Design is the heart of architecture—and Body of Work is bringing it back to center stage. This powerful lecture series will celebrate design in its purest form, featuring historic and contemporary architects who shape the built environment with beauty, intention, and innovation.
3-4 inspiring lectures each year - The first lecture on April 24th!
One historic Cleveland architect brought to life by a historian in April as an intro into Preservation Month in May.
Two to Three contemporary architects sharing their evolving design philosophies throughout the rest of the year.
The elevation of local design excellence and creation of a growing archive of Northeast Ohio's collective architectural body of work for future generations.
Each event includes a presentation, panel discussion or Q&A session, cocktail hour & a tour when possible—uniting architects, developers, planners, interior designers and the public in a conversation about great design. Let’s honor the past, elevate the present, and shape the future of architecture and design in Cleveland. #ArchitectureDesign #ClevelandAIA #DesignMatters #ArchitecturalLegacy #HistoricPreservation
Schedule
5:00 - 5:30 Check-in and Wine Social / light appetizers (Schweinfurth's original drawings of Trinity Cathedral hand drawn on linen will be on display)
5:30 - 6:10 Anthony Hiti presents Charles Schweinfurth's Body of Work
6:10 - 6:30 Q&A Session
6:30 - 7:15 Cathedral Tour with special behind the scenes access to the columbarium (crypt) under the cathedral.
BODY OF WORK MISSION STATEMENT
Body of Work: An Architecture Design Lecture Series
Design has always been the foundational element of architecture. However, in the modern era, design often takes a back seat to social, political, and financial concerns. Additionally, technological innovations—though transformative—do not always prioritize good design. Body of Work is a lecture series dedicated to returning the focus to design, ensuring it remains at the core of architectural discourse.
Each year, Body of Work will feature four lectures: one dedicated to an historic architect who practiced in Cleveland, presented by a historian who will embody the architect’s voice as much as possible, and two to three lectures by contemporary architects actively shaping the field today. These lectures aim to provide a serious and dedicated forum for discussing design as the foundation of architecture and reinforcing the role of architects as master builders.
Architects featured in the series will present their work through a purely aesthetic lens, offering insights into their current design philosophy, its influences, and its evolution over time. They will guide the audience through their journey using visual presentations, focusing on the essence of architectural beauty and form. By eliminating the distractions of external influences such as politics and finance, the series encourages architects to engage deeply with their craft in its purest form.
Beyond celebrating design, Body of Work seeks to elevate the profile of Cleveland’s architectural talent, showcasing their work not only within the architectural community but also among developers, real estate professionals, urban planners, and local policymakers. This effort aims to highlight the wealth of architectural talent in Cleveland and to foster a greater appreciation for design excellence in the city’s built environment.
A lasting legacy of Body of Work will be the creation of a comprehensive record of Cleveland’s architectural achievements. Over time, the lectures will be compiled into a series of journals, forming a growing archive—a collective Body of Work—that future generations can reference and build upon.
The lecture series will be held in a setting conducive to visual presentations, ideally within a lecture hall or a space designed by the featured architect. Following each lecture, an interview or panel discussion will take place, allowing for deeper exploration of the ideas presented and audience participation through a Q&A session. A social cocktail hour will also be included, fostering informal discussions and networking opportunities.
To further extend the reach of Body of Work, additional media components will be integrated. A podcast interview will be recorded—potentially at the Ideastream studios—providing an accessible platform for a wider audience. Additionally, an article in a local newspaper will help bridge the conversation with the public. Finally, each lecture will be documented in a journal article featuring graphics and images of the architect’s work, contributing to the evolving library of Cleveland’s architectural legacy.
Body of Work is more than a lecture series—it is a movement to reaffirm the primacy of design in architecture, to honor Cleveland’s architectural past and present, and to create a lasting and collective Body of Work resource for future architects to understand the legacy of those who went before and the importance of what they have inherited.