Spring DesignNite – RESILIENCE: Meeting Challenges with Connection, Contemplation, and Transformation

Join AIA New Jersey for an inspiring Spring DesignNite lecture with acclaimed architect Steven Ehrlich, FAIA, as he explores the theme of resilience in architecture through the lenses of connection, contemplation, and transformation. Drawing from more than 45 years of practice and a globally recognized portfolio of work, Ehrlich will share how architects can respond creatively to uncertainty, climate challenges, cultural shifts, and evolving community needs through thoughtful and purposeful design.

As the founder of the Award-winning firm: Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects, Ehrlich has built a legacy of work rooted in his philosophy of Multicultural Modernism—an approach shaped by six formative years living, teaching, and traveling through North and West Africa.  Inspired by the sustainable wisdom of traditional regional architecture, his work demonstrates how design can bridge cultures, respond to place, and elevate the human experience.

This presentation will highlight projects and lessons learned from decades of practice, revealing how resilience is not simply about durability, but about adaptability, empathy, and creating meaningful connections between people, community, and environment. Ehrlich will also reflect on current work featured in the American Pavilion at the 2025 Architecture Biennale in Venice and discuss how the profession can embrace transformation in an era of rapid change.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of architecture’s most influential voices.