University Design Research Fellows
Akima Brackeen
Chicago, Illinois
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign School of Architecture
Site Partner: Bartholomew County Public Library
Akima Brackeen
Akima Brackeen is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Through research and design, she explores the impact, engagement, and the narratives of urban waterscapes within the built environment. She is focused on examining material culture and radical imaginaries of Black communities, in order to reveal the social, political, and ecological nuances of water access. Ongoing projects span architectural interventions, digital tools, sound, and audio archives. She has an MArch from University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Community Design from University of San Francisco.
Previous Work
I AM BLOOMING
Commissioned by the Chicago Sukkah Design Festival, I AM BLOOMING creates a unique space for grounding, reflection, and mindfulness. In the festival setting it serves as a space for contemplation and celebration and takes on a permanent role within I AM ABLE's community garden, where it continues to serve as a meditative pavilion open to all members of the North Lawndale community. I AM BLOOMING was completed in collaboration with Office of Things.
