TheSquare

TheSquare Ep #102 · Architecture And Film: Holiday Movies

This week on The Square, we’re back with our annual tradition: unpacking two iconic films through a design lens. What do "Die Hard" and "It’s a Wonderful Life" have in common? At first glance, maybe not much—one’s a high-octane action flick, the other a sentimental holiday classic. But dive deeper with us, and you’ll find surprising parallels in their themes, characters, and even architectural settings.

Join Brandon Carmichael and James Adams as they explore how these two films reflect their eras, from the suburban dreams of Bedford Falls to the towering corporate ambitions of Nakatomi Plaza. We’ll discuss how architecture plays a role in storytelling, the emotional impact of design, and the subtle messages about community, sacrifice, and redemption.

Plus, we settle the ultimate debate: Is "Die Hard" really a Christmas movie? (Spoiler: Yippee-ki-yay, yes it is.)

Whether you're here for the design insights, the holiday spirit, or just a little Bruce Willis and Jimmy Stewart love, this episode has it all. 🎄🏢

Happy Holidays from TheSquare!

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TheSquare Ep #101 · Unmesh Kelkar | Urban Planning

Award-winning architect and designer Umesh Kelkar, Project Designer II in the Aviation Studio, spills on his Summer Design Competition-winning project, "Deep Rooted Ellum." Intended to revitalize the district in the Southeast Dalla neighborhood, Unmesh's vision for a vibrant mixed-use development on the Southeast side of Dallas garnered critical acclaim from the Urban Land Institute and AIA Dallas as well as the Texas Society of Architects and won the FW Land Award.
 
Long known for its deep roots in Dallas and contributing to the urban fabric as the center of art, music, history, and culture, this mixed-use plan draws upon jazz music and blues, creating a vibrant, connected environment focused on vitality, richness, and cultural flourishes. His aviation and public spaces background informs his project, which the City of Dallas embraced.
 
Influenced by Jane Jacobs, the renowned writer American-Canadian journalist, author, theorist, and activist who influenced urban studies, sociology, and economics. Her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961) argued that "urban renewal" and "slum clearance" did not respect the needs of city dwellers. Profoundly influential in changing the built environment, she coined the terms "mixed primary uses" and "eyes on the street" and remains one of the most influential thinkers and leaders of 21st-century urban architecture. Don't miss this riveting episode of The Square as Unmesh shares his inspiration and design processes. Be sure to include your thumbs up and comments below.  

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TheSquare Ep #100 · Our 100th Episode!

In this special 100th episode of The Square, the MediaLab sits down in a tell-all discussion about its humble beginnings and transformation into a state-of-the-art broadcast production studio. 

Tune in as John Higgs, Brandon Carmichael, Luke Boney, Adam Flaa, and former Creative Director Jeff Hoferer banter about the incredible evolution over the past 30 years. 

You won't want to miss the foibles and successes, technological advances, and innovative solutions this humorous and talented team of creative storytellers have invented to grow MediaLab into what it is today.

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TheSquare Ep #99 · Unmesh Kelkar | Explore

In this episode, Unmesh Kelkar, a project designer in Corgan’s Aviation Studio, takes us through New York, Berlin, Paris, and Barcelona to explore some of the most visited and iconic privately owned public spaces (POPS) in the world. Funded through Corgan’s Explore program, which encourages architects and designers to travel to destinations of their choice and immerse themselves in the study of architectural and interior design subjects, Unmesh was selected to be the 2020 recipient of this prestigious award. 

Unmesh discusses his enlightening and entertaining findings, comparing the history, culture, and human behavior that influence the design of public spaces. He says, “As designers, our smallest moves can positively impact the urban environment.” Join us on this fascinating discovery of people and places and how public spaces ─ from parks and plazas to open-air markets and pedestrian walkways ─ improve our urban fabric and bind us together.

Unmesh’s Previous Episode: https://youtu.be/e43W9S55syI?si=a8H7GsV8gBrHU1HO

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TheSquare Ep #98 · Designing for the Future of Water: Solutions

The news is full of stories about global warming, climate change, and water and food scarcity, but what can we do to curtail the alarming statistics? 

In this fourth episode of our series on water conservation, we dive into some of the innovative solutions to these ever-growing problems—from adaptive water reuse, vertical farming, and building smart cities and buildings to changing consumer behavior and harnessing space-age technologies. 

Join us as Varun Kohli and Samantha Flores from Corgan once again team up with Aaron Tartakovsky, founder & CEO of Epic Cleantec, to discuss what we can do collectively as a society, and more specifically as architects and designers, to address the issues facing our most precious natural resource.

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TheSquare Ep #97 · Designing for the Future of Water: Cities and Regions

Rising sea water, sinking cities, and extreme weather events are causing water shortages in our cities and regions. In this third part of our series examining water conservation, Varun Kohli and Samantha Flores join Arron Aaron Tartakovsky, named a 2023 World Economic Forum Top Innovator, to explore solutions to these global conditions. 

Tune in as we examine how cities worldwide—like Singapore, Israel, and Spain—are using advanced water recycling technologies and harnessing nature to overhaul their urban infrastructures, replenish basins, and increase water resiliency. Join us for this in-depth look at how communities are adopting policies to improve their water supply and reduce water scarcity and why the U.S. is lagging far behind.  

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TheSquare Ep #96 · Designing for the Future of Water: Buildings

This week’s episode is the second part of a four-part series that explores sustainable solutions for reducing water usage in the built environment. Join us as Varun Kohli and Samantha Flores of Corgan sit down with CEO of Epic Cleantec, Aaron Tartakovsky, to discuss how countries around the world are facing heat islands, sinking cities, water scarcity, mass immigration, and disease due to dwindling water supplies. “The status quo is no longer sustainable,” he says. “Architects and policymakers need to respond to these dire issues.”

Join us as these sustainability futurists and experts explain how aging infrastructures, population growth, and the changing climate are contributing to the demise of our cities and offer a few innovative solutions to increase awareness, incorporate smarter technology, and improve urban design to help operate our buildings, regions, and cities more efficiently—before it’s too late.
For more information, see episode #95 - Designing for the Future of Water. 
 
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TheSquare Ep #95 · Designing for the Future of Water

“Water, water, everywhere, not any drop to drink.” The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge 

Climate change, extreme weather conditions, and consumer behavior all contribute to water scarcity, regional inundation, and nuisance flooding. As architects, designing the urban environment around water infrastructure is becoming increasingly crucial for the future of our water supply. 

Join us for this first episode in a series with Varun Kohli, Director of Sustainability, and Samantha Flores, Director of Research Innovation, as they explore traditional and new methods of water usage, storage, and reduction and how using a systems thinking approach In designing cities and buildings can help conserve and manage our most precious natural resource. 

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TheSquare Ep #94 · Acoustics and Architecture

So often, our focus is on what we see; acoustic design addresses what we hear, or more often, what we don't hear, says Jason Mirise, the firm’s go-to for acoustical design. As our Senior Specialist for Acoustical Design, Jason gets excited when he can elevate the performance of a space by delivering quality acoustics. In this episode, Jason discusses how acoustic design considers materiality choices, sound-absorbing finishes, and physics to address every aspect of sound, from noise control and room acoustics to sound isolation. In short, he makes our buildings sound better. Join this music aficionado and audio specialist as he reveals his passion for the sound of silence and how he creates spaces that enhance and improve our listening experience. 

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TheSquare Ep #93 · What's the Hold-Up? - Computational Design

The future of architecture computation is here and designers who embrace the emerging technology can make their job faster and easier, says Project Specialist and UTA Professor Sakshi Sharma. Although computational programs may seem daunting at first, the advantages are unlimited, and learning the software is easier than one may think.  

Join us for this episode of The Square and see why college students, as well as old pros, should embrace AI and computational design to create work more streamlined and efficient. AI and computer-generated imaging software not only reduce human error but also save hours of time and labor, resulting in passing the cost savings onto the client. Learn how Corgan stays at the cutting edge of technology and design — and why we are ranked as one of the fastest-growing architect firms in the nation. 

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