Pressing Matters 10

Part of an important research university, the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design, as one of the top ten Graduate Architecture Departments in the USA, prepares students to address complex sociocultural and environmental issues through thoughtful inquiry, creative expression, and innovation. The Department of Architecture operates at the forefront of research and design by focusing on new design methodologies and future manufacturing through the interlinked intelligence of digital design, computational analyses, and robotics.Winka Dubbeldam, MArch MS-AAD, is a seasoned academic and design leader, serving in her 8th year as Chair and Miller Professor of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design, where she has gathered an international network of innovative research and design professionals. She is currently the Creative director for the Venice Architecture Biennale’s virtual Italian pavilion, and also serves as the External Examiner at the Bartlett School of Architecture in London (2019-present) and juror in several international competitions. Professor Dubbeldam was named one of the DesignIntelligence 30 Most Admired Educators [2015]. As the founder/principal of the WBE certified New York firm Archi-Tectonics, Dubbeldam is widely known for her award-winning work, recognised as much for its use of hybrid sustainable materials and smart building systems as for its elegance and innovative structures.