MASS Design Group

MASS Design Group's Africa Studio is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Structural Engineer to lead and contribute to the design of innovative, sustainable, and socially impactful projects across Africa. Our multi-award-winning office, including a recent Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) Award for the Rwanda Institute of Conservation Agriculture (RICA), is dedicated to advancing justice and human dignity through design. Read more and apply: https://lnkd.in/ekJRcurM

“Architecture is not merely the act of building—it is an act of leadership. At its core, design is about moving people forward together: from a current state to a future state, from disconnection to trust, from individual aspirations to collective purpose. To achieve this, design must go beyond drawings or visions; it must tell a story—one that inspires, engages, and activates communities toward a shared future.” Storytelling is as vital as the bricks and mortar of our work. Narrative is the glue that binds people to a vision, focusing their energy and efforts toward transformation. I starts with listening and research, elevating history, centering diverse voices, and grounding design in context. By inverting the traditional design narrative—one that often starts with presenting a vision—we instead begin by understanding the stories, needs, and aspirations of the people and places we serve. Only then can we co-create a shared vision that inspires action and fosters meaningful change. Marshall Ganz’s public narrative framework—comprising the "Story of Self," "Story of Us," and "Story of Now"—offers a lens to understand how storytelling drives design leadership. By connecting personal experiences to collective goals, architects can build trust, foster shared purpose, and catalyze action. Through the inversion of narrative, storytelling becomes not just a means of communication, but a foundational process for design. -Katie Swenson Check out the full OpEd on ARCHITECT Magazine: https://lnkd.in/eiTS95Hi And a special thanks to DaMario X. Walker-Brown and Joe Christa GIRASO for sharing their stories.

NYC-area folks, join us on 26 February for a special event: 9 Ways to Make Housing for People: Design as a Multiplier of Good Come to meet and hear from Amanda Loper, AIA, LEED AP and David Baker, FAIA LEED AP of David Baker Architects ... in conversation with Katie Swenson (MASS Design Group) and Brad Leibin (Leibin Architecture, PLLC) ... at AIA New York | Center for Architecture. We are dedicating time for a discussion with the audience. I hope YOU will bring thoughts and questions about design, community engagement, housing, development, and policy. We are eager to engage emerging professionals and students, too. Special bonus for students: The first 15 students to arrive will receive a free copy of the book: 9 Ways to Make Housing for People (ORO Editions), by Loper, Baker, and Daniel Simons, FAIA. We are grateful to BŌK MODERN (Lead Sponsor) for their support, and also to Fireclay Tile (Friend) for their support of this event. These suppliers have been an important part of many DBA projects. We also greatly appreciate the engagement of Head Hi, a very special book source and space in Brooklyn. (Thank you, Alexandra Hodkowski!) They will be offering book sales on site at the event. Thank you so much to the Housing Committee, especially Nicole Vlado Torres, AIA, NOMA and Brian Loughlin, AIA APA. This is a free event. Bring a mentee! Learn more (and register) here: https://lnkd.in/geddUdNB Questions? Let me know! #HousingForPeople #DesignIsAMultiplierOfGood Salmata Kaba

🌱 The Materials Revolution 🌾 Ace McArleton, Jonsara Ruth, Chris Magwood and I will be discussing the role of bio-based materials to shape our built and grown environment, as well as our societies and ecosystems. Join the Bio-Based Materials Collective at NESEA in March. Northeast Sustainable Energy Association New Frameworks Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons School of Design RMI MASS Design Group https://lnkd.in/eNsDqgPs

Tomorrow, January 31st, is the final day to register for the 4th annual Design for Freedom Summit at the early-bird rate! Secure your spot now to attend this critical day of action and awareness to end forced and child labor in the building materials supply chain! You'll be joining hundreds of thought leaders, innovators, and experts across key sectors, all dedicated to creating a more ethical and humane future for the built environment. The Summit will include exciting announcements, compelling panels and informative roundtables, tours, an immersive jazz breakfast and more! Be part of the Design for Freedom movement! Register to attend the 2025 Summit, taking place on March 27th at Grace Farms: https://lnkd.in/eUzPcphf Thank you to our: Event Sponsors: Collaborator: Acelab, ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions - US, Advocate: Shaw Contract, MillerKnoll, Turner Construction Company Contributor: Arup, Louis Fusco Landscape Architects, MASS Design Group, SourceBlue Promo Partners: AIA Connecticut, AIA New York | Center for Architecture, Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, Brick & Wonder, BuildGreenCT, Connecticut Sustainable Business Council, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, Living Future, mindful MATERIALS, Natural Stone Institute, NOMAct, Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons School of Design, U.S. Green Building Council Media Sponsors: Architectural Record, The Architect's Newspaper, Architype, Metropolis Magazine In-Kind Sponsorship: Tony's Chocolonely

We're excited to highlight another Sappi Ideas That Matter (ITM) grant recipient: MASS Design Group and their incredible work on The Restoring Promise Toolkit! This innovative project, funded through the 2023 ITM grant, offers a design process that centers those most impacted by incarceration, inviting facilities to shift who has agency over the spaces they occupy. Through cards, posters and prompts, the toolkit helps residents and staff envision spaces of peacemaking, reconciliation, respect, and accountability. MASS Design Group has worked closely with key partners like the Vera Institute of Justice and the MILPA Collective. They have received an additional $25,000 to adapt the toolkit in partnership with the Office of Youth and Community Restoration in California, and are delivering webinars and providing printed materials to help juvenile probation departments engage youth and families to advance change. Thank you to MASS Design Group for your dedication to promoting restorative justice and making a meaningful impact on the lives of those impacted by the justice system!

We are excited to share that our partners, Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc. (POAH) and Caste Capital, submitted a Project Notification Form (PNF) to the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) earlier this month to begin the process for the redevelopment of the @West End Library and creation of affordable housing. A new 176,000 sq ft 12-story mixed-use building, located above a two-story public library will replace the existing West End Branch of the Boston Public Library. In partnership with The Architectural Team (TAT), MASS is leading the design of 119 affordable intergenerational housing apartment units for families and seniors.

BEACON OF LIGHT… Honoring the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. #MLKday Sculpture: ‘The Embrace’ Artist: Hank Willis Thomas, in collaboration with MASS Design Group Photo: MASS Design Group (1-2); Bettmann Archive (3) #mlklegacy #martinlutherkingjr #civilrights #justice #peace #sculpture #art #boston #inspiration #officeforvisualinteraction #OVI #ovilighting #visualinteraction #architecturallighting #lightingdesign #artoflightingdesign #innovationoflightingdesign

We had the pleasure of hosting a group of graduate students from the University of San Diego, accompanied by two staff members from MASS Design Group, at ALU Rwanda Campus. The visit kicked off with a meeting between the group and our faculty members who shared insights into ALU’s unique learning model, our programs, and the project-based approach that drives our students learning experiences. The group also enjoyed a campus tour, where the MASS Design team highlighted the architectural design of our campus and how it complements ALU’s unconventional learning model. We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to exchange ideas and showcase the impactful work happening at ALU. #ALU #ProjectBasedLearning #InnovativeEducation #ArchitectureAndLearning

See y'all Thursday! MASS Design Group # homemaking