Editor of Intersight 27 highlights journey of discovery in call for student work

For graduate architecture student Sriya Radhakrishnan, her selection as 2024-25 Brunkow Fellow and editor of Intersight 27 – this year’s journal of student work – comes as a full circle moment in her journey to UB.

Indeed, the international Master of Architecture student says it was Intersight that played a key role in her decision to attend UB, drawing her to Buffalo all the way from ANNA University in Chenai, capital of the southernmost state of India, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in architecture.

“I saw the impressive work of the students and how important the book is as a representation of the School,” she said. “It introduced me to the School’s curriculum, including its expertise in inclusive design and the work of its Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access, which is ultimately why I chose UB.”

The native of Bahrain in the Middle East says her studies in architecture, which have taken her across oceans and continents and into the rigors of design research at UB, reveal the power of the journey. 

“Coming to the United States has been a journey for me, as it is for all students who bring different experiences of place to UB. As designers, we navigate the progression of our projects over the course of a semester. We grow as architects and planners – and as individuals – as we move through the program and experience the culture of UB.”

At the School of Architecture and Planning, the student journey is supported by a distinct culture of inclusion and cooperative learning. “Collaboration occurs at every stage and every scale here at UB. Our ideas are constantly evolving, from the studio and fabrication shop to critiques and final reviews.”

“Intersight 27 will reflect the richness and depth of this journey,” says Radhakrishnan, who also assisted in the production of ANNA University’s architecture student journal. 

Radhakrishnan’s contribution to Intersight joins a rich tradition at the School of Architecture and Planning dating back nearly 30 years. The annual journal of student work is supported by the generous endowment of Kathryn Brunkow Sample and former UB President Steven Sample and chronicles the creative and scholarly outputs of our students.  

In her curation of this year’s volume, Radhakrishnan also hopes to highlight the people who empower that student journey. “Intersight is about the students. We learn from one another. Our faculty are approachable and available. And the professionals who visit our final reviews offer critique that is clear and backed with experience. This validates and improves our work.”

The production of Intersight itself evolves over the course of the year with tremendous support from the School community, notes Radhakrishnan. She is particularly grateful for the efforts of her faculty committee, chaired by Miguel Guitart along with Stephanie Cramer and Christopher Romano, all of whom have served in this dedicated role for several years.

In addition, each incoming Intersight editor shadows the previous Brunkow Fellow during the production phase to get a head start. “The process is designed to guide you along the way. My committee – and the students – push me to reach my goals.” 

As Radhakrishnan moves through the final year of her journey toward the professionally accredited Master of Architecture degree, she reflects on the maturation of her expertise in inclusive design, an approach that strives to create environments that are usable by everyone, regardless of age, ability or background.

Her interest in the field began years ago, during her undergraduate studies in India. A family member became ill and was in need of a hospice center for children. “We didn’t have these in South India. And those we did have were poorly designed. I realized how important this work is for the field of architecture.”

Today, she is taking a graduate research studio in inclusive design and developing design proposals for a group home for people with disabilities, with a focus on those with visual impairments. Upon her graduation in May, she intends to pursue a career in health care design, combining her interests in inclusive design and sustainability. “This is the biggest service I can give to the world as an architect,” she said.

As she makes her way into the curatorial journey of Intersight, Radhakrishnan says she hopes the final product will help attract future students to UB. “It’s fun to give back and hopefully inspire more international and diverse students to come to UB.”