September 27, 2023
College of Architecture, Planning & Design presents Ekdahl Lecture featuring Steven Ehrlich
The College of Architecture, Planning & Design, or APDesign, announces the upcoming Ekdahl Lecture featuring renowned architect Steven Ehrlich, founding partner of Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects.
The lecture, titled "The Path Forward?" promises to be an enlightening discussion on the challenges and opportunities that future architects face in shaping our rapidly changing world. It will take place at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, in the Regnier Forum, Room 1117 of Regnier Hall.
In today's world, architects play a pivotal role in addressing the complex issues of climate change, extreme weather and the evolving societal landscape. The lecture will explore how architects, designers, engineers and scientists must collaborate with a common humanist intention to provide innovative solutions. Additionally, the discussion will delve into the dynamics of teamwork in the digital age, emphasizing the importance of connection in these transformative times.
Ehrlich, known as an "architectural anthropologist," brings a wealth of experience to the lecture. After graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Architecture degrees, Ehrlich spent six transformative years living and working in Africa. During this time, he served with the Peace Corps in Marrakech, Morocco, and later taught architecture at Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria. These experiences profoundly shaped Ehrlich's approach to design, incorporating lessons from indigenous building practices into his work.
Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects, under Ehrlich's leadership, has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Firm Award and eight national design awards from the American Institute of Architects, or AIA. Ehrlich himself is a recipient of the AIA California's esteemed Maybeck Award and the 2015 AIA Los Angeles Gold Medal for his outstanding lifelong contributions to architectural design. Currently, he serves as a visiting professor at the University of Southern California, where he continues to inspire and educate the next generation of architects.
This Ekdahl Lecture is an insightful and thought-provoking event that will inspire architects, students and design enthusiasts alike. It's a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights from one of the industry's most accomplished figures.
The Oscar S. Ekdahl Distinguished Lecture Series in Architecture and Design brings the finest professionals in the design and planning disciplines to APDesign and the K-State community. These individuals are selected to avail faculty, staff, students and regional professionals of the potency of design and planning in addressing the issues we face as a global society. The series honors Ekdahl, who received his Bachelor of Architecture from Kansas State University in 1933 and was a founding partner in Ekdahl, Davis, Depew, Persson Architects PA in Topeka.