1. Hernan Diaz Alonso congratulates the graduates and welcomes their families and friends. He notes that remembrance of 9/11 on this day at SCI-Arc stresses the essential optimism of architecture, and the ambition of SCI-Arc alumni to create a better world. He introduces the commencement speaker, Brendan MacFarlane.

2 / 06:20. Brendan MacFarlane encourages the new graduates to take a breath and make the most of this moment: consider what has been and what could be. He tells the story of his own career after graduating from SCI-Arc in 1984, stressing how following his interests, working intensely where he could, led to opportunities he hadn’t imagined. Constraints can generate innovations. Small projects can lead to big ones. He advises the graduates to be alert to change. Speaking of the forces at work in contemporary Paris where he practices, he cautions against the cynicism that architecture is powerless against contemporary crises. No: it’s precisely the time not to cast it aside, but to reinforce it. There are more beginnings to come.

3 / 26:06. New graduate Mimmi van der Vliet characterizes SCI-Arc as an empowering zone of magic and freedom. She describes her experience entering a timeless space, where days and nights would pass unnoticed while one worked, thought and dreamed. Her conclusion is that, “What we do is not ordinary; it is sublime.”

4 / 30.32. John Enright presents awards to graduates and undergraduates:

The SCI-Arc service award to Zaid Kashef Alghata (B.Arch), Rachael Burke (M.Arch 1), and Oscar Abrahamsson (M.Arch 2)

The Alpho Rho Chi medals to Helena Yun (undergraduate), Oscar Abrahamsson (graduate)

The Henry Adams certificates to Melody Javaherian (undergraduate), Mun Yi Cheng (graduate)
The Henry Adams medals to Matthew Pugh (B.Arch), Daniel Hapton (M.Arch)

5 / 38:27. Tom Wiscombe. Elena Manferdini, and David Ruy present diplomas to new graduates of the B.Arch, M.Arch 1, M.Arch 2, and M.DesR (ESTm and SCIFI) programs.

6 / 01:00:54. Hernan Diaz Alonso presents awards for thesis projects:

The undergraduate thesis merit awards to Zaid Kashef Alghata, Jacky Hoang, Kathleen Rebecca Mejia and Kazi Mazuza Maysun, Justin Kim, Jinhyang Park, and Justin Yang Yang Tan

The graduate thesis merit awards to Daniel Hapton, Elena Larionova, Kenji Hattori, Anhuar Farah, Majeda Alhinai, Oscar Abrahamsson, and Polina Alexeeva

The Blythe & Thom Mayne undergraduate thesis prize to Matt Pugh, and Chenxiang Shawna Meng
The SCI-Arc Gehry prize for graduate thesis to Patrick Geske, and Huijin Zheng

7 / 01:20:07. Hernan Diaz Alonso concludes the commencement by introducing the administration, thanking the staff, and leading a round of applause for new graduates.