06-04-2014
Generation X to Generation FX(FOWLE)
left to right: Robert Balder (Executive Director of the School of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP NYC) at Cornell University), Erica Godun (Senior Associate, Director of Interiors), Austin Sakong (Designer), Sylvia Smith (Senior Partner), Gustavo Rodriguez (Senior Associate), Nicholas Garrison (Principal), Rachel Hillery (Junior Architect)
FXFOWLE hosted a panel in conjunction with NYCxDESIGN that included three generations of FXFOWLE architects and designers who spoke about their perceptions and experiences as "generational designers." The panel was moderated by Robert Balder, Executive Director of the School of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP NYC) at Cornell University.
As a follow up to the panel, we asked three designers from three generations who attended the program for their perspectives and opinions on what was discussed.
Ann Rolland, AIA, LEED
Principal, Studio Director
Joe Pikiewicz, AIA, LEED
Senior Associate
Cristina Rodriguez, LEED
Architectural Designer
Here is what they had to say (and we would like to know what you think!):
What does generational design mean to you?
AR: There is too much branding in architecture; to many names and titles given to issue of not great substance or importance. I have to say this is one of them. Great design transcends time and generational distinction.Collaboration and design input from team members of multiple generations, genders, cultures, etc... is what evokes innovative thinking and design advancement. What does change from generation to generation are the formats of practice, advancements in materials and manufacturing processes. This is what makes architecture an ever evolving practice; fresh and exciting to be a part of.
JP: When I first heard about the "generational design" discussion at FXFOWLE, I immediately remembered of all the angst filled Gen-X moments that I had in architecture school. My classmates and I would ruefully deride our professors' critiques as being too "Corb-Alto-Mies", our insider phrase to describe anyone too hung up on the canonical stars of modernism and not hip to the more recent architectural trends. After attending the panel, I was surprised at how much less the distinctions of generation matter when taken out of the academy and discussed in terms of professional practice. The issues discussed at the panel point to more similarity than difference between generations. The particularities of architectural style, technology, drawing technique, and theory that colored my Gen-X angst against professors who were deeply mired in the "modernist canon" carry less weight in the practice of architecture than I had thought as a young architect in training. While some of this understanding comes from the perspective provided by age and experience, the panel discussion alluded to some common themes that serve as a kind of 'creation myth' for architects: an interest in making things at an early age (with Lego blocks and other materials), anxiety about not being good enough at math, and a desire to pursue a creative field without becoming a starving artist. These themes, along with the shared (arduous) experience of architecture school gives the generations a common vocabulary that helps to transcend generational divides.
CR: Generational design can mean many things. Do certain generations follow certain trends? Yes, of course. Generations are influenced by common external factors that cause them to reach similar conclusions. I don't know what I expected from the panel; would the pair of generational buddies be completely in sync? Would they talk about the same experiences and cultural references? To my surprise the different generations had much more in common than I thought. If I were to quote one of the panelists, would his/her generation be apparent? My guess is that it wouldn't. We are all bound by the undeniable drives that lead us to become architects, even if our paths began at a different time and space. Most of the differences weren't really generational, dare I say it . . . but from my perspective, more rooted in gender. Interestingly, all the women began their careers in fine arts, later evolving towards architecture, while the men on the other hand had clearer and more immediate paths to becoming architects. The biggest difference between generations was the mediums used to express design intent. Be it a beautiful sketch, a photograph, or 3D models, we all have a common goal, to quote Erica, "making things for people and creating places where they want to be."
How does gender influence how you design?
AR: Along with other influences, gender influences our perceptions and references to the world around us. This is what we draw on to create/design. What these factors are, and exactly how they influence how I design is hard to know.
JP: Another topic that came up repeatedly in the panel discussion was the role of gender and the way that attitudes about that have changed through the generations. Women have become much more active in the industry as designers, consultants, and clients over the years. I can't help but relate this shift to watching how the characters have developed on the TV show Mad Men. While the radical shifts in social attitudes of the 60's seem to have happened more quickly than the pace of change today, looking back on my career so far, I can see how much things have changed in more recent years as well. One marked change that I've noticed is a general shift towards more collaborative working patterns in our profession. I like to think that a more inclusive work environment is both evidence of and a reason for this change.
CR: Gender has been a hot topic around the firm lately. With the recent development of "Women of FXFOWLE," a group formed to encourage the firm's professional growth and development for women, there have been many discussions on how gender is perceived in the workplace. Personally I don't believe gender necessarily influences what we design, but it does impact the process. For example, women are generally regarded to excel in areas that address flexibility, social responsibility, sensitivity to others and the ability to multitask. With design processes becoming more collaborative than ever, I believe women are finding (finally!) a bigger and more active role. Ultimately, gender diversity has proven to increase companies' financial returns and show higher overall organizational health. Sylvia spoke about seeing more women in board rooms and more women as clients. We are beginning to see a shift that has been many decades in the making. Although great progress has been made, there are still many gender disparities. In the United States, while women represent about 50% of graduates of architectural programs, less than 18% of licensed architects are women and even fewer achieve leadership positions or ownership. As Austin mentioned, he views gender disparities as dissipating, "but that's [his] luxury as a man." Education of these disparities will create awareness and will hopefully increase diversity to create a positive change that will ultimately benefit us all.
What sustains you as an architect?
AR: The power of creation is a narcotic. There is something unique and special about each and every project that grips me – that takes hold of me. The feeling is so enticing and potent that I cannot enough. It not only sustains me, but energizes and drives me as well. I guess you can call it an addiction!
JP: At the panel, Nick Garrison pointed out that ours is a profession based on optimism. Each day brings fresh and unexpected challenges and we wrap up most of our workdays having solved problems that we couldn't have anticipated that morning. The opportunity to tackle complex issues with a creative sense of optimism with a great group of colleagues (or all generations) makes it easy for me to come to work each morning.
CR: Different generations, different genders, we can all agree that being an architect or a designer provides us a certain outlet that we have not found elsewhere. It is unique; art with constraints. This is how we have found a way to synthesize our diverse experiences. They help us navigate the social, economic, political, and even ecological constraints that architecture has to respond to. Combined with a belief that anything is possible, even in small ways, we can change the world around us, most of the times for the better.
As a follow up to the panel, we asked three designers from three generations who attended the program for their perspectives and opinions on what was discussed.
Ann Rolland, AIA, LEED
Principal, Studio Director
Joe Pikiewicz, AIA, LEED
Senior Associate
Cristina Rodriguez, LEED
Architectural Designer
Here is what they had to say (and we would like to know what you think!):
What does generational design mean to you?
AR: There is too much branding in architecture; to many names and titles given to issue of not great substance or importance. I have to say this is one of them. Great design transcends time and generational distinction.Collaboration and design input from team members of multiple generations, genders, cultures, etc... is what evokes innovative thinking and design advancement. What does change from generation to generation are the formats of practice, advancements in materials and manufacturing processes. This is what makes architecture an ever evolving practice; fresh and exciting to be a part of.
JP: When I first heard about the "generational design" discussion at FXFOWLE, I immediately remembered of all the angst filled Gen-X moments that I had in architecture school. My classmates and I would ruefully deride our professors' critiques as being too "Corb-Alto-Mies", our insider phrase to describe anyone too hung up on the canonical stars of modernism and not hip to the more recent architectural trends. After attending the panel, I was surprised at how much less the distinctions of generation matter when taken out of the academy and discussed in terms of professional practice. The issues discussed at the panel point to more similarity than difference between generations. The particularities of architectural style, technology, drawing technique, and theory that colored my Gen-X angst against professors who were deeply mired in the "modernist canon" carry less weight in the practice of architecture than I had thought as a young architect in training. While some of this understanding comes from the perspective provided by age and experience, the panel discussion alluded to some common themes that serve as a kind of 'creation myth' for architects: an interest in making things at an early age (with Lego blocks and other materials), anxiety about not being good enough at math, and a desire to pursue a creative field without becoming a starving artist. These themes, along with the shared (arduous) experience of architecture school gives the generations a common vocabulary that helps to transcend generational divides.
CR: Generational design can mean many things. Do certain generations follow certain trends? Yes, of course. Generations are influenced by common external factors that cause them to reach similar conclusions. I don't know what I expected from the panel; would the pair of generational buddies be completely in sync? Would they talk about the same experiences and cultural references? To my surprise the different generations had much more in common than I thought. If I were to quote one of the panelists, would his/her generation be apparent? My guess is that it wouldn't. We are all bound by the undeniable drives that lead us to become architects, even if our paths began at a different time and space. Most of the differences weren't really generational, dare I say it . . . but from my perspective, more rooted in gender. Interestingly, all the women began their careers in fine arts, later evolving towards architecture, while the men on the other hand had clearer and more immediate paths to becoming architects. The biggest difference between generations was the mediums used to express design intent. Be it a beautiful sketch, a photograph, or 3D models, we all have a common goal, to quote Erica, "making things for people and creating places where they want to be."
How does gender influence how you design?
AR: Along with other influences, gender influences our perceptions and references to the world around us. This is what we draw on to create/design. What these factors are, and exactly how they influence how I design is hard to know.
JP: Another topic that came up repeatedly in the panel discussion was the role of gender and the way that attitudes about that have changed through the generations. Women have become much more active in the industry as designers, consultants, and clients over the years. I can't help but relate this shift to watching how the characters have developed on the TV show Mad Men. While the radical shifts in social attitudes of the 60's seem to have happened more quickly than the pace of change today, looking back on my career so far, I can see how much things have changed in more recent years as well. One marked change that I've noticed is a general shift towards more collaborative working patterns in our profession. I like to think that a more inclusive work environment is both evidence of and a reason for this change.
CR: Gender has been a hot topic around the firm lately. With the recent development of "Women of FXFOWLE," a group formed to encourage the firm's professional growth and development for women, there have been many discussions on how gender is perceived in the workplace. Personally I don't believe gender necessarily influences what we design, but it does impact the process. For example, women are generally regarded to excel in areas that address flexibility, social responsibility, sensitivity to others and the ability to multitask. With design processes becoming more collaborative than ever, I believe women are finding (finally!) a bigger and more active role. Ultimately, gender diversity has proven to increase companies' financial returns and show higher overall organizational health. Sylvia spoke about seeing more women in board rooms and more women as clients. We are beginning to see a shift that has been many decades in the making. Although great progress has been made, there are still many gender disparities. In the United States, while women represent about 50% of graduates of architectural programs, less than 18% of licensed architects are women and even fewer achieve leadership positions or ownership. As Austin mentioned, he views gender disparities as dissipating, "but that's [his] luxury as a man." Education of these disparities will create awareness and will hopefully increase diversity to create a positive change that will ultimately benefit us all.
What sustains you as an architect?
AR: The power of creation is a narcotic. There is something unique and special about each and every project that grips me – that takes hold of me. The feeling is so enticing and potent that I cannot enough. It not only sustains me, but energizes and drives me as well. I guess you can call it an addiction!
JP: At the panel, Nick Garrison pointed out that ours is a profession based on optimism. Each day brings fresh and unexpected challenges and we wrap up most of our workdays having solved problems that we couldn't have anticipated that morning. The opportunity to tackle complex issues with a creative sense of optimism with a great group of colleagues (or all generations) makes it easy for me to come to work each morning.
CR: Different generations, different genders, we can all agree that being an architect or a designer provides us a certain outlet that we have not found elsewhere. It is unique; art with constraints. This is how we have found a way to synthesize our diverse experiences. They help us navigate the social, economic, political, and even ecological constraints that architecture has to respond to. Combined with a belief that anything is possible, even in small ways, we can change the world around us, most of the times for the better.