Christopher Benninger

Join us as President Mahesh Daas engages with our next guest on BAC Channel, Christopher Benninger, named "The Great Master Architect" in 2007 for his exceptional achievements and profound contributions to the field. With an extensive and illustrious career, his work reflects a profound philosophy of placing central focus on the use of materials to create spaces that significantly enhance the quality of life for those who inhabit them. Not just an architect, he is a visionary, designer, planner, and educator, known for his immense impact on the world of architecture and urban planning.

We welcome you to discover his enduring design philosophy—centering on harmonizing sustainability, functionality, affordability, and aesthetics to create architecturally excellent and enduring structures—leaving a meaningful mark on the world.

More About Christopher Benninger

Christopher Benninger, a designer, planner, educator, and founder of CEPT School of Planning in Ahmedabad, CDSA in Pune, and Christopher Charles Benninger Architects (CCBA), hails from Hamilton, Ohio. He is an alumnus of Harvard's Graduate School of Design and MIT. He relocated to Ahmedabad, India, after an invitation from B.V. Doshi to consult for the Ford Foundation and played a pivotal role in establishing the School of Planning. He is renowned for his contributions to human settlements, urban development, and his involvement in planning Bhutan's new capital.

His portfolio spans from individual residences to extensive city and urban planning projects, covering housing, institutional, hospitality, commercial, and mixed-use developments across India. Recognized as the "Great Master Architect" in 2007 for his exceptional work, he consistently garners accolades over more than two decades of practice, securing a spot among India's top 10 architects. He received the Golden Architect Award for Lifetime Achievement and his projects have been highly acclaimed and awarded. Mahindra United World College, one of his creations, was listed among the world's top ten superstructures in 2000 by a prominent U.S. magazine. His design studios in Pune and Thimphu continue to produce structures that align with his principles, enriching users' lives.

Richard Martini, B.Arch'84, and Ronald W. Wackrow

With the BAC’s strong roots in Boston and key partnerships spanning the globe, our next featured guests on BAC Channel with President Daas, represent the breadth and depth of the College’s interreleated relationships within the design professions, and its related industries—architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC).

Richard Martini, B.Arch'84, is a leader in the AEC industries—with an extensive history at the BAC—as a student, alumni, and trustee. But, Richard’s commitment to the College and its global community extends well beyond his role as a trustee member—including his four years as chair. As an alumni, he continually gives back to, and mentors many within the BAC—offering his valuable time, professional expertise as well as philanthropic support that will help steward and sustain the College well into the future.

Ronald (Ron) Wackrow brings a calm demeanor to the table for every project—invoking a sense of order to the most challenging development and construction venture. Growing up in Somerville, MA, Ron’s connection to Boston and its surrounding area has never wavered. Now, adding a connection to the BAC to his long list of accomplishments, he continues to elicit calm with his mindset towards solving problems—even relishing the obstacles—excited about passing on those life experiences.

We invite you to join President Daas for an in depth discussion with two of the leading professionals in the AEC industries—listen as they share their personal insights, biggest challenges, successes as well as key lessons learned and their advice to the next generation!

More About Richard Martini, B.Arch'84

As Executive Managing Director at The Fallon Company, Richard Martini is responsible for the oversight of all projects from initial concept through opening and operations. He is a registered architect with expertise in mixed-use projects involving complex design and site issues. He is also well-versed in the budget and coordination challenges that require deep experience and finesse to balance the diverse needs of project participants and stakeholders. Prior to joining The Fallon Company, Richard served as senior vice president of design and construction for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, where he directed more than $6 billion in development and construction projects throughout the U.S. and Canada. He has received numerous awards and accolades over the course of his career, including two international development competitions for Starwood properties. Richard is also a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, the American Institutes of Architects, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

More About Ronald W. Wackrow

As Executive Vice President of Related Companies, Ronald W. Wackrow is leading the firm's development efforts for the new Equinox Hotel brand. Ronald most recently led the construction efforts at Hudson Yards. He formerly served as Development Manager for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, a 6.5 million square foot luxury resort development, managing the design and development process. During his career, he has been involved in the development of approximately 100 hotels including W Hotel Union Square, Mandarin Oriental Hotel at Time Warner Center in New York and W Hotel South Beach, as well as other commercial development activities such as World Market Center in Las Vegas. Previously, Ronald was Senior Vice President and Director of Project Coordination for ITT Sheraton Corporation. He graduated from Northeast Institute with a Mechanical Engineering degree.

Moshe Safdie

Fearless, experimental, revolutionary, earth shattering—all words used to describe our next guest featured on BAC Channel with President Daas. Not one to be defined by labels or constrained within any boundaries, Moshe Safdie is an architect, urban planner, educator, theorist, and author. His immense impact on how we see the built environment is spread around the globe—with each of his projects informing how humans connect and relate to architecture and each other.

We welcome you to accompany President Daas during this candid and thoughtful conversation about a career spanning 50 years, lessons realized, utopian ideas, his legacy, and a newly released memoir of his life–and what comes next for Moshe Safdie.

More About Moshe Safdie

Founding Partner of Safdie Architects, Moshe Safdie is an architect, urban planner, educator, theorist, and author. Over a celebrated 50-year career, Safdie has explored the essential principles of socially responsible design through a comprehensive and humane design philosophy. His wide range of completed projects include cultural, educational, and civic institutions; neighborhoods and public parks; housing; mixed-use urban centers and airports; and master plans for existing communities and entirely new cities. Safdie’s projects can be found in North and South America, the Middle East and throughout Asia. A citizen of Israel, Canada and the United States, Safdie graduated from McGill University. After apprenticing with Louis I. Kahn in Philadelphia, Safdie returned to Montréal to oversee the master plan for the 1967 World Exhibition. In 1964 he established his own firm to realize Habitat ’67, an adaptation of his undergraduate thesis and a turning point in modern architecture. Safdie has been the recipient of numerous awards, honorary degrees, and civil honors including the Companion of the Order of Canada, the Gold Medal from both the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the American Institute of Architects, the National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian, and recently the Wolf Prize in Architecture—awarded for a career motivated by the social concerns of architecture and formal experimentation.

Billie Tsien

During this second episode of BAC Channel, President Daas speaks with noted architect, educator, and practitioner, Billie Tsien, architect of the Obama Presidential Center, founding partner of New York City based studio Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, and the BAC’s 2022 Honorary Doctorate recipient.

Join us as she shares her insights and ideas across a wide range of topics that span from the BAC’s place in Boston, anime, India’s transformational impact on her work, the meaning of beauty in architecture and design as well as her deep roots in art and her commitment and contributions to enacting a more resilient, beautiful, and diverse world.

More About Billie Tsien

Billie Tsien, along with her partner, Tod Williams, founded New York-based practice Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Partners in 1986. Their practice is committed to reflecting the values of non-profit, cultural and academic institutions toward an architecture of enduring vision. A sense of rootedness, light, texture, detail, and most of all, experience, are at the heart of what they design. Notable projects include the Asia Society Hong Kong, the Lefrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park, and the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. Current work includes the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, the renovation of David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City and the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, Chicago. Over three decades, their dedication to this work has been recognized by numerous national and international citations including the National Medal of the Arts from President Obama, the 2013 Firm of the Year Award from the American Institute of Architects, and the 2019 Praemium Imperiale presented by the Japan Art Association. In parallel to her practice, Billie teaches at Yale University as the Charles Gwathmey Professor in Practice, and is a devoted participant in the broader cultural community. She currently serves as a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome, and has been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, National Academy of Design, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. In 2021, Billie was appointed by President Biden to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, serving as the first Asian-American and woman to be Chair. She is steadfast in her mission to create a better world through architecture and support a broader and more diverse cultural landscape.

Professor Balkrishna Doshi

We are excited to launch BAC Channel with Mahesh Daas. This series features conversations with thought leaders and innovators within design fields and related industries. Each episode aligns with the BAC’s critical mission to expand access to the design professions, increase awareness of the discipline, and advance design literacy within the public sphere.

We welcome you to the inaugural episode of BAC Channel as President Daas speaks candidly with Balkrishna Doshi—India's first and only Pritzker prize winning architect, educator, guru, and a BAC 2021 honorary alumnus.

Watch as this unique conversation delves into a prodigious life and career spanning over nine decades— discussing design education, theory, rituals, space, architecture as well as the immense impact on our global structures and society during a global pandemic.

More About Professor Balkrishna Doshi

Beginning architecture studies in 1947 at the Sir J.J. School of Architecture Bombay (Mumbai), Prof. Doshi founded his own practice, Vastushilpa, in 1956—renamed Vastushilpa Consultants. In 1962, he founded the School of Architecture, CEPT Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (now CEPT University) in Ahmedabad, India, where he taught until 2008. He established Vastushilpa Foundation for Studies and Research in Environmental Design in 1978 to evolve indigenous design and planning standards for built environments appropriate to the socio-cultural and environmental milieu of India. Prof. Doshi was the Founder, former Director, and former Chairman of the School of Architecture and Planning (Ahmedabad, 1966–2012), which was renamed CEPT University in 2002. Prof. Doshi is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Indian Institute of Architects, and an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He served on the Pritzker Prize Jury from 2005–2007, and on selection committees for the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. In 2019 a retrospective of his work (“Balkrishna Doshi: Architecture for the People”) was organized by the Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein, Germany, and Wrightwood 659, a private exhibition space in Chicago. Prof. Doshi has been conferred the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2018 and the Padma Bhushan in 2020. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) recently announced Prof. Doshi will be the recipient of the 2022 Royal Gold Medal, which is given to a person or group of people who have had a significant influence on the advancement of architecture.