An Early Look at the Marcus Prize Studio with Winning Architect Tiantian Xu
The Spring 2025 Marcus Prize Studio is set to engage students in a bold and timely design challenge under the leadership of Marcus Prize-winning architect Tiantian Xu and Assistant Professor Sam Schuermann. Xu, the founding principal of DnA _Design and Architecture, is known for her innovative, place-sensitive design strategies that revitalize communities. This semester, SARUP leverages her expertise to reimagine the Hattie Street Dam on the Menominee River, a site rich with industrial history and ecological potential.
A Studio Rooted in Infrastructure, Ecology, and Community
The Marcus Prize Studio immerses students in an exploration of adaptive reuse strategies of historic architecture, water infrastructure, and its ability to engage the public. The Hattie Street Dam, which connects Menominee, Michigan, and Marinette, Wisconsin, presents a compelling case study. Originally constructed to support industrial activity, the dam and adjacent structures are in good condition and invite a unique opportunity for reimagining their role in the community.
Through site visits, research, and iterative design processes, students will analyze how the dam and its surroundings might be transformed into a multi-functional space that integrate community engagement, education, and sustainable production.
The studio will unfold in three phases: research & analysis, social strategy development, and design interventions. The course will conclude with an exhibition showcasing the design strategies and their potential impact on the Menominee community and beyond.
Learning from a Visionary Architect
Tiantian Xu’s holistic approach to design emphasizes the careful integration of new interventions within existing landscapes. Her firm’s architectural projects have engaged in the economic revitalizing process in China, using a holistic approach described as “architectural acupuncture.”
Assistant Professor Sam Schuermann, who is co-teaching the studio, views the Marcus Prize Studio and Xu’s leadership as an opportunity for students to engage deeply with pressing environmental issues with a visionary architect.
“Tiantian’s work investigates large scale infrastructure and its relationship to local ecologies and communities, so we were interested in bringing this architectural approach to the region,” said Schuermann. “A dam seemed like an appropriate site to engage water, industry, and infrastructure in Wisconsin, and this one checked all the boxes.”
As the semester progresses, Xu joins students through both virtual and in-person reviews. During Xu’s visit to Wisconsin in late March, she will also present the Marcus Prize Lecture highlighting selected projects from her research and practice.
Learn more about the Marcus Prize.
