About the program
The historic evolution of post industrial cities has often framed demolition as a natural endpoint for architecture—an approach that overlooks the role existing buildings and materials can play in shaping the future of our cities. The new Re-SPLAM pavilion, currently on view in Millennium Park as part of the Chicago Architecture Biennial, puts forward a provocation: what if the future of our cities depends not on replacement, but on adaptation—on extending the use, value, and performance of the materials we already have?
This conversation examines the value of existing building stock and how it can actively shape urban change, particularly when materials are treated as assets with ongoing performance potential rather than obstacles to progress. It also challenges a common assumption in contemporary building culture—that materials like wood are inherently renewable—by acknowledging that global demand for mass timber construction is outpacing the rate at which forests can regenerate. In this context, existing materials are not a secondary option, but a critical resource whose lifespan must be extended to meaningfully reduce carbon impact and material extraction.
Drawing from her reporting, journalist and critic Anjulie Rao offers critical context on demolition and how it reshapes cities materially, environmentally, and socially, revealing the hidden costs of erasure and the systems that influence what is preserved, discarded, or forgotten. In turn, Jorge Rovira and Ben Johnson present Skidmore, Owings and Merrill’s research behind the Re-SPLAM pavilion, demonstrating how architecture and engineering can propose alternative pathways. Through contemporary design tools, computation, and structural intelligence, the project explores how materials can be revalued, extended, and reintroduced into the present.
The conversatioon will be moderated by Stewart Hicks, associate professor and associate dean at the University of Illinois Chicago.
Anjulie Rao
Anjulie Rao is a journalist and critic covering the built environment. Based in Chicago, much of her work reckons with the complexities of post-industrial cities. With a focus on housing and the messy politics of revitalization, she uncovers overlapping issues surrounding social ecologies—including demolition, disinvestment, “blight,” and engineered displacement. She is the founder and editor of Weathered, a Graham Foundation-awarded publication that explored how urban life and landscapes evolve in the wintertime. Anjulie is a Lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and has served as Adjunct faculty at the University of Illinois Chicago and the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Jorge Rovira, AIA, NCARB
Senior Associate Principal, Architect, SOM
Chicago
Jorge Rovira is a Senior Associate Principal and Studio Head at SOM’s Chicago office. In roles spanning from conception to construction, Jorge spearheads multiple project teams, emphasizing innovation, technology, and craftsmanship.
A constant advocate for the humanistic, holistic approach to Architecture and Engineering, Jorge uses nature and technology as inspiration for innovation. He seamlessly integrates the local climate and site heritage into design solutions, underscoring his commitment to cities and the environment.
His fervor for complex projects propels the creation of avant-garde design, manifesting in state-of-the-art master plans and buildings, optimized with the latest advances in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and integrated digital twins for smart cities.
With a diverse portfolio, Jorge’s professional experiences encompass large-scale, complex master plans, supertall towers, civic projects, and exclusive high-end space planning. Jorge works globally across varied geomarkets, including the US, Europe, Caribbean, Middle East, China, and Australia.
Benton Johnson, PE, SE, LEED GA
Structural Engineering Principal, SOM
Chicago
Benton Johnson brings new technologies and approaches to SOM’s work in structural engineering and sustainable design. Applying his expertise in research and industry partnerships, Benton has led SOM’s timber tower research project, a multiyear initiative involving full-scale structural, fire, and acoustic testing of mass-timber systems. He has also emerged as a leader in 3D-printed buildings through collaborations with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Benton transforms new ideas into practical solutions that set the bar for future developments. His innovative approach to structural engineering results in efficient and sustainable designs that are applicable to a wide range of building typologies. At 100 Mount Street, he successfully led the design of an exposed mega bracing system, allowing for an offset core that minimizes the size, cost and carbon footprint, while maximizing leasable space for the office building in North Sydney, Australia.
Benton is a member of several industry organizations, including the American Concrete Institute, the American Wood Council, the American Institute of Steel Construction, and the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI).
Stewart Hicks
Stewart Hicks is Associate Professor and Associate Dean at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts. He is a registered architect and runs a popular YouTube channel with over 650,000 subscribers exploring architecture with humor and curiosity. Educated at University of Michigan and Princeton, he’s taught at multiple institutions and held the Hyde Chair Fellowship and MacDowell Fellowship. With partner Allison Newmeyer, his design work has been featured at Chicago Architecture Biennial, Design Miami, V&A, and Tate Modern. He’s authored publications and lectured internationally at venues including MoMA and the Graham Foundation.
