
A webinar series all about design — spanning Baltimore and Rotterdam!
Each week this spring, two design groups, one from Baltimore (Maryland, USA) and one from Rotterdam (the Netherlands), paired up to discuss architecture, urban design, and how design and policy can improve the built environment for all residents. We observed how different architecture offices operate, to design in the city and improve the inhabitants’ experience of space. This is a unique opportunity to hear how different types of architecture firms approach design in two cities with similar historical legacies (working class cities with port industries).
Designers were paired up to reflect similarities in size, projects and methodology. Through presentations, moderated dialogues, and exchanges with the audience, we explored if and how the environment (historical, political, economical, social, environmental, economies, …) is truly determinant to the fail or success of a project and what that really means for the city, its residents and their well-being.
This series was designed and coordinated by Cristina Murphy, Assistant Professor at Morgan State University School of Architecture + Planning (MSU SA+P) and Adjunct Professor at Virginia Tech School of Architecture + Design’s Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center.
Dates: Every Tuesday from February 15 to April 12, 2022
Format: Online webinar; designers’ presentations followed by a moderated panel discussion and Q&A
AIA Continuing education credits: 1 LU
The series has ended, but you can watch recordings of each webinar below!
FEBRUARY 15
Jerome Gray Jerome C. Gray Architect (JCGA) (Baltimore)
Zico Lopes Spatial Codes – Studio for Architecture & Inclusion (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Roberto Rocco, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Spatial Planning and Strategy at Technical University Delft
Video recording: youtu.be/JMrRaw78Wg8
Event info page
FEBRUARY 22
Evan Wivell EastWing Architects (Baltimore)
Felix Madrazo IND [Inter.National.Design] (Rotterdam)
Moderated by coleman a. jordan Assistant Professor at Morgan State University School of Architecture + Planning (MSU SA+P)
Video recording: youtu.be/UZ3dpkwhASg
Event info page
MARCH 1
Pavlina Ilieva PI.KL Studio (Baltimore)
David ter Avest Urban Geographer; Lecturer, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (RUAS) (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Thijs van Spaandonk Dean of Urban Design, Rotterdamse Academie van Bouwkunst (RAvB)
Video recording: youtu.be/a0DMfnkYeAI
Event info page
MARCH 8
Megan Elcrat Present Company (Baltimore)
Elina Karanastasi ExS Architecture (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Tonya Sanders, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Morgan State University School of Architecture + Planning (MSU SA+P)
Video recording: youtu.be/gSn4-O4E-TM
MARCH 15
Paul Riley & Utku Akbulut Marshall Craft Associates (MCA) (Baltimore)
Duzan Doepel DoepelStrijkers (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Matteo Bettoni Barcode Architects
12-1:10pm ET (US) | 5-6:10pm CET (NL)
Video recording: youtu.be/M9JQtiA4-Vg
MARCH 22
Steve Ziger Ziger|Snead Architects (Baltimore)
Jan Knikker MVRDV (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Sinisha Brdar Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal
Video recording: youtu.be/oyhBVyNgFXY
MARCH 29
Taejun Kim Hord Coplan Macht (HCM) (Baltimore)
Maarten van Bremen GROUP A Architects (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Chris van Langen Program Manager for Spatial Design Action, Creative Industries Fund NL
Video recording: youtu.be/1ua84VHCMtc
APRIL 5
Tyler Miller Gensler Baltimore (Baltimore)
Kees van Casteren Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Marc Verheijen Rotterdam City Architect
Video recording: youtu.be/imszYff-lU8
APRIL 12
Fiver Soraruf Design Collective(Baltimore)
Jan Jongert Superuse Studios (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Selina Abraham Doctoral Researcher, University of Amsterdam
Video recording: youtu.be/-bYhZOsUxlo
RELATED WEBINAR SERIES
Co-hosted by Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC).
Event Partners: AIA Baltimore, Rotterdamse Academie van Bouwkunst (RAvB)

A special thank you to these firms for having supported Morgan State University SA+P students in their Baltimore-Rotterdam activities via sponsorships in 2019-2020:
Penza Bailey Architects
Quinn Evans
CallisonRTKL Inc.
Twopoint Studio
BCT Architects
hord | coplan | macht
Jerome C. Gray Architect
Vertical Architecture Enterprises