XR Immersive Experience in Architecture

XR Immersive Experience in Architecture

Immersive reality opens up incredible possibilities for architecture, including the opportunity to inhabit our designed spaces before they are built. How can we use this technology to our advantage, enhancing our communication and exploration through all phases of design, and beyond – for construction, or for sharing ideas with the broader public?

Morphosis’ Director of Design Technology Kerenza Harris and team member Alessio Grancini head the research and development of XR at Morphosis. They will lead a discussion into the potentials of new immersive experiences (XR), including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) and how new adopters can get up to speed in this rapidly evolving field of practice.

Led By:

• Kerenza Harris – Director of Design Technology, Morphosis Architects
• Alessio Grancini – Research & Development, Advanced Technology Team, Morphosis Architects

Kerenza Harris – Director of Design Technology, Morphosis Architects

Kerenza Harris is Director of Design Technology at Morphosis Architects, overseeing computational design and simulation for all projects. Her team focuses on the research, development and integration of advanced technologies into the design and construction process, using diverse software including 3DEXPERIENCE to model and optimize forms, skins, and structures. She also guides the firm’s use of AR/VR to create immersive environments that aid in testing and communicating concepts through all phases.

Joining the firm in 2008, she has played a central role in major projects including the AIA National Honor Award-winning Perot Museum of Nature and Science, where she led the creation and coordination of the facade’s innovative pre-cast concrete paneling system.

Kerenza is also faculty at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), where her teaching focuses on digital design tools and construction. She is a frequent lecturer on design computation and the intersection of architecture and VR.

Alessio Grancini – Research & Development, Advanced Technology Team, Morphosis Architects

With a background in architecture and XR design, Alessio Grancini joined the Advanced Technology team at Morphosis in 2018. He focuses on the research and development of immersive tools for all phases of design and beyond, creating XR templates and workflows that integrate with project development and explore new possibilities for testing and expressing design ideas.