Architecture and design are important aspects of our lives. We spend much of our time indoors, so it was both relatable and interesting to hear from Noah Demarest, an architecture professional, about recent local projects that will impact us as students. Some of Noah’s projects have large implications impacting the quality of housing for Cornell students, since he has designed many of the new apartment complexes in Collegetown that me and many other students will most likely be looking into for future housing opportunities. However, the most fascinating portions of Noah’s talk, in my opinion, were rooted in the discussion of building and landscape design, as well as the conversation on ordinance laws that impact the generation of a successful project for the client.

As a student currently taking a Design and Environmental Analysis course, the process of designing a building or a landscape has become much more applicable. For instance, I would formerly never analyze the exterior or interior of a building and its salient features until I started to learn the background and methods of effective design throughout my DEA course. Noah’s discussion about how he goes about successful design, therefore, was very intriguing. For instance, Noah’s company was recently tasked with redesigning the entrance of the Reis Tennis Center, where Cornell plays their tennis matches. As he discussed the before and after photos of the center, I was captivated by the level of detail of the project and how, through his design, many of the building’s issues were solved. One such issue, where the team shop was located in a closet down a hallway, was fixed through the design of display cases at the front desk, making it easier for guests looking to purchase equipment to find what they need. I appreciated hearing about Noah’s experience in generating solutions to architectural design issues, such as the team shop dilemma, primarily because my DEA course is centered around formulating effective and functional solutions to common design problems.

Another aspect of our conversation I found interesting was the discussion of ordinances and their impact on how Noah and his team approach projects. For example, in one Collegetown apartment complex Noah designed, his team was able to find a loophole in the ordinance law regarding maximum building height. By instituting lofts, where people are able to sleep, in the apartments located in the top three floors of the apartment complex, his team was able to efficiently maximize the use of space within the building. Further, it was also fascinating, and also a bit troubling, to hear how, when constructing condos, there are no strict laws requiring accessibility for physically disabled residents like there are in apartment complexes. Thus, it’s interesting how ordinance laws vary depending on the exact use of the building. Overall, however, I enjoyed hearing about architecture and design and Noah’s work in the field. After taking my DEA course, and after finding Noah’s discussion very fascinating, I would like to possibly learn more about design, as it is a field that impacts us all every day.