Table design by architecture professor is a tangible expression of dialogue across difference
Architecture is not only about designing spaces but also about shaping the ways people come together within them. Assistant Professor Sergio Lopez-Pineiro recently designed a distinctive table for civil dialogue, an elegant piece of furniture created to bring people into closer, more intentional conversation.
The table was fabricated by Master of Architecture student Alec Regan with support from Current Projects, a Milwaukee-based design and fabrication studio.
Conceived as a comfortable space for discussion and understanding, the table is a critical element in an ongoing civil dialogue project supported by a grant from the Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue (WICCD) to the 51ÁÔĆć Divisions of Community Empowerment & Institutional Inclusivity and Student Affairs.
Crafted from soft maple wood, the table’s form invites connection. It bends around each speaker, “hugging” them into the conversation while its angled steel legs emphasize the seats designed for each participant.
The tabletop’s central area features a subtle Naguri texture, a traditional Japanese woodcutting pattern applied here through a combination of handmade and digital techniques. The textured surface literally and figuratively preserves space for dialogue.
“This prevents people from placing objects at the center,” said Sergio Lopez-Pineiro. “The space in front of you remains empty of objects, so the conversation remains more uninterrupted.”
Every detail of the table’s design supports comfort and focus. Smaller scoops in front of each seat, along with additional indentations beneath the table, offer resting places for fidgeting hands and help calm nerves during potentially difficult conversations.
“It is normal to feel nervous,” the project description notes. “Just let your fingertips rest and focus on staying civil.”
Now housed in the 51ÁÔĆć Student Union, the table is available for reservation by students, faculty and staff. By defining a physical space for discussion, Lopez-Pineiro’s design reinforces that civil dialogue can and should be cultivated, taught, and practiced.
“The important thing isn’t the table; it’s just a device,” Lopez-Pineiro said. “The important thing is that people bring their own points of view.”
Deformation drawings by Sergio Lopez-PineiroGeometry drawings by Sergio Lopez-PineiroObjects drawings by Sergio Lopez-PineiroTexture drawings by Sergio Lopez-PineiroPhoto by Tyler LonadierPhoto by Tyler LonadierPhoto by Tyler LonadierPhoto by Tyler Lonadier
Story by Oliver J. Johnson
Whitney Moon comments on brutalist architecture of Milwaukee Safety Academy
W51ÁÔĆć reporter Emily Files recently explored the history of the distinctive building that houses the Police and Fire Academy, which used to be a Catholic girls’ school that operated from 1965 to 1971. Associate Professor Whitney Moon spoke with Files about the building’s design.
The distinctive building is one of many brutalist-style structures built in Milwaukee in the 1960s, she told Files, adding that it was viewed as a more authentic, unpretentious style of architecture, especially in working-class cities like Milwaukee.
With the school’s closure and the building’s conversion into the city’s police and fire training academy, the piece highlights an unexpected architectural shift and adaptive reuse within Milwaukee’s urban fabric.
Read or listen to the story at .
Robert Schneider and students co-author national report on pedestrian safety
Dr. Robert Schneider and Master of Urban Planning students Bryan Walter, Natalie Marshall, and William Henning led the literature review and national pedestrian fatal crash modeling analysis for TheĚýNational Cooperative Highway Research ProgramĚý(NCHRP)ĚýReport 1157, “”
The guide from this project provides safe system strategies to reduce nighttime pedestrian risk. Managing speeds (e.g., road lane reconfiguration, speed feedback signs, automatic speed enforcement, lower speed limits) is a key strategy that will improve safety for pedestrians as well as all other roadway users at night.
Placemaking in Action: Building Vibrant Communities
An Innovative Cities Lecture
Creating vibrant and engaging communities helps communities recruit and retain residents, supports public gathering places in the heart of our communities, and fosters community connections. Learn about the WEDC Vibrant Communities grant and how projects create accessible locations for programming and amenities desired by local residents, with the additional benefit of boosting foot traffic for nearby businesses.
In Waupaca, planning efforts led to a series of public and private initiatives designed to foster revitalization of the historic downtown area. Strategic investments by the community resulted in public and private investments that attracted new businesses, increased opportunities for community engagement and generated additional foot traffic throughout the district. In Waupun, targeted efforts to revitalize an underutilized anchor property and adjacent vacant lot spurred additional activity, led to additional community events and supported new entrepreneurial activity in the community.
Biographies
Errin Welty is the Senior Director of Downtown Development at WEDC, managing the Main Street and Connect Communities programs. She previously worked as a market analyst at Vierbicher, working with public and private sector clients to create market-based solutions to solve economic and planning issues, and as Vice President of Client Services for Grubb & Ellis, managing marketing and research for the firm’s Denver office. Errin has significant planning and real estate experience, having been on staff with downtown organizations in both St. Cloud, MN and Denver, CO, and a founding member of Wheat Ridge 2020, an economic development organization focused on revitalizing one of Denver’s original inner-ring suburbs.
Greg Grohman connects nonprofit, governmental, and educational partners to the critical resources they need to better serve their communities. As a grant writer for the City of Waupaca, he has generated over $11 million for organizations, securing funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the U.S. Department of Justice, the WI Economic Development Corporation, the WI Department of Transportation, the WI Department of Public Instruction, the WI Department of Natural Resources, Bader Philanthropies Inc., and the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.
Katharine Schlieve is the City Administrator and Director of Economic Development for the City of Waupun. She is responsible for providing strategic leadership and working with a diverse set of stakeholders to establish long-range goals, strategies, plans and policies that advance the city’s mission. She developed and implemented a comprehensive economic development strategy for the city including business retention & expansion, business recruitment, redevelopment, planning, and general administration.
AICP-CM credits:ĚýĚý
International education resource hub spotlights architecture alum
Recent SARUP graduate Gunjan Kaur (MArch 2023) landed her dream job as a design consultant at Kohl’s, one of the nation’s leading omnichannel retailers. Originally from Chhattisgarh, India, Kaur took a leap of faith by deciding to study in the United States.
In the Study International article written by Sivanesan Krish, Kaur details her experiences studying at SARUP, how she landed her job, and what steps she took to succeed in her field.
“The US is a global hub for innovative architecture,” stated Kaur. “I wanted to challenge myself by coming to a country where I would be exposed to many different perspectives and practices at once. It was overwhelming at first, but I realized it has helped me grow a lot.”
To read the full article, visit .
51ÁÔĆć Chancellor and Dean of the College of the Arts and Architecture speak on ties to the community
51ÁÔĆć Chancellor Thomas Gibson and Dean of the College of the Arts and Architecture, Dr. Winifred Elysse Newman, spoke with W51ÁÔĆć’s David Lee about the relationship between the two schools that comprise the college and the greater Milwaukee community.
Since being appointed Chancellor, Gibson has been on a mission to explore all aspects of 51ÁÔĆć. He shares the outcomes of his exploration in the Chancellor’s Report.
“The College of the Arts and Architecture is an exemplar of student success and retention,” Gibson shared. “Both of those schools are a model for retaining students, and I couldn’t be more proud of the work that’s happening there.”
To listen to the full segment, visit .
Urban Edge Award at 51ÁÔĆć recognizes national voices on housing and the American city
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture & Urban Planning (SARUP) has announced that the 2025 Urban Edge Award will support a major symposium and publication on housing in the American city, one of the most pressing issues of our time.
Sam Schuermann
Selected and curated by Assistant Professor Sam Schuermann, the symposium will gather leading architects, theorists, and educators for a three-day public program centered on the single-family lot.
Titled On Housing: The Single-Family Lot and the American City, the symposium runs October 22–24, 2025, at UW-Milwaukee and will include keynote lectures, panel discussions, student workshops, and an exhibition in SARUP’s Jim Shields Gallery of Architecture and Urbanism sponsored by HGA.
Urban Edge Award recipients and symposium participants are Ashley Bigham & Erik Herrmann, Jennifer Bonner, Mitch McEwen, Laura Salazar-Altobelli & Pablo Sequero, Paul Andersen, Adrienne Brown, Jonathan Tate, and Jesus Vassallo.
In spring 2026, students will engage in a seminar dedicated to editing a publication that documents and expands on the symposium. The resulting volume will feature transcribed conversations, essays, and visual materials by symposium participants.
Milwaukee is an excellent place to question and reconsider the single-family typology for contemporary housing according to Schuermann, who cites the city’s racialized history, labor history, scale, historic rust-belt fabric, and Midwestern ethos.
Through this initiative, the Urban Edge Award continues its mission to support timely architectural research that engages urgent questions in urban design.
About the Urban Edge Award
The Urban Edge Award was created in 2006. Modeled after the school’s Marcus Prize and supported by the Wisconsin Preservation Fund and the law firm of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, the Urban Edge Award recognizes excellence in urban design and the ability of individuals to create major, positive change within the public realm. Funding for the Urban Edge Award totals $50,000. Learn more about the Urban Edge Award.
Story by Oliver J. Johnson
Robert Schneider weighs in on debate to renovate or re-do Milwaukee freeway stretch
Milwaukee Magazine turned to Dr. Robert Schneider (Professor and Co-Chair, Urban Planning) for insight into the city’s ongoing debate over whether to remove a segment of I-794. In the story by Larry Sandler, Schneider reflects on lessons learned from Milwaukee’s 1999 removal of the Park East Freeway, a project overseen by former 51ÁÔĆć faculty member and planning director Peter Park.
“The fear has proved unfounded,” Schneider says in the article, noting the growth that followed. “Development around Fiserv Forum, new Milwaukee School of Engineering buildings, and renewed interest in the Haymarket neighborhood, including the replacement for the Milwaukee Public Museum, would have been unlikely if the Park East had remained.”
Read the full story at .
51ÁÔĆć School of Architecture and Urban Planning announces jury for 2025 Marcus Prize
Internationally acclaimed architects, educators, and practitioners comprise the jury for the coveted 2025 Marcus Prize, awarded by the 51ÁÔĆć School of Architecture and Urban Planning (SARUP) in partnership with the Marcus Corporation Foundation.
Hans E. Butzer, Juhani Pallasmaa, and Alex Timmer will join David Marcus and Winifred Elysse Newman on this year’s jury, which will convene this fall to select the 2025 Marcus Prize recipient.
Dr. Newman, Dean of the 51ÁÔĆć College of the Arts and Architecture, emphasized the significance of the jury’s expertise. “This group of jurors brings together extraordinary talent, global experience, and deep engagement with the discipline. Their perspectives are critical as we identify the next recipient of one of architecture’s most generous awards,” she said.
Meet the Jury
Hans E. Butzer, FAIA Professor and Dean of the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture, University of Oklahoma: Butzer Architects and Urbanism (BAU)
Hans E. Butzer is an award-winning architect and educator, as well as co-founder of Butzer Architects and Urbanism (BAU), alongside his wife, Torrey A. Butzer, Assoc. AIA. Butzer is best known for his role in designing key public sites in Oklahoma City, his civic engagement and advocacy, and his service as an educator and leader at the University of Oklahoma. His work has been recognized with fifteen awards from the AIA and ASLA. His work was celebrated as one of the 10 best designs of 2000 by Time Magazine and listed among the “Top 50 Best Public Art Projects” by the Public Art Network’s Year in Review, as featured by Americans for the Arts. The Dallas Morning News twice listed the Oklahoma City National Memorial among the “Ten Best Designs”—once in 1997 and again after completion in 2000.
Juhani Pallasmaa, SAFA, Hon. FAIA, Int. FRIBA Former Rector of the Institute of Design, Helsinki; former Professor of Architecture and Dean at the Helsinki University of Technology; former Director of the Museum of Finnish Architecture; Visiting Professorships in several countries; Arkkitehtitoimisto Juhani Pallasmaa KY, Helsinki
Juhani Pallasmaa is a Finnish architect, author, and former professor and Dean of architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology (currently Aalto University). He is considered a leading figure in contemporary architecture, design, and art culture. Pallasmaa’s work is recognized for its emphasis on the psychological, experiential, and tactile aspects of architecture. He has published more than 1,000 essays and 100 books, including The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses, a staple text in architecture schools worldwide. Pallasmaa has served on approximately fifty architectural juries in different countries and received numerous recognitions, awards, and seven honorary doctorates. He was a member of the Pritzker Prize Jury from 2008 to 2014.
Alex Timmer Associate Professor, School of Architecture and Urban Planning, College of the Arts and Architecture, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Alex Timmer’s research centers on the interplay between energy systems and architectural design. With a keen interest in the connection between form and performance, his work investigates reasoning within open systems, contingent material processes, and recursive design strategies. His teaching emphasizes strengthening the bond between studio pedagogy and the fabrication lab, focusing on how digital fabrication can foster productive feedback loops within the design studio. Timmer’s contributions are featured in various academic journals and conference proceedings, including ACSA, NCBDS, and the TAD Journal. Collaborating with industry and community partners—such as Habitat for Humanity, Wells Precast Concrete, Vendura, Cherry Street Garden, and the Historic Mitchell Street BID District—Timmer advances his research with a focus on its practical applications.
David Marcus Board of Directors/CEO, Marcus Investments
David Marcus is managing director and chief executive officer of Marcus Investments. Before forming Marcus Investments, Marcus served as the managing partner of Bridgenet/Netrox, a leading provider of Internet and network solutions to businesses in South Florida. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with an MBA in Real Estate and received his BSBA with a concentration in finance from Boston University. Marcus sits on the boards of several charitable organizations, including the Froedtert Hospital Foundation, City Year, and the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum.
Winifred E. Newman, PhD Professor and Dean, College of the Arts and Architecture, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Dr. Winifred Elysse Newman is a professor and Dean at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Her research promotes digital and human–machine hybrid solutions as a paradigm shift in the design and occupation of the built environment. Newman focuses on spatial perception in architecture, ecological psychology, adaptive environments, and neuroaesthetics, with active research in neuroscience and architecture, data visualization, mapping, STEM learning environments, and the history of technology and science. She is the Executive Editor of the Journal for Technology, Architecture, and Design. Recent publications include Data Visualization for Design Thinking: Applied Mapping.
Thanks to the generous support of the Marcus Foundation, the $100,000 prize includes $50,000 to the winner and $50,000 to support a design studio in collaboration with SARUP faculty. In addition to the award itself, the Marcus Corporation Foundation provides financial support to host the selection jury and to bring the awardees to Milwaukee for the studio. Learn more about the Marcus Prize.
Architecture seminar pairs students with arts organization to bring inflatable art to Milwaukee’s lakefront
This summer, visitors to Milwaukee’s McKinley Beach were greeted by an unexpected sight: a massive, colorful inflatable sculpture rising against the skyline. The installation, first conceived by 51ÁÔĆć architecture students as HydroBloom, was further developed by FuzzPop Workshop into a final piece titled Threshold.
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.
A sketch from the design team whose work, first conceived as HydroBloom, was further developed by Fuzz Pop Workshop into a final piece titled Threshold | SubmittedA sketch from the design team whose work, first conceived as HydroBloom, was further developed by Fuzz Pop Workshop into a final piece titled Threshold | SubmittedA rendering from the design team whose work, first conceived as HydroBloom, was further developed by Fuzz Pop Workshop into a final piece titled Threshold | SubmittedA rendering from the design team whose work, first conceived as HydroBloom, was further developed by Fuzz Pop Workshop into a final piece titled Threshold | Submitted
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.”
Left to right: Associate Professor Whitney Moon, FuzzPop founder and creative director Daniel Murray, Kirsten Josefchuk, and Fuzz Pop creative director John Kowalczyk. | 51ÁÔĆć Photo/Troye Fox
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.”
