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Architect Talk: Tom Kundig

Join architect Tom Kundig for a look inside the design thinking, problem-solving and experimentation that continue to shape his distinctive and evolving practice.

  • Rows of grapevines descend a hillside toward a low, angular building overlooking a lake and distant mountains beneath dramatic clouds.Rows of grapevines descend a hillside toward a low, angular building overlooking a lake and distant mountains beneath dramatic clouds.

    Martin's Lane Winery, designed by Tom Kundig, is sculpted into the vineyard-covered hillside overlooking Okanagan Lake. Photo by Nic Lehoux.

Learn with architect Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA, principal/owner & founder of Olson Kundig, as he reveals the design thinking, problem solving, and experimentation that characterize his celebrated and ever-evolving practice.

With a reputation for extraordinary residential design rooted in interdisciplinary collaboration, Olson Kundig finds beauty and poetry in the practical and functional. This manifests in homes built on seemingly impossible sites, kinetic devices that open walls and roofs, and even moving architecture that travels via railroad track. The meticulous, handcrafted quality of this work informs an expanding commercial and civic portfolio as well, evident in such projects as the LeBron James Innovation Center at Nike World Headquarters, the Burke Museum in Seattle, and the cutting-edge Shinsegae International office building in Seoul. Tom will emphasize this side of his practice, while drawing on lessons learned through residential experimentation and pointing toward future opportunities. With offices in Seattle and New York, the firm recently opened its third location in Chicago, to support new work in the Midwest.

AIA Chicago Executive Director Jen Masengarb joins Tom in conversation.

Ticket holders are invited to a reception with light bites and refreshments beginning at 5 p.m. The program starts at 6 p.m.

Black-and-white portrait of architect Tom Kundig seated indoors, looking toward the camera, with bookshelves softly blurred in the backgroundBlack-and-white portrait of architect Tom Kundig seated indoors, looking toward the camera, with bookshelves softly blurred in the background

Tom Kundig

Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA, Principal/Owner & Founder, Olson Kundig, has spent over four decades crafting award-winning architecture across six continents. His work spans adaptive reuse developments and hospitality destinations to sports facilities and venues, museums, wineries, private homes, and more. Tom leads a team of more than 300 across offices in Seattle, New York City, and Chicago.

As one of the most recognized American architects, Tom has received some of the world's highest design honors, including more than two dozen AIA National Honor Awards and an Academy Award in Architecture from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He regularly lectures around the world and has been named by The Wallpaper* 400 as a "tastemaker" of American culture. His work and perspectives are published in five monographs—Tom Kundig: Houses, Tom Kundig: Houses 2, Tom Kundig: Works, Tom Kundig: Working Title, and Tom Kundig: Complete Houses—with a sixth monograph to be published by Monacelli Press in 2027.

Portrait of a person wearing glasses and a gray blazer, photographed indoors with a softly blurred background.Portrait of a person wearing glasses and a gray blazer, photographed indoors with a softly blurred background.

Jen Masengarb

Moderator for this talk, Jen Masengarb, Assoc AIA, serves as the Executive Director of AIA Chicago, the local chapter of The American Institute of Architects. She began at AIA Chicago in 2021 after more than three years in Copenhagen at the Danish Architecture Center where she led outreach and interpretation strategies for international visitors. Prior to her time at DAC, Jen served as the Director of Interpretation and in various educational roles for 18 years at the Chicago Architecture Center.

Portrait of a person wearing glasses and a gray blazer, photographed indoors with a softly blurred background.Portrait of a person wearing glasses and a gray blazer, photographed indoors with a softly blurred background.

Moderator

  • No image description available.No image description available.

    Jen Masengarb, Assoc AIA, serves as the Executive Director of AIA Chicago, the local chapter of The American Institute of Architects. She began at AIA Chicago in 2021 after more than three years in Copenhagen at the Danish Architecture Center where she led outreach and interpretation strategies for international visitors. Prior to her time at DAC, Jen served as the Director of Interpretation and in various educational roles for 18 years at the Chicago Architecture Center.

  • Sculptural steel spiral staircase within a concrete-and-glass winery interior.

    Martin's Lane Winery (interior). Photo by Nic Lehoux.

  • Cantilevered glass-and-steel building elevated above a landscaped campus at dusk.

    LeBron James Innovation Center at Nike World HQ. Photo courtesy of Hufton + Crow.

  • Wood-clad lakeside retreat with open-air living space overlooking water and forest.

    Montana Beach House (interior). Photo by Aaron Leitz

  • Interior corridor of the LeBron James Innovation Center with sculptural black wall panels.

    LeBron James Innovation Center at Nike World HQ. Photo courtesy of Nike.

  • Modern lakeside cabin interior with glass walls, steel fireplace and outdoor views.

    Chicken Point Cabin. Photo by Aaron Leitz