Avik Guha continues to organize and present to an interested audience at Mackey Mitchell a variety of TED TALKS. The May schedule features speaker Katherine Kuchenbecker on “The Technology of Touch.” In this Ted-ed lesson we’ll learn about the field of “haptics” (any form of non-verbal communication) and how it could change everything from the way we shop online to how dentists learn the telltale feel of a cavity.  Also scheduled this month are statistics from Hans Rosling that could reshape our world view, and Mark Shaw who demos a liquid-repellent that shields against water and water-based materials.

We’ve invited our neighbors over for Happy Hour on Thursday, May 9th, starting at 4:30 pm.  Yurbuds and Pedal the Cause are located in the Cupples 9 building on Spruce Street where we’ve been since December.  We’re all planning to do a brief presentation on what we do. By sharing good food, drink, and conversation, we’re looking forward to getting to know each other better.

 Over the weekend, Mackey Mitchell’s interiors librarian Cassie Kromnacker attended a concert at the stunning Kaufman Center for the Arts. What began as a sketch on a napkin has become an architectural icon and home for the performing arts in Kansas City, Missouri.  Designed by architect Moshe Safdie, the building has changed the city’s skyline, as well as the experience of artists and audiences throughout the region.

Nine  people from Mackey Mitchell Architects turned out last Saturday for the Rebuilding Together event to help make a difference. John Brown, Avik Guha, Steve Emer, Margie Fank, Greg Frankenfeld, Gregory Keppel and his wife Molly, Sara Holt, Lea McRoberts, Tom Moore, and Gwynn Zivic all dedicated their time and efforts to help a family in need of home repair. The group spent the day painting every room, plastering cracks in the wall, redoing the bathroom and installing a flagpole for the homeowner – a proud Vet! The idea was suggested by Mackey Mitchell’s Mentorship Steering Committee which includes Lea, Greg, Avik, and Gwynn. This national nonprofit organization rehabilitates homes for low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly and those with disabilities.

Architects John Burse and Stacey Wehe are embarking on a journey with Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, the second oldest women’s college in the country. Stacey shared with Mackey Mitchell staff members the results of a two-day focus-group session with Stephens faculty, staff, and students, and is learning about the college’s many noteworthy attributes. In 2004, for example, thanks to its current president Diane Lynch, this highly-rated private college of 1100 students became the first pet-friendly campus in the country. Today, 38% of college campuses offer housing with some pets permitted.  At Stephens, the rules have to do with the animal’s breed – no aggressive pooches allowed – and a 3-week probationary period is required to make sure the animals demonstrate acceptable behavior. (more…)

Bistro Box is one of four winning ideas in the Sustainable Land Lab Competition, a partnership program between the City of St. Louis and Washington University in St. Louis. The challenge was to put vacant land to good, sustainable use. The idea was conceived by Mackey Mitchell architect and principal John Burse who teamed with landscape architect Jim Fetterman and chef Ben Poremba to conceive and submit the winning idea. Although Ben is no longer involved, chef Clint Whittemore is now serving as a consultant.  The Bistro Box will be built from used shipping containers and run by a rotation of guest chefs.  Winners receive $5,000 in seed money and a two-year land lease. Burse says the team is actively seeking investors and plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign in the next week to secure additional funding. In the meantime, those interested can follow the project’s progress on the Bistro Box’s Facebook page. Congrats to a winning team!

For the past 20 years, Gene Mackey has sent to each architect named a “Fellow,” a sketch of the site of their investiture ceremony, personally welcoming individuals to the prestigious College of Fellows. For his thoughtful efforts over the years, he was presented in 2008 with a Leslie N. Boney “Spirit of Fellowship Award,” given to individuals who demonstrate continuous exceptional service and dedication to the College. The College of Fellows has now pulled together all the investiture sketches from 1991 to 2011 in a 7 x 7 linen-bound book which is now for sale in the AIA Bookstore. Fellowship is one of the highest honors the AIA can present to its members.

Several Mackey Mitchell staff members attended the lecture by architect Daniel Libeskind at Washington University’s Graham Chapel earlier in the week.  Libeskind focused on the importance of drawing and having an architectural idea – a message Gene Mackey (Salk Institute sketch) has repeated throughout the years. According to Libeskind, “Everybody can draw – if you can write, you can draw.” Of his own drawings Libeskind has said, “The physical act of drawing with one’s hand is an important part of the architectural process. An architect needs to know how to draw; unless there is a connenction of eye, hand, and mind, the drawing of the building will lose the human soul altogether and become an abstract exercise.”

Our good friend and former colleague Rachel Raterman who after six years with Mackey Mitchell, left to seek adventure by moving to Hong Kong. During her visit home over the holidays we invited her to come see our new office, have lunch, and share stories about life in China, where she has enjoyed good food, made new friends, and landed a job at Starbucks.  Having been there for eight months, she’s traveled to Korea and Japan and hopes to soon travel to India. She loves the Korean barbeque, dragon boats and China’s scenic views. Although life in Hong Kong is exciting, she did mention missing some American amenities – such as cozy living space and stores where you can buy a lot of different things in one place – like Target!

Today’s “travel channel” was presented by Mackey Mitchell staff members who shared stories, knowledge, and images from some recent trips. Jim Konrad introduced us to the  Museum of the Moving Image (photo) in Astoria, New York, whose mission is to advance the understanding and appreciation of the “art, history, technique, and technology of film, television, and digital media.”  Stacey Wehe visited a modernist-style house in the Hollywood Hills section of LA, California, known as the Stahl House, considered to be an iconic representation of modern architecture in Los Angeles during the 20th Century. Kathy Ulkus shared history and images from Killarney featuring some of Ireland’s most noteworthy sites including Ross Castle, St. Mary’s Cathedral, and dramatic landscapes in the Ring of Kerry. These presentations are part of Mackey Mitchell’s culture of knowledge-sharing and life-long learning.