PennDesign Faculty win prestigious AIA Award

Sabin and Jones awarded 2007 Upjohn Research Grant Congratulations to Jenny Sabin, M.Arch. (Lecturer-Department of Architecture, Sr. Researcher at the NSO & IME Member) and Peter Lloyd Jones, Ph.D. (Assoc. Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, IME Member & '07 NSO Fellow) for the awarding of a 2007 Upjohn Research Grant as administered by the American Institute of Architects. An abstract of their proposal is below: "In Nonlinear Biosynthesis, we argue that through the analysis of biological design problems in specialized three-dimensional designer microenvironments, the architect is afforded new ways of thinking about sustainable design by understanding how dynamic and environmental feedback informs structure and form. Through the design of digital and algorithmic tools, we aim to escape the imitation of these biological structures (popularly known as biomimicry) in favor of biosynthesis, where new tools and models for performative surface architectures, membrane structures, and building systems may be generated. The intent of this research project is to foster new and ongoing dialogues between the disciplines of architecture and biology and to jointly investigate fundamental processes in living systems and their potential application in performative structures and sustainable buildings and vice versa." The Upjohn Research Grant provides base funds to be matched for applied research projects that advance professional knowledge and practice.