e-SPAN Alumni Newsletter

In this issue of e-SPAN, we explore how industry partnerships can strengthen the research at Carnegie Mellon Architecture by talking to three faculty recipients of the PJ Dick Innovation Fund Faculty Grants Program: Azadeh Sawyer, Vernelle A. A. Noel and Juney Lee. We also invite alumni and friends to join us this year during Spring Carnival Weekend, April 3-5. Finally, we see some images from student travel over spring break.

In this issue of e-SPAN, we dive into a niche area of AI in architectural practice: Building Information Modeling (BIM). We talk to a PhD student, Yael Nester (PhD-AECM ’27), who feels confident that AI cannot replace the human architect's judgment. We then speak with alumnus Jared Friedman (B.Arch ’10) who describes some of the innovative ways he uses BIM and AI in his work as a Computational Product Manager at Walter P Moore. We also get to see work from Tannaz Afshar's (PhD-AECM ’26) in-progress dissertation about deconstruction and material reuse on a university campus. Finally, we recap some exciting recent celebrations, including NOMA Pittsburgh's 10th anniversary gala, where faculty, students and alumni won awards, and the PJ Dick Innovation Fund Faculty Grants Program round one showcase.

In this issue of e-SPAN, we talk to the student organizers of the 2024 AIAS Northeast Quad Conference, "DES[AI]GN: Artificial Intelligence in Architecture,” which took place from October 31 to November 2 at CMU. We preview some upcoming course offerings related to artificial intelligence and share news about the 2024 Fall Awards cycle, which saw exciting proposals from students and faculty for their research and travel activities. And we catch up with the Master of Urban Design students to learn about their field trip to the Sweet Water Foundation in Chicago, where the group was hosted by Emmanuel Pratt, the inaugural Watson Chair in Architecture at Carnegie Mellon Architecture.

In this issue of e-SPAN, we delve into a philosophical and practical conversation about AI with Paul Pangaro, Visiting Scholar in Computational Design. We take a look at recent student work from Vector Visions, a fall mini course that introduced students to the use of AI tools in design, taught by Jimmy Wei-Chun Cheng. Finally, we cover recent happenings at the school, including the Pittsburgh Art Book Fair and UDream x AIA Pittsburgh mixer, and look ahead to the upcoming AIAS Northeast Quad Conference: DES[AI]GN: Artificial Intelligence in Architecture, hosted by Carnegie Mellon Architecture students.

In this issue of e-SPAN, we introduce the theme of Artificial (and Othered) Intelligences, which informs this year's Public Programs series. We will explore this theme and the topic of AI in e-SPAN throughout this academic year. We begin with an introduction to the College of Fine Arts AI Working Group led by Associate Teaching Professor Daragh Byrne. We also introduce this fall's public programs series and share footage from this year's EX-CHANGE publication, exhibition and celebratory event.

In this issue of e-SPAN, we honor the work of Valentina Vavasis, Sarah Rafson and Steve Lee, three beloved faculty members. We speak with Valentina, whose expertise in real estate, community development and professional ethics is braided together with her deep care for—and curiosity about—humans and human community. Sarah reflects on her years as Carnegie Mellon Architecture’s Curator of Public Programs, and the inquiry they’ve opened and the conversations they’ve inspired. And we highlight Steve, alumnus, professor and former Head of School, who is retiring after 43 years with the school.

In this issue of e-SPAN, we talk to faculty and students about their recent work engaging artificial intelligence (AI). Thesis work from Vina Wei (PhD-CD ‘28) focuses on architectural fabrication and AI, and Manuel Rodríguez Ladrón de Guevara’s (PhD-CD '23) thesis addresses AI and creativity in AI-generated paintings. In the studios, Jared Abraham shares student work from his “Mobile Home” course where students incorporated Midjourney into their rendering process. And new faculty Vernelle A. A. Noel shares work on machine learning and raises questions about semiotics, semantics, syntax and society in text-to-image generator tools.

In this issue of e-SPAN, we talk to two alumni who are pioneers in sustainable design: Tanya Eagle (B.Arch ‘07) and Jensen Ying (B.Arch ‘13). They each share insights about how to nudge the architectural field towards more sustainable practices and how to find meaning in your work. We also highlight recent happenings at the school, including the new Carnegie Mellon Architecture brand identity and website, a residential project by associate professor Gerard Damiani that was featured in Architectural Record, and remembrances of Professor Delbert Highlands who passed away in July 2023.

In our final e-SPAN newsletter of the year, we talk to two alumni who have dedicated their careers to working for justice in the built environment: Ashley Archie (MUD ‘15) and Lizzie MacWillie (B.Arch ‘07). We also take a look at photographs and sketches from Tommy CheeMou Yang’s Common Imaginaries studio, including the class’s trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand this past summer. Finally, we delve into the New Pedagogies courses, new to the school this fall semester.

In this edition of the e-SPAN newsletter, we introduce the Revolutions/Resolutions Public Programs theme and talk to Carnegie Mellon Architecture alumni about what revolution means in their careers. Stephen Wilder (Master of Science in Architecture ‘04) shares how he built his firm, Think Wilder, to be a point of architectural contact in his community. Elizabeth Monoian (MFA ‘00) and Robert Ferry (B.Arch ‘98), founders and principals of the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI), tell us how they’re taking a fresh approach to the renewable energy revolution.