CCA Architecture Division

Thursday April 16th!
5:30pm-7pm
Nave Presentation Space

Join us for the final installment of the Spring 2026 Lecture Series with Summer Islam!

In this lecture, Summer Islam will present the work of Material Cultures, a design and research practice exploring the relationship between natural materials, low-carbon construction, and construction technology. Drawing on projects and research that link architecture to landscapes of extraction and production, the talk will examine how bio-based materials, regenerative land practices, and alternative supply chains can reshape building systems toward more socially just and environmentally responsible forms of construction.

Registration Link in our Bio!


(Headshot: Ryan Prince. Courtesy Material Cultures)

👏👏HUGE Congratulations to Gabriela Mierkalne ( .m.design ), who’ll be graduating from our BFA Interior Design program in a few months, for being one of the three CCA winners this year!
Here’s what Gabriela has to say about this achievement: “I’m so honored to be part of this year’s Future 100. Craft, community, and sustainability are at the core of how I approach design, and being recognized for that work means more than I can say. I’m so excited to be graduating from CCA and to be stepping into the next stage of my career, this feels like a really beautiful way to close this chapter. Thank you to my instructors and peers who have shaped me along the way. Congratulations to all the winners!”
Take a look at Gabriela’s fantastic work!
1-3: CCA Alumni Social Club; Advanced Studio; Prof. Katherine Lambert; FA25
4: California Rest Stop, Advanced Studio, Amy Campos SP26
5-6: Materiality and Space; Prof. Margaux Schindler & Amy Campos; FA24
7-9: California Rest Stop 2, Advanced Studio, Amy Campos, SP26

👏👏HUGE Congratulations to Ziching Ooi (), who’ll be graduating from our Bachelor of Architecture program in a few months, for being one of the three CCA winners this year!

Here’s what Zi has to say about this achievement: “Being recognized as one of the 2026 Metropolis Future 100 is such a meaningful milestone in my architecture journey. I owe this recognition to my parents, who sacrificed so much to bring that insecure scared little girl all the way from Malaysia to the United States, pushing me out of my comfort zone, giving me the opportunity to step onto the global stage and prove that I belong here. This moment is for my younger self, who never thought that any of this could be possible for her– your dreams are coming true. Thank you to the dean, Keith, for nominating me and all of my professors who pushed me precisely because they believed in me.”

Check out some of Zi’s standout projects!
1-4: Temporal Roots; Integrated Studio: Community in Flux; Professor Evan Jones, Matthew Waxman, John Ware; SP2025
5-6: Aeondance; Studio 3: Mediatheque; Professor Olivia Ramos, Craig Scott; FA2023
7-10: Symbiosis; Advanced Studio: Retrofitting Work; Professor Janette Kim; FA2024

👏👏HUGE Congratulations to Anna Myasnikova (.pinomya ), who’ll be graduating from our BFA Interior Design program in a few months, for being one of the three CCA winners this year!

Here’s what Anna has to say about this achievement: “I still can’t believe that I’ve been named a nominee for the Metropolis Future100! I am deeply grateful to my instructors at CCA for their mentorship, support, and belief in my professional growth. Throughout my studies, I came to understand that interior design carries a profound responsibility. I once viewed it primarily as an aesthetic practice; however, with each semester, my perspective shifted toward a more conscious and purposeful approach. In my work, I strive to create spaces that are meaningful and memorable while minimizing environmental harm. I am particularly interested in strategies that not only reduce impact but also contribute to the restoration of natural systems. I aim to make decisions that do not become a burden for future designers, but instead offer a foundation for adaptability and continued use. I see this nomination as a confirmation that I am moving in the right direction. As an international student - and a former art teacher and artist who chose to transform her path - this recognition is especially meaningful. It encourages me to trust my values, continue growing, and design spaces that support both people and the environment.”
Take a look at Anna’s fantastic work!
1-4: Interwoven:CCA Alumni Social Club; Advanced Studio; Prof. Katherine Lambert; FA25
5-8: Light of Ice; Lighting Design; Prof. Margo Majewska; SP25
9-10: Installation “Sunset Shimmer”; Materiality and Space; Prof. Margaux Schindler & Amy Campos; FA24

This Monday!
March 30th, 530pm-630pm
Nave Presentation Space

Please join us for the Spring 2026 Sandra Vivanco Memorial Lecture with Andrew Freear

In this lecture, Andrew Freear will present the work of Auburn University’s Rural Studio, a long-standing design-build program rooted in Hale County that combines architectural education with hands-on community building. Drawing on decades of work in rural Alabama’s Black Belt, the talk will explore how design-build practice can serve as both a mode of architectural education and a tool for advancing sustainable, equitable living and civic engagement in under-resourced communities.

Nataly Gattegno & Jason Kelly Johnson present METAXIS
🗓 Thurs, Mar 19
🕔 5:00–6:15 PM
📍 Nave Presentation Space
🥂 Reception to follow in the Campus Gallery 6:30pm-7:30pm

On the occasion of their exhibition, the Jason Kelly Johnson and Nataly Gattegno of FUTUREFORMS reflect on a decade of work operating between art and architecture. From models and prototypes to large-scale public sculptures, they’ll share how their iterative process treats architecture as a dynamic field of relationships rather than a fixed object.

Case study models from our B.Arch and M.Arch Materials & Methods course with Brendon Levitt and Dave Maynard.
Smart analysis, precise craft, and flat-out great models.

Join us Thursday November 20th for a book launch with Alexis Madrigal!
🕠5:30pm-7:00pm
📌Nave Presentation Space

Journalist and author Alexis Madrigal will discuss his new book, The Pacific Circuit, a sweeping portrait of Oakland through the life of environmental justice activist Margaret Gordon. Madrigal’s talk will explore what Oakland—and cities everywhere—owe to their residents, whether or not they own property, in an era of profound transformation.

Alexis Madrigal is a journalist based in Oakland, co-host of KQED’s Forum, and a contributing writer at The Atlantic, where he co-founded The COVID Tracking Project. He is the author of Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology and The Pacific Circuit (MCD x FSG, 2025).

Register to Attend with the link in our Bio!

Portrait Credit: Miya Hirayabashi

Join us Thursday October 30th for a lecture with Kelley Perumbeti!
🕠5:30pm-7:00pm
📌Nave Presentation Space

Perumbeti will present the work of her practice, Office of Tangible Space!
With studios in San Francisco and Brooklyn, the firm is recognized for projects that blur the boundaries between interiors, architecture, and objects, using material, form, and atmosphere to create spaces that are at once functional, evocative, and human-centered. In her lecture, Perumbeti will share recent projects and reflect on the ideas that shape the practice’s distinctive approach to design.

Register to Attend with the link in our Bio!

Portrait by Sahra Jajarmikhayat

Check out this event Janette Kim’s partnered studio and seminar are working on this Fall semester! The 980 Block Party: Reimagine the Future of I-980 brings together CCA students, local artists, activists, and community developers to envision the decommissioning of the I-980 freeway as an opportunity of reparations toward the Black West Oakland residents displaced by the freeway, and reimagine a collective future for the whole Oakland community. There will be a big block party at Preservation Park on Sat Oct 25th that collects and shares stories from West Oaklanders and engagement tools, prompting interaction and feedback from community members on the site’s future. The event will feature works from CCA students, with additional support from CCA student volunteers helping out on the day of!

There will be hands-on, creative activities such as: Large-Scale Site Mapping, Physical 3D Modeling, Steamroller Art Block Printing, Video Screenings and so much more!

You can find the event and webpage link in our Bio!

Event poster designed by CCA student