9 – 10:15am • Grays (Approved for 1 LU|HSW)
November 14, 2024
Keystone, CO
The Generous Middle: Amplifying Equity in Unexpected Places
Equity in architecture is often framed through the lens of cities—urban density, housing policy, and underrepresented populations in large metro areas. But what about the communities in between—the underserved and unexpected places where resources are limited but stories run deep? In these towns, counties, and regional cities, one public building might serve as town hall, library, community center, and cultural beacon. What does equity look like when architecture must do the work of many?
This session explores how design can act as a powerful gesture of generosity in communities frequently overlooked by traditional design discourse. In these contexts, architecture isn’t about spectacle—it’s about presence. It’s about showing up with care, listening with humility, and designing spaces that reflect and respect local values. We’ll share case studies from libraries, museums, and civic buildings across the Midwest that demonstrate how architecture can amplify identity, improve access, and affirm that all communities—regardless of size, budget, or visibility—deserve design that is beautiful, functional, and deeply responsive.
We propose that The Generous Middle is more than a geographic idea—it’s a mindset. It challenges us to consider how the power of architecture manifests not just in what we build, but in how we build—with empathy, intentionality, and respect. In this approach, the architect becomes less of an auteur and more of a steward—one who listens first, leads collaboratively, and redefines success through civic pride, cultural continuity, and community health.
Too often, the middle of America—geographically and culturally—is dismissed as a place of scarcity: of resources, of opportunity, of design value. But in these spaces, architecture can offer something quietly radical: presence. When we give our best thinking to places least expected to receive it, we don’t just change buildings—we change narratives. We create places that invite, include, and endure.
In a time of complexity and change, this session calls on designers to broaden their definitions of leadership, innovation, and equity. The middle is not a void—it is fertile ground. And practicing here may be one of the most powerful expressions of care and civic impact our field has to offer.
Mark Bacon, AIA, is a Design Principal at BVH Architecture, where he leads with a rare ability to uncover excellence—in both projects and people. His work seeks clarity through the interplay of place, performance, and human experience, transforming the everyday into something quietly significant.
His recent projects include the Museum of Nebraska Art (2025 AIA Colorado Design Award of Excellence), the Columbus Community Building, and the Nature Conservancy Visitor Center, each reflecting his belief that great design emerges from care and context. Honored with the 2021 AIA National Young Architect Award, Mark continues to shape both practice and pedagogy.
Before joining BVH, he honed his craft at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and earned his master’s from Kansas State University. He now shares that same spirit of inquiry as an educator at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
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