Maryland School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation

The 2024 issue of Inhabit is here! Learn about how our alums are building towards AI, preserving Black history and more here: https://brnw.ch/21wOZOW

UMD Colvin Institute of Real Estate Development is excited to kick off its Lunch and Learn series with alums and friends from the DMV area. The program would like to thank Suzanne White, instructor and Vice President of Real Estate Services at the Washington DC Economic Partnership, for hosting. It was a fantastic start to the series with insightful discussions on DC's economic development plans for 2025 and the anticipated impact of the incoming administration on the region. Attendees included Tanya Bansal, Jesse Saginor, PhD, AICP, Carrie Chard, Chris Bridges, David Roodberg, Catherine Inniss Broker-MBA, MRED, Kathleen Miles, Brian Darmody, Kara Strong, Brandon Feraren, Oscar Maccio and Garrett Dickerson.

Yesterday, students in Professor Michael Kleiss's Methods & Materials of Building Construction class worked on their final projects to create a framing model of a portion of the Fisher House by architect Louis Kahn. The class has been studying wood construction methods and are demonstrating their understanding of framing connections, the components that make up a wood-constructed building, and the sizing and spacing of different members.

This week, the National Center for Smart Growth (NCSG) co-hosted "Tracking Equity," a convergence of government, community and nonprofit stakeholders around equitable development along transit. The event was a collaboration with Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Wells Fargo, and featured talks by NSCG's Sheila Somashekhar and Ph.D. candidate Brittney Drakeford, AICP.

Brittney Drakeford, AICP shares her brilliance about the work of Capital Market on the Blue Line and the importance of cultural assets, memory, and storytelling in community development and anti-displacment work. National Center for Smart Growth LISC DC Maryland School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation

WTS-DC Chapter recently awarded first-year urban studies and planning student Sydney Sotelo with a WTS-DC Chapter Graduate Scholarship. The organization awards the scholarship to accomplished women who are pursuing degrees in transportation or transportation-related fields. Congratulations, Sydney!

Congratulations to Sheila Somashekhar, the director of the Purple Line Corridor Coalition (PLCC) at the National Center for Smart Growth for receiving the 2024 Leadership in Planning Award for Community Outreach and Engagement in Honor of Harold Foster, by The National Capital Area Chapter of the American Planning Association. The award recognizes Somashekhar achievements in planning and community development in the DMV region.

MAPP's AI in Architecture Research Group Brittany L. Williams, AIA LEED AP, Michael Ezban and Lindsey May hosted a symposium Wednesday on the tech's potential impact on both the design profession and pedagogy. Featured speakers and thought leaders Cas Esbach of MVRDV and Curry J. Hackett of Wayside Studio presented their work, and shared insight on how they've incorporated AI in their designs during a moderated panel discussion. The day's event concluded with a reception featuring AI-assisted design work created by students, staff and faculty, each offering a unique perspective on the use of AI tools.

We recently attended the AI Design Thinking Symposium at the Maryland School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation, where we gained invaluable insights into how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of architectural design. Key takeaways from the symposium included: 📐 AI streamlines workflows, from initial concepts to final renderings, enabling architects to dedicate more time to creativity and innovation. 📐 AI offers new tools for experimentation, allowing both students and professionals to explore diverse approaches and techniques in their work. 📐 AI is continuously evolving, refining the way designers approach their workflows and driving more efficient, dynamic design processes. As we continue to integrate these insights into our practice, we are excited to explore new ways to elevate our work and better address the ever-evolving needs of the communities we serve. A big thank you to featured speakers Cas Esbach of MVRDV and Curry J. Hackett of Wayside Studio for their insightful presentations and enlightening contributions during the panel discussion. We appreciate how they shared their innovative work and explored the integration of AI in their designs. #Architecture #AIDesign #Innovation #GriDarchitects #UniversityofMaryland #UMD

Join us for the Baltimore Avenue Connected Communities: Smart Cities Roundtable this Friday, from 2-3:30 p.m. via Zoom. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from UMD Smart Cities researcher Tara Burke and community leaders Tania D. Mitchell, Jhoselyn Rodriguez, Ron Nicholson and Pastor Michael Dickson, II to learn about their perspectives on community engagement collaboration. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eSFqSATt