Architecture Career Roundtable
Join us for a discussion about career trajectories in architecture for this unprecedented time moderated by Associate Professor and Program Director for Architecture, Uli Dangel. See below the roundtable panelists.
Amy Biediger, Director of HR + Associate Principal | Perkins&Will
Jen Bussinger, Principal + Interior Design Director | Page
Craig Dykers, Founding Partner | Snøhetta
Michael Hsu, Founder + Principal | Michael Hsu Office of Architecture
Kimberly Jackson, Managing Director | AvroKO
Alex O’Briant, Associate Principal | Ennead Architects
The event will be broadcasted on Wednesday, August 5 live at 12:00pm CST on the UTSOA YouTube Channel. RSVP your attendance here.
Questions? Contact utsoa-careers@utexas.edu.
Panelist Bios
Amy Biediger, Director of HR + Associate Principal | Perkins&Will
Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Amy was passionate about design from a young age.
Always making her own clothing and jewelry, she most enjoys creating original pieces. When it comes to human resources and design, Amy believes in fighting hard for talent that can drive those original projects - a difficult but important leadership position. She loves the creative part of her job and is excited most by identifying people’s talents and finding the perfect role for them within the firm.
Committed to maintaining a strong work-life balance, Amy works hard throughout the day so she can enjoy evenings with her husband, two daughters, and the family’s adorable sheltie. In her free time, Amy volunteers with her daughters through Park Cities VOCO. Helping others feel good about themselves is something Amy finds incredibly gratifying and hopes to pass along to her daughters. She loves to play tennis, which she has played since high school, and practices hot yoga.
Amy just celebrated her 19th year with Perkins and Will and has been a part of the growth and success of the Dallas office from 56 employees to over 250, the Houston office with the acquisition of B2HK and Genesis, the Austin office with the acquisition of LauckGroup, the Denver office with the acquisition of Sink Combs Dethlefs and their newest office, Monterrey, Mexico.
Jen Bussinger, Principal + Interior Design Director | Page
Jen Bussinger has been immersed in workplace design for over two decades. Her passion is the workplace and how it can impact our life in a positive way. She has an extensive portfolio that includes commercial interiors environments from corporate headquarters for technology companies to university spaces, healthcare and law offices to the firm. Bussinger is known for combining strong management skills with an ability to understand what clients truly need and an accomplished design sense.
These traits have served Bussinger well on notable projects such as FIRMSPACE, National Domestic Violence Hotline headquarters and multiple Viasat facilities. Her typical client roster includes CEOs, building owners, commercial brokers, and facilities directors seeking commercial interiors that function well, make users feel good, and maximize return on investment.
Craig Dykers, Founding Partner | Snøhetta
Since 1989, Craig Dykers has established offices in Norway, Egypt, England, and in the United States. His interest in design as a promoter of social and physical well-being is supported by ongoing observation and development of an innovative and sustainable design process.
As one of the Founding Partners of Snøhetta, Craig has led many of Snøhetta’s prominent projects internationally, including the Alexandria Library in Egypt, the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet in Oslo, Norway, the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion in New York City, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Expansion in California, and the Ryerson University Student Learning Centre in Toronto, Canada. Recently, Craig has led the design of Calgary’s new Central Library in Canada, Temple University’s Charles Library in Philadelphia and The French Laundry Kitchen Expansion and Garden Renovation in Yountville.
Michael Hsu, Founder + Principal | Michael Hsu Office of Architecture
Michael Hsu, AIA, IIDA is the founder and principal of Michael Hsu Office of Architecture (MHOA), a fully integrated architecture and interior design firm. MHOA was founded in Austin in 2005 and opened a second studio in Houston in 2019.
Following graduation from the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, Hsu worked at OMA in the Netherlands before returning to Austin where he has practiced since 1998. Hsu is currently a member of the University of Texas School of Architecture’s Advisory Council and is the immediate Past President of AIA Austin. His firm has received numerous design awards from the Texas Society of Architects, AIA Los Angeles, IIDA Texas/Oklahoma Chapter, Heritage Society of Austin and AIA Austin – including Firm of the Year in 2016.
Michael Hsu Office of Architecture was formed with the goal of producing locally engaged, design-driven architecture and interiors. The firm advocates a simple, edited design palette, using creative materials and techniques to create unexpected results. Notable Austin projects include South Congress Hotel, Canopy, Springdale General, Loro, LINE Austin Hotel, Fareground, Uchi, P. Terry's, Home Slice Pizza and ATX Cocina, among others.
Kimberly Jackson, Managing Director | AvroKO
In her role as both manager and mentor, Kimberly Jackson oversees a multidisciplinary design team as Managing Director for AvroKO’s New York studio. Kimberly has spent over twenty years managing and designing projects across a range of typologies including hospitality, residential, and retail interiors. She has created architectural and interior design standards for several international brands and has developed furniture, textiles, fixtures, and lighting product lines for local, national, and international retailers.
Kimberly received an interdisciplinary degree from the MIT School of Architecture and the Media Lab. She is a registered architect in the state of Wisconsin.
Alex O’Briant, Associate Principal | Ennead Architects
Over the course of almost two decades as a designer at Ennead Architects in New York City, Alex has been fortunate to work on many noteworthy projects across typologies and around the world, including two favorite study spots here at The University of Texas – the Engineering Education and Research Center and Rowling Hall. His extensive experience designing campus buildings made him a logical choice to lead Ennead’s Center for Education, which focuses on design excellence and the pressing issues facing Higher Ed and K-12. Alex also coordinates Ennead’s student internship programs, career fairs, and onboarding process. Through his active role in recruiting and hiring, his eye is trained on the next generation of talented young architects and he is excited about what the future holds for the field. He has traveled to Austin monthly over the past decade and considers it his home away from home, although he studied architecture at Rice University in that other Texas city back when Bill Clinton was still president. He speaks regularly at conferences around the country, and has taught at Rice and Lehigh Universities. He may look familiar to some of you, as he has made a few appearances as a guest critic here at UTSOA.