Architecture Beyond
by Brandon A. Gibbs, AIA NOMA
Letters to Ms. 1000 Continues - Christian Joosse On Architecture…
About this podcast
I am Brandon Aaron Gibbs, AIA, NOMA—a licensed architect, researcher, educator, media producer, and advocate working across architecture, technology, and public engagement.
My story begins with my parents, who met while attending Howard University. My mother came from Mississippi, and my father came from the U.S. Virgin Islands. They raised me in Memphis, Tennessee, where I developed an early love for music, creativity, architecture, and design.
As a youth member of several orchestras including the Memphis Youth Symphony, I traveled nationally and internationally and experienced cities, cultures, and remarkable spaces beyond my hometown. Those experiences showed me how buildings and public places can express identity, history, and possibility. They helped inspire my decision to pursue architecture.
I studied architecture at Pratt Institute as a recipient of the Pratt Institute Presidential Scholarship. I later earned my Master of Architecture from the Architectural Association Design Research Laboratory in London. Over more than 15 years, I have contributed to sports and entertainment venues, healthcare facilities, churches, community spaces, commercial developments, and residential projects across Tennessee, New York, the American South, and beyond.
My work has expanded into research, education, entrepreneurship, and media. Through MotionFORM, I explore design, sustainability, computational methods, and emerging technology. I also founded Iamthestudio to help architects and designers strengthen their creative and technical skills.
Selected accomplishments include:
• LICENSED ARCHITECT IN TENNESSEE
• CO-CHAIR OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, NOMA NASHVILLE
• PRATT INSTITUTE PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
• BISHOP G. E. PATTERSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
• AUDIENCE AWARD RECIPIENT, QUICKFLICK LONDON
• WORK FEATURED BY PRATT INSTITUTE AND AIGA MOBILE
• PANEL SPEAKER WITH MUSIC CITY NSBE
• SPEAKER AT PODCAMP NASHVILLE AND BARCAMP NASHVILLE
• SHORTLISTED AS A PROSPECTIVE TEDX MOBILE SPEAKER
• ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING THROUGH THE NASHVILLE ENTREPRENEUR CENTER AND NASHVILLE BUSINESS INCUBATION CENTER
Through Architecture Beyond, I bring together professional experience, independent research, and storytelling to make architecture more accessible and relevant. As “The Architect in Your Corner,” I explore how design affects our communities, industries, opportunities, and everyday lives.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 52 episodes
- Letters to Ms. 1000 Continues - Christian Joosse On Architecture Writing and Purpose | Part 2 | AB EP 51 · 42 min · Season 4 Episode 51What does it take to create a profession where the next generation of architects can see themselves, find their voices, and build something greater? In Part II of our special…
- Theory Of Architecture - Part 1 : What Have We Forgotten? // Saturday Studio AB EP 50 · 9 min · Season 4 Episode 50Saturday Studio | Architecture Beyond With Brandon Gibbs, Principal and Design Director of MotionFORM Architecture When architecture moves us, what does it ask of us? Some spaces…
- Ode To My Father: An Ode To Monroe Waldemar Gibbs // Saturday Studio AB EP 49 · 7 min · Season 4 Episode 49Sharing The Testimony and message of my Father Monroe Waldemar Gibbs. May His Legacy continue to bless and bring health and strength to this generation, this world. I love you…
- The Architecture of Segregation: How Design Can Unite or Divide Us With Author Jerel McCants, AIA | AB EP 48 · 60 min · Season 4 Episode 48Architecture has the power to connect communities—but it can also reinforce barriers that last for generations. In this episode of Architecture Beyond, host Brandon Gibbs, AIA…
- Can We Still Build The American Dream? On Housing, Architecture And Democracy | AB EP 47 · 38 min · Season 4 Episode 47What does the American Dream look like when given physical form? It can be found in a safe and attainable home, a strong neighborhood, a quality school, an accessible library, a…
- Architecture Beyond Expands: Podcast Summer Update & More | AB Ep 46 · 5 minA brief update from host and architect Brandon A. Gibbs on the podcast’s recent growth, ongoing architectural research and the conversations coming next. Architecture Beyond is…
- Why Frank Lloyd Wright Still Matters: How He Redefined American Architecture | AB Ep 45 · 42 min · Season 4 Episode 45Architecture Beyond | Saturday Studio What makes architecture endure? Watch Video episode here: Is it the beauty of a building, the innovation of its structure, or the ideas that…
- A Conversation About the Structural Logic Behind Great Design With Terrance L. Nash | AB Ep 44 · 57 min · Season 4 Episode 44What truly allows great architecture to stand the test of time? Behind every inspiring space, iconic building, and thriving community is an often-unseen framework of structural…
- Remembering The Twin Towers And The Reasons We Go To Studio // Saturday Studio AB Ep 43 · 8 min · Season 4 Episode 43Architecture Beyond In this reflective Saturday Studio episode, Architecture Beyond takes a different approach — moving away from a traditional presentation format and into a…
- Beyond Geometry | Advanced Form-Finding Frontiers for Architects With Grasshopper & Kangaroo With Arie Willem de Jongh | AB Ep 42 · 49 min · Season 4 Episode 42What happens when architects stop designing static forms — and start designing with forces, behavior, and physics? In this episode of Architecture Beyond, we sit down with Arie…
- Letters to Ms. 1000 Begins - Christian Joosse On Architecture Writing and Purpose | Part 1 | AB EP 41 · 13 min · Season 4 Episode 41Architecture is not only shaped by buildings. It is shaped by memory, mentorship, authorship, and the voices that help define who belongs in the profession. In this episode of…
- Zaha Hadid: The Architect Who Redefined Form and Possibility For All Designers // Saturday Studio AB Ep 40 · 47 min · Season 4 Episode 40Welcome to Saturday Studio, a series from Architecture Beyond where we study architectural pioneers and connect their thinking to how we design today. In this episode, we explore…
- When to Hire an Architect: The Early Decisions That Shape Great Projects | AB Ep 39 · 39 min · Season 4 Episode 39One of the most common questions in the building industry is simple but incredibly important: When should you bring an architect into a project? Many people assume the architect…
- Paul R. Williams: Elegance, Leadership, and Lasting Impact in American Architecture // Saturday Studio AB Ep 38 · 30 min · Season 4 Episode 38Architecture Beyond | Saturday Studio Welcome to the first installment of Saturday Studio, a new Architecture Beyond series where we study architectural legends and translate…
- Affordable Housing, Advocacy & The Path Towards A Newer Hopeful Architecture with Kelsey Wilson, AIA | AB Ep 37 · 51 min · Season 4 Episode 1What does it really mean to design with dignity—and how can architects play a meaningful role in affordable housing and community development? Watch this episode recorded here…
- Strengthening Community Through Equity, Architecture & Service With Dillon Dunn | AB Ep 36 · 46 min · Season 3 Episode 36In this episode of Architecture Beyond, host Brandon Gibbs sits down with Dillon Dunn, President of NOMA Nashville, for a timely and thoughtful conversation on leadership…
- The Architecture of Wellness: A Vision For Healthier Cities From The Inside Out with Christopher Goode I AB Ep. 35 · 44 min · Season 3 Episode 35Episode Overview In this inspiring episode of Architecture Beyond, host Brandon Aaron Gibbs, AIA, NOMA sits down with entrepreneur, community builder, and wellness advocate Chris…
- Ask An Architect (Part 1) -- Honest Answers About the World of Design | AB Ep. 34 · 26 min · Season 3 Episode 34Ever wondered what architects really do all day, why projects take so long, or where design ideas actually come from? In this Architecture Beyond special, host Brandon Gibbs…
- Leading with Design: Chad Polk on Building Joyful Architecture & Strong Communities | AB Ep.33 · 55 min · Season 3 Episode 33What does it mean to lead with design, serve the community, and build a practice with lasting impact? In this episode of Architecture Beyond, we sit down with Chad Polk…
- Designing for Healing: The Power of Healthcare Interior Design with Giselle Newman AAIA, RID| AB Ep. 32 · 44 min · Season 3 Episode 32“Healthcare design isn’t just about meeting codes — it’s about restoring dignity, supporting care, and shaping outcomes.” — Giselle Newman, Award-Winning Healthcare Interior…







