Erica J. Boyles

University of Minnesota - BFA '05, M.Arch '11

Who made the most lasting impression (most influenced you) and why?

Associate Professor Ozayr Saloojee, because he introduced me to the idea that architects have agency in a much broader sense than just designing buildings. Architects have a responsibility to address issues of social justice, poverty, violence, and equality through their work.

Please identify one (or more) memorable design project that you worked on while a student at the School of Architecture.

I remember Steve Weeks' comprehensive studio project as being one of my favorites. We designed mixed-use multi-family housing for a site near Stadium Village on the U of M campus, using one of three precedents for a jumping-off point. It was a fantastic studio and I learned so much from Steve about construction processes and details.

What major forces (such as individual architects, design philosophies, rendering styles, research methods, etc.) do you remember influencing you significantly as a student?

Public interest design and architecture as a major player in social justice/responsibility have influenced me most.

Gregory E. Nook

University of Minnesota - M.Arch '81

What was the most important thing/skill/concept you learned at the School of Architecture?

Creative problem solving.

Who made the most lasting impression (most influenced you) and why?

Milo Thompson and Leonard Parker for their compassionate teaching skills and the ability to find ways to motivate diverse ideas and individuals. Mark Fisher (now deceased) because he cared so much. Craig Mulford because he was the most organized student that I have ever known! Always done thoroughly and ahead of schedule...by a full day!! Bill Chilton because he brought his friendship, talent, creativity and organization to all that he did. Roger Clemence and Steve Weeks because they cared enough to allow me into the school and guide me through it!

What is your favorite memory from your studio days?

One Sunday afternoon I was in studio working on thesis with a half dozen or so students. Manos Ginnis was standing at the window looking towards Northrup and said, "There is a dead man in the bushes!" (Now do this with his accent in mind.) We all were detached and indicated "Yeah, sure."  Manos was persistent, over and over we would hear, "Hey you guys, there is a dead man in the bushes!!"  We still ignored him. This went on for about 5 minutes before finally he had us all at the windows looking and we concurred...that may be a dead man lying motionless, face down in the flowers across the street. Manos cautiously went outside as we all watched and carefully crept up on the still body only to have the physical plant employee get up, pull his arm out of the sprinkler valve pipe and announce gleefully, "One more sprinkler line turned on!" I got to say, we all were secretly a bit disappointed because we liked the distraction drama of a potential corpse. So next time you see Manos say, "Hey you guys, there is a dead man in the bushes!!!"

Please identify one (or more) memorable design project that you worked on while a student at the School of Architecture.

Thesis and "Housing as Urban Regenerator."

 

Richard A. Carter

University of Minnesota - B.Arch '82

What was the most important thing/skill/concept you learned at the School of Architecture?

Problem solving.

Who made the most lasting impression (most influenced you) and why?

Having Gunter Dittmar teach us how to draw a "straight" line the first day of Grade One. Garth Rockcastle's Grade Four studio where we had to draw with rapidogragh ink on vellum.

What is your favorite memory from your studio days?

Staying up very late, making models. 

Please identify one (or more) memorable design project that you worked on while a student at the School of Architecture.

My thesis, the Downtown Minneapolis YMCA.

What major forces (such as individual architects, design philosophies, rendering styles, research methods, etc.) do you remember influencing you significantly as a student?

Jerry Zuber's trees and people.

Cite an example (be specific) that illustrates how you used the education you received at the School of Architecture to positively impact (or better) your community, city, nation or the world.

I have focused my entire career on Green Building and reducing climate change at building, organization, and community scales. My education at the School of Architecture and the people who were my advisers, including Garth, Mary Guzowski, Steve Weeks, and Julia Robinson, guided me in that direction.

Amy L. Meller

University of Minnesota - B.A. Arch '00, M.Arch '02

What was the most important thing/skill/concept you learned at the School of Architecture?

How to think conceptually and outside the box, and then apply to in-the-box design problems.

Who made the most lasting impression (most influenced you) and why?

Greg Watson - You learn more from your failures than you do from your successes, and often the solution exists in your previous attempts.

What is your favorite memory from your studio days?

The studio culture.

Please identify one (or more) memorable design project that you worked on while a student at the School of Architecture.

The Music Education building, which was my M.Arch thesis project.

What major forces (such as individual architects, design philosophies, rendering styles, research methods, etc.) do you remember influencing you significantly as a student?

Lance Lavine for introducing me to phenomenology; Ali Hesmati for how to physically model and manipulate space; Greg Watson for teaching how to design and the importance of using different media in creative thinking; Steve Weeks stating that building materials and details do matter; and Bob Mack for historic preservation and its role in a "modernist" society.

Cite an example (be specific) that illustrates how you used the education you received at the School of Architecture to positively impact (or better) your community, city, nation or the world.

My career focuses on historic preservation and the sustainable reuse of existing buildings and structures. My work reflects the core values I began fostering while at the University of Minnesota. Reuse solutions are often subtle, requiring creative thinking and a blending of past building techniques and modern technology.

Mark D. Larson

University of Minnesota - M.Arch '93

St. Olaf - B.A. Econ '88

What was the most important thing/skill/concept you learned at the School of Architecture?

The design process.

Who made the most lasting impression (most influenced you) and why?

Professors Steve Weeks, Lance Lavine, Harrison Fraker, Sharon Roe, Gunter Dittmar, and Denny Grebner for passion, commitment, and character. Visiting lecturers Frank Isreal, Ralph Erskine, Rem Koolhaus, and Frank Gehry for amazing work. Also my fellow students and Jean (Rehkamp) Larson, my wife and business partner, for life, kids and a dozen years in business together.

What is your favorite memory from your studio days?

Rolling Michael Roehr's VW Bug up the front steps of the building to be used as a found object on our Mexico trip exhibition.

Please identify one (or more) memorable design project that you worked on while a student at the School of Architecture.

Sounds machine.

What major forces (such as individual architects, design philosophies, rendering styles, research methods, etc.) do you remember influencing you significantly as a student?

Using the school wood shop and scrap lumber to crank out last minute models the morning of a critique.

Cite an example (be specific) that illustrates how you used the education you received at the School of Architecture to positively impact (or better) your community, city, nation or the world.

We designed (pro bono) two houses for the Eco Experience building at the MN State Fair seen by 250,000 people, showcasing green principles, sustainable practices, new products, and salvaged materials. Both buildings have since been reassembled and are in use as retreats in the north woods.

Jeffrey T. Givens

University of Minnesota - BDA Arch '11

What was the most important thing/skill/concept you learned at the School of Architecture?

Selling your ideas and in the truncated time tables of a design exercise, we often need to sell our designs and ideas to a panel of professionals who don't know us or our work. Getting good at selling your ideas and being convincing is important.

Who made the most lasting impression (most influenced you) and why?

Jim Lutz and his class about sustainable design thinking and trends. Also, James Wheeler's workshop about community design opened my eyes to the world of volunteer work and the good it can do in a community.

What is your favorite memory from your studio days?

Late nights/early mornings with new friends. Listening to "Wild Wild West" by Will Smith over and over, somehow using it as motivation to finish a drawing and I'm not sure why.

Please identify one (or more) memorable design project that you worked on while a student at the School of Architecture.

Hand-drafting portions of the Weisman Museum expansion project for Steve Weeks' workshop.

What major forces (such as individual architects, design philosophies, rendering styles, research methods, etc.) do you remember influencing you significantly as a student?

I remember seeing the film "Citizen Architect" a couple times in school and nothing has stuck with me more, or influenced my career goals more than that film. Sam Mockbee is my largest source of inspiration in design.

Cite an example (be specific) that illustrates how you used the education you received at the School of Architecture to positively impact (or better) your community, city, nation or the world.

Since graduating I have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity multiple times on their building projects. On one specific occasion I used what I learned about roofing to help shingle a garage in Minneapolis with Habitat. I hope to be able to continue to volunteer and use my design knowledge to help out the community.