The Building Culture Podcast

#32 Citymakers Collective: Empowering the Next Generation of Architects, Developers and Builders

Jan 9, 2025

Join Will McCollum and Matthew Marshall, co-founders of the Citymakers Collective, as they discuss their innovative summer program aimed at training aspiring architects and urban planners. They address the shortcomings of traditional education and emphasize the importance of hands-on, experiential learning. The conversation highlights the need for collaboration across disciplines to create people-centric, sustainable cities. The duo shines a light on their mission to empower future builders while discussing the impact of thoughtful design on community well-being.

56:16

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Episode guests

Matthew Marshall

Will McCollum

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Quick takeaways

The Citymakers Collective program addresses the shortcomings of traditional education by promoting hands-on, human-centered urban design principles for aspiring city makers.

Participants benefit from a diverse learning environment, engaging with various industry professionals to foster collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to urban development.

Emphasizing the importance of historical context, the program guides students to integrate timeless design principles to create resilient and socially connected urban spaces.

Deep dives

Importance of Educating City Makers

There is a pressing need to educate aspiring city makers in the principles of resilient and beautiful urban design. Current university programs often lack a comprehensive approach to these essential concepts, which hinders the development of individuals capable of creating thriving urban environments. A new summer studio program aims to bridge this educational gap by targeting architecture, landscape design, and urban planning students who seek practical knowledge and skills. By providing hands-on experience and direct interaction with industry practitioners, the program aspires to foster a new generation of professionals equipped to build better cities.

Intro

5min

Mentoring Future Urban Leaders

16min

The Interconnectedness of Architecture and Urban Environments

3min

Designing People-Centric Cities

13min

Hands-On Learning and Networking in Architecture Education

4min

Launch of a Fellowship Program for Aspiring Architects and Developers

3min

Empowering Future Builders: Education and Cognitive Architecture

4min

Empowering Future Architects

8min

I’m excited to share this conversation with Will McCollum and Matthew Marshall, the passionate minds behind Citymakers Collective.

This summer, they’re hosting a transformative two-week program in Charleston, featuring some of the top practitioners in the New Urbanism and human-centered design movements.

Their approach is holistic, hands-on, and experiential, with a mission to equip the next generation of city makers to design and build places that are resilient, beautiful, and centered on people.

In this episode, we delve into the challenges of traditional education, what’s missing, and why they felt compelled to create this innovative summer program.

If you’re a young professional or student working in the built environment—whether you’re an architect, planner, builder, developer, engineer or something else—I highly encourage you to check it out and consider applying.

Learn more at: citymakerscollective.org

TAKEAWAYS

The City Makers Collective program teaches principles that make cities more livable, sustainable, and people-focused.

Participants engage with Charleston’s urban fabric through walking tours, real-world case studies, and collaborative studio projects.

The program blends timeless design principles with modern needs to create places that work for today’s challenges.

Architects, planners, developers, and more come together to foster holistic learning and solutions.

Students learn how to navigate market realities, collaborate effectively, and implement sustainable practices in urban design.

Instructors include top practitioners like Lou Oliver and Maria Sanchez (Estudio Urbano), offering a wealth of knowledge and diverse perspectives.

The program addresses the lack of foundational training in urbanism and traditional design in most architecture schools.

Participants gain access to a powerful network of professionals, creating lasting connections for their careers.

The program offers scholarships and affordable housing options to ensure a wide range of students can participate.

The City Makers Collective aims to grow beyond this summer, offering ongoing programs to shape the future of urbanism and architecture.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Designing Cities for People

08:10 Bridging the Education Gap in Urbanism

14:00 The Importance of Tradition in Architecture

20:42 Integrating Disciplines for Holistic City Building

27:59 Understanding Market Realities in Education

29:50 Creating a Shared Vision for Communities

30:47 Building the Human Habitat

32:11 The Dual Nature of Humanity: Creation and Destruction

33:38 The Responsibility of Architects

34:41 Learning from Past Mistakes in Architecture

36:35 Integrating Tradition with Modernity

37:34 Hands-On Learning in Architecture Education

40:26 The Importance of Networking in Architecture

41:5 Introducing the Fellowship Program

43:24 Funding and Support for Citymakers Collective

45:06 Future Programs and Workshops

46:30 Cognitive Architecture and Human Experience

49:22 Backgrounds and Inspirations of the Founders

52:20 The Journey of Citymakers Collective

53:16 Application Process and Accessibility

CONTACT MATT, WILL & CITYMAKERS COLLECTIVE

Summer Studio Website: https://citymakerscollective.org/summer-2025

Will's email: will@citymakerscollective.org

Matthew's email: matthew@citymakerscollective.org

Citymakers Collective Website: https://citymakerscollective.org/

Newstory Website: https://www.newstoryhomes.org/

Matthew’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Matth3wMarshall/

Matthew’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmatthewmarshall/

Will’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-mccollum-6965a066

CONNECT WITH AUSTIN TUNNELL

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SPONSORS

Thank you so much to the sponsors of The Building Culture Podcast!

Sierra Pacific Windows: https://www.sierrapacificwindows.com/

One Source Windows: https://onesourcewindows.com/

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The Building Culture Podcast

#32 Citymakers Collective: Empowering the Next Generation of Architects, Developers and Builders

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Importance of Educating City Makers

Diverse Expertise in Urban Design

Learning from Tradition and History

Human-Centric Urban Design

Building a Professional Network

Get the Snipd
podcast app

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights

Save any
moment

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Discover
highlights

The Building Culture Podcast

#32 Citymakers Collective: Empowering the Next Generation of Architects, Developers and Builders

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Importance of Educating City Makers

Diverse Expertise in Urban Design

Learning from Tradition and History

Human-Centric Urban Design

Building a Professional Network

Get the Snipdpodcast app

AI-poweredpodcast player

Discoverhighlights

Save anymoment

Share& Export

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Discoverhighlights

Get the Snipd
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