Architecture Beyond
I am Brandon Aaron Gibbs, AIA, NOMA—a licensed architect, researcher, educator, media producer, and advocate working across architecture, technology, and public engagement.
My story begins with my parents, who met while attending Howard University. My mother came from Mississippi, and my father came from the U.S. Virgin Islands. They raised me in Memphis, Tennessee, where I developed an early love for music, creativity, architecture, and design.
As a youth member of several orchestras including the Memphis Youth Symphony, I traveled nationally and internationally and experienced cities, cultures, and remarkable spaces beyond my hometown. Those experiences showed me how buildings and public places can express identity, history, and possibility. They helped inspire my decision to pursue architecture.
I studied architecture at Pratt Institute as a recipient of the Pratt Institute Presidential Scholarship. I later earned my Master of Architecture from the Architectural Association Design Research Laboratory in London. Over more than 15 years, I have contributed to sports and entertainment venues, healthcare facilities, churches, community spaces, commercial developments, and residential projects across Tennessee, New York, the American South, and beyond.
My work has expanded into research, education, entrepreneurship, and media. Through MotionFORM, I explore design, sustainability, computational methods, and emerging technology. I also founded Iamthestudio to help architects and designers strengthen their creative and technical skills.
Selected accomplishments include:
- LICENSED ARCHITECT IN TENNESSEE
- CO-CHAIR OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, NOMA NASHVILLE
- PRATT INSTITUTE PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
- BISHOP G. E. PATTERSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
- AUDIENCE AWARD RECIPIENT, QUICKFLICK LONDON
- WORK FEATURED BY PRATT INSTITUTE AND AIGA MOBILE
- PANEL SPEAKER WITH MUSIC CITY NSBE
- SPEAKER AT PODCAMP NASHVILLE AND BARCAMP NASHVILLE
- SHORTLISTED AS A PROSPECTIVE TEDX MOBILE SPEAKER
- ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING THROUGH THE NASHVILLE ENTREPRENEUR CENTER AND NASHVILLE BUSINESS INCUBATION CENTER
Through Architecture Beyond, I bring together professional experience, independent research, and storytelling to make architecture more accessible and relevant. As “The Architect in Your Corner,” I explore how design affects our communities, industries, opportunities, and everyday lives.
Architecture Beyond
Architecture Beyond Expands: Podcast Summer Update & More | AB Ep 46
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A brief update from host and architect Brandon A. Gibbs on the podcast’s recent growth, ongoing architectural research and the conversations coming next.
Architecture Beyond is entering an exciting new phase. Following one of our most successful months for audience growth and content engagement, I’m sharing a brief update on the program, several technical improvements underway and what listeners can expect throughout the rest of the year.
Although a few recent technical and scheduling challenges affected our release calendar, we are strengthening the production process to deliver new interviews, features and clips more consistently. I’m grateful to everyone who continued to watch, listen and share our work during this period.
Building on Our Recent Success
Architecture Beyond continues to reach people interested in more than architectural imagery or celebrity-driven coverage. Our audience is responding to deeper conversations about design, technology, professional practice, history and architecture’s responsibility to the public.
To make these discussions easier to discover and share, Architecture Beyond now has a dedicated Instagram channel. It will feature interview clips, guest perspectives, episode highlights, archival content and previews of upcoming programs.
Follow Architecture Beyond on Instagram and help us bring these conversations to a wider audience.
Continuing a Legacy of Design and Research
My professional practice keeps me grounded in collaboration, documentation, construction, client priorities and the responsibilities architects carry every day. Individually and alongside talented teams, I have contributed to award-winning projects and research recognized nationally and internationally for design excellence, sustainability, innovation and impact.
My continuing research investigates computational design, artificial intelligence, form-finding, sustainable strategies and emerging models of architectural practice. I remain committed to carrying this legacy forward—building upon what we have achieved while helping architecture respond more creatively and responsibly to the future.
This work also supports the continued development of MotionFORM and Iamthestudio, connecting architectural research with professional service, education and practical tools for designers.
Coming Next on Architecture Beyond
Upcoming content will explore the top topics and field concerns:
- Housing, climate, infrastructure and community change
- AI, computational design and emerging workflows
- Career resilience and new models of practice
- Equity, access and people-centered advocacy
- Architecture, democracy and the public good
New interviews and collaborations will bring together architects, engineers, educators, researchers, technology leaders and advocates working to expand what architecture can accomplish.
Architecture Beyond is where architects, designers, and creative thinkers share the stories shaping life and impact beyond the studio. Since launching, we’ve released dozens of inspiring episodes and grown into a global community of listeners who care about architecture’s role in the world.
We’d love to hear from you—what topics inspire you most, or who you’d like to see as a guest. If you’re interested in sharing your own story on the show, visit Iamthestudio.com and click ArchBeyond in the menu. Join the conversation and help us continue building a platform that elevates architects everywhere.
Sponsored by iamthestudio architecture software courses (site here).
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