Open Studio Alumnus Spotlight: Safdar Abidi

4:30 PM to 8:00 PM • Crosby Hall - Room 116
Fireside Chat by Safdar Abidi (MArch ’91) at 5:00 PM

Exhibition Dates
April 6–April 23, 2026
9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Location
Crosby Hall, Room 116
UB South Campus
280 Hayes Rd
Buffalo, NY 14214

Organized by
Maia Peck with support from UB’s Office of Alumni Engagement 

Since 1988, the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning has been hosting an annual Atelier Week. Held in the spring semester, this weeklong celebration allows us to open our doors to the community to highlight the people, ideas, projects, and values that make us who we are. 

As a nod to the translation of the French word “atelier,” meaning “workshop” in English, our signature event during Atelier Week is Open Studio— an exhibition held across our three facilities — Hayes, Crosby, and Parker Halls. This event is open to the public, featuring work-in-progress from our studios, faculty research, and projects in the community. Open Studio is a vibrant celebration, and a living gallery, of the creative and collaborative efforts behind our work. 

This year during Open Studio, we're welcoming Safdar Abidi (MArch '91), Principal at Perkins&Will in Toronto, as our inaugural Alumnus Spotlight Speaker. In addition to a "fireside chat" about his professional trajectory, there will also be an exhibition of highlighted projects, many of which focus on higher education design.

Safdar has developed a deep specialization in architectural design and strategic consulting services for Higher Education institutions over the last 15 years. As the leader of Perkins&Will’s Higher Education practice in Canada, Safdar works closely with colleges and universities to continually deepen his understanding of their priorities and processes. He is passionate about collaborating with clients to “connect the dots” and develop creative strategies to enrich the student experience, elevate institutional identity, and maximize value for investments in campus projects. While leading client engagement, business development, design or project management, Safdar guides project teams to pursue process and design solutions that are positive, future focused, and deeply responsive to the unique culture and mission of each client. More recently Safdar has applied the lenses of climate change, social equity and Indigenous engagement to guide the visioning of goals and priorities for post secondary projects.

Join us as we celebrate the vibrant intellectual life of our School, and see our facilities and talent firsthand.