FX Collaborative Information Session

Austin Sakong ‘11 MS.AUD is the Design Director of FXCollaborative’s Cultural and Educational Studio, where he focuses exclusively on projects for mission-driven institutions, including K-12, higher education, performing arts, international schools, and non-profit organizations. His practice is informed by his belief that architecture and urban design are humanist pursuits, and that the quality of our built environment, like that of literature, hinges on its ability to articulate meaning, stories, and life.

Austin received his Bachelor of Architecture from the Cooper Union, and his Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University. He teaches architecture and urban design at Columbia University and New York University; and is an active member in his community in Jersey City, where he serves as a Commissioner on the Jersey City Historic Preservation Commission. He has authored two white papers—Room to Learn: Questions and Strategies in Designing Learning Environments; and Boundary Issues: Built Form, Site Form, Urban Form—as part of Podium, FXCollaborative’s ongoing series of research papers.

Kurt Cheang '22 MS.AAD is an architectural designer at FXCollaborative who is passionate about designing thoughtful and impactful spaces. He believes in designing with context and that we must implement innovative ways of designing with our environment to future-proof new projects.

Born in Hong Kong, Kurt’s design philosophy has been impacted by time spent in megacities around the world. He loves experiencing other cultures and history through cooking and film photography. He completed his Bachelor of Architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology and his Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design at Columbia University.

Kurt has experience working on multifamily residential projects and institutional, and educational projects. He also loves the challenge of complex public projects with interesting programmatic possibilities.

Tyler Cukar, MSAUD. AICP, LEED AP ND, is a Senior Associate at FXCollaborative where he practices at the intersection of urban design, planning, and architecture. Tyler approaches each project with an eye toward community and interconnectivity by questioning ‘who’ in addition to ‘what’. Bringing professional experience in architecture, landscape architecture, transportation design, urban design, and planning, he weaves these dynamic complexities together with work on some of New York City’s largest planning projects, including the Penn Station District Plan, the Sunnyside Yard Feasibility Study, the Revisioning of Fifth Avenue, and the closure & reuse of Riker’s Island. Through creating connections that holistically consider social, economic, and physical particularities, Tyler is responsible for shaping the organization and programmatic concepts that come to define spaces and cities.

In addition, Tyler has extensively researched race and social equity in the built environment and has been published, featured on NPR podcasts, and lectured at multiple National AIA and APA events on the topics. Tyler aims to form equitable communities and activate change that both maintains the integrity of a place and acts as a catalyst for the future.

Tyler is a fellow at the Urban Design Forum and a frequent guest critic at numerous universities including Columbia, Pratt, Parsons, NYU, and Cooper Union.

Shannon Rodriguez is Director of Human Resources and Office Services at FXCollaborative, an architecture, interiors, and planning design firm based in New York City, and has been with the firm for over 19 years. She is responsible for all facets of Human Resources including performance management, mentoring and training programs, employee relations, recruiting, staffing, and benefits administration

Shannon has been instrumental in establishing FXCollaborative’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including using a recruiting process that increases the diversity of applicants and minimizes hiring biases; providing an inclusive environment through training, mentoring, and support; and maintaining a compensation review process that includes pay equity analysis. Shannon is also responsible for the firm’s internship program, providing opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds. As a member of the AIA Large Firm Round Table, Shannon takes part in cross-industry dialogue about the future of architecture, delving into the nuts and bolts of benefits as well as affirmative action and recruiting. Shannon is an advocate for all employees to foster and strengthen our community of vibrant and diverse voices.

Shannon holds a Legal Studies degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

The conversation will be moderated by Teonna Nichol Cooksey '24 M.Arch/MS.UP. and Shrey Patel '24 MS.AUD.

When: July 9th, 11:00 am Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Where: 115 Avery Hall

Please register in advance for this meeting in-person

Click here for the Zoom link registration

This event is hosted by Karen Cover, Associate Director of GSAPP Career Services for the 2024 graduating class.

Limited space is also available for currently enrolled GSAPP students.