In October, Design Partner Scott Duncan joined Architectural Digest (AD) and Fidelity Wealth Management at the Chicago Symphony Center for a panel discussion on the principles of enduring design. Moderated by AD Editor-in-Chief Amy Astley, the conversation featured Duncan alongside Karla D’Alleva Valas, Head of Private Wealth Management and Executive Services at Fidelity. Together, they explored the parallels between the built environment and financial planning, examining how foresight, strategic adaptability, and long-term thinking shape lasting legacies across both architecture and finance.

Released in conjunction with the event, AD’s short film Designing with Vision captures an unscripted dialogue between Duncan and Valas. Filmed on location at the Chicago Symphony Center—a historic building that underwent an extensive renovation and expansion by SOM in 1998—the video highlights the shared values of expertise, foresight, and thoughtful planning across finance and design, showing how adaptability and long-term vision help build enduring legacies. By integrating modern infrastructure within a 19th-century shell, the project demonstrates the value of adaptive reuse in ensuring civic spaces remain relevant and human-centered for decades to come.