Guest Speakers

Before our travels and adventures in China, we were privileged to have several guest speakers:

Patrice McMahon offered her own travel experiences from her family’s recent six-month stay in central China. Through an excellent slide show and amazing personal narrative, the studio gained its first insight into Chinese culture.


[Left to Right] Scott Killinger, Prof. Tom Laging, Tom Chastain

With the help of Tom Chastain and the program sponsor Scott Killinger, we were able to fully develop the studio mission statement and goals of development. The round-table discussion with both professionals led to several design objectives, as well as ethical questions regarding the environmental conditions of the existing site and the future status of current residents.

Former Dean, Cecil Steward, presented his thoughts on the evolution of China over the last 30 years. Dean Steward was a particularly valuable source for addressing concerns of a developing nation. His focus pertains to sustainable architecture and the important role it should play on the development of future China.


Lecture about Foster+Partners by Chris Abel (2008 Hyde Chair Professor)

Chris Abel, the College of Architecture’s 2008 visiting Hyde Chair Professor, offered an excellent presentation of Norman Foster’s [Foster+Partners] work in China; namely the Beijing International Airport, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Headquarters and the Jiushi Corporate Headquarters in Shanghai. This was our first look at the developing trends of foreign “star architects” in China. Due to Chris Abels extensive knowledge of Foster’s built work he was able to present the Jiushi Corporate Tower which we would later visit.


Charette with Ali Struck

The group was also offered the personal experiences and key travel advice from recent College of Architecture graduate Ali Struck. Ali’s 2008 thesis project was based on the developing housing issues in China and the disappearance of the Hutong in Beijing. Since her thesis relates to our studio project in Tianjin, Ali has been an excellent resource. She was also given the opportunity to work with Scott Killinger in his Tianjin office this past summer allowing the studio advance site photos and advice about the city as a whole.