Thomas Jefferson University Launches Ph.D. in Architecture and Design Research

 

The College of Architecture and the Built Environment is launching a new Ph.D. in Architecture and Design Research in Fall 2021 which will be overseen by Dr. Kihong Ku as Program Director.  This STEM-designated program, one of the few of its kind in the United States, supports interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research in architecture, urban and geospatial design, science, technology, engineering, and healthcare. Students have the opportunity to pursue research at one of CABE’s partner institutions in Europe or Asia; assist in faculty-driven research projects; and participate in initiatives sponsored by CABE outreach and research centers.

Jefferson’s Institute for Smart and Healthy Cities was created in 2019 as a collaborative effort of the College of Architecture and the Built Environment and 2 other colleges to support the research, innovation, and education for transforming urban environments into smart and healthy cities. The institute is conceived as an aggregator and facilitator of transdisciplinary research and education across multiple disciplines driving the future of communities to build more efficient, healthier, and livable cities.  The Institute, under the supervision of co-director, Prof. Edgar Stach, Ph.D. has hosted 2 online forums where interdisciplinary experts from the University and across the country shared their insights into housing policy and the evolution of cities as smart and healthy cities, among other important topics.

In his new book published by Birkhäuser titled Renzo Piano; Space – Detail – Light,  Prof. Edgar Stach, Ph.D., analyzes and documents nine museum buildings by Renzo Piano Building Workshop to compare their playful use of natural light, transparency, and fine detailing.

This evolution of corporate modernism is the focus of Building Brands: Corporations and Modern Architecture, the latest book by Grace Ong Yan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Interior Design who also teaches architectural history. The book is the result of Dr. Ong Yan’s archival research of historical case studies, as well as her own experience designing branded environments for corporate clients