EDG Founding Principals Visit BIG HQ in Copenhagen

In September, EDG founding principals Martin Smith and Tanner Weeks embarked on an inspiring trip across Northern Europe, combining exploration, collaboration, and cultural discovery.

Their journey began in Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, where they experienced the city’s rich architecture, public spaces, and walkable streets. From there, they took a train west to Šiauliai to visit the Hill of Crosses, a powerful site of resilience and devotion. The trip continued to Klaipėda, a historic port city on the Baltic Sea, where they boarded an overnight ferry bound for Sweden, and then continued by train to Copenhagen, Denmark.

For Tanner, the visit to Lithuania held special meaning; his late grandmother was 100% Lithuanian, making the experience of seeing the country’s landscapes and culture a meaningful connection to his family’s heritage.

The trip culminated with a visit to the headquarters of BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) in Copenhagen, one of the world’s leading design studios. Experiencing BIG’s collaborative culture and design philosophy offered valuable insight into how design can bridge global ideas with local impact.

Traveling and collaborating with design leaders abroad provides EDG with fresh perspective and renewed energy. For Martin and Tanner, this journey reinforced how exposure to new environments, histories, and approaches to design strengthens EDG’s commitment to creating equitable environments, connected cultures, and impactful experiences.

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