Susannah Dickinson
· Associate Professor of ArchitectureUniversity of Arizona · School of Architecture
Active 1928–2024
Academic metrics are sourced from OpenAlex and public funding records; values may differ from Google Scholar.
About
Susannah Dickinson is an architect and Associate Professor at the University of Arizona, where she joined the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA) in 2009 after practicing architecture full-time. Her work explores the relationship that computational design and fabrication processes can have in the development of more ecologically responsive environments. Her background includes digital processes, parametric modeling, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and digital fabrication, largely gained through professional experience in the offices of Frank O. Gehry in Los Angeles and SHoP Architects in New York. Dickinson's technological expertise is coupled with a belief that architects have a responsibility to consider the entire built and natural environment. Her research connects multi-scalar biomimetics and complexity theory with digital processes and design pedagogy. She has published internationally with IJAR, SimAUD, and ARCC, served on the Board of Directors of ACADIA, and her recent design studio won the 2018 Architect Magazine Sloan Studio Prize. She sees teaching and research as opportunities for personal growth and lifelong learning, as well as a means to give back to the next generation of architects.
Research topics
- Computer Science
- Architectural engineering
- Engineering
- Sociology
- Geography
- Environmental economics
- Business
- Human–computer interaction
- Construction engineering
- Data science
Selected publications
Meta-morphing Architectural Domains: The Role of Humans and AI in Post-human Architecture
Lecture notes in civil engineering · 2024-01-01 · 1 citations
book-chapterSenior authorSocio-Ecological Practice Research · 2023 · 1 citations
1st authorCorrespondingNature as a Comprehensive Model: A Biomimetic Installation
Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia · 2014-01-01 · 1 citations
articleOpen access1st authorThe following group installation was part of a seminar on biomimetics at the University of Arizona, USA. The design began with research into various natural systems, namely cell growth and morphogenesis and digital tools. In nature cells contain preprogrammed responses based on intrinsic properties which allow for differentiation and adaptation to external forces. This logic of cell morphology was developed into the installation design. Form specificity and topological variation was developed th…
Balance in control: The case of an urban design studio at the University of Arizona
International Journal of Architectural Research: Archnet-IJAR · 2013-03-15 · 1 citations
article1st authorCorrespondingFor the first time, in history, the majority of human beings live in urban regions. Although cities are among the most complex human-made systems, they are unfortunately environmentally, economically and socially unsustainable. How can we change this? This paper discusses an undergraduate architectural design studio, Future Cities, which pushed for an environmentally holistic design process, moving past the idea of single, object-like buildings. The studio taught various digital and research met…
The Appropriate Balance between Digital and Analog Techniques
Design Principles and Practices An International Journal—Annual Review · 2011-01-01 · 1 citations
article1st authorCorresponding
Frequent coauthors
- 1 shared
Aletheia Ida
University of Arizona
- 1 shared
Christian Davila-Peralta
- 1 shared
David Manuel Arenas González
- 1 shared
Justin Hyatt
University of Arizona
- 1 shared
Kirk Dimond
University of Arizona
- 1 shared
Shujuan Li
- 1 shared
Kyle Szostek
University of Arizona
- 1 shared
Samuel Owen
University of Arizona
Education
PhD Candidate, Architecture and Urbanism
European Graduate School
- 1998
Master of Architecture, Architecture
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
- 1989
study abroad year, Architecture
University of Oregon
- 1987
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (with honors), Architecture
University of Liverpool
Awards & honors
- 2018 Architect Magazine Sloan Studio Prize
Similar researchers at University of Arizona
- Resume-aware match score
- Save to shortlist
- AI-drafted outreach
See your match with Susannah Dickinson
PhdFit ranks faculty by your research interests, methods, and publications — grounded in their actual work, not templates.
- Free to start
- No credit card
- 30-second signup