My relationship with Shigeru Ban is both professional and deeply personal. We have worked together closely over many years, most notably on the Aspen Art Museum, where I witnessed firsthand his rare ability to unite conceptual rigor, material intelligence, and profound human empathy. Shigeru does not design for spectacle. He designs for people—often in moments when dignity, care, and collective support matter most.

That ethos is at the heart of the project he is undertaking in Altadena with CORE. In response to the devastating fires that deeply affected this community, Shigeru has designed a community center intended to serve as a place of gathering, stability, and shared resources during recovery and rebuilding. The project prioritizes flexibility, accessibility, and a sense of welcome—creating space not just for services, but for connection, dialogue, and mutual care.

It was my honor to help support this project as it reflects architecture at its most ethical and effective—where design responds to urgency without losing sight of humanity. In Altadena, this collaboration offers something essential: a civic anchor at a moment of disruption. Advocating for Shigeru and his humanitarian work is an extension of my belief that architecture, like art, can help communities heal and move forward with intention.

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