UNDER PRESSURE: Vacancy, Urgency, and the Architecture of Conversion

The 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale’s Time Space Existence, organized by the European Cultural Centre brings together 207 participants from 52 countries to address themes of Repair, Regenerate, and Reuse. The show highlights the critical role architects play in shaping more sustainable and equitable futures.

As a response to the call- the Weitzman School of Design’s 2^nd Year M.Arch  Urban Housing Studios presents UNDER PRESSURE: Vacancy, Urgency, and the Architecture of Conversion. The rise of remote and hybrid work following the 2020 pandemic has significantly increased vacancy rates in office buildings across many U.S. cities. With companies downsizing their physical footprints, demand for traditional office space has declined, leaving many older or less centrally located buildings vacant—often at levels exceeding those seen during the Great Recession.

As cities face the crisis of housing scarcity and office vacancy, adaptive reuse emerges as a vital strategy for regeneration helping once-thriving urban cores retain their vitality. The student projects present a range of design strategies for reimagining vacant commercial spaces as housing, with proposals sited in Philadelphia and New York.

On view May 10–Nov 23, 2025, Palazzo Mora. Venice, Italy.

Curated by: Hina Jamelle. Associate Professor of Practice and Director of Urban Housing. University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design. Philadelphia. USA.

Exhibition Design: Brennan Chase Flory

Student Work on Display:

Jack Bradley: Wanamaker House Philadelphia, PA Scott Erdy Urban Housing Studio with Conrad Tse

Wenyu Wang: The Modular Economy Harborside, New Jersey Rischard Garber Urban Housing Studio with Nicholas Wong

Jonathan Bonezzi: ‘In Residence’ - Creative Housing TriBeCa, New York City Ben Krone Urban Housing Studio with Ebbie Boehm

Gyo Sun Hwang: The Welcoming District Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Brian Phillips Urban Housing Studio with Yuju Kang

Ryan Lane: ‘In Residence’ - Creative Housing TriBeCa, New York City Ben Krone Urban Housing Studio with Ebbie Boehm

Ricardo Alvarado: Shifting Hybrids // Adaptive Reuse of the Flat Iron Building TriBeCa, New York City Hina Jamelle Urban Housing Studio with Brennan Flory

Mu Cao: Wanamaker House Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Scott Erdy Urban Housing Studio with Conrad Tse

Xiyan Li: Shifting Hybrids // Adaptive Reuse of the Flat Iron Building TriBeCa, New York City Hina Jamelle Urban Housing Studio with Brennan Flory