Standpoints

The Hearst Lecture Series is hosted by Cal Poly's College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) through a generous grant from the Hearst Foundation. The lecture series brings local, national, and international speakers to present on Architecture and the built environment. The lectures are held on Fridays from 4-6pm and are free and open to the public. Students and faculty from all five departments in the CAED are encouraged to attend.

The free public lectures are made possible through a grant from the Hearst Foundation. For more information about the series, contact the Architecture Department in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at 805.756.1316.

Fall 2011:

Gerdo P. Aquino, President, SWA Group, and Ying-Yu Hung, Managing Principal, SWA Group Los Angeles office

Friday, October 7, 2011, at 4:00pm
Business Rotunda (03-213)

In 2007, Aquino and Hung redefined the LA studio as the Infrastructure Research Initiative at SWA (IRIS) to explore and research the practical application of infrastructure as landscape. To date, more than 80% of IRIS projects have integrated multi-purpose infrastructure in some way. The two are interested in presenting their infrastructure findings in a lecture and would also make themselves available to participate in a critique of students’ current projects. The proposed session would consist of the following:

Through examples of Landscape Infrastructure from SWA’s body of work and other notable infrastructure projects from around the world, Aquino and Hung will outline the concepts of the movement and examine how an infrastructure overlay reveals opportunities for greater connectivity, alternative transportation, recreation and open space by enhancing the existing single purpose/underused infrastructure corridors.

Aquino and Hung have authored the recently-released book, Landscape Infrastructure; Case Studies by SWA (Birkhauser). Both are USC Associate Adjunct Professors, MLA Program

Jason McLennan, Architect and CEO of Cascadia Green Building Council

Friday, October 14, 2011, at 4:00pm
Business Rotunda (03-213)

In this groundbreaking lecture, Jason F. McLennan, author and founder of the Living Building Challenge will discuss important new trends in the field of architecture, city planning and design. Powerful visuals, interesting stories and transformative case studies will illustrate why restoration is possible and how it is beginning to happen around the world to reshape human habitat and civilization.

Considered one of the most influential individuals in the green building movement today, McLennan’s work has made a strong impact on the shape and direction of green building in the United States and Canada and he is a much sought after presenter and consultant on a wide-variety of green building and sustainability topics.

Important Note: This evening's guest speaker is participating in the 2011 Central Coast Bioneers Conference in San Luis Obispo between October 14, 15, & 16, 2011.

Vellum Competition

Friday, October 28, 2011, at 4:00pm
Business Rotunda (03-213)

Vellum Design Build and the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) are pleased to announce the 8th Annual Vellum/CAED Furniture Exhibition. The exhibition of furniture designed and constructed by CAED students will be on display the 28 to 30 of October, 2011. Location TBD.

Following the Vellum Competition, a guest speaker of the Hearst Lecture Series will serve as a juror member for the Vellum Competition. More to be announced shortly.

To view last year's Vellum Competition, please visit Vellum 2010.

Sandy Isenstadt, Architect and Professor of History of Modern Architecture, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Delaware

Friday, November 4, 2011, at 4:00pm
Business Rotunda (03-213)

"LA After Dark. The Incandescent City" looks at the history of electric urbanism in Los Angeles--from blazing movie premieres, sparkling holiday displays, flashing neon signs, rivers of automobile headlights, and sweeping searchlights--that formed a city unique to the night, a luminous geography that coincides only partly with its daytime layout.

Sandy Isenstadt teaches the history of modern architecture in the Art History department. His writings center on postwar reformulations of modernism, contemporary architecture, and the spatial implications of material culture. Currently, he is writing about the novel luminous spaces introduced by electric lighting in the early-twentieth century.

Isenstadt will also be presenting this lecture as part of the Architecture Alumni Social at BAR Architects in San Francisco on Thursday evening, November 3, 2011, at 5:00pm.

Joel Sanders, Architect and Associate Professor at Yale School of Architecture (YSOA)

Friday, November 18, 2011, at 4:00pm
Business Rotunda (03-213)

Sanders' presentation will focus on the themes and issues explored in the release of his new book, Groundwork: Between Landscape and Architecture, co-edited with Diana Balmori. Groundwork maps an interdisciplinary trend over the past ten years of architects and landscape architects undertaking groundbreaking projects that propose an integration of landscape and architecture.
Prof. Sanders will also be presenting this lecture as part of the Architecture Alumni Social at LPA in Irvine on Thursday evening, November 17, 2011, at 5:00pm.

Joel Sanders teaches at Yale School of Architecture (YSOA).

 

Winter 2011:

Annie Chu, Architect and founding principal of Chu+Gooding Architects

Friday, January 6, 2012, at 4:00pm
Business Rotunda (03-213)

Annie Chu is a founding principal of Chu+Gooding Architects in Los Angeles, focusing on projects for arts-related and higher education clients. She is a licensed architect in California, with NCARB certification. She has also held licenses in Kentucky and New York. Ms. Chu received a Master of Science in Architecture & Building Design degree from Columbia University in 1989 and a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Southern California Institute of Architecture in 1984. In 1989, she received the Skidmore Owings Merrill Traveling Fellowship to conduct research on Mayan and Incan architecture in Central and South America. In 2004, she received the First Place Award representing the US in RIBA's Diverse City Competition, and joined the RIBA delegation to China.

Prior to establishing the firm Chu+Gooding Architects, Chu worked among other firms with Franklin D. Israel (Senior Associate: Project Designer/Project Architect), Tod Williams and Billie Tsien & Associates (Senior Associate/Project Architect), and Frank O. Gehry Associates (Production Team Member),

Perry Kulper, Architect, Artist, and Associate Professor of Architecture at the Taubmann College of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan, (Cal Poly BS Arch)

Friday, January 27, 2012 at 4:00pm
Business Rotunda (03-213)

Perry Kulper is an architect and associate professor of architecture at the University of Michigan. Prior to his arrival at the University of Michigan he was a SCI-Arc faculty member for 16 years as well as in visiting positions at the University of Pennsylvania and Arizona State University. Subsequent to his studies at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (BS Arch) and Columbia University (M Arch) he worked in the offices of Eisenman/ Robertson, Robert A.M. Stern and Venturi, Rauch and Scott Brown before moving to Los Angeles. His interests include the roles of representation and methodologies in the production of architecture and in broadening the conceptual range by which architecture contributes to our cultural imagination.

The Department will host an exhition of Kulper's artwork in the CAED lobby as well co-host a workshop on Saturday, January 28, 2012. Details to follow.

Peter Walker, Landscape Architect, FASLA

Friday, February 3rd, 2012, at 4:00pm
Business Rotunda (03-213)

"Peter Walker has exerted a significant influence on the field of landscape architecture over a five-decade career

Educated at the University of California, Berkeley, and at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Walker has designed hundreds of projects, taught, lectured, written, and served as an advisor to numerous public agencies. The scope of his concerns is expansive—from the design of small gardens to the planning of cities—with a particular emphasis on corporate headquarters, plazas, cultural gardens, academic campuses, and urban-regeneration projects.

Co-founder of the firm Sasaki, Walker and Associates (established in 1957), Walker opened its West Coast office, which became The SWA Group in 1976. As principal, consulting principal, and chairman of the board, he helped to shape The SWA Group as a multidisciplinary office with an international reputation for excellence in environmental design. In 1983, he formed Peter Walker and Partners, now known as PWP Landscape Architecture."

Current project of great significance is the National September 11th Memorial.

Ryan Murphy Project Manager at SCIAME Construction

Friday, March 10, 2012, at 4:00pm
Business Rotunda (03-213)

"Where Building is an Art” has become a trademark of Sciame. Sciame prides itself on constructing projects of the highest quality. As Construction Managers we set high standards of quality to satisfy all project requirements. Above all, our approach relies on our talented and experienced staff. Sciame’s staff will bring to bear our tenacity, creativity and meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of our work to meet project challenges and ensure timely and successful project completion.

Ryan Murphy, Project Manager at Sciame Construction, will present a number of award winning projects which include the recently completed academic building of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Arts designed by Tom Mayne (Morphosis); Pratt Institute School of Architecture - Higgins Hall Center Section and the New York University - School of Philosophy, both designed by Stephen Holl; The Pierpont Morgan Library & Museum by Renzo Piano; and the New Museum of Contemporary Art designed by Sejima + Nishizawa / SANAA.

Martin Finio Architect and Critic at Yale University, and Taryn Christoff, Architect, Principals of Christoff:Finio Architecture

Friday, February 24, 2012, at 4:00pm
Business Rotunda (03-213)

The work of Christoff:Finio Architecture is noted for its range, clarity, and inventiveness. It is work that explores the intersections of theory and practice, site and program, material and detail. Finio's ten years as an associate in the office of Tod Williams and Billie Tsien & Associates , and Christoff's equal time in firms of varying scale have laid the foundation for their partnership, begun in 1999.

Martin Finio is a graduate of The Cooper Union, Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture and with his partner and wife Christoff, they have developed a refined sensitivity that is evident in the simple yet complex spatial propositions that are complimented with a wonderful sense of craftsmanship and detailing. Finio is currently teaching at Yale School of Architecture (YSOA).

Taryn Christoff is a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Chicago.

William F. Baker, PE, SE, FASCE, FIStructE Structural and Civil Engineering Partner of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP (SOM)

Friday, March 2, 2012, at 4:00pm
Business Rotunda (03-213)

"William F. Baker is the Structural Engineering Partner for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP. Throughout his distinguished career, Bill has dedicated himself to structural innovation. His best known contribution has been to develop the “buttressed core” structural system for the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest manmade structure. While widely regarded for his work on supertall buildings, his expertise also extends to a wide variety of structures like the GM Entry Pavilion and Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion and BP Pedestrian Bridge. Bill is also known for his work on long-span roof structures, such as the Korean Air Lines Operations Hangar and the Virginia Beach Convention Center, as well as for his collaboration with artists like Jamie Carpenter (Raspberry Island-Schubert Club Band Shell), Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle (Gravity is a Force to be Reckoned With), and James Turrell (Roden Crater)."

Spring 2012:

Jean-Pierre Chupin, Ph.D., Research Chair on Competitions and Contemporary Practices in Architecture École d’architecture, Université de Montréal

Friday, April 6, 2012, at 4:00pm
Business Rotunda (03-213)

On the analogical core of architectural thinking

"Certain analogies are persistent in architecture; others do not withstand scrutiny. Some follow the development of a project; others impose themselves after the building has appeared, and at times, stand contrary to the initial ideas of the project. There exist analogies that are too literal and toovisible,while there are others that only emerge after explanation and in-depth analysis. In architecture, the spectrum of action is not incidental. It constitutes a field of research in itself. This investigation undertakes an historical and critical examination of the operations of analogy, by probing, from among a range of manifestations, three characteristic registers of modern uses and contemporary theories:  the knowledge of life (and of biology); the architecture of the city; and the modeling of design itself."

Tridib Benerjee, James Irvine Chair in Urban and Regional Planning Director, Graduate Programs in Urban Planning, USC, and Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Urban Planning; Associate Dean of the School of Public Affairs Urban Planning, UCLA.

Friday, April 20, 2012, at 4:00pm
Business Rotunda (03-213)

Guest speakers are leading practitioners/academics who will reflect on how the field of Urban Design has evolved and the issues that their discipline must currently address in the North American context.

Dr. Tridib Banerjee, Ph.D., James Irvine Chair in Urban and Regional Planning Director, Graduate Programs in Urban Planning, USC, has focused his research, teaching, and writing on the design and planning of the built environment and the related human and social consequences. In particular, he is interested in the political economy of urban development, and the effects of globalization in the transformation of urban form and urbanism from a comparative international perspective. His current research includes implementation of smart growth policies, converting brown fields to affordable housing, designing for residential density and walkable communities, and transit oriented development.

Dr. Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Urban Planning Professor at the UCLA School of Public Affairs. Professor Loukaitou-Sideris' research focuses on the public environment of the city, its physical representation, aesthetics, social meaning and impact on the urban resident. Her work seeks to integrate social and physical issues in urban planning and architecture. An underlying theme of her work is its "user focus"; that is, she seeks to analyze and understand the built environment from the perspective of those who live and work there.