In this film architects Ben Warwas (SCI-Arc M.Arch1 ’12) and Christopher Skeens (SCI-Arc M.Arch1 ’12) take a journey through “Stiff Peaks” the ADU they designed in Elysian Heights for a Los Angeles-based poet and filmmaker. Skeens and Warwas describe the theatrical narrative that is created as one moves through the site and into the building interior. The presence of a large skylight introduces luminous qualities into the space and produces an elevated feeling. The building wrapper is designed to initially produce the impression that the building is a solid mass, while slowly revealing its surface qualities from various vantage points.

Vincent Pocsik’s Anatomical Sculptural Works are the focus of this SCI-Arc Channel feature. Vincent’s work balances old and new fabrication techniques to breathe new life into materials while holding onto the richness of the past.

Peter Vikar [Design Director, Local Projects/SCI-Arc M.DesR ‘12] discusses the relationship between architecture and experience design as the integration of non-linear storytelling in physical spaces to create participatory, interactive experiences centered on active user engagement. Vikar takes a tour through recently completed “Gallery Zero”, a permanent installation at the Guggenheim Bilbao. Gallery Zero is a room-scale optical device that multiplies the spatial experience of the museum. The project incorporates music, video and custom designed furniture to emphasize the virtual dimensions of the gallery. Vikar also reflects on the importance of collaboration at Local Projects between media designers, graphic designers, architects, coders, content developers and project managers in the design process.

Visit the office of Design, Bitches with Catherine Johnson [Co-Founder and Partner - Design, Bitches] and Rebecca Rudolph [Co-Founder and Partner - Design, Bitches] as they reflect on their education at SCI-Arc and talk about the broader cultural influences in their work.

Join Analia Saban and Curime Batliner for a behind the scenes look at Shield-19, a community-oriented project that produces and distributes face shields to frontline health professionals free of charge. Designed and manufactured in Los Angeles, the shield adds a protective layer to anyone at risk, increasing safety in protecting the most vulnerable from COVID-19. With an early focus on local nursing homes and hospitals in the Los Angeles area, Shield-19 has since reached thousands of people across the United States, Mexico, Argentina and Liechtenstein.

SCI-Arc’s Gehry Prize is awarded annually to Graduating students in the school’s M.Arch programs for the Best Graduate Thesis. The prize, established in 2012, is generously endowed by Frank Gehry, FAIA. Five recent recipients of the Gehry Prize speak about how the prize was instrumental in launching their careers as young professionals in the field of architecture.

A conversation between Byron Merritt [Vice President Retail Innovation at Nike] and SCI-Arc Director/CEO Hernan Diaz Alonso discussing the role architecture plays in creating a brand identity and the future of retail innovation and consumer experience design.

Fly through L.A.’s Arts District with SCI-Arc Alumn Tim Krehbiel and his wife Bridget Vagedes as they take us on a tour of their eccentric, SCI-Arc-adjacent music venue, Resident.

A conversation with SCI-Arc Alumna Barbara Bestor (FAIA, Principal of Bestor Architecture), Florencia Pita (SCI-Arc Graduate Thesis Coordinator, Partner and Founder of Pita & Bloom) and Keith Barry (Dean and Co-founder of the Silverlake Conservatory of Music) at the new campus of the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, designed by Bestor Architecture.

Interview with SCI-Arc alumni Liz and Kyle von Hasseln of 3D Systems Culinary Lab, an emerging ecosystem for digital food creation, and SCI-Arc faculty member Todd Gannon, and additional interview with SCI-Arc faculty members Dwayne Oyler and Jenny Wu, of Oyler Wu Collaborative, architects of the project.

SCI-Arc Director Hernan Diaz Alonso interviews Paul Petrunia of Archinect.