March 11
6 p.m.
S. R. Crown Hall
The career path stemming from architecture school may seem singular, if not obvious: join a traditional architecture firm and work your way up the ranks. But many individuals have found ways to leverage their architecture educations in the fields of science, design, and art.
On March 11, three such individuals—Benjamin Ball (Ball-Nogues Studio), Doris Sung (DOSU Studio), and Alison Von Glinow (Kwong Von Glinow Design Office)—will participate in a moderated discussion and Q&A session that will reflect on their individual methods of practice and how they’ve leveraged their experiences beyond traditional architecture practice.
For Ball, whose studio practices at the intersection of art and architecture, that comes in the form of functional art installations. The firm’s most recent installation, called “The Best Way Out Is Always Through,” is composed of hanging forms echoing the aesthetic of a palm-tree-lined boulevard, improving the walk between the parking lot and terminal at San Diego International Airport.
Likewise, Sung’s DOSU studio focuses on the study of dynamic building facades and elements as a way to bolster environmental performance. Focusing on “thermobimetal,” a composite alloy made from metals that expands and contract at different rates, Sung designs building components and art installations that respond to different temperatures, a potential energy-saving solution to traditional materials. The studio does not focus on traditional client-based projects, opting instead for more open-ended experimentation.
Finally, as partner and co-founder of Kwong Von Glinow, Alison Von Glinow has worked with partner and College of Architecture faculty member Lap Chi Kwong to reinvent existing private and public spaces with playful architectural concepts that serve as sites for cultural engagements. One of the firm’s upcoming projects is a pyramid that will cover Robert Burnier’s existing art installation on the Chicago Riverwalk to provide a sheltered space for a moment of respite in Chicago’s busy downtown.