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Speakers and Panels

Experience Is the Product

How hospitality driven design, experiential placemaking, and shifting user expectations are influencing the future of office, residential, retail, mixed use, and public space design

Sloan Harris

Sloan Harris

CEO

VLK Architects

Mark Vornberg

Mark Vornberg

Principal and Managing Partner

Dick Clark + Associates

Frans van Vuure

Frans van Vuure

Managing Director

uns

Nhat Ho
Moderator

Nhat Ho

Founder and CEO

Boot Civil

Sloan Harris

CEO

VLK Architects

As Chief Executive Officer of VLK Architects, Sloan Harris has steered the firm’s growth and evolution to establish VLK as one of today’s most successful and innovative service providers in the industry. Sloan’s abilities as a strategic manager, designer, and entrepreneur and his commitment to improving the local communities VLK serves, positioned him for leadership since he joined the firm in 2003. Since becoming principal and then partner, Sloan’s vision precipitated remarkable growth for the firm, expanding from two to five office locations, diversifying its service markets, and more than doubling annual earned revenue. A passionate advocate for the significant role every team member plays, Sloan cultivates a durable firm-wide culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement in service to our clients.

Mark Vornberg

Principal and Managing Partner

Dick Clark + Associates

Mark Vornberg graduated from UT Architecture and started at Dick Clark + Associates in 1996 as a part-time model builder, has done every role in the firm in this 27 years there and in 2017 he took over as Principal and continues to lead the 43 year old architecture firm through some exciting times in Austin. As one of three partners at DC+A, Mark focuses primarily on the commercial side of their business, having designed numerous restaurants, bars, offices, retail and other hospitality and projects. Mark continues to expand that role, and now leads his own development projects in East Austin that include their current office at 2120 E. 7th, a new mixed-use project at 7th & Pedernales, and previously Hotel Eleven on East 11th street that he and his wife owned and ran until recently.

Mark’s favorite quote? When you find yourself neck deep in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.

Frans van Vuure

Managing Director

uns

Frans van Vuure is a Senior Architect and the Managing Director of UNS Austin, where his ability to translate design concepts into technical and feasible construction processes and his emphasis on health-focused and sustainable solutions, is key to UNS’ global reach. He is focused on creating environments that perform and enhance individual health and well-being.

Following his graduation from the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam, he joined UNS in 2008 where he has worked on projects across Europe, the Middle East and North America, these include Kutaisi International Airport, the Bruzzano Masterplan, Wasl Tower and the Austin Light Rail.

By combining data-driven insight with innovative design, Frans ensures that every project supports thriving communities and prioritises health at every scale.

Nhat Ho

Moderator

Boot Civil

Nhat Ho is a licensed civil engineer and visionary entrepreneur who has shaped the landscape of Central Texas through more than 500 successful projects. As the Founder and CEO of Boot Civil, LLC, Nhat brings a results-driven approach that seamlessly integrates technical expertise with deep policy insight. His leadership is defined by a commitment to collaborative problem-solving, evidenced by his portfolio of mixed-use, public, and educational developments across the region.

A proud graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Nhat’s influence extends far beyond engineering. He is a deeply engaged community leader, serving on the boards of the Long Center for the Performing Arts, the Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA), and the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum.

His contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including:

2024 RECA Member of the Year

2023 Leadership Austin Ascendant Alumni Award

2023 Austin Under 40 Award for Engineering and Architecture

Guided by values of excellence, humility, and innovation, Nhat continues to be a pivotal force in Austin’s professional and civic evolution.

Adaptive Reuse as Invention

How architects and developers are transforming existing buildings into flexible, experience driven spaces through adaptive reuse, repositioning, and creative redevelopment strategies

Jamie Chioco

Jamie Chioco

Principal

CHIOCO

Jacqueline Dudley

Jacqueline Dudley

Practice Leader

The Beck Group

Emily Eisenhart

Emily Eisenhart

Founder + Creative Director

Studio Eisenhart

Jacqueline Dudley

Practice Leader

The Beck Group

As the Architecture Practice Leader in Austin, Jacqueline provides strategic leadership and oversight for the studio’s operations and project delivery, ensuring exceptional client results.

Jacqueline’s family background in design and construction inspired her to pursue the industry early. She values integrating architecture and construction, believing that while architects create inspiring designs, successful projects require the coordinated efforts of the entire team.

Throughout her tenure at Beck, Jacqueline has demonstrated strong leadership and project management. Her portfolio boasts projects such as Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa, Texas Bankers Association Headquarters, and Duke University’s Wallace Wade Stadium.

Jacqueline is involved in the Austin community. She serves as Chair-Elect of the Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA), mentors through RECA’s Leadership Development Council, advises the City of Austin Technical Advisory Review Panel, and participates in Austin AIA, Women in Architecture.

She passionately serves on the Elizabeth Ann Seton Board, benefiting the NICU at Ascension Seton Hospital, and is engaged with the McDonald Observatory Board. Jacqueline, a proud University of Texas at Austin graduate, enjoys supporting the Longhorns with her husband and two children.

Why You Should Attend This Event

What You'll Learn: 

  • Why placemaking has become one of the most important drivers of experience, identity and long-term value across Austin’s built environment

  • What tenants, residents and visitors now expect from experiential design, hospitality-inspired amenities and highly activated spaces

  • How Austin is balancing rapid growth with authenticity, neighborhood character and human-centered urban design

  • Where adaptive reuse, mass timber, sustainability and wellness-focused architecture are creating new opportunities for the design community

  • How major projects are approaching density, walkability and connectivity as Austin continues evolving into a more vertical and urban city

  • What architecture and design teams are doing differently to navigate rising construction costs, entitlement challenges and shifting market expectations

  • Which emerging neighborhoods, design trends and transformative projects are expected to shape Austin’s built environment over the next several years

  • What it takes to move a project from concept to completion in today’s cost-constrained and demand-driven environment

  • How design decisions are increasingly tied to feasibility, entitlement, and long-term market performance

  • Where walkability, public realm activation, and ground-floor experience are driving real project success

  • How developers and design teams are collaborating earlier to reduce risk and improve deliverability

  • What defines “Austin identity” today and how it is being expressed through architecture and placemaking

  • How density, livability, and neighborhood character are being balanced in both new builds and adaptive reuse

  • Where projects are getting reshaped, delayed, or restructured before ever breaking ground

  • How sustainability, material innovation, and flexibility are influencing what ultimately gets built

  • What separates projects that successfully transition from vision to vertical from those that remain conceptual

How You’ll Do More Business: Austin is entering a more design-driven phase of growth, with 13 major projects under construction totaling 6.63 million square feet in the downtown pipeline, according to the Downtown Austin Alliance. As the market shifts from rapid expansion to more intentional, experience-led development, this event will explore how placemaking, public realm investment, and experiential design are reshaping mixed-use districts, adaptive reuse, and hospitality-driven environments across the city. Attendees will gain insight into the architectural approaches and planning strategies redefining Austin’s skyline and neighborhood identity, and how sustainability, walkability, and human-centered design are becoming central to what ultimately gets built in one of the country’s fastest-evolving urban markets.

Who You’ll Meet During Networking: Architects, interior designers, urban planners, landscape architects, design principals, construction leaders, engineers, owners, public sector representatives, hospitality and mixed-use specialists, sustainability consultants and other professionals shaping Austin’s built environment.

Why You Should Attend: Bisnow events bring together the biggest power players in the industry to identify opportunities, build your network and expand your business. With the largest audience of commercial real estate professionals in the world, no one knows how to help your business more than we do. Join Bisnow as we jump into the market to analyze its strengths and strategize on its areas of opportunity. You don't want to miss this event!

Questions about your ticket purchase, venue location or interested in sponsoring? Reach out to customerservice@bisnow.com for customer support. 

For questions, recommendations, comments or press inquiries please email our Texas event producer, Emily Cox, at emily.cox@bisnow.com.

To request disability-related accommodations, please contact megan.harding@bisnow.com no later than seven business days before the event.

Austin News & Projects

Agenda

Time Activity
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
Networking, Breakfast & Coffee
9:00 AM
9:45 AM
Experience Is the Product

How hospitality driven design, experiential placemaking, and shifting user expectations are influencing the future of office, residential, retail, mixed use, and public space design

9:45 AM
10:15 AM
Networking Break
10:15 AM
11:00 AM
Adaptive Reuse as Invention

How architects and developers are transforming existing buildings into flexible, experience driven spaces through adaptive reuse, repositioning, and creative redevelopment strategies

11:00 AM
11:30 AM
More Networking!

Tickets

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