Jane Lehman

Abercrombie & Fitch Corporate Headquarters, New Albany Ohio

MJ SAGAN, AIA (B.Arch. ‘82)

I was born an Architect. I did not have a choice in deciding my career. There seemed to be only one option. So, after receiving my Bachelor of Architecture degree from Penn State, I went to New York City to learn from those whose work I admired. It was not a straight line to get to where I wanted to go. The line curved, shifted, ran into dead ends. But, with each change in direction, I persevered. I looked for opportunities and went through the door that opened.

My work experience started in small designed oriented offices with potential. As each firm grew, I would evolve as well and move onto the next challenge. I was lucky to spend almost twenty years growing with the same company that eventually became an award-winning medium size firm.

Priorities change, and I found myself missing the aspects of a small design-oriented studio. MJ Sagan Architecture was next. This was the opportunity to refine my version of an architectural design studio, face a new challenge, and balance my work and personal life.

We are small group of architects and designers with a goal to maintain design quality with very personal attention. Regardless of the type, location, or scale, we accept projects that have chemistry with the clients that lead to making magic together. Creatively and responsibly meeting each project’s requirements while continuing to evolve as designers continues to be the goal. 20222022 The Building U on the Abercrombie & Fitch corporate headquarters is the new home for the Data Center, Shipping & Receiving, and related functions. Though is it a large building, it was sited in a way to provide a human scale for the employees and visitors as well as conceal the equipment. The southern end of the building is the front façade and main entry to the IT Department housed on the second and third floors. A series of projections and voids animates the elevation. The cedar clad recess reflects the entry destination with a highlighted stair leading one to the main office second floor reception area.

It was not a straight line to get to where I wanted to go. The line curved, shifted, ran into dead ends. But, with each change in direction, I persevered. I looked for opportunities and went through the door that opened.

The main conference area protuberance anchors the corner. The massing of the building is only visible if one wanders beyond the pedestrian entry. The Mailroom shares the shipping and receiving area adjacent to the exterior equipment hidden from view in the northeastern corner of the buildable site.

This project was awarded the NJ AIA Honor Award, Columbus Ohio Merit Award, SARA/NY Bronze Award of Honor and was a Jury Selection for the Penn State Architecture Department Stuckeman Works. MJ Sagan

M J Sag an A rc hi te c tur e

The PSU Department of A r c h i t e c t u r e p r o f e s s o r s prepared me to complete the requirements for my Bachelor of Architecture Degree to eventually thrive in an architectural office. But it was Professor Lou Inserra who prepared me for my Career. He found a way to finally unlock the mysteries of the design procedure that had eluded me to that point. C on v e rs a t ion s th a t w en t beyond talking about the scribbles on the yellow trace paper on my desk lead to a place to examine and dissect a n d d e c o n s t r u c t a n d reconstruct the concept and process for the architecture I was attempting to create. So many lessons learned, so much wisdom shared. History is appreciated and respected, then maybe rejected. Listen to the site. When a conceptual direction leads to a design that feels forced, it doesn’t work. Move on. Accept and acknowledge that you do not know everything and collaborate with the right people. Definition and reason are needed for every single line drawn. You generate the design rules, you can reject t h em . H o ld eve ry th in g produced to the highest level. Challenge yourself. Be proud of everything you do.

Houses in Haiti, including Destra, Croix des Bouquets, and Legane

MICHAEL STONEKING, AIA (B.Arch. ‘82)

The years since graduating have brought a wide variety of experiences. A nearly ten year apprenticeship in Philadelphia included work at small firms, nationally recognized firms, in architecture and interior design. My work experience ran the gamut- design, working drawings, client meetings, construction administration and on. I tried to learn as much as I could about as many things as I could. I knew I wanted my own practice one day and sought a foundation that would allow that dream a chance.

I moved to Virginia in 1992 to join a former colleague and set up shop. Our work has been as large as a multi-story mixed use to as small as a tree house. Maintaining a small firm has allowed the partners to remain involved with all the fun parts of the work. I get to draw every day - who would not be happy with that. We always seek creativity and meaning in the work we take on. It’s not always easy but the joy outweighs the distractions.

We’ve been involved in many projects driven by making our clients’ money or satisfying the needs of their personal lives. Those have been rewarding and it is meaningful to see people enjoy living in their environment or succeeding in their facility. But in the end I chose to share here some pro bono work we’ve done for Building Goodness Foundation. BGF has provided design and construction for communities and people in need since 1999. The group uses buildings and place-making to create the core components necessary to help communities thrive.

We collaborate with builders, engineers, craftspeople and planners. We partner with other non-profits and local community leaders in places such as Haiti and Guatemala as well in our home town of Charlottesville Virginia. I feel that as we architects grow our talents and gain experience that we put that to use, not only helping our clients, but also helping those less fortunate- those who otherwise might not have what they need to succeed. Examples here include a relief housing project following the 2010 earthquake (1000 houses built so far) and a school for an area not previously served.

20222022

Michael Stoneking

Founding Partner Stoneking von Storch Architects

School in Duklo, Haiti I get to draw every day - who would not be happy with that. We always seek creativity and meaning in the work we take on. It’s not always easy but the joy outweighs the distractions.

Professor Inserra was a great nurturer. His daily method of exposing us to the things we needed to learn was the trip to the library. During studio table crits he would eventually stand up and ask you to follow him to the architecture library. There he would with deft, if not magic, pull a book or magazine from a shelf, flip to a page and show you a real-life example of a project that seemed to embody everything you were wresting with. There was a wonder- a revelation to see the success on those pages as I’d been trying so hard to find it myself. To this day I regularly begin with clients by sharing photos, writings and drawings of projects by others- the important references that came before us. They serve to bracket our conversation and set the tone for our work together.

Before classes started we architecture students were called in to an orientation. First week at college- all abuzz about studio and projectseagerness everywhere. The orienting planned for us that d ay i nc l ud ed a rath er discomfiting message about how many of us would not ac tual l y end up b ei ng architects. Some would drop out. Some would pursue other things after graduating. Some would be in the trade but as spec writers, or field clerks and such.

Only a few would end up designing buildings. Was this a call to excellence? Was it a warning that most of us are just in the wrong place. Was it a cry-out for the careers of those before us that went south? I silently vowed to be one be of those that stayed the course. As it turned out I did. Forty-four years on and I’ve been making architecture ever since.

Penn State Architecture Students and Faculty, 1978

Editor’s Note

Forty years sounds so incredibly long ago, but as I compiled these contributions from my classmates — some of whom I had not communicated with since graduation — I easily recalled our student selves and our common experiences (Studio is life!) that culminated in a Penn State degree in Architecture. I was also amazed at both the predictableness as well as the surprises (in equal measure) represented by the wide range of careers, employment and projects pursued and accomplished, that are sketched out in this small sampling of alumni.

I know there are many more stories to tell from hundreds of Penn State architecture alums across the decades, and we plan to assemble some more for future issues of Vertices. Our individual stories from the Class of ’82 are not done, but we wanted to highlight some possible points of connection for the students of the Class of ‘22 who will be starting their next chapter, as a cohort who will also have a tremendous influence and impact on the beauty and quality of our built environment. We are . . . - Carla Bonacci, Board Member, Penn State Architecture Alumni Group

This compilation is dedicated to Professor Lou Inserra, who sparked learning and ideas that continue to guide and inspire the “life’s work” of so many of his students. We hope he would have recommended this as interesting reading to students exploring professional practice.

This content is provided anecdotally and meant for information only. The statements, views and opinions herein are personally expressed by the respective authors only, and do not represent any other organization, employers, the Architecture Alumni Group, the Stuckeman School or Penn State University.