School of Architecture College of Design

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School of ArchitectureFaculty

Faculty

Blaine E. Brownell, AIA LEED AP

Assistant Professor

Co-Director, Master of Science Program in Architecture—Sustainable Design track

Email: brownell@umn.edu

Narrative

My research considers emergent materials and applications with three particular areas of focus: technology, sustainability, and Japanese architecture. My work is informed by a wide range of sources, given the fact that new materials arise within the full spectrum of material categories and are often initially associated with fields outside of building construction. Context is essential in assessing the importance of material trajectories and their potential effects, tracing the lineage of material technologies, and understanding the sociocultural and environmental motives that drive the realization of innovative material applications. My long-term objective is to develop a critical framework for assessing the technological development and environmental influence of materials in architecture, in order to reveal consequential trajectories as well as recognize and exploit future opportunities for innovation.

Specialties

Emergent materials
Material applications in architecture
Sustainable building technologies
Japanese architecture and design

Educational Background

Master of Architecture, Rice University, Houston, Texas, 1998
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture + Certificate in East Asian Studies, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, 1992

Professional Credentials

Sustainable Building Advisor, Sustainable Building Advisor Institute, Seattle, Washington, 2005
Construction Document Technologist, Construction Specifications Institute, Alexandria, Virginia, 2005
LEED Accredited Professional, United States Green Building Council, Washington, DC, 2003
Registered Architect, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, Washington, DC; State of Washington, 2003

Published Books

Material Strategies: Innovative Applications in Architecture. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2012
Matter in the Floating World: Conversations with Leading Japanese Architects and Designers. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2011
Transmaterial 3: A Catalog of Materials That Redefine Our Physical Environment. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2010
Transmaterial 2: A Catalog of Materials That Redefine Our Physical Environment. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2008
Transmaterial: A Catalog of Materials That Redefine Our Physical Environment. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2006

Courses Taught

Arch 3150: Topics in Architecture—Architecture in Transformation
Arch 4150/5550: Study Abroad in Japan
Arch 5110: Architecture as Catalyst
Arch 5541: Material Strategies
Arch 8251: Graduate Architectural Design I
Arch 8255: Graduate Architectural Design III
Arch 8565: Material Performance in Sustainable Building