Ennead at EARCOS
We look forward to meeting you at the 2023 EARCOS Leadership Conference. Please join our Education Center Leaders, Alex and Minh at the workshops they will co-host with fellow EARCOS partners.
A Principal at Ennead Architects, Alex’s creative approach is driven by the belief that design and institutional culture can merge to create intellectual communities that prioritize learning over teaching and teamwork over individual achievement.
In addition to his project-related responsibilities, he directs the firm’s Center for Education, focusing on exploring and educating on innovations in Higher Education and K-12 projects. Alex speaks regularly at conferences around the country on his design work and on issues in higher education. Recent speaking engagements include 2019 SCUP International and Southern Region Conferences and the 2019 Tradeline University Facilities Conference. Alex has taught architecture at Rice University and Lehigh University.
Education Experience
Higher Education
The University of Texas at Austin, Cockrell School of Engineering, Gary L. Thomas Energy Engineering Building
The University of Texas at Austin, Cockrell School of Engineering, Engineering Education and Research Center (EERC)
The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, Robert B. Rowling Hall
Purdue University, College of Science Master Plan
Purdue University, Flex Lab Facility
Purdue University, Chaney-Hale Hall of Science
Purdue University, Dudley and Lambertus Hall
Stanford University, Bass Biology Building
Stanford NYC, Master Plan
Johns Hopkins University, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue
Georgia Institute of Technology, Expansion of Tech Square
The Ohio State University Biomedical and Materials Engineering Complex
City University of New York, Medgar Evers College, Academic Building I
NYU Langone Health, Tisch Hospital
Education, K-12
Colegio San Ignacio
Concordia International School Shanghai, Pudong Campus Realignment Study
Seoul Foreign School, New High School
Frank Sinatra School of the Fine Arts
Seoul Foreign School Facilities Master Plan
Minh Tran is an Associate Principal and education programmer and planner at Ennead Architects. She clearly defines problems and creates viable solutions by aligning the programming requirements of the project with the client’s ultimate aspirations. Her goals stem from her holistic approach to the life of a project. Minh combines her management skills with her interest in how design and planning solutions mediate a project’s needs to achieve the school’s vision for teaching and learning.
Education Experience
The American School in Japan Master Plan, Tokyo, Japan
Concordia International School Shanghai, Pudong Realignment Study, Shanghai, China
East Harlem Tutorial Program, Scholars Academy High School, New York, NY
Sidwell Friends School, Comprehensive Master Plan, Washington, DC
The Spence Schools, Optimization Study, New York, NY
The Westminster Schools Master Plan Refinement, Atlanta, GA
Stanford ChEM-H and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute (Chemistry, Engineering, Medicine, and Human Health) Stanford, CA
The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, Future Growth Planning Study, Austin, TX
The University of Texas at Austin, Cockrell School of Engineering, Energy Engineering Building Master Plan Update and Formation Study, Austin, TX
EARCOS Workshops
Promoting Belonging: A case study in advancing wellbeing and pedagogy through campus design
Friday, October 27, 2023
Session 4: 10:00am – 11:15am, Room: Philippines II
How can a campus foster a sense of belonging and promote social/emotional wellbeing? Using the experiences from the audience and the presenters, this session will reveal principles that can create an inclusive and safe learning community. The American School in Japan will be used as a relevant case study in applying these principles to practice, resulting in a transformational future vision for learning environments at ASIJ that will create a sense of connection and belonging for all.
Using Post-Occupancy Analysis to Create a More Inclusive Campus
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Session 7: 10:00am – 11:15, Room: Philippines I
Seoul Foreign School has evaluated its new high school, completed five years ago, to determine how well it is meeting the needs of the community. The analysis has identified several adjustments that can EASILY be made to craft a more inclusive and welcoming environment. SFS will present its findings and engage the audience in a discussion of lessons learned on other campuses.
Ennead’s Education Center Leadership
Ennead’s Centers of Excellence were established to codify the firm’s experience in specific typologies and to optimize and share expertise across the office. The Ennead Education Center is led by leaders with expertise in both the Higher Education and K-12 Sectors.
The Education Center maintains research and data on the K-12 educational landscape, including trends in best practices, programming, teaching methodologies, benchmarking facility sizes (nationally and internationally), program types (conventional and IB), and ever-changing developments in AV/IT infrastructure. The Center meets bi-weekly to review current K-12 projects, discuss new environmental approaches to improve learning, and to sponsor lectures by guests from the broader educational community. This affords the staff associated with the Educational Center expanded perspectives on designing for K-12 institutions, which in turn gives them the confidence to question conventional wisdom and deliver truly innovative and transformative leaning environments.
Alex O’Briant
Education Leader
Minh Tran
K-12 Education Leader
International School Expertise
Our facilities for international schools respond to the mission-driven priorities of these institutions. Buildings are shaped by international best practices and the needs of diverse school communities. Designs responds to global contexts, cultural concerns and architectural traditions while incorporating advanced opportunities for collaborative learning and flexible teaching modalities.
Selected Clients
The American School in Japan
Branksome Hall
Concordia International School
Lycee Francais de New York
Seoul Foreign School