This publication marks the end of what I have been referring to as ARCADE’s “beta testing” year. The process of beta testing – i.e. presenting new ideas or products to a group of individuals and community members for the purpose of collecting valuable feedback – has been critical in this, our 43rd year of publishing. We’ve spent less time generating output and more time conversing with mentors, less time talking and more time considering perspectives on the impact of our work. Much of what we have accomplished has been due to one or many of these such conversations. As you might have guessed, this “Collaboration” issue is a direct result of the freedom that beta testing gave us to explore and conceptualize new ways of embodying our mission and values. It was through direct engagement and conversations with aforementioned mentors, community partners, and yourself that we were able to produce this issue: a concrete example of our commitment to education, mentorship, and conversation which you are now holding in your hands.
While this issue is a prototype showcasing the possibilities of collaboration between students, professionals, academic institutions, and ARCADE, it has the potential to be so much more. There is an opportunity here for a recurring issue dedicated to showcasing student work from academic institutions such as the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments. Additionally, by offering students this publication, ARCADE has been able to fulfill key aspects of our mission: the exploration of generative ideas, concepts, and projects; providing support in the development and publication of these ideas; the generation of a design journal as imparted with literary value as it is aesthetically valued; and a multi-faceted practice which connects professionals, emerging creators, students, and advocates to form a strong and long-lasting generational community
I cannot think of a better way to close out our year of testing, feedback, adjustments, and pilot programming than with this issue of ARCADE. I am immensely grateful to Lauren Gallow for stewarding us from start to finish, and to Rick Mohler for being such a willing champion for all stakeholders in this endeavor. I am also grateful to the many students and professional contributors for allowing us to bring their perspectives and ideas into this print publication. Taking something to print is a lot of work – much more than can happen in a single university course. It is not lost on me what it means to be asked to do this extra creative labor and I cannot stress enough that none of this would have been possible without explicit buy-in and dedication of spirit from all those who have touched “Collaboration”. Speaking of those who have touched this publication: a special thank you to Natalie O’Rourke, whose design of this issue is a testament to her own embodiment of collaboration in all that she does. Last but not least, major shout out to Camilla Szabo, our Managing Editor, who has taken on the role with unparalleled dedication and attention to detail across all aspects of her position.
The threads of ARCADE, through editorial changes, staffing evolutions, changes to our publication, salons, design refreshes and the like, have always generated from integration, engagement, and collaboration. So it is only fitting that our “beta testing” has led us here – Winter 2024, Issue 41.2 Collaboration.
I’m a firm believer that the best collaborations are when knowledge flows both ways. When I first set out to teach an architectural writing class at the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments, I was hopeful that I would learn as much from the students as they did from me. And, if this issue is any testament, all of that happened and more. Each article in the following pages is written by a UW student on a design-related topic of their choosing and introduced by a professional or mentor in the field. I hope you will be as intrigued and impressed as I was by the variety of topics and the depth of research, reporting, and design investigation found within.
Liya Anthraper (introduction by Scott Crawford) gives us a state-of-the-state on 3D printing in construction, highlighting some of the latest projects to use this tech in Switzerland, Texas, and right here in Seattle. Graycie Viscon (introduction by Kim Clements) takes us to Lopez Island, highlighting the efforts there to address a growing housing crisis, and in the process, reminding us that no neighborhood is an island when it comes to creating sustainable, long-term housing solutions. Malcolm King (introduction by Mark Johnson) brings his perspective as a Ph.D. student in Education to a case study on design for early childhood learning spaces, while Andy Clark (introduction by Gary Winberg) gives us a peek behind the curtain of how folks in the building trades invoke extraordinary artistry as they help craft the spaces we inhabit everyday. These are just a few examples of the thoughtful, critical articles in this issue—a testament to the hard work of a handful of UW students as we spent nine weeks together this summer, writing.
I assumed the role of architecture department chair eighteen months ago with many goals in mind. One of those goals is to advance our students’ ability to communicate through visual, verbal, and written formats in ways that are compelling, concise, accessible, and impactful. Another is to increase collaboration between students and faculty within the department and across disciplines within the college and university while connecting with the professional community and the community at large. This emerging partnership between the UW and ARCADE helps us to realize these goals while honoring past departmental publications including Column 5 and SKIN. It also brings the department’s relationship with ARCADE full circle as the magazine was founded in 1981 by then recent UW graduates Catherine Barrett, Susan Boyle, Katrina Deines, and Ann Hirschi who received their Master of Architecture degrees in 1980. Welcome home.
