Carla Clark | For The Republic Aleksandr Mergold and Andrew Fu talk about the design elements of “The Steel Horsie” installation at the Bartholomew County Historical Society during the Exhibit Columbus “Yes And” opening tour at the Vistors Center, Columbus, Ind., Saturday, August 16, 2025.
Landmark Columbus Foundation, in partnership with the Indiana University J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program, has announced the 2025 University Design Research Fellowship Colloquium, titled YES Design — AND Research. This free, two-day event will take place on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11.
The colloquium starts with a reception Thursday, Oct. 10 at 5:30 p.m., followed by a keynote speaker at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11 will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a light breakfast. The colloquium will take place at the former Republic building at 333 Second St.
To learn more about the colloquium, view the full schedule or to register, visit eventbrite.com/e/yes-designand-research-udrf-colloquium-registration-1497565912959.
“Our program is excited to be a partner in producing the YES Design — AND Research Colloquium with Landmark Columbus Foundation,” Director of the Indiana University J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program Daniel Luis Martinez said. “We see this as a wonderful opportunity for our students in the Masters of Architecture program to hear directly from the Fellows on how Exhibit Columbus has impacted the community and their research. We look forward to how this event can inspire our students in their own studies and research moving forward.”
The event, produced with support from a grant from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, will focus on the work of the six teams awarded with the 2025 Exhibit Columbus University Design Research Fellowships, according to a press release. Each team was partnered with a Columbus-based organization and was assigned a site where they would create an installation rooted in their research.
These teams include the following:
- Chandler Ahrens, Constance Vale and Kelley Van Dyck Murphy from the Washington University Sam Fox School College of Architecture, who created with the “Inside Out” installation at the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library Plaza
- Sarah Aziz from the University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning, who created the “A View of the World from Indiana” installation formerly at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
- César Lopez, Jess Myers, Amelyn Ng and Germán Pallares-Avita from the University of Virginia School of Architecture, the Syracuse University School of Architecture, the Columbia University GSAPP and the Rhode Island School of Design, who created the “PUBLIC/SCHOOL/GROUNDS” installation at Central Middle School
- Michael Jefferson and Suzanne Lettieri from the Cornell University School of Architecture, who created the “Apart, Together” installation at Ovation Plaza
- Andrew Fu, Aaron Goldstein and Aleksandr Mergold from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the Hillier College of Architecture and Design, who created “The Steel Horsie” installation at the Bartholomew County Historical Society
- Akima Brackeen of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture, who created the “Pool/Side” installation at the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library
Thursday’s keynote presentation will be from Chris Cornelius of studio:indigenous. Now the Chair of Architecture at the University of New Mexico School of Architecture + Planning, Cornelius was a 2016-2017 J. Irwin and Xenia S Miller Prize recipient. His project “Wiikiami” received international acclaim, according to the press release. Cornelius’ keynote presentation will address education in art and architecture and how design research advances our built environment.
Friday will then be divided into two sessions, with a lunch and an opportunity to explore the “Yes And” exhibition taking place in between these sessions. Both sessions will spend time highlighting community partnerships and the work of the URDFellows. The day will conclude with an evening art opening at “Ellipsis” by Columbus High School senior Maria Ramas.
The colloquium will be on the move and in the city, exploring the five installations will while engaging the community, the release says. YES Design — AND Research aims to build upon Columbus’ commitment to quality of place through design excellence and education.
According to the press release, the event was created so attendees could deepen their understanding of each UDRF installation and its relationship to this Exhibit Columbus cycle. Attendees can also gain practical and valuable knowledge about how quality of place amenities can create benefits for communities, and spark new collaborations between universities, community partners, municipal leaders, funders and patrons.
“The beauty of ‘Yes And’ is rooted in bold storytelling and intentional collaboration within the community. The six fellows amplified their installations with their research,” “Yes And” curatorial partner and previous 2022-2023 University Design Research Fellow Joseph Altshuler said. “The colloquium will be an exciting event to engage with the participating community partners and to hear from the fellows themselves about how their projects currently on exhibit in Columbus might also drive future directions in their creative practices.”
