Susannah R Dickinson
- Associate Professor, Architecture
- Member of the Graduate Faculty
Contact
Biography
Susannah Dickinson is an Architect and an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona. She is involved in research and projects that stem from a background in digital processes and digital fabrication. This background was largely gained through a decade of professional experience in the offices of Frank O. Gehry, Los Angeles and SHoP Architects, New York. This technological background is coupled with a belief that it is our responsibility, as architects, to be concerned with the entire built and natural environment. She has published internationally in the International Journal of Architectural Research (IJAR) and presented at several major conferences including PLEA (Passive and Low Energy Architecture) and ACSA (Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture). She recently was on the board of directors of ACADIA (Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture).
Degrees
- M.Arch Architecture
- California State Polytechnic Pomona, Pomona, California, USA
- Nature and Technology
- B.A. Architecture
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, UK
- n/a
- Ph.D. Architecture and Urbanism
- European Graduate School, Saas-Fee, Switzerland
- Currently Phd Candidate
Work Experience
- Susannah Dickinson Architect (2016 - Ongoing)
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2015 - Ongoing)
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2009 - 2015)
- M+D (2008 - 2010)
- SHoP Architects (2006 - 2008)
- Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects (2004 - 2006)
- Gehry Partners (1999 - 2004)
Awards
- ARCHITECT Sloan Studio Prize
- ARCHITECT Magazine, Fall 2018
- New Faculty Teaching Award
- Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, ACSA and American Institute of Architecture Students, AIAS, Spring 2014
Licensure & Certification
- Architecture License, State of Arizona (2016)
- Architecture License, State of New York (2008)
- Architecture License, State of California (2006)
- NCARB Certificate, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) (2008)
Interests
Teaching
Teaches in a wide variety of courses, specializing in digital design methodologies at the scale of material research to urban design
Research
She is involved in research and projects related to digital design methodologies and biomimetics at various scales from material research to urban design.
Courses
No activities entered.
Scholarly Contributions
Books
- Dickinson, S. R., Bean, J., & Ida, A. (2020). Critical Practices in Architecture: The Unexamined. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.More infoThis book embraces the idea that in today’s complex world, multiple, emerging perspectives are critical to the design fields, the environment, and society. It also brings authors into conversation to focus on the built environment from the perspective of critical practice. The authors take as a starting point Jane Rendell’s ground-breaking work, which defines critical spatial practice as “self-reflective modes of thought that seek to change the world.” In opposition to conventional conceptions of architectural education and work, this book reflects how socially engaged architects, landscape architects, designers, urbanists, and artists take up critical spatial practice.Bridging ideas from multiple countries and approaches to design scholarship, each chapter seeks to find places of convergence for the multiple strands that form around themes of practice, equality, methods, theory, ethics, pedagogy, and representation. Rendell’s foreword and postscript provide context for these themes and suggest a way forward in today’s challenging, changing times.
Journals/Publications
- Dickinson, S. R. (2014). Bio-logics: critical impact approaches in trans-disciplinary urban design for arid regions. Journal of King Saud University, Architecture and Planning (KSU-A&P), 26(2), 93-104.
Proceedings Publications
- Dickinson, S. R. (2021, January 2021). The Complexity of the Built and Natural Environments. In AMPS Conference: The City and Complexity: Life, Design and Commerce in the Built Environment, Conference Proceedings, 80-87.
- Dickinson, S. R., & Ida, A. (2021). Climate Change and Design: Multiscalar Design Research in the Sonoran Desert. In The Architectural Research Centers Consortium, ARCC, Performative Environments.
- Dickinson, S. R., & Ida, A. (2021). Dynamic Interscalar Methods for Adaptaive Design Futures. In Sociedad Iberoamericana De Grafica Digital, SIGraDi 2021, Designing Possibilities.
- Dickinson, S. R., & Ida, A. (2021). Temporal Boundaries: Multiscalar Dynamic Modeling Techniques for Climate Change and Design. In The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and the European Association for Architectural Education, ACSA/EAAE, Teachers Conference: Curriculum for Climate Agency: Design (in) Action.
- Ida, A., Ida, A., Bean, J., Bean, J., Dickinson, S. R., & Dickinson, S. R. (2018, February). Critical Practice in an Age of Complexity: An Interdisciplinary Critique of the Built Environment, AMPS Proceedings Series 11. In Critical Practice in an Age of Complexity: An Interdisciplinary Critique of the Built Environment.
- Dickinson, S. R., & Parmar, R. (2018, May). Critical Wikihouse: Connecting GIS Data to Site and Tiny Home Design. In The Architectural Research Centers Consortium and European Association for Architectural Education, ARCC - EAAE 2018 International Research Conference, Architectural Research for a Global Community, Conference Proceedings, 406-14.
- Dickinson, S. R., Bean, J., & Ida, A. (2018, February). Critical Practice in an Age of Complexity: An Interdisciplinary Critique of the Built Environment, AMPS Proceedings Series 11. In Critical Practice in an Age of Complexity: An Interdisciplinary Critique of the Built Environment.
- Dickinson, S. R. (2017, June). Design as an Adaptive Time-scape. In Kine[sis]tem 2017: From Nature to Architectural Matter International Conference, 305-13.
- Dickinson, S. R. (2015, July). Hybrid Connections: Computational Mapping Methodologies for Mexico City. In CAAD Futures, 99-111.
- Dickinson, S. R. (2014, March). Integrated Digital Pedagogy. In Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design, ASCAAD, 263-70.
- Dickinson, S. R., & Wachter, S. (2014, June). Cellular Noise: an installation using biomimetic principles. In International Conference on Biodigital Architecture & Genetics, 168-76.
- Dickinson, S. R., & Wachter, S. (2014, May). Nature as a Comprehensive Model: a biomimetic installation. In Conference of the Association of Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, CAADRIA, 627-36.
Presentations
- Dickinson, S. R. (2017, June). Design as an Adaptive Time-scape. Kine[sis]tem 2017: From Nature to Architectural Matter International Conference. ISCTE-IUL School of Architecture, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Dickinson, S. R. (2017, september). The Complexity of Environmental Infrastructure. Conference on Complex Systems, CCS 2017, International Conference. Cancun, Mexico: Complex Systems Society and UNAM.
- Dickinson, S. R. (2014, June). Cellular Noise: an installation using biomimetic principles. The 2nd International Conference on Biodigital Architecture & Genetics Conference. ESARQ School of Architecture, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC) Barcelona, Spain: ESARQ School of Architecture, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC) Barcelona, Spain.
- Dickinson, S. R. (2014, March). Integrated Digital Pedagogy. The 7th International Conference of the Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design, ASCAAD. Effat University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (virtual presentation): ASCAAD.
- Dickinson, S. R. (2014, May). Nature as a Comprehensive Model: a biomimetic installation. The 19th International Conference of the Association of Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, CAADRIA. Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan: CAADRIA.
Poster Presentations
- Dickinson, S. R., Dimond, K., Ida, A., & Modrek, A. (2021). Classification of Natural Plant Physiology, Behavior and Morphology to Inform an Adaptive Architecture. The Architectural Research Centers Consortium, ARCC, Performative Environments.
Creative Productions
- Dickinson, S. R., Crawford, C., & Kim, D. (2014. Bento Shell; a spatial morphogenetic design strategy. BUGAIK (Busan Ulsan Gyeongnam Chapter of Architectural Institute of Korea) International Architecture Exhibition. Busan, Korea: BUGAIK (Busan Ulsan Gyeongnam Chapter of Architectural Institute of Korea).
