Since its “ribbon cutting” in May we’ve used the Cube for meetings, design sessions, lectures, vendor demonstrations, mock-ups, and lunches. Of particular interest are Friday post-lunch “Dessert in the Cube” presentations that gives staff an open forum to present on a topic of their choice. Limited to 15 minutes, it’s a TED Talk Centerbrook-style, which means free-wheeling discussion.

Among the folks we’ve heard from so far are Ted Tolis on the intricacies of the underground utilities and materials management facilities on Yale University’s Science Hill, Brian Adams on the similarities between dance choreography and campus circulation, Derek Hayn about photographing the New York City street grid from a helicopter, Jay Klebeck on the indigenous architecture of Nova Scotia, Chuck Mueller on Swiss villages, Todd Andrews on how we involved a local parish in the design of their new church, and, this week, Russell Learned on the Guinness Storehouse visitor center in Dublin.

From time to time we’ll post a Note from the Cube, with the hope of showcasing the myriad inspirations that enrich our practice of architecture and connect us to each other.