More than 70 young—that is, under age 40—architects, engineers, and construction professionals descended on Chicago in early October with one thought in mind: to learn how to “create with clarity.”
That was the theme of Building Design+Construction’s Second Annual “Under40 Leadership Summit,” held October 3-5 in partnership with AIA Chicago. The program brought together past honorees in BD+C’s “40 Under 40” program with under-40 AEC professionals nominated by their respective firms for networking and interactive leadership development.
The two-and-a-half-day program got started Wednesday afternoon, October 3, with a two-hour tour of Chicago’s architectural heritage along the Chicago River. A docent from the Chicago Architecture Foundation provided an articulate commentary on more than 50 architectural treasures, including works by Harry Weese, Bertrand Goldberg, SOM, and Perkins+Will.
Later that evening, the U40 attendees assembled at the Hotel Monaco, where Autodesk Fellow Tom Wujec, the Summit’s principal facilitator, led them in “The Great Chicago Marshmallow Challenge.” Teams of three or four were given 20 sticks of spaghetti, a yard of tape, a yard of string, and a marshmallow. They had 18 minutes to erect the tallest structure they could, with the stipulation that the marshmallow had to be on top.
Several structures collapsed. Participants were surprised by how much the marshmallow weighed. The winning structure measured 29½ inches in height—about average, according to Wujec, but well short of the record (more than 50 inches). No marshmallows were eaten during the competition (it happens, Wujec says).
Thursday, October 4, was devoted entirely to Wujec’s “Create with Clarity” mobile workshop. Wujec started the group off with what seemed to be a simple exercise: without using words, visualize—through drawing—how to make toast.
Where they came from
The following organizations were represented at the U40 Leadership Summit:
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, Argonne National Laboratory, Arquitectonica, BSA LifeStructures, Contract Management Inc. Dewberry, DLR Group, Enclos – Advanced Technology Studio, G3 Construction Group, Gensler, Harley Ellis Devereaux, HDR Architecture, Heery International, Hill International, HKS Architects, HMC Architects, Hoar Program Management, HOK, Johnson Controls, KJWW Engineering Consultants, KLMK Group, Legat Architects, Montalba Architects, Mortenson, Niles Bolton Associates, Norcon Inc., O’Brien Construction, Pepper Construction, Perkins+Will, Playground Ideas, Reichgott Engineering, Rogers Krajnak Architects, roomTEN Design, Ryan Companies US, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, SmithGroupJJR, Solomon Cordwell Buenz, Swinerton Builders, Syska Hennessy Group, Tarlton Corporation, Tilton Kelly + Bell, TLC Engineering for Architecture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, UrbanWorks, Valerio Dewalt Train Associates, VOA Associates, Walker Parking Consultants, Walter P Moore & Associates, and Wight & Co.
Teams of six to eight then each took on a specific question related to their professional or personal lives. Among the topics: How do we grow our firm? How do we use technology more wisely? How do we balance the demands of work with the needs of our personal lives and families?
The teams then went out into the city—to the North Michigan Avenue “Magnificent Mile,” to the Lake Michigan lakefront, to Millennium Park. Their mission: to find inspiration that would help them present a visual representation of their question—and even a solution.
Upon their return, the teams engaged in extensive development of the oversize posters for their visual presentations, a couple of which also took the form of a skit. Final presentations were made in rapid order,
Wujec then led the entire group in a discussion of the meaning of the visualizations and how to apply the process and concepts learned in their daily work and personal lives.
To the Friendly Confines
Friday, October 5, opened with an early morning bus ride to Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, where the group was greeted by Tom Ricketts, the team chairman, Steven J. Jacobsen, SCDP, President of Jacobsen Development Advisors, and Carl Rice, Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Cubs.
Jacobsen, who has been retained by the Cubs to create the business plan and high-level concepts for the renovation of the nearly century-old sports facility, and Rice, who has worked for the Cubs since his high school days, provided an in-depth discussion of the history and evolution of the ballpark, from its days as Weeghman Park (1914) to the installation of lights (1988) and up to current plans for improvements to the electrical and structural systems.
They then led U40 participants on an hour-long tour of the park, from the bowels of the locker room to the heights of the upper deck.
The U40 Leadership Summit ended with a hot dog lunch at the Cubby Bear, a Wrigleyville sports and entertainment landmark.
Participants earned up to 11.0 AIA/CES Discovery learning units for attending all sessions.
Sponsors for the U40 Summit: Andersen Windows and Doors, the Vinyl Institute, SAGE Electrochromics, Georgia-Pacific, the American Institute of Steel Construction, and Sprint. +
Related Stories
Office Buildings | Jul 29, 2015
Design plans for Fannie Mae’s new HQ revealed
The developer/owner, Carr Properties, envisions a 1-million-sf plus mixed-use center with a large retail pavilion.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jul 29, 2015
Milwaukee Bucks arena deal approved by Wisconsin state assembly
Created by Milwaukee firm Eppstein Uhen Architects and global firm Populous, the venue will be built in downtown Milwaukee. Its design draws inspiration from both Lake Michigan, which borders Milwaukee, and from aspects of basketball, like high-arcing free throws.
Contractors | Jul 29, 2015
Consensus Construction Forecast: Double-digit growth expected for commercial sector in 2015, 2016
Despite the adverse weather conditions that curtailed design and construction activity in the first quarter of the year, the overall construction market has performed extremely well to date, according to AIA's latest Consensus Construction Forecast.
University Buildings | Jul 28, 2015
OMA designs terraced sports center for UK's Brighton College
Designs for what will be the biggest construction project in the school’s 170-year history feature a rectangular building at the edge of the school’s playing field. A running track is planned for the building’s roof, while sports facilities will be kept underneath.
High-rise Construction | Jul 28, 2015
Work begins on KPF's 'flared silhouette' tower in Manhattan
The 62-story, 157-unit luxury condo tower widens at the 40th floor, resulting in a gently flared silhouette, accented by a sculpted crown.
Museums | Jul 28, 2015
MUST SEE: Zaha Hadid's latest museum project is built into a mountain
The museum, dedicated to legendary mountaineer Reinhold Messner, is embedded within Mount Kronplatz in northern Italy.
Smart Buildings | Jul 27, 2015
Perkins+Will imagines new opportunity for Atlantic City
The architecture giant believes it has a solution that could put Atlantic City’s existing infrastructure to good use—by turning the Jersey Shore city into a research center for climate change and coastal resiliency.
Retail Centers | Jul 27, 2015
Fish-shaped shopping mall designed for odd plot of land in China
The mall, in Qinshui, a city in China’s Shanxi province, will fit within the 250x30-meter dimensions surrounded by parallel roads and two converging rivers.
Performing Arts Centers | Jul 27, 2015
Vox Populi: Netherlands municipality turns to public vote to select design for new theater
UNStudio’s Theatre on the Parade received nearly three-fifths of votes cast in contest between two finalists.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 27, 2015
Miami developers are designing luxury housing to cater to out-of-town buyers and renters
The Miami Herald reports on several new multifamily projects, including the Paramount Miami Worldcenter, whose homes include maid’s rooms, larger terraces, boutique-size closets, and guest suites.
