Germane Barnes: Laskey Charrette Kickoff Lecture

Germane Barnes is a Chicago-born, Miami-based licensed architect, designer, and founding principal of Studio Barnes, a research-driven design practice that interrogates the intersections of architecture and identity. Barnes serves as an associate professor and director of the Master of Architecture graduate programs at the University of Miami School of Architecture, where he mentors emerging designers and fosters critical discourse around architecture’s cultural and societal impact. 

Barnes’ projects have been exhibited at leading institutions, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art’s “Reconstructions: Architecture and Blackness in America,” and the 2021 Chicago Architecture Biennial. His work frequently addresses themes of diaspora, Black identity, and historical memory, translating these concerns into compelling architectural experiences that challenge conventional narratives of space and design. Barnes has received numerous prestigious awards and fellowships such as the Architectural League Prize, he was a Rome Prize Fellow at the American Academy in Rome, and he was selected for the inaugural cohort of The Dorchester Industries Experimental Design Lab.

Studio Barnes’ work has been widely published and acquired by major institutions, signaling both critical acclaim and cultural significance. Notably, projects by Barnes have entered the permanent collections of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. His architectural interventions and conceptual projects have been featured in The New York Times, Architectural Record, Domus, and other influential publications, with coverage highlighting both the conceptual rigor and social relevance of his work. One of his most widely recognized projects, “Griot,” was presented as part of the 2023 Venice Biennale’s “Laboratory of the Future,” earning international attention for its innovative integration of narrative, history, and community in architectural form. 

Through his dual role as educator and practitioner, Barnes continues to push the boundaries of contemporary architecture, blending research, design, and cultural critique. Studio Barnes stands as a testament to his commitment to exploring architecture’s potential to foster inclusivity, address historical inequities, and imagine new spatial futures. With a career distinguished by prizes, fellowships, and institutional recognition, Barnes remains a leading voice in architecture today, advancing conversations at the nexus of design, identity, and social impact.