, however, is also a deeply contradictory place, culturally, politically, and socially, with much of its architecture built on the backs of enslaved people, under colonial rule, or forced through by merciless dictatorships. Throughout its deeply troubled past, Cuban architecture somehow managed to thrive during times of political instability, repression, gangsterism, mass tourism, and a discernible - if not at times dubious - European or North American political presence.

Yet, despite Cuba’s extraordinary past, its architectural history remains both incomplete and obscure, and while this may be one of the many reasons for its attraction, it is an unfortunate predicament that we know so little of the architectural splendors of an island that once promised “Paradise” and was called the “Pearl of the Antilles.” Sadly, much of Cuba’s allure is the fact that Cuba’s architectural heritage is in peril, that cities throughout the island are literally crumbling and that many extraordinary riches are on the verge of disappearance. To be sure, Cuba’s architecture, planning, and landscapes are worthy of our greatest respect and attention, and they deserve profound and meaningful historical research because its history is not just a “Cuban” story, but one with important lessons for the history of architecture on the continent. It is a profoundly American story.

WEDNESDAY 03.08.23 RINKER 12:15PM - 01:30PM

LECTURE BY AMINA BLACKSHER Projectile Trajectories: Finding Form Through Movement

Join Us to Celebrate the Graduation of our Students

Amina Blacksher is a New York City-born architectural designer, educator, and founder of ATELIER AMINA. The multi-disciplinary research and design practice founded in 2019, uses analog and digital methods to harness force, mass, momentum, and energy to articulate scenario-based form. In this approach, the discipline of forming is inherently volume-activated, whose articulation describes a dynamic condition, situated within a continuum. While they appear to stand, buildings balance, unceremoniously negotiating and resolving oppositional forces. In this lecture, Amina Blacksher shares projects and research case studies that carry this design approach from the workshop to the studio to the field.

Wednesday, May 10, 2023, 2:00 PM, Glasgow Hall

ARCHITECTURE HONORS & PRESENTATION OF MEDALS Thursday, May 11, 2023, 3:00 PM, Watsco Center

GRADUATE DEGREE CEREMONIES followed by

RECEPTION & EXHIBITION University of Miami School of Architecture Korach Gallery, Jorge M. Perez Architecture Center

{ 2.2.23 } what does it mean to CHIL?

Friday, May 12, 2023, 1:00 PM, Watsco Center

Curated by Prof. Germane Barnes, Chil lab Director

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE CEREMONIES

Panelists: Noelle Davis, Andrea Martinez, + Kevan Washington

{ 2.9.23 } How to work the in-between space

followed by

of research and practice

RECEPTION & EXHIBITION

Curated by Profs. Chris Meyer + Shawna Meyer, Lu_lab Directors

University of Miami School of Architecture Korach Gallery, Jorge M. Perez Architecture Center

{ 2.16.23 } U-LINK + U-SoA: A conversation about research Moderated by Dr. Erin Kobetz, Vice Provost for Research + Scholarship

Refreshments and Hors d’oeuvres Served

Panelists: Prof. Sonia Chao, School of Architecture, Prof. Joel lamere, School of Architecture, Prof. Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos, College of Engineering, + Prof. Esber Andiroglu, College of Engineering

ARC.MIAMI.EDU

{ 2.23.23 } Why integrate intelligence into the built environment?

Curated by Rodolphe el-Khoury, U-SoA dean / RAD Lab Director + Indrit Alushani, Researcher, RAD lab Panelists: Prof. Sylvia Daunert, Miller School of Medicine Prof. Jeffrey Buchman, Frost School of Music, Prof. Ruth Ron, School of Architecture, Prof. Donnie Garcia-Navarro, School of Architecture, Olha Khymytsia, School of Architecture (Former RA), + Flavia Macchiavello, School of Architecture (Former RA)

A series hosted by the University of Miami School of Architecture on thursday evenings in february from 6-8pm in the u-soa couryard Salon2023-AllPlatforms-2.6.23 copy.indd 7

2/20/23 5:03 PM

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Portfolio

Curated by Florian Sauter Learning is a collective experience– to advance personally, it is paramount to see what others do.

Sharing is caring, a prerequisite for the fertile exchange of ideas– for the provocation to resonate it first needs to be heard.

Assembling makes visible, it offers space to each differing voice– in every open forum of opinions, it requires mutual respect to hear all.

Reflecting on the gathered panorama of projects is key– being critical implies being productive and aims to improve the status quo.

Producing is the joy of our professiontransporting ideas from the conceptual to the material while channeling the students’ naivety and energy into modes of exploration and discovery.

Incomplete, yet full of hope.

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CORE I Elements of Architecture PROGRAM Guest House Key West, FL FACULTY Frank Martinez (Coordinator) Carolina Calzada Najeeb Campbell Cristina Canton Wendy Caraballo Jaime Correa Ricardo Lopez Oscar Machado Melodie Sanchez

Diego Ascanio 158 // PORTFOLIO >> FIRST YEAR

Kendal Wellbrook

ARC 101 // 159

Deirdre Nash / Lisa Chen 160 // PORTFOLIO >> FIRST YEAR

Fabio Cesaroni

ARC 101 // 161

CORE II Everything Is Architecture PROGRAM Bar / Gallery Campus University of Miami, FL FACULTY Charlotte von Moos (Coordinator) Carolina Calzada Cristina Canton Christopher D’Amico Celeste Desiano Pedro Munarriz Florian Sauter Sara Velasquez

162 // PORTFOLIO >> FIRST YEAR

13 Spaces

13 Spaces

ARC 102 // 163

N. Tournour / L. Hernandez / B. Cook / C. Pappas 164 // PORTFOLIO >> FIRST YEAR

Kasey Ruiz / Aaron Parks

ARC 102 // 165

CORE III Architecture and the Environment PROGRAM Libary + Brownsville, FL FACULTY Germane Barnes (Coordinator) Juan Alayo Alice Cimring Maria Flores Cynthia Gunadi Joanna Lombard Florian Sauter Mikhaile Solomon Sara Velasquez Yasmine Zeghar

166 // PORTFOLIO >> SECOND YEAR

Brownsville

George Elliott

ARC 203 // 167

168 // PORTFOLIO >> SECOND YEAR

Mason Rape / Sophia Tosti

Josefina Caceres

ARC 203 // 169

CORE IV Housing PROGRAM Affordable Housing Coconut Grove, FL FACULTY Eric Firley (Coordinator) Maria DeLeon-Fleites Maria Flores Morgan Graboski Patirki Hernandez Astigarraga Sophie Juneau Oscar Machado Shawna Meyer Yasmine Zeghar

170 // PORTFOLIO >> SECOND YEAR

George Elliott

Christina Gallarello

ARC 204 // 171

172 // PORTFOLIO >> SECOND YEAR

Jesper Brenner

Josefina Caceres

ARC 204 // 173

CORE V Architecture and the City PROGRAM Masterplan + Equitable Housing Sant’ Elena Island, Venice, Italy FACULTY Roberto Behar (Coordinator) Giorgio Antoniazzi Adib Cure Steven Fett Eric Firley Patirki Hernandez Astigarraga Jean-Francois Lejeune Shawna Meyer

174 // PORTFOLIO >> THIRD YEAR

A. Lee & E. Olliges

Keely Brunkow / Alana Bernard / A. Vasquez, C. Santos, J. Borges & N. Rusconi

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176 // PORTFOLIO >> THIRD YEAR

A. Lee & E. Olliges / Lauren Elia

Alana Bernard / Kailyn Wee

ARC 305 // 177

CORE VI / GRADUATE Tropical Architecture of the Future PROGRAM Comprehensive Design Youth Center North Miami Beach, FL FACULTY Edgar Sarli (Coordinator) Juan Alayo Dirk H. Braun Juan Calvo Cristina Canton José Gelabert-Navia Martin Moeller Jessica Pace David Trautman Teofilo Victoria

178 // PORTFOLIO >> THIRD YEAR + GRADUATE

North Miami Beach

G. Burke & C. Rodriguez

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180 // PORTFOLIO >> THIRD YEAR + GRADUATE

J. Borges & B. Martin

E. Blatt & A. Lee / D. Hall & S. Tsirulnikov

ARC 306, 608 // 181

182 // PORTFOLIO >> THIRD YEAR + GRADUATE

N. Voith & M. Wright

A. Lira & E. Olliges

ARC 306, 608 // 183

184 // PORTFOLIO >> THIRD YEAR + GRADUATE

North Miami Beach Youth Center

G. Burke & C. Rodriguez

ARC 306, 608 // 185

UPPER LEVEL Extreme Vertical Structures PROGRAM Skyscraper VISITING FACULTY Dirk H. Braun

186 // PORTFOLIO >> UPPER LEVEL

Shifan Wang / Harrison Zaye / Mahlia Jenkins

James Schmidt / Harrison Zaye / Shifan Wang

ARC 407-510, 609 FALL 2021 // 187

UPPER LEVEL Wood City PROGRAM Wood Utilization Center Hialeah, FL FACULTY Christopher Meyer

188 // PORTFOLIO >> UPPER LEVEL

Wood: Shelter and Center

Reid Yenor

ARC 407-510, 609 FALL 2021 // 189

UPPER LEVEL Cutler Bay Civic PROGRAM Municipal Complex and Community Park Cutler Bay, FL VISITING FACULTY Erick Valle

190 // PORTFOLIO >> UPPER LEVEL

Cutler Bay Civic Center

M. Posey & C. Sweet

ARC 407-510, 609 FALL 2021 // 191

UPPER LEVEL Old School New School PROGRAM Middle School Overtown, FL FACULTY Charlotte von Moos

192 // PORTFOLIO >> UPPER LEVEL

Overtown Open School

A. de Mathis & A. Lohken

ARC 407-510, 609 FALL 2021 // 193

UPPER LEVEL New York Studio PROGRAM Multi-Functional Highrise Manhattan, NY FACULTY Roberto Behar

194 // PORTFOLIO >> UPPER LEVEL

The New Yorker

K. Garcia & C. McCammon

ARC 408-510 SPRING 2022 // 195

UPPER LEVEL New Town PROGRAM Urban Research in Guatemala Masterplan Monticello, FL FACULTY Jaime Correa Steven Fett

196 // PORTFOLIO >> UPPER LEVEL

Monticello, FL

F. Jacques, M. Lindsey & S. Lowden

ARC 408-510 SPRING 2022 // 197

UPPER LEVEL Miami House PROGRAM Single-Family Dwelling Liberty City, FL FACULTY Adib Cure Carie Penabad

198 // PORTFOLIO >> UPPER LEVEL

Moduco

N. Ingold & T. Khoury

ARC 408-510 SPRING 2022 // 199

UPPER LEVEL Housing for All PROGRAM Social Housing Paris, France FACULTY Veruska Vasconez

200 // PORTFOLIO >> UPPER LEVEL

Aquaponics

H. Zaye & N. Alkandari

ARC 408-510 SPRING 2022 // 201

202 // PORTFOLIO >> UPPER LEVEL

Guatemala Studio

F. Jacques, M. Lindsey & S. Lowden

ARC 408-510 SPRING 2022 // 203

GRADUATE I PROGRAM Shelter Bathroom > Merrie Christmas Park, Coconut Grove, FL Nature Pavilion > A. D. Barnes Park, Coral Gables, FL FACULTY Sophie Juneau Veruska Vasconez

204 // PORTFOLIO >> GRADUATE FIRST YEAR

Merrie Christmas Park

Isabella Pedrosa / Tatiana Rosello

ARC 604 // 205

206 // PORTFOLIO >> GRADUATE FIRST YEAR

Alexandra Wise / Lais de Lima Weba

Dagmar Barron / Maryam Basti

ARC 604 // 207

GRADUATE II PROGRAM Daycare + Transit Hub Downtown, Miami, FL FACULTY Cynthia Gunadi Joel Lamere

208 // PORTFOLIO >> GRADUATE FIRST YEAR

Lais de Lima Weba

Isabella Pedrosa

ARC 605 // 209

GRADUATE III PROGRAM Sutro Baths San Francisco, CA FACULTY Denis Hector

210 // PORTFOLIO >> GRADUATE SECOND YEAR

Sutro Aquatic Center

N. Voith & M. Wright

ARC 607 // 211

212 // PORTFOLIO >> GRADUATE

The NoBe Westlots Plan

Krista Wise

ARC 607 // 213

THESIS FACULTY Joel Lamere (Coordinator) Juan Calvo Elizabeth Cronin Victor Deupi Rodolphe el-Khoury Joachim Perez Glenda Puente Veruska Vasconez

214 // PORTFOLIO >> THESIS

Invisible Walls

THESIS STUDENT Alexandra Dreybus ADVISORS Elizabeth Cronin Secondary: Indrit Alushani and Ruth Ron RESPONSIVE PHENOMENA: HOW VIRTUAL SPACES CAN ENHANCE THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT With the ever increasing relationship between humans and technology and the emergence of virtual spaces, one wonders if an architectural sense of atmosphere can be maintained. Can virtual spaces evoke a sense of atmosphere?

One must first answer the big question: What is atmosphere? By extracting a cohesive definition from leading architects and artists, this thesis first will explore that question and work towards distilling a general consensus of atmospheric criteria.

The exploration of atmospheres or balance is not new to architecture, and neither is the human desire to question the relationship between humans and technology, but the next step is to synthesize these two questions.

In an attempt to thread together the intersections of film, architecture, and technology, this thesis will look at the dichotomies of the real and the unreal, and search for the space of a middle ground, or the “zone of ambiguity”.

Ultimately this thesis will use a generative process to find an application in which digital technology can help enhance the built environment, based on the four criteria: light, tension, embodied experience, and balance.

Responsive Phenomena

ARC 610 // 215

THESIS STUDENT Aleksandra Czaja ADVISORS Joachim Perez Secondary: Michael Westerlund INVISIBLE WALLS: STATEMAKING AND THE SUBVERSION OF ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS Boundry is essentially a matter of consciousness and experience, rather than of a fact and law. The border is not only a line, but also a zone where geographical, political, and social factors emerge. Border inhabitation can create a common alternative future to overcome the current fragmentation. This thesis challanges the usage of border as a tool of segragation and division, and instead as a place of encounter. The design aims to change the concept of boundries into a tool of connection through adaptation as a form of subversion.

This thesis develops concept of walls and the nature of this architectural element, specifically when it acts as protection and privacy but often also in a negative way, where it creates seperation. There are examples throughout history, when border divided nations not only physically but also politically and socially. The project looks at that element, how it works on a larger scale and subverts it into something positive, where walls can be used to bring people toghether rather than keep them apart.

The question is what if barriers are seen not as that which is either fixed or that as such must be overcome, but as an evolving structure that has practical merits to manifest some of the key political, economic, societal, and cultural issues. Through readdressing the aspects of border, both empiricaly and theoretically, the goal is to “dismantle” an idea of a boundary and disempower its meaning.

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Invisible Walls

Aleksandra Czaja

ARC 610 // 217

THESIS STUDENT Shane Jezowski ADVISORS Rocco Ceo Joanna Lombard Veruska Vasconez A LOCAVORE LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE FOR THE FUTURE OF MIAMIDADE COUNTY’S HAULOVER PARK The barrier islands along South Florida’s eastern coast have been transformed over the last 100 years as dredged fill expanded their borders and mangroves were traded for pavement. This transformation has exposed the coastlines to the perils of sea-level rise.

Miami-Dade County’s Haulover Park is one of a chain of Florida’s east coast barrier islands.

Designed by William Lyman Phillips and established in 1948 as a premier beachfront park, Haulover currently provides ocean access to a county of nearly 3 million people some of whom reside as far as 30 miles from the sea. With 23% impervious pavement, 17% tree cover, and few remnants of its historic plant and animal life still present, the park provides an opportunity to investigate the site’s pre-development ecology, cultural history, and present day role in the face of climate change impacts, as a foundation upon which to develop a proposal for its future.

In his influential text, Design with Nature, Ian McHarg describes the evolutionary importance of collaboration – through which a species survives by their merits of strength or cunning, and thrives by teaming up with other species both flora or fauna, to mutually benefit. (McHarg, Ian L. 1971. Design with nature. New York: Natural History Press.) Analysis of this process at Haulover Park informs the development of this proposal. This project seeks to draw upon Florida’s southeastern, coastal ethnobotany as a foundation for a collaborative landscape that enhances the ecological health of the park and its capacities for coastal agriculture through sustainable farming and foraging, providing grains, produce and game for a series of experimental kitchens and a niche restaurant, UMAMIAMI. The project illustrates the potential to advance food-based coastal restorations as an approach to climate change that integrates humanity into its ecology.

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Haulover Park

Shane Jezowski

ARC 610 // 219

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Haulover Park

Shane Jezowski

ARC 610 // 221

THESIS STUDENTS Chuchen Liu Crawford Suarez Junren Tan ADVISORS Joel Lamere Secondary: Brandon Clifford FOAMAL POSSIBILITIES As the ecological crisis deepens, architecture must take a step back and analyze its own role in global resource consumption. In 2018, the US produced over 600 million tons of construction and debris waste - 85% of which is made up of concrete and asphalt.

Architecture and construction must reflect on its wasteful practices, from its use of high carbon footprint materials, inefficient architectural strategies, and its structures that are destined for short life spans. LEED’s incremental shifts in its efficiency standards and quotas are insufficient and don’t truly resolve the urges of our time.

We would argue that a responsible Architecture seeks radical changes, not incremental changes, and imagines itself a positive role force in a post-extractive future. This thesis proposes several strategies toward such an idea within architecture, each enabled by a technology only recently available to the architectural realm: robotic fabrication and automated assembly.

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FOAMal Possibilities

C. Liu, C. Suarez & J. Tan

ARC 610 // 223

224 // PORTFOLIO >> THESIS

FOAMal Possibilities

C. Liu, C. Suarez & J. Tan

ARC 610 // 225

THESIS STUDENT Flavia Macchiavello ADVISORS Rodolphe el-Khoury Secondary: Deborah Franqui and Donnie Garcia-Navarro HEALTH BOOTH: CARE-PLATFORM FOR THE UNDER SERVICED POPULATION Time heals all wounds, but sometimes they leave scars. This is especially true for the 44.9 million people who contracted covid-19. This most recent pandemic has claimed, not only the lives of many, but the facilities that hold those most vulnerable.

Hospital overcrowding is slowly subsiding, 28% of health staff has left the field of medicine meanwhile the population is trying to rehabilitate professionally, financially and mentally. Post-covid has found itself with a major public distrust on a structure meant for healing.

This thesis aims to branch the interrupted relationship between health facilities and the large portion of the under serviced population.

The transitory deployable design will emphasize patient dignity and care, health education and maintain the continuance of patient care model.

The Miami Dade’s under serviced population have exhausted their resources and continue harboring misgivings towards healthcare and their facilities. Geography, culture and stigma are but a few of the sources that create access barriers to the population. This research attempts to investigate the impacts mobile health can have on communities of people who have been directly affected by the inaccessibility of health and wellness.

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Health Booth

Flavia Macchiavello

ARC 610 // 227

THESIS STUDENT Nathan Sullivan ADVISOR Victor Deupi UNAPOLOGETIC: CONSIDERING URBAN ENVIRONMENTS FOR AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS Autism Spectrum Disorder is a diverse group of neurodevelopmental conditions that can affect a person’s approaches to socializing, communicating, and learning. While the spectrum comes with its challenges such as executive functioning disadvantages and susceptibility to sensory overload, those on the Autism spectrum are simply individuals that view the world in a different way than others.

Design approaches for the built environment does not consider autistic people. Built environments have the ability to provide a space for those who inhabit it to thrive- however, most autistic people will find themselves in an environment that provokes them. This thesis aims to present an argument for why designers and urban planners should reconsider how urban environments are developed, and how these reconsiderations will not only accommodate autistic people but empower them.

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Unapologetic

Nathan Sullivan

ARC 610 // 229

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Unapologetic

Nathan Sullivan

ARC 610 // 231

PH OTO/ I M AG E C RE D I TS

Inside Cover, P. 1/ Photo by Stephen Brooks P. 2-5/ Photo by Madison Brinnon P. 6-9/ Photo by Sophie Alexander P. 10-11/ Courtesy of the City of Coral Gables Historical Resources Department and Oscar Machado P. 12-17/ Courtesy of the Architecture Research Center, University of Miami School of Architecture, the Otto G. Richter Library and the archives of Ana M. Regalado and Ivonne de la Paz P. 18/ Photo by Madison Brinnon P. 22/ Courtesy of Rocco Ceo P. 23/ Photo by Madison Brinnon P. 24/ Courtesy of Joel Lamere P. 25, 27/ Courtesy of Rodolphe el-Khoury P. 29/ Photo by Madison Brinnon P. 32-35/ Courtesy of Carmen Guerrero P. 153/ Photo by Madison Brinnon P. 154-155/ Courtesy of Ivonne de la Paz P. 232/ Photo by Ivonne de la Paz P. 233/ Photo by Madison Brinnon Art Direction/ Madison Brinnon Ivonne de la Paz Graphic Design/ Ivonne de la Paz Copy Editor/ Meredith Camel 232

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