This interactive session explores the intersection of architecture, education, and sensory experience in designing inclusive learning environments for students with visual impairments and blindness. Participants will engage in hands-on activities using eye disease simulators to experience spatial challenges firsthand, fostering deeper empathy and awareness. Through community-engaged design strategies, attendees will gain insights into creating educational spaces that prioritize accessibility, equity, and inclusion, preparing future architects to design with a broader understanding of diverse user needs.
9:30AM - 11:00AM
Session: “Community Engagement in Designing for Students with Visual Impairments and Blindness” by Nilou Vakil and Leah Endright
ARCH+ TECHNOLOGY TRACK
This session shares how the ASSIST studio at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln integrates participatory processes and service-learning to connect students, stakeholders, and communities in shaping projects. Drawing from real-world collaborations across Nebraska, it examines research-informed methods for uncovering community values, needs, and aspirations, and translating them into actionable design strategies. Participants will experience a tour of creative “playscovery” activities used by ASSIST - methods that move beyond surveys and interviews into the realm of interactive, game-like, prompts. Attendees will experiment with and leave with adaptable tools and strategies for integrating participatory programming into their own work, along with insights into how these approaches can strengthen relationships, improve project relevance, and empower communities.
9:30AM - 11:00AM
Session: “ASSIST Rural Design Build Community Development Program” by Steve Hardy
ARCH+ COMMUNITY TRACK
Jon’s session at the conference, titled “Design and Function of Buildings in Urban Planning,” will provide an engaging exploration of how design-thinking equips students and emerging professionals to respond to the complex challenges of urban environments. The presentation will highlight the critical relationship between architectural beauty within the broader context of city planning, examining how buildings serve not only as structures but also as integral components of community life. Attendees will gain insight into strategies that balance aesthetic vision with practical needs such as accessibility, sustainability, and flexibility. By focusing on real-world applications and case studies, Jon will demonstrate how thoughtful design can shape vibrant, resilient urban places that enhance both individual experiences and collective well-being.
9:30AM - 11:00AM
Session: “Design and Function of Buildings in Urban Planning” by Jon Birkel
ARCH+ INDUSTRY TRACK
Kansas City’s history is deeply rooted in the river and its surrounding bottomland, landscapes that supported the industries and commerce that transformed it into a thriving modern city. This presentation will examine that pivotal period of growth, focusing on the transitional moment when innovative architecture and design began to reshape the urban fabric. With the expansion of transportation networks connecting the river, rail, and geography of the region, new opportunities emerged for architects, planners, and builders to define the city’s character. Attendees will gain insight into how infrastructure, industry, and design intersected to create a uniquely Kansas City identity. The session will depict this evolution through historical examples, mapping, and architectural analysis, highlighting lessons still relevant today.
9:30AM - 11:00AM
Session: “From the River: An Exploration of the Kansas City's Past and Evolution” by James Bibens