Catch Me If You Can

Fall is usually a hot mess for conferences, workshops, and speaking engagements....

....2014 is no different.

ACADIA 2014

It has been awhile since I have attended an ACADIA conference... the last one I visited was 2012 where I ran a Python for Revit workshop.  The computational design for BIM landscape has certainly changed significantly since then.  I will be joining the Autodesk crew to co-lead a porition of a 3-day Dynamo workshop at ACADIA in Los Angeles.  I will be discussing opportunities for using Dynamo for analytics, interoperability, and provide a preview of the future of the Rhynamo plug-in.

NOW NEXT FUTURE

ACADIA isn't the only reason I will be in Los Angeles this month.  The AIA California Council is putting on a symposium titled NOW NEXT FUTURE which brings together a group of innovative architects and designers who are rethinking the future of the built environment.  I am going to be delivering a talk about CASE and our core philosophy BLDGS = DATA.

AU2014

AU2014 is just around the corner and CASE will be out in full force.  I will be delivering 2 classes on Dynamo so be sure to sign up if you haven't already.  Also be sure to keep an eye out for the CASE party.  It is shaping up to be another epic event (sorry...I hear we won't have a mechanical bull this year)

Check out my classes...

• The Great Dynamo Dig - Mine Your Revit Model with Computation
• White Glove Packaging - Creating Custom Dynamo Nodes

Upcoming Events: September + October

In addition to a few workshops, I will be participating in two presentation and panel discussions in the coming months...  I hope you can join me!

• Emerging New York Architects: Future Now :  September 22, 2012 in New York
• AIA TAP 2012 Conference:  October 19, 2012 in Stanford, CA

...from the Lecture Circuit...

Algorithms are Thoughts
Woodbury University
April 16, 2012
... 

'Algorithms are Thoughts' Lecture

This week and next, I will be giving presentations at two venues:  The Digital Provocations Symposium at UMN and Woodbury University in Burbank...  here is the lecture synopsis.

Algorithms are Thoughts*


Using several NBBJ works-in-progress Nathan will contextualize the radical changes occurring in the global practice of architecture as enabled by new digital paradigms. 


Nathan will discuss two primary professional works. The first project is an 84,000 square meter corporate headquarters currently in schematic design. The second project is an Olympic-sized sports venue currently under construction. Both projects made extensive use of computational frameworks to enable performance-driven workflows, accelerate production processes, and extend creative decision making. Additional work surrounding NBBJ’s Design Computation initiative and Nathan’s personal blog ‘The Proving Ground’ will also be discussed. 


The lecture’s claim that ‘Algorithms are Thoughts’ argues for a design culture that transcends the discussion about digital tools and techniques. Nathan will, instead, articulate a designer-programmer paradigm where computation acts as a necessary extension to (and expression of) design thinking… the ultimate outcome of which is the inseparability of concept and performance.


*Title inspired by the concept of Live Coding and the Toplap Manifesto

Upcoming April Lectures: Back-to-Back!

I am happy to announce 2 back-to-back lectures coming up this April.  I will be presenting at the Digital Provocations Symposium at the University of Minnesota which takes place April 12-14.  I am following this up with a presentation at Woodbury University on April 16th as part of the Serial Series lectures and workshops.

The title of my talk(s) will be Algorithms are Thoughts:  New Rules for Design Practice

My lecture will cover some recent design work, pop the hood on some new tools (re: thoughts), and discuss the significance of the designer~programmer paradigm.

You can find more information about these two events at the links below....

• Digital Provocations: Evolving Computational Approaches to Pedagogy & Practice
• Serial Series:  Spring 2012 Tech Workshops

Keynote Lecture Excerpts....

Visit The Proving Ground wiki for some excerpts from my ACADIA Regional Keynote...

The Los Angeles Design Technology Forum Lecture

I will be presenting at UCLA as part of the Los Angeles Design Technology forum on Thursday, September 16th @ 7:00 PM.

My presentation will be alongside Satoru Sugihara from Morphosis.

More information can be found at the LADTF website

USC BIM Conference Lecture: Feedback Cloud

I am pleased to announce that I have been invited to give a lecture at USC's 2010 BIM Conference: BIM Analytics.

My lecture is tentatively titled: Feedback Cloud: Tactics for Toolset Integration and Design Optimization.

The talk will outline the digital processes used on some recent NBBJ projects as well describe a few experiments for creating performance-driven design solutions in a team made up of diverse participants using a multitude of tools.

By coordinating customized tools and workflows, Feedback Cloud.....
1. Embraces technological difference within a team.
2. Provides an adaptive framework for design change and variation.
3. Links together design and analysis for a performance-driven process.

My talk is tentatively scheduled on Wednesday, August 4th @ 1:30-2:00.
The conference is free, however you will need to RSVP here.

Speakers at the conference include...

architecture + engineering
Rachelle Villalon, Jenna Knudsen, and Alex Korter, CO Architects
Erin McConahey, ARUP
Mitch Dec, David Summers, and Tianxin Xing, Glumac

construction
Jim Bedrick, Webcor
Viktor Bullain, Turner Construction
Jonathan Widney, Solibri
Darren Roos, Suffolk Construction Company, Inc.

parametrics / performance based or algorithmic based design
Nathan Miller, NBBJ
Kurt Komraus, Buro Happold

integration, standards, the big picture
Richard Nowicki, NTD Architecture
Lance Lareau, San Diego CCD
Michael Rendler, e7 Studio at LACCD
Chuck Good-Man, Irwin Partners Architects

NYCCT Emerge Lecture Images

Below are some images from my recent lecture at the New York City College of Technology. I had a fantastic visit!

Generally, the basic premise of my lecture "Algorithms, Parameters, Practice" is that the architect cannot divorce the work that they do from the tools that they employ. The tool itself is not simply a means to achieve an architectural idea but is, in part, a driver for thought itself (consciously, subconsciously, or both). To demonstrate this, I showcased a series of projects I have been working on at NBBJ where the design and optimization of the project went in tandem with the design and optimization of various toolsets.

Presenting @ NYCCT: Emerge Lecture Series

I am happy to announce that I will be presenting at the New York City College of Technology as part of the Emerge Lecture Series.

The program will begin at 6:00 PM on March 4th at the NYCCT.