School of Architecture - College of Design

Faculty

Marc Swackhamer

Associate Professor

Telephone: (612) 626-0105

Biography

Marc Swackhamer is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Minnesota. He graduated with a B.Arch from the University of Cincinnati in 1995 and received a M.Arch from Rice University in 1997. In his ongoing research, Professor Swackhamer examines the relationship between performance and ornament as specifically developed through digital production and fabrication techniques.

He is currently fabricating and installing Disperse, an acoustic wall installation, in a multi-purpose room in Steven Holl’s addition to Rapson Hall at the University of Minnesota. He is also working with School Head, Renée Cheng, on a new chapter for the re-designed Architectural Graphic Standards on the topic of emerging technology.

In the fall semester of 2006, he was accepted as an Associate Member of ther University of Minnesota’s Digital Design Consortium where he will conduct research in the area of digitally produced modular wall systems.

Courses

Graduate Design Studio I (coordinator)
Bio-Inspired Systems Elective Seminar
Biomimicry Graduate Studio Elective
Undergraduate Design Studio II
Digital Fabrication Seminar
Computer Methods

Education

Rice University Graduate School of Architecture

Master of Architecture Degree - May 1997

University of Cincinnati School of Architecture and Interior Design

Bachelor of Architecture Degree - June 1995

Publications

The HOME House Project: The Future of Affordable Housing, MIT Press – book published based on exhibition at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, “Draft House” appears – slvDESIGN

16 Houses: Owning a House in the City, Monacelli Press - book published based on 16 Houses Exhibition – slvDESIGN

“Disperse: Acoustic / Display / Pin-up Installation” – published in Princeton’s 306090 10: Decoration

“Read Lining: University of Houston Downtown Ninth Floor Renovation” –published in the Journal of Architectural Education issue on the topic of “surface” – BCA

“Ecoventions” exhibit published in Princeton’s 306090 05: Teaching and Building – co-designed with Terry Boling

“Feedback House” published in Princeton’s 306090: A Journal of Emergent Architecture and Design – slvDESIGN

slvDESIGN website launched (slvDESIGN.com) – design assistance from Don Vu and Nick Potts

“Drape Wall” appeared in June/July issue of Fabric Architecture Magazine – slvDESIGN

“Drape Wall” appeared on University of Minnesota’s home page / UMN News in article “The Future of Affordable Housing” by Pauline Oo – February 10, 2006 – slvDESIGN

“Draft House” published in Minnesota Monthly Magazine as part of article on the “HomeHOUSE Project” Exhibition at the Weisman Art Museum – slvDESIGN

“Drift House” published in 2nd annual University of Minnesota Student Journal “T/Here: Refuse” – slvDESIGN

“Drift House” published in Proceedings: ACSA National Conference, Chicago, Illinois

“Drift House” published in Proceedings: ACADIA/AIA Fabrication Conference, University of Waterloo

“Drift House” published in Proceedings: ACSA Northeast Regional Conference, Syracuse University (mistakenly omitted from document itself)

“Biomimicry and Architecture: An Analysis of the Role of Biology in the Architectural Design Process” published in Proceedings: ARCC/EAAE: International Conference on Architectural Research, Philadelphia, PA – co-authors, Corri Kluba, grad. arch. student, UMN and Tim Jordan, grad. arch. student, UMN

“Biomimicry: Nature as Model, Measure, and Mentor” to be published in Proceedings: “Intersections: Design Education and Other Fields of Inquiry” – 22nd National Conference on the Beginning Design Student, Iowa State University – co-author, Tim Jordan, grad. arch. student, UMN

“Hand Mending: Hebrew Union College Building 7 Renovation” (work form graduate design studio conducted in Spring Quarter 2003) published in Proceedings: ACSA Northwest Regional Conference “w-e-a-v-i-n-g: Constructing and Construing the Material World as Tapestry”, Ball State University

Recent Work

OSWall (Open Source Wall)

Oswall (Open Source Wall) is an experimental wall prototype that challenges conventional residential wall construction through an open, collaborative approach to material, fabrication, and installation methods. It proposes an "open source" construction platform in which third-party designers, engineers, scientists, or "do-it-yourselfers" can create, produce, market, and sell "applications" that are plugged into the wall.