RS&H has acquired Texas-based OMEGA Engineers. Learn more.

Philip Robbie Examines the Unbuilt in TEDx Talk on Design

January 23, 2019      

Tags: Corporate

Philip Robbie Tedx Talk.

Late last year, RS&H National Design Director Philip Robbie stood on the TEDx stage in Jacksonville’s Florida Theatre and delivered a call to action for all creatives: Build.

In his TEDx talk, “Examining the Unbuilt,” Robbie looks back at his 30-year career as an architect and reflects not on the projects he saw to completion, but on those that remained unbuilt. He accepts these unrealized opportunities, recognizing that, many times, he lacked the confidence to share them, fearing they would appear too extreme. It’s only through hindsight that he sees these projects were uniquely appropriate at the time.

As Robbie explains in his talk, this condition is common well beyond the architecture field: we all have projects left unbuilt, songs left unsung, stories left unwritten, and ideas that were undefended and never realized. The gifts we have come with responsibilities.

“Those moments when we waffle? When we pull back? That’s when we must step forward. We must find that courage to build the unbuilt, write the unwritten, sing the unsung and defend the undefended,” Robbie said. “We have an obligation to bring our gifts into the world as we see fit, but they must be brought.”

Learn more about how RS&H brings architecture projects to life.

Photo by Tiffany Manning for TEDx Jacksonville.

Stay in the Know

Sign up to receive RS&H and industry news, blogs, case studies, and more in our monthly newsletter.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name
Accept GDPR Terms(Required)

Related Insights

Insight
Workplace Design Strategy: Creating Flexible, Collaborative Workspaces for the Future
October 20, 2026By Jordan Whitman, IIDA, WELL AP

How workplace design strategy supports talent attraction and retention, employee engagement, workplace modernization, and long-term business success through flexible, collaborative workspaces.

Corporate
Insight
The Dos and Don’ts of Design Charrettes
February 16, 2026By Philip Robbie, AIA, OOA, LEED AP

Modern design charrettes are collaborative and problem seeking, pushing creative boundaries while keeping client leaders engaged.

Corporate
News
RS&H Associates Create Adaptive Halloween Costumes
October 27, 2025By Jennifer Nix McGerald, FSMPS, CPSM

Every year RS&H associates help children living with disabilities fulfill their wishes by engineering a magical Halloween experience, complete with custom costumes adapted to their wheelchairs.

Corporate
News
RS&H and Confidential Client Earn Industry Accolades from NAIOP Northeast Florida
April 17, 2025By Jennifer Nix McGerald, FSMPS, CPSM

A confidential financial services client of the national architecture, engineering and consulting firm RS&H was awarded the Build-Out Project of the Year Award by the Northeast Chapter of NAIOP, Commercial Real Estate Development Association for the Jacksonville Operations Center project.

Corporate
Group of people smiling and holding awards in front of NAIOP and Renasant logos
RS&H logo in blue.
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.