Deborah Berke & Sarah Elizabeth Lewis | Beauty, Justice, and the Built Environment

Deborah Berke, Dean of Yale School of Architecture and founder of TenBerke Architects, joins Sarah Elizabeth Lewis, founder of Vision & Justice and Harvard professor, to explore how architecture, culture, and beauty shape democracy, belonging, and justice.

Drawing from Sarah’s work on representation and Deborah’s decades of architectural practice and teaching, the discussion examines how the built environment defines who counts in American life. From memorials and civic spaces to housing, infrastructure, and public institutions, they argue that beauty is not a luxury, but a measure of justice. Together, they reflect on MASS’s work, including the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and call for an architecture that is universally accessible, environmentally responsible, ethically constructed, and rooted in dignity.

This conversation invites designers, policymakers, educators, and citizens alike to rethink the role of architecture as a cultural force, one capable of repairing harm, fostering belonging, and shaping a more just and abundant future.