Cal Poly Experts Directory - Architecture
Accessibility • Architectural Engineering • Building Design • City and Regional Planning • Computers in Architecture • Construction Defects • Construction Management • History of Design • Seismic Design • Sustainable Design • Urban Design
Accessibility for the Disabled
Paul M. Wolff, M.S.
Professor Emeritus of Architecture
(805) 544-3450 / e-mail: pwolff@calpoly.edu
Licensed architect. Designer of 24-unit accessible housing complex in San Luis Obispo for elderly and disabled (1993). Consultant and conference speaker on universal design, accessible design, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Participant, Universal Design Education Project, strategies for teaching lifespan issues to future designers (1993-96). Jewish refugee from Germany in 1939.
Areas of expertise:
- accessibility for people with disabilities
- attitudes toward disability
- discrimination
- disability and civil rights
- local advocacy for disability rights
- "universal" design and the Americans with Disabilities Act
- the architecture and life of Richard Neutra
- persecution of German Jews and the Holocaust
Architectural Engineering
Mark Berrio, Ph.D.
Professor of Architectural Engineering
(805) 756-1343/1316 e-mail: mmberrio@calpoly.edu
Areas of expertise:
- reinforced concrete structures
- framed domes
Building Design
Donna Duerk, M.Arch.
Professor of Architecture
(805) 756-5083/1316 e-mail: dduerk@calpoly.edu
Author of Architectural Programming: Information Management for Design.
Former planning commissioner, city of San Luis Obispo.
Areas of expertise:
- architectural programming--defining an architectural problem
- public art
- multimedia
Laura Joines-Novotny, Architect, AIA, M.Arch.
Professor of Architecture
(805) 756-2490 e-mail: ljoines@calpoly.edu
Registered Architect.
Co-founder of M:OME, Modern Sustainable Living, 2002.
Co-Designer of the Bridge Street Neighborhood, San Luis Obispo.
Winner of AIACCC annual design award for Ehlers Residence, 2002.
Author of numerous articles on medieval Czech town squares
Author of 3 children’s books.
Furniture designs exhibited.
Areas of expertise:
- passive solar design
- sustainable design and materials
- medieval town squares, outdoor ‘rooms’ plazas
- furniture design
Sandra Davis Lakeman, M.Arch.
Professor Emeritus of Architecture
(805) 756-7848,1316 e-mail: slakeman@calpoly.edu
Creator of photography exhibition "Natural Light and the Italian Piazza," supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, and L.J. Skaggs and Mary C. Skaggs Foundation; exhibited internationally.
Author of the exhibition catalog for "Natural Light and the Italian Piazza."
Areas of expertise:
- architectural graphics
- plazas/piazzas
- natural light
- Italian urban space
- Medieval town design
- Tuscany and Umbria
Alice Loh, M.L.Arch., Emeritus
Professor of Landscape Architecture
(805) 756-2915/1319 e-mail: aloh@calpoly.edu
Author of four landscape architecture course manuals.
Co-author of landscape architecture study and travel guide.
Registered architect and landscape architect.
Recipient, San Luis Obispo Beautification Award (1993) and California Women in Construction Award (1994)
Areas of expertise:
- vernacular architecture and landscape architecture design
- urban square and plaza design
- design methodology--problem identifying and problem solving
- garden design, philosophy, and cultural background (especially Chinese gardens)
- site analysis--natural and cultural factors and visual assessment
- women in a male-dominated profession
- architectural and landscape architectural licensing examinations
- designing housing for the elderly
City and Regional Planning
Umut Toker, PhD.
Assistant Professor, City and Regional Planning
(805) 756-1592, e-mail: utoker@calpoly.edu
Participatory methods in planning/design, urban design, computer applications, technology parks and R&D environments, design evaluation. Designed and implemented participatory processes for projects in NC and NM. Conducted research into innovation in organizations and the spatial characteristics of workspaces in R&D environments in the U.S. and the UK.
Areas of expertise:
- Community participation / participatory methods in planning and design
- Design / planning of technology parks and R&D oriented facilities at the urban and building scale
- Computer applications / representation in planning and design
- Downtown revitalization
- Programming, post-occupancy evaluation
Computers in Architecture
Thomas Fowler IV
Assistant Professor of Architecture
(805) 756-2981/1316 e-mail: tfowler@calpoly.edu
Member, American Institute of Architects, National Organization of Minority Architects. Recipient, Young Architect Selection Award in Progressive Architecture (July 1994).
Areas of expertise:
- computer applications in architecture design studio
- World Wide Web applications for teaching
- architecture and urban design
- design methods and theories
- campus planning, design, and facilities management
Jens G. Pohl, Ph.D.
Professor of Architecture, Graduate Coordinator
Executive Director, Collaborative Agent Design (CAD) Research Center
(805) 756-2841/1310 / e-mail: jpohl@calpoly.edu
Current research and consulting focus on decision-support systems utilizing artificial intelligence and distributed, cooperative computing methodologies.
Co-developer, "intelligent cooperative decision making" (ICDM) model that has been applied to engineering and architectural design, energy conservation in buildings (U.S. Department of Energy sponsorship), cargo loading (U.S. Army sponsorship), and command and control (U.S. Marine Corps sponsorship).
Fellow, International Institute for Advanced Studies in Systems Research and Cybernetics, Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Australian Institute of Building.
Author of two U.S. patents, several books and more than 70 research papers.
Areas of expertise:
- artificial intelligence and "intelligent" computer systems
- automated decision-support systems
- distributed, cooperative computing methodologies
- computer-aided design (CAD) in architecture and engineering
Construction Defects
Ken Kohlen, M.Arch.
Professor Emeritus of Architecture
(805) 545-5880/ e-mail: kkohlen@calpoly.edu
Licensed architect and licensed contractor.
Member, International Conference of Building Officials, Construction Specifications Institute.
Expert witness.
Areas of expertise:
- construction defects
- wood-frame construction
- forensic architecture
- construction dispute and resolution
- materials of construction
- residential construction
- light-frame construction
- architectural working drawings
- personal injury claims
- water damage
Construction Management
Thomas M. Korman, Ph.D., P.E.
Assitant Professor, Department of Construction Management
(805) 756-2759 e-mail: tkorman@calpoly.edu
Registered civil engineer in State of California. Memvber, American Society of Civil Engineers
Member, American Society of Engineering Educators.
Member, Alliance for innovative Manufacturing at Stanford.
Governor's Office of Emergency Services Safety Assessment Evaluator.
Areas of expertise:
- energy-efficient construction designs (including water pollution prevention programs (erosion and dust control)
- construction safety
- home inspections
- pavement management and storm water management plans
- site analysis for ADA access
- construciton estimates
- construction defects and failures
History of Architecture
Bruno Giberti, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Architecture
(805) 756-2036/1316 e-mail: bgiberti@calpoly.edu
Contributor to national survey of churches and church properties, Partners for Sacred Places, an advocacy group for historic preservation.
Member, Society of Architectural Historians, College Art Association, American Studies Association, Vernacular Architecture Forum, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture.
Author of numerous articles on architecture and design-related subjects for popular audiences in Arts and Architecture, San Francisco Examiner.
Author of book Classified Landscape about the design of taxonomic systems in relationship to the built environment of 19th century world's fairs.
Areas of expertise:
- theory of architecture
- architecture criticism
- history of American art and architecture
- history of modern architecture (1750-present)
- cultural studies
- consumerism
- world's fairs
Seismic Design
Clayton Pharaoh, M.S.
Assistant Professor in Architectural Engineering
(805) 756-2151/1314 e-mail: cpharaoh@calpoly.edu
Member, Structural Engineers Association of California, Emergency Response Team for California. Department of Emergency Services.
Consultant for building reinforcement studies and the repair of a five-story steel-frame building damaged in 1994 Northridge earthquake.
Registered professional civil and structural engineer.
Areas of expertise:
- structural system design
- design of steel and timber buildings for earthquakes
- retrofit of unreinforced masonry buildings
Satwant S. Rihal, Ph.D.
Professor of Architectural Engineering
(805) 756-1352/1314 / e-mail: srihal@calpoly.edu
Registered professional civil engineer.
Co-author of Guidelines for Design of Low-Rise Buildings Subjected to Lateral Forces (1993).
Contributor to reports issued by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (1983-94).
Member, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute Post-Earthquake Reconnaissance Team.
Author of reports on earthquake hazard reduction.
Areas of expertise:
- earthquake-resistant building systems
- post- earthquake reconstruction
- seismic strengthening and retrofit
- seismic-prone areas of the world
- earthquake hazard mitigation of building systems, including non-structural systems
- innovative technologies and emerging developments in earthquake-resistant design and construction
Sustainable Design
Polly M. Cooper, M.Arch., M.LArch., M.Ed.
Professor Emeritus of Architecture
(805) 438-4452 e-mail: slosg@slonet.org
Registered architect.
Co-founder of San Luis Sustainability Group, an architecture firm specializing in sustainable planning, ecological design and appropriate technology for residential and commercial facilities.
Co-designer of first passive solar residence and first permitted strawbale residence in California.
Co-author of Fractal Architecture: Design for Sustainability (in progress).
Author of numerous articles, especially in passive solar conference proceedings.
Winner, international competition on sustainable design (1994).
Named "Top Ten Green Architects 2005" by Natural Home Magazine.
Areas of expertise:
- sustainable planning and design
- passive solar architecture
- strawbale architecture
Ken Haggard, BS.ChE., BA.Arch, M.Arch,
Professor Emeritus of Architecture
(805) 438-4452 email: slosg@slonet.org
Registered architect. Co-founder of San Luis Sustainability Group, an architecture firm specializing in sustainable planning, ecological design and appropriate technology for residential and commercial facilities. Co-designer of first passive solar residence and first permitted strawbale residence in California. Co-author of Fractal Architecture: Design for Sustainability.. Author of numerous articles, especially in passive solar conference proceedings. Winner, international competition on sustainable design (1994). Named "Top Ten Green Architects 2005" by Natural Home Magazine.
Areas of expertise:
- sustainable planning and design
- passive solar architecture
- strawbale architecture
Tom Di Santo, M.Arch
Assistant Professor of Architecture
(805) 878-0091 email: tdisanto@calpoly.edu
Registered Architect. Co-dounder of M:OME, Modern Sustainable Living, 2002. Co-Designer of the Bridge Street Neighborhood, SLO. Winner of five AIACCC annual design awards since 2001. Winner of three Obispo Beautiful awards. Furniture designs exhibited. Watercolor renderings and painting exhibited
Areas of expertise:
- sustainable design and systems
- passive solar design
- watercolor renderings and paintings
- furniture design
Urban Design
Vicente del Rio, PhD
Professor of City and Regional Planning
(805) 756-2572 e-mail: vdelrion@calpoly.edu
Full Professor School of Architecture and Urbanism, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (1979-2001).
Areas of expertise:
- physical planning and urban design
- community design
- environment - behavior and design methods
- downtown and waterfront revitalization
- programming and post-occupancy evaluation
- urbanization and housing in developing countries