The University of Miami School of Architecture (U-SoA) is revisiting a decade of influential voices this spring through its Tecnoglass Lecture Series, inviting past speakers back to reflect on the evolution of their work and the shifting trajectories of architectural practice in a rapidly changing world. With four lectures already completed, the series has offered students and the public a rich cross-section of ideas—from urban complexity and civic agency to public space innovation and architectural continuity—setting the stage for a highly anticipated closing lecture on April 1.
The series opened on February 11 with Los Angeles–based architect Michael Maltzan of MMA, whose lecture, “Scales of the City,” examined the layered complexities of urban life. Drawing from his work across infrastructure, housing, and cultural institutions, Maltzan positioned the city as both a physical and conceptual framework shaped by connection and fragmentation. Using Los Angeles as a testing ground, he explored how architecture can operate across multiple scales to address social polarization and reestablish civic cohesion.
On February 18, Meejin Yoon of Höweler + Yoon and Cornell University expanded the conversation with “Forms of Agency: Test Cases in Building Possibilities.” Yoon emphasized the role of architecture as an active agent in shaping social and environmental futures. Through projects ranging from memorials to institutional buildings, she highlighted how design engages with technology, culture, and the public realm to create meaningful civic impact. Her lecture underscored architecture’s capacity to negotiate complex conditions while advancing new forms of collective experience.
The March 4 lecture by Jürgen Mayer H., founder of J. MAYER H. und Partner, Architekten, shifted focus to the transformative potential of public space. In “simulation / stimulation,” Mayer H. presented architecture as a catalyst for cultural and economic activation. Through projects such as the iconic Metropol Parasol in Seville, he demonstrated how sculptural interventions and hybrid design strategies can revitalize urban environments, turning underutilized spaces into vibrant centers of interaction, identity, and exchange.
Most recently, on March 18, Miami-based architects and educators Adib Cúre and Carie Penabad of CÚRE & PENABAD and the University of Miami delivered “Same as It Ever Was.” Their lecture offered a counterpoint to narratives of disruption, instead advocating for continuity as a driver of architectural innovation. By examining enduring forms, typologies, and urban patterns, they argued that meaningful design emerges through the reinterpretation of inherited knowledge—bridging past and present to shape resilient and contextually grounded environments.
The series will conclude on April 1 with a lecture by Nader Tehrani, founding principal of NADAAA and professor at Cooper Union. Titled “The Sixth Elevation,” Tehrani’s talk will explore the often-overlooked architectural potential of the ceiling plane. Moving beyond technical coordination, he will examine how the integration of complex building systems can elevate spatial experience and redefine the role of architectural surfaces.
The closing event will begin with a reception at 6:00 p.m. in the Perez Loggia, followed by the lecture at 6:30 p.m. in Glasgow Hall. A discussion with Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury will follow, offering an opportunity to reflect on the themes of the series and their relevance to the future of architecture.
As the Tecnoglass Lecture Series revisits voices from the past decade, it not only highlights the evolution of individual practices but also frames a broader dialogue about architecture’s role in addressing the social, cultural, and technological challenges of today.
