Partnering with Associate Professor Alex Timmer and the Design and Construction Initiative, the team is developing park infrastructure that can be fabricated using urban wood reclaimed from trees removed throughout the city.

“This creates a meaningful closed-loop system,” CDS Director Krisann Rehbein said. “Trees that once shaded Milwaukee’s streets and parks are being transformed into public amenities that will continue serving residents for years to come.”

Designing for comfort, inclusion and community

The project began with a hands-on workshop where students explored what makes public seating both functional and welcoming. CDS hosted the session and invited students to participate in a “seating scavenger hunt” across campus, studying different bench designs and how people interact with them.

The exercise helped students identify what works and what doesn’t when designing for diverse users and public environments.

“The project taught us that designing for the public isn’t always about the aesthetic appeal,” Bachelor of Architecture student Ariel Johnson said. “It’s about the ability to maintain inclusion while also keeping a majority of the community satisfied or physically comfortable with a design.”

An important component of the workshop was a lesson in ergonomics led by Suzanna Tomich Waterfield from 51ÁÔĆć’s College of Health Professions & Sciences. Her insights helped students better understand comfort, accessibility, support, and the physical factors that influence how people experience public seating.

From classroom concepts to city fabrication

Using those insights, students created preliminary bench concepts, with selected participants now advancing into a paid internship phase. During this stage, students will refine their ideas, iterate on their designs, and build full-scale prototypes.

The long-term vision is for Milwaukee City Parks to fabricate the final designs through the skilled carpenters and welders of the Department of Public Works (DPW), turning student work into city-built park infrastructure that can be deployed across neighborhoods, while leveraging an existing partnership between DPW Forestry and Kettle Moraine Hardwoods to provide urban wood.

“Custom solutions designed to be fabricated by DPW skilled tradespeople, from materials sourced by DPW arborists, and installed by DPW laborers can be less expensive, more functional, and more durable than off-the-shelf options,” Milwaukee City Parks Manager Joseph Kaltenberg said. “They also keep our dollars here in Milwaukee, supporting local families with good jobs and fair wages.”

The collaboration reflects CDS’s ongoing commitment to community-oriented design and sustainable construction practices. It also strengthens connections between 51ÁÔĆć students, faculty, and municipal partners while giving emerging designers real-world experience creating solutions for public spaces.

“When designing our schemes as a team, our experiences, collaboration, and roundtable discussions challenged us to think critically about design possibilities and begin thinking outside of the box,” Master of Architecture student Ryan Hernandez said.

“Working alongside faculty and city partners showed us firsthand how design decisions translate beyond the classroom.”

Story by Oliver J. Johnson

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Her military journey was borne out of necessity — to help her pay for a college degree — but in hindsight, Carreno says her military service ultimately charted her course to architecture and urban planning.

“In the military, I saw the real-world difference I was making through my job,” she said. “I knew I wanted to pursue a career that allowed me to impact people’s lives.”

Today, Carreno is enrolled in 51ÁÔĆć’s joint Master of Architecture and Urban Planning degree program, where she is learning how to build strong communities. The dual degree allows students to pursue two related professional degrees at once and complete them both in less time than it would take to earn them separately.

A surprising foundation

During her military service, Carreno worked full-time and earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Southern New Hampshire University. After graduating in 2022, she briefly worked in the digital marketing field before realizing it wasn’t the right fit for her.

“Even though marketing can be fulfilling, I didn’t feel the same level of impact as I did in the military,” she said.

As Carreno was considering what she might explore next, she learned about UW-Milwaukee from her boyfriend, who grew up in the Milwaukee area. The coordinated MArch and MUP degree program was uniquely appealing, because it offered courses that would prepare her to design buildings and create communities that support people’s well-being and health.

Committed to community

Carreno, who is Mexican-American, understands firsthand the systemic issues affecting people of color and other marginalized groups. The first in her family to pursue a master’s degree, Carreno sees her background as an asset.

“With a more diverse workforce, we can better meet the needs of different communities,” she said. For example, architects of color may have specific ideas about what resources and spaces communities of color need to thrive.

After graduation, Carreno hopes to work as an architect designing community-focused buildings such as libraries and K-12 schools. Her long-term dream is to use her skills to work in disaster zones and help communities as they rebuild.

For now, Carreno’s commitment to community shines through in her role as co-president of the student chapter of the . The chapter leads architecture firm tours and helps students establish direct connections in the field before they graduate.

“Even one professional connection can help someone get an internship or even a job,” Carreno said.

More architects and urban planners from diverse backgrounds means urban spaces and communities that serve and address the needs of everyone — not just a few. Carreno is glad to be a part of the effort, saying, “I truly feel most fulfilled when I’m helping people and communities thrive.”

Story by Ashley Abramson | Explore more in Make New Waves

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Under the guidance of Adjunct Assistant Professor Amanda Wagner, students Elizabeth Hanson, Michael Burrows, and Katie Tyree documented the historic Bayfield Fish Hatchery in Bayfield, Wisconsin.

Their award-winning set of measured drawings will be part of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) collection at the Library of Congress, a distinction reserved for exemplary documentation of the nation’s architectural heritage.

The is a national competition hosted annually by the National Park Service in partnership with the American Institute of Architects, the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, and the Association for Preservation Technology.

The program promotes awareness and appreciation of America’s historic architecture through the creation of high-quality documentation that meets the rigorous standards of the Historic American Buildings Survey Programs (HABS) and the National Park Service’s Heritage Documentation Programs (HDP).

The Bayfield Fish Hatchery, also known as the Les Voigt Fish Hatchery and the R.D. Pike Fish Hatchery, was built in 1897 and designed by architect H.P. Padley. The Victorian brownstone originally served both as a residence for the superintendent and his family and as a facility to breed and spawn fish that helped, and continues to help, restock Lake Superior.

The HPI team’s work supported ongoing preservation efforts led by the Friends of the Fish Hatchery, who invited the group to document the building.

Using FARO Laser Scanners to capture detailed point clouds and developing their drawings in Revit, the students produced a HABS-standard documentation set that captured both the precision and artistry required of the competition.

“I am very proud of Elizabeth, Michael, and Katie,” Wagner said. “Through their careful study, they revealed the richness and quiet beauty of a building that might otherwise have been overlooked. Their work was rightfully recognized with a Peterson Prize.”

The students and their professor will attend the Charles E. Peterson Award Ceremony this November in Providence, Rhode Island, during the Association for Preservation Technology Conference. The win is marks a winning track record for the Historic Preservation Institute.

“This is the second time 51ÁÔĆć has been awarded the Peterson Prize, and only the second time we’ve submitted for it,” Wagner noted. “Our two-for-two record is a testament to the strength and quality of the preservation program at SARUP.”

Story by Oliver J. Johnson

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The work debuted as part of Art Blaze, a series of art and music festivals coordinated by that activated the lakefront throughout the summer.

Designing in Air

The project emerged from ARCH 601/801: AIR, a design seminar led by Associate Professor Whitney Moon, which asked students to explore inflatable architecture and its role in public art. In collaboration with , students researched, sketched, and modeled concepts before presenting proposals for potential fabrication.

“Daniel Murray of FuzzPop reached out to me about a year ago after hearing about my architectural research with inflatables, and we discussed potential ways to collaborate,” said Moon, who was slated to teach a seminar in Spring 2025 about the history of pneumatic architecture. Meanwhile, FuzzPop was invited to participate in Art Blaze again in Summer 2025.

“We decided to pivot the focus of the course towards operating as a collaborative think tank around designing with air,” Moon recalled. “This was a great chance for architecture students to literally think outside the box and to generate design proposals that could directly contribute to the community.”

Ultimately, one design was selected for further development. Created by students Kiera Jensen, Isabel Domyslawski, Reagan Courtright, and Haley Grube, the proposal for HydroBloom captured the jury’s imagination with its organic form and playful presence.

From Proposal to Reality

For the winning team, seeing their design evolve into Threshold was a transformative experience.

“Our vision for HydroBloom was to create an ethereal presence that blurred the boundary between land and water, reality and dream—inspiring a deeper relationship between water and people,” said Haley Grube. “Seeing a school project come to life doesn’t happen too often, so we really wanted to design something interactive and engaging that would spark curiosity and connect with the community.”

As a historian and architect, Professor Moon is an advocate for collaboration between academia and practice because it exposes all participants to new skill sets and more expansive ways of thinking. She reflected on the impact of the collaboration itself.

“FuzzPop was able to engage the students in a hands-on way that was simultaneously conceptual and technical — and also FUN,” she said. “I think the resulting design is an exciting departure for Fuzz Pop because it is abstract and spatial, and for the architectural community it is a reminder that we need to allow for more playfulness and performance in the built environment.”

Building Connections

The collaboration also led to professional opportunities for students. Kirsten Josefchuk, who participated in the AIR seminar, was hired by FuzzPop Workshop for a summer internship.

“Working with Fuzzpop Workshop reminded me a lot of being in studio, except this time I was working with real large-scale designs with a very real budget and timeline,” Josefchuk said. “I learned a lot as a designer about what it takes to see a project come to life.”

Josefchuk served as FuzzPop’s representative at their Summerfest installation.

“Communicating the project’s goals and creative vision to a diverse audience was a new unique and exciting experience,” she said.

For Fuzz Pop Workshop, the collaboration was just as meaningful.

“At FuzzPop Workshop, each project is a new experiment, and we were thrilled at how game the students were to dive in, developing concepts and designs that were both highly original and professional,” said FuzzPop founder and creative director, Daniel Murray.

“I hope the experience was an opportunity for students to tap into their creative potential while pushing on the boundaries of architecture in exciting new ways.”

Story by Oliver J. Johnson

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Through hands-on work in laser scanning, photogrammetry and Building Information Modeling (BIM), students will produce high-resolution drawings, 3D models and immersive visualizations to aid in future conservation efforts.

The course combines a two-week intensive field session in the U.K. with a semester-long studio back in Milwaukee, where students will refine data and develop final deliverables. HPI Director Matt Jarosz and Adjunct Assistant Professor Amanda Wagner will lead the seminar.

“It’s not common to get to work on a project as unique and beautiful as Herstmonceux Castle,” said Teresa Klopp, a recent Master of Architecture graduate who participated in last year’s seminar. “The collaboration between students was incredible. We all learned so much and gained vital skills that could not have been acquired without this perfect combination of location, project and people.”

Other students reflected on the lasting academic and personal impact of the experience.

“The hospitality we received at the castle was amazing,” said Felipe Paez. “Seeing the structures I had studied for so long in person was a magical moment.”

Emily Leahy added that the work sparked new research interests in the use of LiDAR and drone data to document and preserve vulnerable heritage sites.

Designed as a pilot for future international field documentation courses at 51ÁÔĆć, the seminar offers students a chance to contribute meaningfully to global preservation efforts while gaining industry-ready skills.

“The Institute plays a critical role in the preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse of our built environment,” said Elysse Newmann, Dean of the College of the Arts & Architecture. “How we steward the world of yesterday is a strong predictor of the world of tomorrow.”

The documentation package produced this fall will be shared with Bader College and Queen’s University, ensuring the impact of this student work reaches beyond the classroom and across continents.

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The Beijing-based founder of DnA_Design and Architecture led the semester-long graduate studio with SARUP assistant professor Sam Schuermann, translating her award-winning approach to rural revitalization in China to a post-industrial site in Marinette, Wisconsin. Students explored architectural interventions at the Hattie Street Dam, applying Xu’s method of “architectural acupuncture” to regional ecological, social, and cultural questions.

The story, written by Niall Patrick Walsh, details how Xu and Schuermann challenged students to take ownership of their work, navigate cross-cultural design dialogues, and think expansively about infrastructure and community resilience.

In addition to the studio, Xu delivered a public lecture and exhibition as part of the $100,000 Marcus Prize, which Archinect describes as “one of the most generous prizes in the architecture world.”

Read the full story on .

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Through an Urban Design Seminar course, students developed design concepts of what the land under and adjacent to the I-794 corridor can become over a 30-year timeline, including new development opportunities, public spaces, transit upgrades, and stronger street connections between downtown and the Third Ward.

Notably, the city could see upwards of $100 million in annual tax revenue based on evaluations made by the students of the total assessment value of these new developments. Comparatively, a replacement of the freeway with no significant development would result in $0 economic benefit, according to their analysis.

Carolyn Esswein (Associate Professor and Co-Chair, Urban Planning) and Dr. Larry Witzling (Professor Emeritus, Architecture) serve as faculty advisors for the Urban Design Seminar. Plans developed by students are based on initial ideas presented by volunteer advocacy group, Rethink 794. Members of the group served as reviewers throughout the semester.

Students who presented work: Seth Amland, Molly Burns, Michael Burrows, Dulce Carreno, Drake Dahlinghaus, Colin Flanner, Erik Heisel, Isabelle Jardas, Luke Koelsch, Isabella Lemieux, Shane O’Neil, Gordy Russell, Carl Sveen, and Gabriel Zaun.

Student proposals are organized into two groups, each with a unique master plan that portrays new neighborhoods, different types of streets, and a wide range of increased economic benefits and impacts. The plans follow the basic traffic and transportation recommendations portrayed in the draft WisDOT freeway replacement concepts.

Currently, WisDOT is planning to undertake a large-scale Environmental Impact Study (EIS) that may be completed after 2026. Historically, WisDOT’s does not include concepts for post-freeway land use and development, making the students’ concepts critical elements in the future of the I-794 corridor.

The 51ÁÔĆć School of Architecture & Urban Planning has a history of influence with this type of work, with student projects informing significant developments in greater Milwaukee. The removal of the Park East freeway, now home to the Fiserv Forum and adjacent developments, began as a student project.

With renewed focus on the future of I-794, a possible removal could be the next example of 51ÁÔĆć students and faculty leading the way to reclaim territory once dedicated to highways with the goal of creating a better urban environment.

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The position plays a vital internal role, overseeing the AIAS operational budget with the Executive Director, recording Board meeting minutes, chairing the Finance Committee, and maintaining the AIAS Board of Directors Drive. The Secretary / Treasurer also works with each AIAS chapter to help connect them with resources and support.

As a full voting member of the board, Tillman is most looking forward to representing architecture students’ voices across the globe.

“I wanted to run to have the opportunity to push the voices of students. I think it’s important for students to push design and to voice their opinions,” Tillman said.

Advocating for students has been a through line in Tillman’s college career, embodied in a variety of leadership roles with the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Tillman served as SARUP’s 2023 AIAS chapter president, followed by his current one-year term as Midwest Quadrant Director for 2024. In that role, Tillman helps roughly 50 Midwest chapters connect with resources available through the organization.

“At SARUP, we have a very good connection with AIA in Wisconsin, and that allows us to access sponsorships through firms and other professional networking opportunities,” Tillman said. “When I got in the Midwest Quad director role, I found that a lot of chapters don’t have strong connection, or they don’t know who’s leading their AIA component.”

Tillman has worked hard to connect chapters so students can benefit fully from the organization. He hopes to do the same on a much larger scale with his new role, with 250 chapters within his reach.

“I think that’s really valuable to have a connection to the profession, as well as having students relate to professionals to help get jobs. You can be a great student, but I think really getting out there and meeting with professionals is what helps you flourish as a student. Knowing what careers are out there is important.”

Tillman knows firsthand how influential connections can be for young people. His introduction to the architecture field started as a high school student in Woodstock, Illinois, when he took a civil engineering and architecture course. While designing a library and house, he recognized he has a real passion for design. His teacher noticed, too. He encouraged him to continue with another second class, even giving him a special design project assignment to complete.

“That’s when I really knew I wanted to do this,” he recalled. “So, I applied to 51ÁÔĆć. It’s the only school I applied to.”

Advocating for students isn’t likely to end when Tillman graduates. As an intern at Zimmerman Architecture Students, Tilllman has been working on designing schools for K12 and higher education, along with places of worship. Recently, he accepted a full-time job at the firm.

His first day is the day after graduation.

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Bader Philanthropies, a partner and benefactor of both UW-Milwaukee and Queens University, invited the Historic Preservation Institute and its range of scanning expertise and state-of-the-art equipment to study advanced documentation at the castle.

To digitally recreate and store these features and spaces, the 51ÁÔĆć’s study abroad team brought a variety of LiDAR scanners. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanning measures the way laser points reflect and deform upon hitting a surface to measure the object’s shape and location in space. This data can be used to create two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) drawings and accompanying files.

These files can be used for archival and analytical works and are useful for keeping a virtual record of a building, or for digitally and physically fabricating correct reconstructions of elements and structures.

Having an “archival copy” of a building is important as a means of safeguarding its future—this past year the castle was temporarily closed for structural stabilization and rehabilitation. A wider body of exact documentation acts as an added layer of backup for the physical footprint of artifacts.

Visiting this past October, Associate Professor and HPI Director of Documentation William Krueger has already completed two hundred scans of the castle.

“Both sides of the moat, the interior courtyard, the ground floor interior, and the basement foundation—and this is just a start of what we’re documenting, ” said Kreuger.

Using this initial data of the castle exterior and ground level, Teresa Klopp, a directed-study preservation student, has worked on transforming these point clouds into digital models and creating measured line drawings from these scans with the data collected. Building upon this initial documentation, students are capturing previously inaccessible parts of the castle, collecting data on the upper floors.

Scales of Scanning 

Three types of scanners are being brought along to collect data at three scales of detail. The FARO S350-3 is a terrestrial scanner with a range of 350 meters (1,150ft). It is capable of taking scans in rain, snow, and fog, day or night, and with high contrast shadows and colors. In a matter of minutes, it can scan large objects and can capture entire buildings with exquisite detail.

Smaller objects and ornamental details are captured with handheld scanners such as the Artec Leo, which can capture and ‘rebuild’ objects at 80 frames per second and is accurate to 1/10th of a millimeter.

Students are also working with another means of scanning large buildings and grounds: drone capture.

While the castle is complex, it is merely part of a six-hundred-acre campus. Individual laser scans from a movable tripod have limitations. Drone scanning is fantastic for capturing large swaths of coverage and data inaccessible from scanner on the ground.

Using drones, students were able to quickly capture the site using photogrammetry—a process by which thousands of photographs are digitally stitched together and cross-referenced to determine object geometry and scene depth.

Ornament and Details 

With the exterior scans mostly complete, HPI’s focus will shift to the castle’s interiors. Herstmonceux Castle contains many centuries’ worth of artistic details, such as ornate wood carvings and stonework, its grand staircase, and its ballroom. Through 3D scans, small objects and ornaments can be replicated.

“If there is something broken, we can reverse engineer it. If a rosette is missing, but there is another one in there, we can document it and copy it exactly,” Krueger said.

This year, students are primarily working on documenting the trove of data inside the castle. Krueger noted that with 600 acres of castle, formal gardens and preserve, there is plenty of work ahead. This inaugural documentation marks the start of a multi-year study abroad.

For reference, the 25,000 square-foot former 51ÁÔĆć Alumni House in Milwaukee required 80 scanning hours.

Using data from these scans, students are able to complete precise 3D models and architectural documentation, creating a lasting record for archival and planning purposes.

This scanning study abroad trip lasts the first three weeks of June. Opening up Herstmonceux as a 51ÁÔĆć international travel opportunity, nine students and three faculty took part in this valuable summer research.

Story by Luke Koelsch ’25 (MArch)

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He and co-creator Sidonie Dessoubret (a junior in information science) won $1,000 in a 51ÁÔĆć pitch contest and are refining the tool to enhance communication and efficiency in construction projects, particularly in developing countries. Lukos’ inspiration came from his experiences with his family’s construction business in India.

For more details on their innovative project, read the full story on 51ÁÔĆć Report.

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