The Department of Architecture and Design [1] is proud to announce “Architecture is a noun,” an upcoming lecture by Tod Williams of Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects [2] on Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. in room 215 of the Engineering Technology Building on the Alfred campus.

Tod Williams has been in partnership with Billie Tsien since 1986. Their studio, Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects in New York City, focuses on work for institutions such as museums, schools, and non-profits—organizations that value issues of aspiration and meaning, timelessness and beauty.

Their buildings are carefully made and useful in ways that speak to both efficiency and the spirit. A sense of rootedness, light, texture, detail, and most of all experience are at the heart of what they build. Parallel to their practice, Williams maintains an active teaching career and lectures worldwide.

Among their distinguished buildings are the American Folk Art Museum; the Asia Society Hong Kong Center; the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center; the Center for the Advancement of Public Action at Bennington College; the Cranbrook Natatorium; the Neurosciences Institute in La Jolla, California; the Phoenix Art Museum; the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago; and the new home for the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. Their long list of design awards includes the 2013 AIA Architecture Firm Award.

The Department of Architecture and Design gratefully acknowledges the lecture’s sponsorship by Joseph Venture and his firm ArtWalk Tile [3] in Rochester, New York, a gallery style store with an inventory of luxury tile and hardwood displayed as fine works of art.