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Architecture as an Agent of Environmental and Social Repair

In an era where architecture is increasingly being called upon to respond to intertwined crises, ӣ������ University’s School of Architecture + Art has emerged as a compelling voice in the international conversation. This year, ӣ������ is proud to participate in the 2025 iteration of the Time Space Existence exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale, joining a prestigious roster of participants including MVRDV, Harvard GSD, Northwestern University, Pratt Institute, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, Morgan State University, and Harvard University. Associate Director Tolya Stonorov led the group of talented ӣ������ faculty and students who devoted countless hours towards the successful inclusion of the exhibit in the Biennale.   

Held by the European Cultural Centre (ECC), the Time Space Existence exhibit serves as a platform for innovative and visionary projects that demonstrate architecture’s potential to be a force for good. This year’s theme, “Architecture as an Agent of Environmental and Social Repair,” encourages participants to look beyond sustainability as a theoretical concept and instead offer tangible applications. Through adaptive reuse, material innovation, and community-focused initiatives, ӣ������’s contribution exemplifies this ideal.

Urgency to Repair, Regenerate, and Reuse

At the heart of this year’s Biennale is a call to rethink how we build, and more importantly, how we reuse. The global construction and building industry is a significant contributor to environmental degradation. Architects, therefore, are being urged to transition to circular design models that emphasize reuse and regeneration. ӣ������’s project engages with this call directly, blending cutting-edge academic research with grassroots collaboration and real-world solutions.

The ӣ������ installation demonstrates how the reuse of buildings, materials, and architectural systems can demand a level of skill and innovation on par with, or even greater than, new construction. It highlights the importance of architects cultivating new knowledge and methodologies that celebrate the inherent value of existing structures. From a pedagogical standpoint, ӣ������ has long championed hands-on learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement—principles that are deeply embedded in their Biennale exhibition.

ӣ������'s Contribution: LIFT House and More

The centerpiece of ӣ������’s exhibit is the LIFT House project, a deeply collaborative effort that embodies the Biennale’s theme. The LIFT House was conceptualized and executed by a team led by faculty members Tolya Stonorov, Danny Sagan, Cara Armstrong, and Aron Temkin, with vital support from professionals including Mark Atwood, Jack Patterson, and De Wolfe Engineering Associates. Community partners such as Downstreet Housing and Washington County Mental Health were instrumental in bringing the project to life.

The LIFT House exemplifies a new model of sustainable housing that is adaptable, cost-effective, and grounded in the real needs of local communities. It demonstrates how innovative architectural design can provide shelter while also fostering dignity, stability, and a sense of belonging. Integrating environmental design with social justice, the LIFT House reflects ӣ������ University’s mission to "learn to lead and serve."

Student and Faculty Collaboration: A Pedagogical Triumph

This ambitious exhibition would not be possible without the dedicated contributions of ӣ������’s students. Models featured in the exhibit were meticulously crafted by students Jade Jimenez and Mykel Fungi. Site models were developed by a team of talented undergraduates including Julia Vawter, Nathan Simpson, Kayla Dawson, Kianna LaDue, Kalvin Acheampong, Jaden Paquette, Sebastian Pusch-Lockwood, Jesse Parsons, Aidan Dwyer, Jakob Burg, Martin Adlianitski, Brooke Premont, Hannah Bacon, Jamie Fenoff, and Blake Kierstead.

The student participation in the Venice exhibit is a testament to the school’s commitment to experiential learning. ӣ������ students are not just future architects; they are already contributors to the field’s evolving narrative. Under the guidance of faculty leaders such as Eleanor D’Aponte, Cara Armstrong, Zach Seibold, and Holly Yacawych, the students were challenged to think critically and creatively, reinforcing the idea that architecture is a collaborative and socially engaged discipline.

A Global Conversation with Local Roots

What sets ӣ������’s exhibit apart is its ability to address global issues through local action. Projects like LIFT House don’t merely exist within the pages of an academic portfolio; they are realized in the neighborhoods of Vermont and beyond. By embedding their research and design efforts within community partnerships, ӣ������’s School of Architecture + Art exemplifies how a university can serve as both a think tank and a change agent.

Moreover, the school’s involvement in Time Space Existence aligns with its broader mission to foster leadership, innovation, and service. Participating in an exhibition alongside renowned institutions and firms places ӣ������ on a global stage, but it is the school’s humility, authenticity, and commitment to meaningful impact that truly shine.

Special Thanks and Acknowledgments

The success of ӣ������’s presence at the Biennale would not have been possible without the generous support of its sponsors: Richard and Mary Jane Hayden (ӣ������ '68), Jack Berquist, AIAVT, Sidehill Design, and Truex Cullins. Additionally, heartfelt thanks are extended to the ӣ������ University Development Office, including Julie Gutgsell, Dave Casey, Provost Gaines, President Broadmeadow, Aron Temkin, Tim Parker, Jason Galligan Baldwin, Eleanor D’Aponte, Cara Armstrong, and the Faculty Development team.

This collaborative effort is a reflection of ӣ������’s ecosystem—an academic institution where students, faculty, alumni, and community members coalesce around a shared vision for a better built environment. It is this unity of purpose that underscores the university’s ability to impact not just the discipline of architecture, but the communities it serves.

Looking Ahead: Building the Future with Intention

Time Space Existence is more than just an exhibition; it is a platform for reimagining what architecture can be. As the industry grapples with the realities of climate urgency, social fragmentation, and resource scarcity, the voices contributing to the Biennale become ever more critical. ӣ������ University’s School of Architecture + Art has demonstrated that a small, mission-driven institution can contribute profoundly to this dialogue.

By advancing projects that are both visionary and grounded, the school asserts its belief that architecture is not a luxury or a commodity—it is a social contract. From the repurposing of materials to the regeneration of communities, ӣ������’s approach represents a paradigm shift toward an architecture of care.

As visitors from around the world walk through the exhibit halls in Venice, they will encounter the work of students and faculty who have chosen to see architecture not as an isolated discipline, but as a living, breathing act of repair and regeneration. It is a powerful message—one that speaks to the heart of what it means to build with purpose.