John Ringel

John has been a design/builder since 1972 when he co-founded Jersey Devil design/build firm. In the 90’s, John began teaching at Yestermorrow, a design/build school and community in Vermont. His natural propensities led him to concerns of sun, site, and energy in buildings. He specializes in energy and sustainable design and has design/built numerous homes, additions, and alterations, as well as consulted and given workshops.

“Jersey Devil is a name that has been attached to work by Steve Badanes, John Ringel, Jim Adamson, or any combination of the above, plus other people who have participated in their diverse projects. This loose-knit group of designer-builders has created projects that critique conventional practice, both the process of making architecture and the accepted definitions of architecture itself. Jersey Devil’s architecture shows a concern for craft and detail, an attention to the expressiveness of the construction materials, and a strong environmental consciousness.” – Devils Workshop: 25 Years of Jersey Devil Architecture: Susan Piedmont-Palladino + Mark Allen Branch

“Students who come to Yestermorrow are place-makers or change-makers; DIYers and professionals; undergraduates and lifelong learners; hobbyists; and those seeking a career or life change. Courses are taught by top architects, builders, craftspeople, and permaculture practitioners from around the country and designed to empower students to create intentional and inspired pieces and places that enrich life and enhance our world”. – Yestermorrow.org

___

Every Monday, Olson Kundig starts the week with an all‑office meeting, and once a month this meeting is devoted to an outside guest speaker. The Olson Kundig Speaker Series was created by Alan Maskin over two decades ago with the goal of inspiring staff with presentations from people who work outside the realm of architecture. To date, more than 300 guests have come to speak in our offices. The forum is also available for internal speakers, who share completed project overviews, complex project details, and research findings, all with the aim of increasing our shared knowledge.

The theme of the 2025 Speaker Series is Multitudes. In an age where differing views and beliefs often estrange and divide us, it is worth noting that life itself is composed of contradiction, inconsistency, and surprise. We ourselves are no strangers to the dualities within. Multitudes explores stories from our human epoch that reveal the beauty of unexpected unions—how unrelated and seemingly opposing forces can collide to create something wonderful.