Chris Ford

Bio

Chris is a design professional, design educator, and design researcher in the areas of both Architecture and Infrastructure design. He is interested in our imminent Urban Futures through the research and design of next-generation solutions for the built environment from a user-centered perspective.

Upon graduating with his Master of Architecture from North Carolina State University, Chris worked in the offices of Richard Meier & Partners (New York), Rick Joy Architects (Tucson) and Rob Paulus Architects (Tucson). Projects assisted or managed include residential (single and multi-family), commercial and infrastructural typologies.

After teaching as a lecturer at the University of Arizona, Chris joined the College of Architecture at the University of Nebraska as fulltime faculty. He regularly taught undergraduate and graduate design studios including the NAAB Comprehensive Project, elective courses in Design Methodology and Modern Craft, and advised Design Thesis. In Spring 2013, Chris coordinated the "London | 2013" Program where his research prompted coursework on Hybridized Urban Infrastructures. In 2015, Chris resigned as a tenured Associate Professor to pursue a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.

Chris is currently a PhD Candidate at Stanford University in the Mechanical Engineering Design Group and is advised by Professor Larry Leifer, PhD. As a Research coordinator in the Stanford Center for Design Research, Chris spearheads a new initiative titled “Resilience Design Research” which uses Design Thinking as a research method for next-generation, resilient solutions for the built environment. This initiative includes research interests in both urban and suburban contexts.

Chris is engaged outside of Stanford through his role as founding Editorial Board member and Associate Editor for the Journal of Technology | Architecture + Design (TAD Journal), a new peer-reviewed scholarly journal published by the ACSA. He also co-Chairs the Emerging Technology Committee within the ASCE's Infrastructure Resilience Division. Chris maintains memberships with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and the San Francisco based non-profit SPUR to guarantee exposure to the practices of multiple disciplines. Chris is a licensed architect in the State of North Carolina.

Honors & Awards

• Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship, Vice Provost for Graduate Education, Stanford University (June 2016 - June 2019)
• Steward Professorship in Sustainable Design: "Renewable Energy Infrastructures", College of Architecture, University of Nebraska - Lincoln (Oct 2008 - Oct 2010)
• Monster of Design Award: "Renewable Energy Infrastructures", AIA Kansas City, Young Architects Forum (Oct 2009)
• Monster of Design Award: "TAIMEN", AIA Kansas City, Young Architects Forum (Oct 2008)
• Honorary Faculty Member, Tau Delta Sigma Honor Society, University of Nebraska - Lincoln (2009)
• Larry Hawthorne Faculty Award, College of Architecture, University of Nebraska - Lincoln (2006)
• Darryl B. Dobras Award for Excellence, CAPLA, University of Arizona (2004)
• AIA Henry Adams Certificate of Merit, College of Design, North Carolina State University (1998)
• Student Inductee, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, North Carolina State University (1998)
• Student Inductee, Tau Sigma Delta Honor Society, North Carolina State University (1998)
• PDA Traveling Fellowship, College of Design, North Carolina State University (1997)

Professional Affiliations and Activities

• Member, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) (2017 - Present)
• Student Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (2014 - Present)
• Student Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) (2014 - Present)
• Member, SPUR (2013 - Present)
• Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA) (2012 - Present)

Education & Certifications

• Master of Architecture, North Carolina State University, Architecture (1998)
• B.A. in Architecture, UNC-Charlotte, Architecture, Minor in English (1995)

Stanford Advisors

• Michael Shanks, Doctoral Dissertation Reader (AC)
• Larry Leifer, Doctoral Dissertation Advisor (AC)
• Martin Fischer, Doctoral Dissertation Reader (AC)

Service, Volunteer and Community Work

• Associate Editor, TAD: The Journal of Technology | Architecture & Design (June 2016)

  Location

  Washington DC

• Member, Emerging Technologies Committee, Infrastructure Resilience Division, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (6/2015)

  Location

  Washington DC

• Board of Directors, Lester F. Larsen Tractor Test and Power Museum, University of Nebraska - Lincoln (1/2008 - 6/2012)

  Location

  Lincoln NE