Out There: Design for Extreme Conditions 

March 4-6, 2026

Out There: Design for Extreme Conditions is a symposium at the NC State University School of Architecture that explores how architects respond to our planet's most challenging environments. Architects Ted Givens, AIA of Bird Studio and Dan Nelson, AIA of Designs Northwest Architects will share their expertise in designing for sites that are vulnerable to flooding, high winds, tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes and tsunamis. Through presentations, workshops and collaborative discussions, participants will examine resilient design strategies that don't just withstand nature's forces - they anticipate, adapt and endure. In an era of intensifying climate events, this symposium offers essential insights into resilient design and building practices. 

Schedule of Events:

Wednesday, March 4:

• 12 - 1:30 pm, lecture, Allred Gallery 
• 1:30 - 5:30 pm, studio visits

Thursday, March 5:

• 12 - 1:30 pm, career talk and lunch with students
• 2 - 5 pm, drawing workshop, Leazar Gallery 

Friday, March 6:

• 1:30 - 5:30 pm, studio reviews

About the Architects:

Dan Nelson, AIA is the principal architect for Designs Northwest Architects, an award-winning firm in Stanwood, Washington. As a native of the Pacific Northwest, Dan has developed place-based design strategies for architecture that whitsthands the region's most harsh environments. 

Architect and futurist Ted Givens, AIA is a founding partner of the global practice 10 Design, based in Hong Kong. He has won numerous awards for projects in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. Ted recently founded BIRD Studio, with offices in Miami and Asheville. BIRD is an international architecture firm navigating the spectrum between ultra-low income and ultra-luxury design.