Megumi Call

Megumi Call is a B. ARCH candidate in the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute class of 2023. She matriculated at CASE for the spring semester of 2022, where her studies included cork panels, vertical farms, and urban heat islands. Call, with partner Aida Ayuk, developed a non-repeating paneling system out of repurposed cork for acoustic performance. Call, with partner Thomas Giordano, designed Cultivate - a multi-use center in Co-op City that cultivates crops, commerce, and community through a modular design that addresses economy of scale.

Much of the structure and MEP functions – elements traditionally hidden from view – are brought to the forefront and celebrated. From interlocking plant pods to modular program units, Cultivate is a sustainable and scalable response to the multifaceted needs of Co-op City. During her research experience, she studied urban heat islands (UHI) and the positive effects of green roofs. Using a futuristic urban model for NYC created by PhD student, Fengqi Li, she displayed possible scenerios for the optimal percentage of green roof area in relation to building footprint and height for maximum reduction of the UHI effect.

Call and Giordano's project, Cultivate, was featured in a Dezeen publication:

https://www.dezeen.com/2022/10/17/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute-architecture-projects-schoolshows/