TORCH Mentorship Program – Social Responsibility and Community Engagement

*This event is occurring as a live webinar. Registrants will be emailed a link to access the program; please continue to register.*

As architects, pitching for a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive design is not always easy and straightforward. This 2020 TORCH panel on social responsibility and community engagement will explore conversations between the client, the community, and the architect during the design process. The panel of Fellows will share their stories and personal experiences before joining virtual breakout rooms for intimate conversations with participants. 

Panelists:
Joan Krevlin, FAIA, Partner, BKSK
Scott Henson, FAIA, Principal, Scott Henson Architect
Joel Sanders, FAIA, Principal, Joel Sanders Architect
Beth Greenberg, FAIA, Principal, Dattner Architects

About the panelists:

Joan Krevlin, FAIA, approaches architecture as a reciprocal expression of the communities it serves. Krevlin’s collegial and almost journalistic process results in a rich understanding of her clients, which is reflected in her mission-infused designs. Guided by the philosophy that successful buildings both support an organization’s identity today and adapt for the environmental and societal needs of tomorrow, Krevlin has worked with a diverse cross section of New York’s civic institutions, from the New York Hall of Science to the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and the Sephardic Community Center. Her widely-lauded projects include the Queens Botanical Garden Visitor and Administration Center, New York’s first publicly funded LEED Platinum project; and the Battery PlaySpace, winner of a 2020 ASLA NY Design Award. Krevlin’s deep investment in the cultural fabric of the city also extends to other roles, including serving as an adjunct professor at the Spitzer School of Architecture and a trustee/Vice Chair of the Bronx Museum of the Arts. Krevlin holds BA and MArch degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, of which she is a Distinguished Alumnus. In 2010, the American Institute of Architects honored Krevlin by welcoming her to the esteemed College of Fellows.

Scott Henson, FAIA, advances the field of historic preservation, elevating traditional building practices to globally conscious, sustainable design. Henson’s crafted approach embodies building stewardship and advocates adaptive reuse to the profession. For over 30 years, Henson has used his design expertise, evolved from years of study in the realm of master craftsmen, to devise intricate restoration techniques, and orchestrate unique strategies to restore previously derelict and abandoned historic structures to meaningful use, demonstrating the traditional, cultural and sustainable stewardship of historic preservation. Having founded Scott Henson Architect in 2003, and as an active member of professional organizations involved in the built environment, Henson cultivates the exchange of knowledge throughout the international community. With the increasing stringency of International Energy Codes, Henson is focused on educating the profession and the public on the realities and challenges of retrofitting existing buildings and the reduction of their overall carbon output. Henson’s buildings include those on the National Historic Register, individual Landmarked Buildings, and those located in Historic Districts.

Joel Sanders, FAIA, runs his own New York City-based studio and is a Professor of Architecture at Yale University. Prior to joining the Yale faculty, he was the Director of the Graduate Program in Architecture at Parsons School of Design and an Assistant Professor at Princeton University. Sanders received both a B.A. and M.Arch from Columbia University. The editor of Stud: Architectures of Masculinity (Princeton Architectural Press, 1996), he frequently writes about art and design, most recently in Pin-up, Art Forum, and the Harvard Design Magazine. His monograph, Joel Sanders: Writings and Projects, was published by Monacelli Press in 2005. Groundwork: Between Landscape and Architecture, co-edited with Diana Balmori, was released by Monacelli Press in 2011. An active member of the design community, he serves on committees and panels on behalf of the American Academy in Rome, MacDowell Colony, American Institute of Architects, Architectural League, and the GSA Peer Review. Sanders is also a co-chair of Van Alen Institute’s Program Leadership Council.

Beth Greenberg, FAIA, has managed an extensive variety of high-profile projects in over 30 years at Dattner Architects. From educational spaces, health clinics, and community facilities, to large scale urban design, housing, and transportation projects she brings clarity and purpose to the process. Her architectural approach is guided by her multi-disciplinary background; an ability to translate complex sets of needs, contexts and requirements; and an innate understanding of how users move through a space. Greenberg is actively involved in AIA New York. She has served on the Board of Directors, as a Housing Committee co-chair, and a member of the Oculus and Nominating committees. She holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor of Science in French and Dance Education from the University of Wisconsin

About the TORCH program: 
The TORCH Mentorship program partners emerging professionals and AIA Fellows over the course of the year to share personal strategies and paths to success in the architecture profession. TORCH includes public panel discussions plus one-to-one mentor matching for a longer term discussion.