The Serica Initiative presents an intimate evening of conversation with two of the most influential voices in contemporary architecture: Billie Tsien and Calvin Tsao.

Join Billie Tsien, one of the most influential architects of our time and co-designer of the Obama Presidential Center, for an intimate evening exploring how architecture can serve people, preserve memory, and shape the future of our cities. In conversation with Calvin Tsao, a leading voice at the intersection of architecture, art, and culture, this gathering invites you into a rare dialogue on the values that guide the built world around us.

Set in the heart of Chinatown and in partnership with Welcome To Chinatown—a neighborhood layered with history, resilience, and transformation—this conversation moves beyond buildings as objects and into architecture as an act of care. Together, Tsien and Tsao will reflect on the role of design in sustaining communities, the tension between speed and thoughtfulness in an era of rapid change, and the quiet responsibility architects carry in shaping how people live, gather, and belong.

But this evening isn’t just about listening—it’s about participating.

In the second half of the program, attendees will be invited to share a small but meaningful detail from New York City—a material, object, or everyday moment that makes them feel welcome or at home. These reflections will become the foundation for a collective conversation on how “small evidence” can inform architecture that is more human, more responsive, and more enduring.

Expect a thoughtful, engaged audience spanning architects, artists, students, entrepreneurs, and members of the Chinatown community—creating a space where professional insight meets lived experience. Delicious local bites, wine, and beverages will be provided to all guests to enjoy throughout the event.

Agenda:
5:30–6:00 PM Arrival, light refreshments, networking
6:15–7:00 PM Billie Tsien in conversation with Calvin Tsao
7:00–8:00 PM Audience Q&A + community engagement activity

Admission is open to the public with a suggested donation of $1 or more, ensuring the evening remains accessible while supporting Serica’s mission to convene meaningful conversations across communities.

Come for the ideas. Stay for the exchange. Leave seeing the city a little differently.

This event is made possible due to our partnership with Welcome to Chinatown and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

The Serica Initiative thanks the New York State Council on the Arts for the generous grant support. The opinions, results, findings and/or interpretation of data contained therein are the responsibility of the Serica Initiative and do not necessarily represent the opinions, interpretations or policy of the State.