Moshe Safdie and Rod Bigelow  

This course examines the design and evolution of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, highlighting how architecture can unite art, landscape, and community into a cohesive and immersive experience. Designed by Moshe Safdie, the project demonstrates how thoughtful site integration, materiality, and daylighting strategies shape both the visitor journey and the performance of a cultural institution.

Participants will explore the original design vision, including the decision to embed the museum within a natural landscape, as well as the technical challenges of working with water systems and integrating natural light into gallery environments. The course also addresses the complexities of expanding a successful cultural institution while maintaining architectural integrity and enhancing user experience.

Through this case study, attendees will gain insight into how architecture can support accessibility, improve environmental quality, and foster community engagement, while balancing aesthetics with performance and long-term functionality.

Photo courtesy of ©️Tim Hursley

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.