ENVD Faculty Wins Architectural Visionary of the Year Award

She received the Editor’s Choice commendation for her multidisciplinary work in the Architizer A+ Awards, presented last summer. Finnegan’s creative work and research explore generation methods that combine artificial intelligence (AI) (or “collective intelligence”) and digital modeling, with speculative programming. Finnegan’s research and creative work position her as the faculty lead for the ENVD Scenographies Unit, one which blends digital and physical (“phygital”) design through storytelling, immersive worldbuilding and advanced design representation. Finnegan leads this unit and suite of courses for ENVD at the new Auburn in Birmingham building, which houses the Urban Studio.

Finnegan was also named the Jury Winner in the Artistic Rendering category, for “Everything But [in] The Kitchen Sink,” and a finalist in the AI-Assisted Rendering category, for “gifting, ghosting, and giga-waste.” The latter project is a 2023 Seed Grant-funded initiative. Her work aimed to further develop scholarship and technological innovation by way of Artificial Intelligence diffusion modeling to design speculative futures (gifting), illustrate ghosted industrial histories (ghosting) and explore digital representation techniques for mitigating data hoarding (giga-waste).

Finnegan is the co-principal investigator on the AUX: Immersive Learning Experiences Grant, “Immersive Architecture Lab—Phase 2,” as supported by the Auburn University Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. The project is focused on expanding augmented and virtual reality integration in architecture, landscape architecture and environmental design, via the development of a “phygital” technology lab within Dudley Hall. The project is co-led by Frank Hu,  Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (APLA), and supported by Jennifer Pindyck, APLA Associate Professor, Chair of Interior Architecture and Associate Chair of Architecture.

“Eilís’s multiple awards at the 2025 Architizer Vision Awards recognize her exceptional vision in merging artificial intelligence, speculative design and immersive storytelling,” stated APLA School Head Justin Miller. “Her work exemplifies the kind of innovative, interdisciplinary scholarship that positions our students and faculty at the forefront of design education. We’re excited to see her continue this work through the Scenographies Unit and look forward to the work that will emerge from her teaching in the Environmental Design program at the Urban Studio in Birmingham.”