Vishaan Chakrabarti of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism | Rockand Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland | Bonus Replay: Improving the Work of a Legend | Part 2
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Improving the Work of a Legend
In the continuation of our conversation with architect Vishaan Chakrabarti, we dive deeper into the philosophy and challenges behind PAU's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame expansion. What emerges is a masterclass in honoring architectural legacy and a candid discussion about building a principled practice.
Vishaan reveals PAU's "place needs connection" methodology—starting as archaeologists to unearth a site's hidden history, then becoming seamstresses to reconnect fractured urban fabric. This approach led them to discover that I.M. Pei's original building was actually designed for a different site, explaining why the plaza never felt quite right.
The conversation explores fundamental questions about balancing individual creativity with community responsibility, working within constraints, and understanding the role of apprenticeship within professional architectural development.
As construction progresses in Cleveland, this dialogue offers insight into how contemporary architects grapple with legacy, community, and the evolving definition of American culture—including what it means when rock and roll represents "the spirit of young America" in an era of hip-hop and social change.
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“We felt very strongly that the building should be an addition that attaches itself to the Pei building, and like rock itself is both irreverent and reverent. It had to not just kowtow to the Pei building, but also understand you are adding to an I.M. Pei building.”
Courtesy of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism
About Vishaan Chakrabarti
Vishaan Chakrabarti is an architect, planner, and author with over 30 years of experience shaping cities through both design and policy. He is the Founder and Creative Director of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU), and currently serves as the Thomas J. Baird Visiting Critic in Architecture at Cornell’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning.
Previously, he was Principal at SHoP Architects and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM); President of the Moynihan Station Venture at the Related Companies; and Director of the Manhattan Office of the New York Department of City Planning under Mayor Bloomberg. He also served as Dean of the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley and taught for over a decade at Columbia GSAPP.
Vishaan is the author of two books, The Architecture of Urbanity and A Country of Cities, and is a frequent contributor to the NYTimes. He has degrees in architecture, urban planning, art history, and engineering.
Courtesy of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism
Episode Timestamps
(02:21) Understanding I.M. Pei's original design challenges and how the building evolved over time
(09:08) Creating a 30-person firm with clear values and boundary conditions
(22:20) Balancing individual creativity with community engagement in architectural practice
(25:45) Understanding I.M. Pei's legacy through personal experience and historical research
(32:58) Rock and roll and its evolving definition
(36:23) Architecture as a manifestation of American contradictions and possibilities
(39:43) How to honor architectural legacy while responding to contemporary needs
Connect with Vishaan Chakrabarti:
Courtesy of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism
About your host:
Atif Qadir is a licensed architect and entrepreneur, interested in solving big problems through innovation and technology. He has founded two proptech companies and a real estate development firm, building products ranging from software to workforce housing.
His work has been covered by Technology Review, The Real Deal, Commercial Observer, and Propmodo. He’s also a frequent speaker on the future of buildings and cities on popular industry podcasts and at conferences, including this past year at the Commercial Observer National DEI Conference, Yale AREA Conference, Columbia Real Estate Symposium, Open Data Week NYC and Austin Design Week.
About Michael Graves
The world-famous design firm Michael Graves is also a founding sponsor of American Building. Its namesake, the iconoclastic designer Michael Graves, FAIA was a fierce advocate for people-centric design. His work defines a generation of American architecture and includes the Portland Building, the Humana Building and the Denver Public Library. The 1st season of American Building was filmed live at The Warehouse, his historic home in Princeton, New Jersey:
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