The College of Creative Arts Hosts Arc + Id Alumni Reception in Chicago
A reflection of glittering city lights in the Chicago River provided a festive backdrop for 42 Miami University Architecture and Interior Design alumni to gather on December 11 at Porter Kitchen and Deck in Downtown Chicago. The College of Creative Arts (CCA) hosted the Arc + Id alumni reception as part of the #ThrivingArtists network, a collection of CCA alumni in cities across the country who have volunteered to mentor recent Miami graduates moving to their city. The network was launched with events in New York and Los Angeles in 2018.
The Chicago reception was organized in partnership with the Department of Architecture + Interior Design (Arc + Id) and University Advancement to provide an opportunity for Miami Arc + Id alumni living in Chicago to network and share memories of Oxford, OH. The group shared stories, experiences and laughter well into the evening and calls for a follow-up event were echoed throughout. Drew Nieman, Executive Vice President of Riverside Investment and Development, was the perfect partner to help coordinate the event that brought both Arc + Id alumni and current faculty together because "I work with both in Chicago, between core and shell architects for the exterior design and the interior test fits for the tenant space design, I run into even more Miami alumni during my business day. Some of them I have taught! I just completed my third stint, this fall, co-teaching a traveling studio with Craig Hinrichs of Miami for a site in Chicago. Great experience."
John Weigand, Associate Dean for the College of Creative Arts and former Chair of the Department of Architecture + Interior Design, shared that he thinks it’s important to host an event like this because “it confirms that Miami and our College want to stay connected to our alumni. We made the trip up to Chicago and made this happen, and I think people really appreciated it. I also think a huge benefit is the networking that happens. Always the matchmaker, I was introducing people all evening where I thought a connection could be made and people could benefit.” He also revealed that “it hit me at some point during the evening how successful this group is! It seemed like everyone I talked to was doing something fabulous, or working for one of the best companies in the city! I'm so proud of our Architecture and Interior Design alumni...they do great things!”
For more information about the #ThrivingArtists network visit the #thrivingartists information page. For more information about Architecture + Interior Design at Miami University, visit the Arc + Id homepage.