Episode Description

This episode of Beyond the Surface features Carol Ross Barney, founder of Ross Barney Architects, whose nearly five-decade career has helped define the role of civic architecture through work grounded in public life and community impact. Since establishing her Chicago-based practice in 1981, Carol has remained at the forefront of designing meaningful public spaces, guided by the belief that architecture should serve everyone. Her contributions to the profession have earned more than 200 national and international awards including the 2023 AIA Gold Medal, making her the first living woman to receive the honor individually, along with the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award and numerous AIA distinctions. As a founding member and first president of Chicago Women in Architecture, her career reflects both design excellence and a commitment to expanding opportunities within the field.

“Design can change the world. We have a responsibility to leave the world better than we found, and the key to that is innovation.”

In this conversation, Carol reflects on a career shaped by intention, advocacy, and a deep sense of responsibility. She describes architecture as a discipline that extends beyond individual projects and as one that influences how people move through and experience the world around them. “Design can change the world. We have a responsibility to leave the world better than we found, and the key to that is innovation.” Her perspective positions design as both a creative pursuit and a civic act, where innovation is inseparable from impact.

“Design is not a privilege. It shouldn’t be a privilege… Design is the essence of public space, so it is a right.”

Central to her philosophy is the belief that accessibility must be embedded within the built environment. “Design is not a privilege. It shouldn’t be a privilege… Design is the essence of public space, so it is a right.” This principle has consistently guided her work, reinforcing the idea that public architecture carries a unique responsibility to be inclusive, functional, and meaningful for all communities.

Throughout the episode, Carol also emphasizes the importance of mentorship and the role it has played in shaping her career. Through her involvement in education and organizations like Chicago Women in Architecture, she continues to support the next generation of designers, encouraging them to see architecture as a tool for impact, leadership, and change.

Her story reflects a career defined not only by achievement, but by clarity of purpose. By centering public life, advocating for accessibility, and investing in future leaders, Carol’s work demonstrates how architecture can shape not just cities, but the values and experiences that define them.