Alan Ricks & Sierra Bainbridge - MASS Design Group
Building Better Futures
Sponsored by Architectural Record
This course explores MASS Design Group’s approach to architecture as a tool for addressing global challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration, storytelling, and community-driven design. Drawing from projects in global health and ecological restoration, participants will learn how design decisions can influence public health, environmental outcomes, and social equity.
The course highlights strategies such as local material sourcing, passive systems, regenerative landscapes, and inclusive engagement processes that prioritize long-term impact over short-term solutions.
Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund - Rwanda
Photo courtesy of Iwan Baan
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Aaron Prinz is the host of the Design:ED Podcast and holds a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He was born and raised in the rural Northern California town of Red Bluff, just two hours south of the Oregon border. After one year of college, Prinz relocated to San Francisco to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. At age 26, he began studying architecture at Portland State University while interning at Studio Petretti Architecture led by Amanda Petretti. His professional contributions while at Studio Petretti were focused on a portion of the new Multnomah County Courthouse which is a prominent addition to the Portland skyline. He currently resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Roxanne where he continues to work as a designer. |
Architectural Record is the #1 source for design news, architect continuing education, and info on sustainability, houses, projects, and architectural products.
Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in April 2026
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Explain the role of architecture in addressing global health and social challenges.
- Evaluate how local materials and labor can reduce environmental impact and support community economies.
- Apply storytelling and narrative techniques to communicate design intent and secure project support.
- Analyze the relationship between landscape, ecology, and architecture in regenerative design strategies.
- Identify interdisciplinary collaboration methods that improve project outcomes and long-term impact.
