AK Design Collaboratory
A space for experiential learning that incorporates shared vision, co-design, and sustainable solutions rooted in Arctic community wisdom. Together, we imagine what home, resilience, and future can look like in the North.
PROJECTS
THE TEAM
-
Lisa D. McNair is interim Co-Executive Director at the Institute for Creativity, Arts and Technology (ICAT) and Professor of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. She is an Executive Committee member of a2ru and Editorial Board member of Ground Works journal. Her research and teaching interests include developing interdisciplinary learning experiences that are research-informed, building networks between the university and industry and community sectors, and expanding engagement in science, engineering, arts, and design. McNair’s interdisciplinary experience and research, as well as expertise in qualitative data collection and analysis, are directly related to this project’s plans to develop an arts-integrated model of innovation that can be applied in a range of settings.
Contact: lmcnair@vt.edu
-
Todd Ferry is an architect, educator, and researcher known for his pioneering contributions to public interest design. He serves as a Senior Researcher at Portland State University’s Center for Public Interest Design, where he previously spent over a decade as Associate Director developing innovative programs focused on alternative shelter, mobile placemaking, and community visioning. In addition, he is the Studio Director at Pendulum Architects, leading the firm’s Mid-Atlantic projects that span from stadium architecture to off-grid housing solutions. Ferry holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Georgia.
Contact: rtferry@gmail.com
-
Todd E. Nicewonger holds a Ph.D. in Applied Anthropology from Columbia University, an M.Ed. in Anthropology and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an M.A. in Adult, Occupational, and Continuing Education from Kansas State University. His research focuses on the cultural practices of makers and growers, examining how these practices relate to broader socio-political issues. Since 2020, he has been conducting ethnographic research on housing insecurity in Alaska. Additionally, he actively participates in transdisciplinary projects within academia, exploring how tools from the arts can promote innovative research and collaborative learning.
Contact: toddn@vt.edu
CONTRIBUTORS
-
Emily Vasquez: is a Biomedical Science student and researcher at Virginia Tech focused on sustainable housing and community resilience through the AK Design Collaboratory. She helped design and build the Collaboratory’s website and contributed to the Arctic Entryways project with Virginia Tech’s IDPro team. Currently, she mentors the new Arctic IDPro team for Fall 2025. As Director of Public Relations for the Quality of Life Plus (QL+) Student Chapter, Emily leads outreach and design efforts that develop custom assistive technologies improving the quality of life for individuals with physical challenges.
Contact information: vemily@vt.edu
Ananya Agrawal: is a junior in Materials Science and Engineering. She contributed to the Arctic Entryways project by researching materials suitable for filling and insulating structural gaps. She also explored and prototyped storage solutions for the compact entryway, ensuring that the design preserved the cultural significance of the space. In addition, she investigated construction methods used in regions with melting permafrost to inform resilient design strategies.
Contact Information: ananyaa@vt.edu
-
Sergio Palleroni: Professor and director of the Center for Public Interest Design at Portland State University
Contact: sergiop@pdx.edu
Ron Janus Acob: Ron Acob is an M.ARCH student at Portland State University and the Outreach and Engagement Designer Center for Public Interest Design Design Corps Fellow. Ron graduated from his Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 2023 and has served as a Design Corps Fellow. He is also an editor with the Design for the Common Good Network. Ron’s work focuses on leading efforts related to the research, development, demonstration, and dissemination of Indigenous wisdom that can inform contemporary environmental stewardship and environmentally-conscious public interest design practices in the built environment. One of his notable works is being the host of the “Oak Savanna and ITECK Center: The Voices at the Intersection of Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge and Architecture Series”. Ron’s work focuses on centering community engagement within design processes. As a creative, he emphasizes the importance of bringing stories and narratives into architecture in various forms (artwork, writing, graphics, music, play, podcast, videos, photos, and many more).
Contact: ronjan2@pdx.edu
Anthony Westwolf is a fourth-year architecture student at Portland State University whose work focuses on community-driven and Indigenous-led design. Growing up around his family’s construction business inspired his interest in building, while his studies have deepened his commitment to designing for social equity and environmental resilience. Through his collaborations with the Center for Public Interest Design, he has contributed to projects such as the Alaska Design Collaboratory and the AR Sandbox for Climate-Impacted Communities. Anthony aims to become one of the few practicing Indigenous architects in the U.S. and to use architecture as a tool for cultural and ecological restoration.
Contact: antkowa@pdx.edu
-