Description

In this Design:ED conversation, Rick Cook of COOKFOX Architects discusses his firm’s ethos, which centers on environmental stewardship, human connection, and biophilic design. He reflects on projects like the Terminal Warehouse and Google’s St. John’s Terminal, highlighting the transformation of historic buildings into sustainable, modern spaces while maintaining respect for their original materials and context. Cook emphasizes the value of site-specific design, craftsmanship across scales, and integrating nature into the built environment. He also shares insights into his partnership with Bob Fox, born from shared values rather than business strategy, and his growing interest in academic architecture aimed at benefiting future generations.

Learning Objectives:

• Examine how principles of historic preservation and environmental stewardship can guide sustainable architectural design.
• Analyze strategies for integrating biophilic elements into urban projects to strengthen human-nature connections.
• Evaluate the challenges and solutions involved in adaptive reuse of large-scale historic buildings within dense urban environments.
• Explore approaches for maintaining design quality and craft across different building scales and typologies.

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speaker:   Rick Cook