Delft & UMSoA Partnership
February 8 2017, marked an important moment in UMSoA’s effort to proactively address sea-level rise. A Memorandum of Understanding, championed by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Miami, was signed between Delft University’s School of Architecture and UMSoA for exploring avenues of exchange and collaboration in the coastal resilience field. Delft University of Technology is the largest and oldest technological university in the Netherlands, a country where an understanding of climate change and sea-level rise is embedded in the culture and a history of technological innovation. Delft prides itself on being a forward-looking, creative institution with an international outlook, where problem-solving through teamwork is emphasized. The Department of Architecture has a global reputation and responds actively to changing social conditions both nationally and internationally. The ceremonial signing followed a lecture by Henk Ovink, who represented the Dutch Institution. Henk Ovink, known as the Ambassador of Water led the Tecnoglass lecture, advocating the need for collaboration and building coalitions among governments and multilateral organizations to raise water awareness around the world. -- Pictured: Dean el-Khoury, Henk Ovink and Nathalie Olijslager (the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Miami

The 2017 REIC: An Insightful Overview by Industry Experts
The UM School of Architecture and School of Business Administration brought together the nation’s most prominent real estate experts to share perspectives and insights for adapting to rapidly changing industry trends. The MRED+U program, Advisory Board, Board of Trustees, sponsors, and iconic speakers, collaborated with the two UM schools, to make the annual conference a continued success. Architecture and Real Estate development in Miami are steadily intensifying, intersecting ambition and innovation. The conference offered a discerning overview of the landscape of development, sharing timely news, such as a project overhaul for CocoWalk. More than 550 attendees were present at the Four Seasons Brickell for the UM Real Estate Impact Conference, highlighting local and national trends in a dynamically evolving industry. It was headlined by Lennar Corp. CEO Stuart Miller and David Simon, CEO of mall owner Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG)! -- Pictured above: Stuart Miller and David Simon

Tsinghua University & UMSoA: Collaboration, International Expansion and Immersion
UMSoA and Tsinghua University Upper Level students’ (joint) studio and travel program embody UMSoA’s initiative to drive immersion, collaboration and international expansion. Enabling first-hand experience into diverse cultures and insights through travel, is at the core of UM’s DNA. Its gateway position into Latin America allows students (from UM and visiting schools) to travel abroad (in this case, to Colombia), extending international insights and opportunities, with UMSoA serving as guide. Tsinghua University, among the most prestigious academic institutions in China, along with UMSoA, will benefit from this collaborative program, strengthening UM’s global network and existing partnership with China, expanding the international footprint, shared learning and resources.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration for the Restoration of a World Monuments Sanctuary in Cuba
UMSoA and the CCS (Center for Computational Science @ UM) travelled to Santiago de Cuba to study and document the Church of Santa Lucia, one of 12 churches designated to the World Monuments Fund. The group’s work includes digital mapping of the churches, restoration design and research for the history and religious iconography of the colonial churches (as led by Karen Matthews, Art Historian at UM). The Archbishop of Santiago facilitated this restoration initiative, providing access to the sanctuaries and lodging for faculty and students.

Students will complete the documentation drawings and propose designs for both the restoration of the existing, Santa Lucia church, as well as the adaptive reuse of adjacent buildings. The final presentation will be held in the Design District in April. -- Image courtesy of Lacey Stansell

Accessible Design: Top-of-Mind for Urban Design and M.Arch I Studio students
Urban Design and M.Arch. 1 Studio students learned inclusive design challenges and insights from a unique perspective, as shared by guest lecturer, Ileana Rodriguez. Ileana Rodriguez, a top Paralympic athlete on Team USA at the 2012 London Paralympic Games and an alumna of the FIU graduate architecture program, works with designers and architects around the world to advance thought and practice in the area of accessible design.

Ileana’s personal challenges and global travels reinforced the message that fully inclusive design is only possible if considered in the early stages of design; something that needs to be top-of-mind at the onset of the build project. Ileana recommended the use of materials as wayfinding and shared her personal accounts of public spaces and cities that best illustrate an understanding of diversity and adaptive progress in mechanisms of design. In closing, Ileana shared that “Meeting code is expected but being inclusive is exceptional.“

Design/Build Students create UMSoA’s first mobile Chicken Coop
The Design/Build (Fall 2016) students hard work payed off in the creation of the SOA’s first mobile Chicken Coop.

The Chicken Coop, designed to provide roosting for 100 chickens with 30 boxes for egg-laying, taught students how to think inside and outside the box. Students learned how to design and build a small farm building from client interview and presentation through, working drawings, cost estimating material ordering and construction - all in 16 weeks. Students learned that ideas must be grounded in buildable solutions and that detail and craft are as important as big ideas.

Led by Rocco Ceo and Jim Adamson students finished the project and delivered the new home southwest of Miami in Redland to their client: Empower Farms. The small farm has a big mission and looks to provide healthy food without chemicals to its customers while also incorporating people with disabilities into its productive processes of the farm.

In the words of its manager Nicholas Miller: “In addition to seeing the results of their efforts the farms participants learn about growing healthy food without damaging the environment, or better yet; healing it.” The mobile chicken coop allows the chickens to be efficiently located in different areas of the farm where they help control insects and weed growth, while producing some of the best organically grown eggs in the process. -- Image courtesy of Professor Rocco Ceo

Fellowship Opportunities
Architectural Record is awarding two Traveling Fellowships to architecture students and young professionals to commemorate the magazine’s 125th anniversary. The purpose of the fellowship is to engage with significant architecture and/or urbanism outside the United States -- to pursue greater general knowledge of design or to study closely, for example, a single typology, historic period, or place/region. Image courtesy of Architectural Record

Shepley Bulfinch is an architecture design firm with offices in Houston, Boston and Phoenix. They will be offering a Summer Design Fellowship for those that are interested.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017 - Career Season Panel Discussion
Alternative Careers in Architecture | Beyond Licensing
12 to 1:30 p.m., Rinker Classroom

As of 2016, the National Council of Architects Registration Boards (NCARB) reports that 24,000 students are enrolled in National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) certified institutions. Of those students, only 43% will go on to pursue licensure. There are many factors that contribute to this statistic, the path to licensure is a long and arduous trek, architecture fatigue, and one’s practice may not depend on being licensed, to name a few. Beyond Licensing highlights the 53% of individuals who obtain an accredited architecture degree but decide to work in an alternative manner. This panel discussion will detail the skills learned in architecture programs and how those skills translate to other careers. An open discussion will be facilitated to increase exposure and knowledge of the many options available to those with an architecture degree.

SoA Professor Germane Barnes will moderate the discussion.

Panel Members:
Joachim Perez, Director of Dawntown + Architecture Critic
Mikhaile Solomon, Director of Prizm Art Fair + Curator
Malik S. Benjamin, Director of Institute of Collaborative Innovation + Innovator
Mike Arnspiger, Director of McKenzie CraftShop + Production Manager

Thursday, February 16, 2017 - Architecture Career Fair
3 to 6 p.m., Watsco Center, Hurricane 100

Monday, February 20, 2017 - Tecnoglass Lecture by Michael Manfredi and Marion Weiss
6:30 p.m., Glasgow Hall

Michael Manfredi and Marion Weiss, of Weiss/Manfredi, have won numerous national and international awards for their work in landscape, urbanism and architecture. The firm’s projects are noted for clarity of vision, bold and iconic forms, and material innovation. Named one of North America’s “Emerging Voices” by the Architectural League of New York, WEISS/MANFREDI’s distinct vision was recognized with the Award in Architecture from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Additional honors include the Tau Sigma Delta Gold Medal and the New York AIA Gold Medal. Join them for a special Monday edition of the Tecnoglass Lecture Series.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 - High Noon Lecture by George Baird
6:30 p.m., Glasgow Hall

George Baird is Emeritus Professor of Architecture, and the former dean of the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto. He is the founding principal of the Toronto-based architecture and urban design firm Baird Sampson Neuert Architects. Baird is a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. He has been the recipient of the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Architecture and Design Award (1992), the da Vinci Medal of the Ontario Association of Architects (2000), and the Gold Medal of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (2010). He will give a High Noon lecture at 12:15 p.m. in Rinker Classroom.

Wednesday, February 23 - 24, 2017 - SMART CITIES MIAMI Conference
1 p.m., Miami Design District at the Moore Building, 191 NE 40th Street, Miami, FL 33137

The University of Miami brings cutting-edge research in urban planning, architecture, and engineering - in alignment with computational resources and analytical expertise - to aid in the design and development of more sustainable, livable, and resilient cities. This conference gathers leaders in academia, professional practice, and industry to examine the Smart Cities phenomenon in relation to emerging trends and technology. This effort to embrace Smart Cities planning and its impact on the built environment has led UMSoA, guided by Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury, to join forces with the Center for Computational Science (CCS-UM). The program launches its first annual conference in Miami, on February 23 & 24th and will focus on the emerging trends and technology on infrastructure and the built environment.The focus is on infrastructure and the built environment, as well as new potentials for business and governance. For more info: http://ccs.miami.edu/smartcities.

Friday, February 24, 2017 - Deadline to apply for Seoul / Kyoto / Tokyo Open City Studio program

All students interested in the Seoul / Kyoto / Tokyo Open City Studio program need to apply through Study Abroad. Students will need to apply by February 24 to be eligible. Please start this process early, as it will take a bit of time and information to complete. It will be an exciting journey. For more information, contact Professor Steven Fett at sfett@miami.edu.