Georgia Tech College of Design

How did the neighborhood of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s childhood shape his views and the larger Civil Rights Movement? How do today’s efforts at cultural and historic preservation inspire social change? In his new book, Civil Sights, developer Gene Kansas walks us through Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn Historic District and tells the stories of the Civil Rights Movement through its buildings’ occupants and achievements. After his presentation, Clay Kiningham, RA - illustrator of the book, Jacqueline Royster, William J. Stanley III, and Ellen Dunham-Jones will discuss the lessons for designers, developers, and activists. Seating is limited — RSVP today! On campus attendees: Online attendees: https://lnkd.in/eUbGCxfU Gene Kansas: As CEO of Gene Kansas | Commercial Real Estate — an award-winning brokerage and development firm focusing on historic preservation — he has spent more than two decades championing the creative side of commercial real estate. As host of Sidewalk Radio on AM1690, Gene spent 5 seasons covering art, architecture, design, development, city planning, and preservation. And as author of Civil Sights: Sweet Auburn (UGA Press, 2025), Gene leverages the built environment to share the illuminating history of the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta's Sweet Auburn Historic District. Clay Kiningham is an architect, and the illustrator of Civil Sights. Clay holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in architecture from Georgia Tech, where he received the M.Arch program’s Top Designer award. Clay practices architecture at the Atlanta-based architecture firm Gentle Works, and teaches architecture design studios at Georgia Tech. In 2024, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation recognized him with the J. Neel Reid Prize for his commitment to preserving history through art. Jacqueline Royster, former Dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts at the Georgia Institute of Technology (2010-2019), is Professor Emerita at both The Ohio State University and Georgia Tech. A prolific author, her most recent book publications include:  Making the World a Better Place: African American Women Advocates, Activists, and Leaders, 1773-1900 (2023); Finding Sarah and Mary: Unraveling History from the Ground Up in Middle Georgia (May 2026); and The First Ship: Using Inquiry Strategies to Re-tell an Under-Told Story (in review). Hosted by the remarkable Prof. Ellen Dunham-Jones!

Calling all College of Design Alums! Join us for an opportunity to connect with current students. Real talk, real conversations, real connections hosted by the Georgia Tech Alumni Association.    Date: March 11 or March 12 Location: Virtual via Career Fair Plus Time: 10 AM - 6 PM (2 hour time blocks)  Register: https://lnkd.in/e94VmCQj   #gtcollegeofdesign #gtalumni #GTDESIGN

The future of redevelopment depends on collaboration across industry, academia, and the public sector. The 3rd Annual Joint Conference on Real Estate brings together leaders from across metro Atlanta to examine how obsolete spaces can be repositioned to meet today’s needs...and what it will take to move projects forward in the year ahead. Hosted by the Georgia Tech College of Design and ULI Atlanta, the conference will convene developers, faculty, students, and civic leaders for a half-day of discussion, case studies, and connection around adaptive reuse and redevelopment across the region. The day wraps with a networking reception bringing together ULI members, Georgia Tech faculty and students, and regional development leaders to exchange ideas and build relationships that support the future of redevelopment across Atlanta and the Southeast. 🕐 Program begins: 1:00 PM 🍸 Networking reception: 5:00–7:00 PM 📍 The Foundry at Puritan Mill 🗓 March 12, 2026 🔗 Register: https://lnkd.in/eqPTPynr Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Georgia Tech School of Building Construction

Connections that shape careers. The Spring 2026 Architecture & City and Regional Planning Career Fair brought together employers and students for a day of conversations, interviews, and new opportunities. Co-hosted by the Georgia Tech School of Architecture and Georgia Tech School of City & Regional Planning, the fair highlighted the strength of the College of Design’s career services and the pipeline from classroom to practice. From architecture to urban planning, GIS, and urban analytics, our students are career-ready and in demand. Events like this ensure they’re building relationships with industry leaders and stepping confidently into internships and full-time roles across the built environment. At Georgia Tech, career preparation is embedded across the College of Design, with dedicated support that connects students to firms, agencies, and organizations shaping cities and communities worldwide. #GTDesign #GeorgiaTech #Architecture #UrbanPlanning #CareerReady #BuiltEnvironment

Valentine’s Day at GT Design 💛 From hard hats to wedding vows — Lily and Morgan are proof that great partnerships can start in the studio. Lily, a Construction Science and Management student in the Georgia Tech School of Building Construction, and Morgan, a Computational Media major, first met at Georgia Tech. From Wreck Camp to “I do,” their story is a reminder that the College of Design isn’t just where buildings and ideas take shape — it’s where lasting connections are built, too. This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating the Yellow Jacket couples who found love while designing their futures. 💍✨ We can’t wait to see what Lily and Morgan — and all of our GT Design couples — build next. Happy Valentine’s Day from the College of Design. 💛 #GTDesign #DesignedForThis #ValentinesDay #GeorgiaTech

From underperforming office parks to historic industrial corridors, Atlanta is finding new life in obsolete space. At the 3rd Annual Joint Conference on Real Estate, industry leaders, developers, and public-sector partners will examine how adaptive reuse is reshaping the region’s built environment. Program highlights include: • A panel on repurposing obsolete space across retail, office, and mixed-use developments • A fireside chat on the economy, capital markets, and financing adaptive reuse • Case studies exploring how successful projects overcame zoning, capital, and policy challenges • Perspectives from confirmed leaders including Egbert Perry (The Integral Group), Brian McGowan (CIM / Centennial Yards), Herbert Ames (Edens / Lulah Hills), and Malloy Peterson (Selig / The Works) Fireside chat focus: How will developers be able to raise capital for adaptive reuse projects? Hear from Egbert Perry of The Integral Group on how critical community-building projects can be financed, in a discussion moderated by Crystal Edmonson of the Atlanta Business Chronicle. How are economic headwinds, capital costs, and investor sentiment shaping redevelopment today? This candid conversation will unpack the forces influencing financing, timing, and feasibility—and what developers and communities can expect in the year ahead. 📍 The Foundry At Puritan Mill 🗓 March 12, 2026 🔗 Register: https://lnkd.in/eqPTPynr

Last week, the Georgia Tech College of Design community came together to celebrate the people shaping the future of design. At the second annual Design Excellence Awards, we honored alumni, faculty, industry leaders, and donors whose work is advancing the built environment, creative technology, and design professions across Atlanta and around the world. The evening also marked a record-breaking fundraising year for the College of Design in 2025, made possible by generous supporters whose investments continue to expand opportunities for our students and faculty. Throughout the program, honorees reflected on the role Georgia Tech played in their journeys—and the importance of mentorship, opportunity, and community in shaping meaningful careers. As one recipient shared, recognition from the College is powerful because it reminds us to “always believe in the person coming up behind you.” Take a look inside the event and learn about this year’s honorees: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eAeXAGJc #GTDesign #WeCanDoThat #GeorgiaTech #HigherEd #BuiltEnvironment

Two College of Design research centers have teamed up for an amazing event next week! Details below

Applications are now open for the Pre-College Program at the Georgia Tech College of Design! 🎉 This immersive program features two-week, in-person workshops led by our Schools in: • Architecture • Building Construction • Industrial Design • Music Technology • City & Regional Planning (new this year!) Designed for rising juniors and rising seniors, the Pre-College Program gives high school students a real look at what it’s like to study design at Georgia Tech—learning directly from our world-class faculty, working alongside current students, and engaging with the College of Design community. It’s more than a summer program—it’s a glimpse into the future of design education. 🔗 Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gwHxQsak #GTDesign #PreCollege #DesignEducation #FutureDesigners #GeorgiaTech