#2 Matt Hayes: What Every Architecture Student Needs to Know

10/15/23 • 60 min

Listen in on the one-year anniversary of Matt Hayes joining the Building Culture team. Whether you're considering architecture as your field of study, want to hear what the day to day of working for a Design & Build small business is like, or are just curious to hear more on what makes beautiful places, this one is for you.

Prior to joining Building Culture in 2022, Matt graduated from the Notre Dame School of Architecture and worked in Manhattan at G.P. Schafer Architect on custom residences in areas including Arkansas, Virginia, Florida, and New York City. Following several serendipitous interactions with Austin, the opportunity to confront the problems of disposable building and car-centric urbanism was too exciting for Matt to pass up and he uprooted to Oklahoma to join the Building Culture Team as Architect and Program Manager. Matt and Austin discuss an array of topics, like what factors are important when considering architect school for yourself, the benefits of travel and its influence on their building and design methods, the uniqueness of working for a start up Design & Build firm, and considering what makes a beautiful place and have the priority on humans and not cars.

RESOURCES School of Architecture, University of Notre Dame

Original Green - Steven Mouzan

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RESOURCES School of Architecture, University of Notre Dame

Original Green - Steven Mouzan

FOLLOW AUSTIN

Building Culture Playbook

Previous Episode

#1 Ashley Terry: Designing Neighborhoods For How People Want To Live - Wheeler District

I was thrilled to have Ashley Terry, VP of Development for Wheeler District on the Building Culture Podcast. Wheeler District is a Traditional Neighborhood Development, or TND, just a mile from downtown Oklahoma City.

Ashley Terry has an amazing story. She started off as a hairdresser and as her career progressed she started to feel the itch for something more. Upon reading one of Jan Gehl's books, it completely changed how she saw cities and architecture, and how it shapes peoples' lives, so she decided to get more involved wherever she could in that arena--even though she didn't know what the end goal was. Eventually, the opportunity to work for Wheeler was presented, and she took it with a "give me anything to do and I'll figure it out" attitude, and just a few years later she is VP of Development in one of the largest and most successful developments in Oklahoma City, got her MBA on the side, runs the local ULI, and much more. Can't wait for you to hear her story, and also about what they are doing in Wheeler District.

You may not be from Oklahoma City, but there is something for everyone in this podcast! WHAT IS A TND? What do fancy terms like "TND" and "New Urbanism" actually mean? It simply means that these neighborhoods are designed around the human experience. It takes what people want, things like safety, privacy, community, vibrancy, beauty, public spaces, convenience, shopping, schools, range of housing options, etc, and THEN figures out how to express those features, those desires and values, in the fabric of the neighborhood, and in the architecture itself.

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Next Episode

#3 Anthony Catania - Designing Vibrant Communities for PEOPLE

In this episode, Austin interviews Anthony Catania, an experienced architect and urban designer who specializes in New Urbanist communities and TNDs. They delve into the essence of building for people, the challenges faced in the process, and the vision required for creating vibrant, walkable communities.

Anthony shares insights gained from his diverse career, spanning Washington, D.C., to his recent move to Oklahoma City. Discussing the nuances of designing at various scales, from individual buildings to entire neighborhoods, he emphasizes the importance of prioritizing human experiences in urban design.

The conversation touches on the impact of zoning regulations on development and explores the concept of "maximum dimensions" in design, contrasting it with the prevalent "minimum dimensions" approach. Anthony challenges the conventional notion of suburban convenience, highlighting how well-designed urban spaces offer a different, more sustainable kind of convenience.

They discuss the challenges faced in overcoming formulaic suburban development, where corporations dictate a standardized approach. The conversation also addresses the clash between the corporate, efficiency-driven mindset and the need for adaptable, context-specific design to create unique, thriving places.

Zoning emerges as a key obstacle to innovative development, prompting a broader discussion on the need for a shift in regulatory frameworks to foster better-designed, people-centric spaces. Anthony concludes by emphasizing the critical role of zoning reform in realizing a vision for more vibrant, culturally rich communities.

Tune in to gain valuable insights into the world of urban design, architecture, and the challenges and opportunities in creating places that prioritize people and culture.