INTERVIEWS AND CONVERSATIONS
Upali Nanda
The interview explores the intersection of design, neuroscience, and well-being, emphasizing how spaces shape human experience. In a world increasingly dominated by digital interactions, Upali Nanda advocates for embodied design—spaces that engage all senses, foster social connection, enhance cognitive and emotional health. She highlighs the need for multisensory, human-centered environments in healthcare, workplaces, and learning institutions. As technology reshapes our interactions, she calls for a balance between the built, natural, and digital environments to support mental health, and social resilience.
Dr. Upali Nanda is a Partner and Executive Vice President at HKS, a global architectural firm. She also teaches as an Adjunct Professor of Practice at the Taubman School of Architecture and Urban Planning at University of Michigan.
Dr. Nanda has been named one of the Top 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare Design by Healthcare Design Magazine (2015) and honored with the Women in Architecture Innovator Award from Architectural Record (2018).
Marlon Blackwell
In this interview Marlon Blackwell outlines the architectural and educational philosophy behind the Thaden School, emphasizing the importance of place-based design, material authenticity and human-centered learning environments. The architect highlights how the school's design integrates with its natural and cultural context in Arkansas, balancing contextual sensitivity with a deep commitment to craft and meaning.
The architecture embodies the school’s experiential, project-based curriculum, ensuring that students engage with their surroundings physically, socially, and cognitively.
Marlon Blackwell, FAIA, is the founding partner of Marlon Blackwell Architects in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the E. Fay Jones Distinguished Professor at the University of Arkansas. Blackwell is the recipient of the 2020 AIA Gold Medal, the Institute’s highest honor.
Work produced in Marlon Blackwell Architects has received recognition with significant publication and more than 180 design awards including the 2016 Cooper Hewitt National Design Award in Architecture.