“Managing Mass Timber: From Forest to Future” is a traveling exhibit showcasing the benefits of mass timber to students and faculty at leading engineering, architecture, and construction management schools across the Northeast and Great Lakes regions. During the fall of 2024, the exhibit traveled to Kent State University; Syracuse University; the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 3 Conference in Chicago; Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh; the AIAS Northeast Quad Conference; and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Annual Conference in Baltimore.This fall, it comes to Kansas City to be presented by Kent State Professors, Anthony Mirando and Lameck Onsarigo, in tandem with the release of their new book of the same name.
9:00AM - 10:15AM
Keynote: “Managing Mass Timber: From Forest to Future” by Anthony Mirando and Lameck Onsarigo
Location: The Gallery at the Power+Light
ARCH+ TECHNOLOGY KEYNOTE
10:30AM - 3:00PM
Session: “Positive Impact Design” by Dominique Davidson
Firm Tours: Generator Studio and ACI Boland
ARCH+ TECHNOLOGY TRACK
Dominique Davison AIA, NOMA, LEED BD+C will discuss the driving ethos of DRAW Architecture + Urban Design - Positive Impact Design. Walking through example projects, she will illustrate how this thinking is applied to project selection, communicated internally and externally, and resulting project outcomes. DRAW’s ethos of Positive Impact Design includes elevating the urban and site context, going beyond great aesthetics to understand the cultural + social dynamics, and utilizing our resourceful integrated process to design with empathy + activism.
So, you’d like to have a student internship? Good for you! Past internship experience is a significant advantage when seeking that first job after graduation. Plus, you will definitely have a smoother launch into your career with past “real world” exposure. However, there is a lot to consider when preparing to seek an internship. It takes planning and intentionality to secure a quality internship opportunity that aligns with your goals and maximizes the learning and growth you seek in an internship. We will explore all of this and more to give knowledge and encouragement on finding and having a rewarding student intern experience. Hear from two highly successful former student interns about their experiences and from a firm principal who developed an award-winning student internship program.
10:30AM - 3:00PM
Session: “Maximizing the Value of Your Student Internship” by Treanor
Firm Tours: Hollis+Miller and Helix
ARCH+ COMMUNITY TRACK
Co-led by BRR Architecture President & CEO Mariah Meyer, AIA, and Executive Vice President Megan Whitman, AIA, IIDA The Business of Architecture session will explore the often-overlooked aspects of running an architecture firm that aren’t covered in architecture school. While most curriculums focus on design, this session will provide a broader understanding of how architecture firms operate as businesses. Attendees will gain insights into key aspects of firm management, including basic accounting and legal terms, how new projects are won and negotiated and how project teams are structured to produce work. Mariah and Megan will also offer guidance on evaluating firm culture, seeking mentorship opportunities and navigating professional development early in a career. Drawing from their own career journeys, they will share personal experiences and advice, emphasizing the role of creative problem-solving, continuous learning and aligning work with personal passions in building a successful career in architecture.
10:30AM - 3:00PM
Session: “The Business Side of Architecture” by BRR
Firm Tours: KEM Studio and DRAW
ARCH+ INDUSTRY TRACK
ARCH+ CULTURE TRACK
With this short presentation former El Dorado partner and future Professor of Practice, David Dowell, AIA, will talk about the motivations, inspirations and challenges of a thirty-five year career, experienced primarily through the lens of a recently shuttered, regionally grounded, globally focused critical practice. The focus of the session is meant to be interactive. Do you have questions about starting a practice? Want to know about the three most enduring aspects of El Dorado? Come prepared for a Q&A exchange.
10:30AM - 3:00PM
Session: “Magical Thinking and El Dorado’s Practice” by David Dowell
Firm Tours: Treanor and HOK
In this keynote address, Joe Vessell of Weiss/Manfredi will explore the role of architecture in shaping and reflecting community and culture through the lens of the firm’s recent competition-winning proposal for the expansion and renovation of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The presentation will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the conceptual thinking and design process that guided the proposal, highlighting the firm’s vision for the museum’s transformation—an approach that prioritizes transparency and community engagement. In addition to the Nelson-Atkins project, the keynote will provide a broader overview of Weiss/Manfredi’s work, illustrating how their interdisciplinary practice consistently seeks to create inclusive, meaningful spaces that resonate with place and people. The presentation aims to inspire the next generation of architects to embrace design as a catalyst for cultural connection and community empowerment.
4:00PM - 6:00PM
Keynote: “Weiss/Manfredi’s Expansion to the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art” by Joe Vessell
Location: Extreme Screen Theater at Union Station