Episode Description

This episode from Beyond the Surface features Annabell Ren, co-founder and design lead at New Office, a Chicago-based architecture firm. Annabell shares her journey as an immigrant to the United States and how her experiences shape her approach to culturally sensitive design. The episode explores her belief in making cultural designs feel genuine and meaningful to the communities they serve, drawing from a deep understanding of identity, context, and storytelling.

Annabell discusses her firm’s projects, including the award-winning renovation of a condominium in Lincoln Park, and the African Heritage Hut in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood, which celebrates and preserves cultural heritage. With a background that includes a Master’s degree in Architecture and Urban Design from Harvard Graduate School of Design and her role as adjunct professor at Illinois Institute of Technology, Annabell combines academia, practice, and community engagement. The episode offers valuable perspectives on how architects can thoughtfully integrate culture into the built environment to create authentic and inclusive spaces.