Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations: Rethinking the role of the Public Architect (w/ Curtis Clay)

The Bureau of Overseas Building Operations has high standards to meet. The buildings they design have to be secure, functional, and stand the test of time. The embassies and other facilities they design are 50-year buildings. They have to withstand a place’s climate, fit in with the local culture, and confidently represent the U.S. as an open nation. In this episode, Curtis Clay, the OBO’s director of architecture, discusses how the bureau designs buildings that will become legacies—and how they keep the focus on the role the building will serve.Interview TakeawaysDesign resilient buildingsDesign for the futureHire secure firmsSolve problems beyond the briefUnderstand the local contextMake purposeful decisionsGauge when in person or virtual meetings are necessaryBring the private into the publicGo back to basic problem solvingLook at a variety of public sector rolesMake people comfortable in your buildingsSolve for constructability and maintainability before aestheticsShow LinksConnect with Curtis Clay on LinkedIn or TwitterCheck out Bureau of Overseas Building OperationsConnect with George Valdes on LinkedIn or TwitterConnect with Chris Morgan on LinkedIn Check out MonographFollow Monograph on LinkedIn or InstagramListen and read more about Monograph