SEASONS GREETINGS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE SDA FAMILY!

2016 has been a rough year in terms of politics (#NotMyPresident) and passings (#RIPZahaHadid)...but it still has had more than a few highlights worth sharing....and, of course, we want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year and thank you for being a part of ours. We've been blessed with fantastic clients, amazing collaborators, and a global network of supporters -- thank you all. Here's a quick snapshot of highlights from the year showcasing what we've been up to in 2016 and what we have planned for 2017...

Thanks once again for your continued support of forward-thinking design research and innovation...We wish you all a blessed and prosperous 2017!!

PROJECTS & PROTOYPES

We are now entering our 6th year of existence -- and learning to deal with the ups and downs of practice. This year unfortunately saw a number of significant projects paused or canceled for various economic and political reasons, however we were very pleased to complete the design and construction of the following projects:

• Data Moire Feature Wall for the IBM Watson Experience Center in San Francisco, CA
• Data Swarm Feature Wall for the IBM Watson Experience Center in Cambridge, CA
• Relaxation Station Microlibrary for USC Norris Medical Library

HONORS & AWARDS

In 2016, we were blessed with continued recognition from our peers in the form of multiple awards at the local, national and international levels. This year's honors included:

• AIA California Young Architect Award (Alvin Huang, AIA)
• AIA|LA Emerging Practice Award (SDA)
• AIA|LA Design Award (Pure Tension Pavilion)
• ACSA Faculty Design Award (Durotaxis Chair)
• Plan Awards - Industrial Design (La Burbuja)
• Plan Awards - Transportation (Pure Tension)
• Plan Awards - Hospitality (The Groove)

PUBLICATIONS & EXHIBITIONS

2016 provided us with a number of opportunities to share our work through both publications, publicity features and exhibitons! We are grateful for the opportunity and interest in our work. Here's a small selection of press features and exhibitions from the past year:  

• Integrating Innovation in Architecture
• Spotlight - an interview about projects, practice and pedagogy
• AIAYAF Connection Magazine
• 5 Ways Architects + Postdigital Artisans are Modernizing Craftsmanship
• The AIA|LA Presidential Honoree Interview
• Arch Paper feature on Central Plaza Lampang 
• Arch Paper feature on the Groove@CentralWorld
• Outside: AA Public Works Exhibition, Architectural Association, London
• Rejected Exhibition, Team B Architecture Gallery, Cincinatti, OH
• Specificities Exhibition, HKU SSC Gallery, Shanghai
• Microlibraries in the Everywhere, USC, Los Angeles

LECTURES & SYMPOSIA

2016 brought us around the globe and back as we were honored to participate in a number of lectures, panel discussions, and symposia around the world. We want to thank the many people, institutions and organizations who have invited, hosted and supported us:

• Downtown Design & Character by DTLA2040 (Los Angeles, CA)
• Now Next Future Conference by the AIA California (Los Angeles, CA)
• ACADIA Conference by U. Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
• Mosaic of Episodes by IIA/Huddle (Bangalore, India)
• Urban Intelligence Symposium by the Architectural Association (Shanghai, China)
• ACSA International Conference (Santiago, Chile)
• Corrupting Fuller Lecture at Museo Tamayo (Mexico City, Mexico)
• MDes Final Project Colloquium at Harvard GSD (Cambridge, MA)
• ACSA National Conference (Seattle, WA)
• Digital Craft Lab lecture at CCA (San Francisco, CA)

DESIGN RESEARCH

In addition, we were able to publish a number of articles and papers about the design research and design experimentation we are conducting in the office. Design as a form of research is the fundamental way in which we work to innovate. Here are some of the book chapters and peer-reviewed papers published in 2016:

• "Gradient Logics” by Alvin Huang, in Mixed Matters: A Multi-material Design Compendium, Edited by Kostas Grigoriadis
• "From Bones to Bricks: Designing the 3D Printed Durotaxis Chair and La Burbuja Lamp" by Alvin Huang, Acadia 2016: Post Human Frontiers, Edited by Sean Ahlquist, Kathy Velikov & Matias del Campo
• "Gradient Logics: From Artifact to Architecture" by A. Huang, ACSA International Conference 2016: Probing (Dis)Global Networks, Edited by A. Andia, U. Bonomo, M. Cortes, D. Cupkova, & V. Parlac

MEDIA APPEARANCES

This year also brought about a couple unique and very fun media opportunities to share our ideas and experiences. Alvin had a great time in conversation with the fantastically charming and intelligent crew of archi-geeks on the Archinect Sessions Podcast.  Check it out here:

• Grounded Research: Alvin Huang of Synthesis Design + Architecture on bringing computational design to life, on Archinect Sessions #82

In a truly unique opportunity, Alvin was featured as a "Chinese American Original" along with many other talented Chinese American creatives. Check out the video feature here:

• This is American Chinese Originality: In conversation with creative thought leaders: Andrea Cherng, Alvin Huang, Jennifer 8 Lee, Lisa Ling, Melvin Mar, Steven Wong & Gene Luen Yang

TEACHING

2016 marks the 5th year of teaching for Alvin Huang at the USC School of Architecture, where he is a Tenure-track Assistant Professor. This past fall, Alvin co-taught an advanced graduate design studio with Ma Yansong of MAD Architects which focused on the design of experimental skyscrapers of over 500m in height in NYC and Shenzhen that challenge the conventions of the traditional hi-rise typology as a symbol of power and economic prosperity through the integration of nature and humanity. Many thanks to the all-star jury including Thom Mayne, Neil Denari, Heather Roberge, Wendy Fok, Patrick Tighe, Doris Sung, and Cliff Pearson.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Finally, if you aren't already following us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or Twitter - here's your chance to follow our feeds and keep up to date with images, videos and information about our projects, research and experiences -- both inside the studio and out. We try to stay active on social media as a way of not only sharing our work but also as a means to share the things that inspire us and the way in which we view the world around us.
 

@synthesisDNA on Facebook
@synthesisDNA on YouTube
@synthesisDNA on Twitter
@synthesisDNA on Instagram

 NEXT: WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2017...

With 2016 in the rear view and 2017 on the horizon, we are working hard to keep the momentum going in the New Year through new design projects, research and ideas. We're excited to announce that construction has started on our largest project to date, the Hakka Performance Center, a 2000 Seat Performance Hall and 80 Room Boutique Hotel in Yongding, China. We remain committed to continue to produce innovative design work that not only challenges convention through technological, material and computational innovation, but also work that purposefully enlivens the public imagination and makes a case for the role of innovated architecture in our contemporary creative design culture. If you are interested in finding out more, please check out our 2016 SDA Profile.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!