Evento

The Art & Science of Ornament: Why the Details Matter

More than just the capturing of space, architecture impacts us all on conscious and subconscious levels, in particular through the presence and/or absence of architectural ornament. In a discourse that spans from scientific research to composition and principles, Matt McNicholas will explore the effects that ornament, and a lack thereof, has on cognition and emotion, and discuss why we must create detailed places that account for both physiological and psychological well-being.

Matt McNicholas is an architect practicing for more than 15 years and has created designs and ornamental details for buildings in seven countries and on four continents. He co-founded MGLM Architects in 2009 and MGLM Interiors in 2013, winning both local and national awards along the way. Over his career he has traveled extensively, lecturing on the subject of architectural ornament and detail and presenting at forums such as the Classical Traditions Conference and CNU. He enjoys contributing regularly as a guest critic on juries of student work at multiple schools of architecture. He has been published in both design magazines and trade publications and has donated his artwork to numerous auctions raising money for academic scholarships.

Mr. McNicholas earned a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Architectural Design and Urbanism from the University of Notre Dame and holds an Executive Certificate in euroscience for Architecture from the NewSchool of Architecture and Design. He is a member of the AIA, ICAA, SAH, and CNU. He serves on the Education and Awards Committees for the ICAA Chicago-Midwest Chapter and is the Chair of the Preservation Committee for the Auxiliary Board of Adler & Sullivans Auditorium Theatre. He also generates reports in lawsuits related to architectural copyright, serving as an expert witness.