Karen M. Kensek
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Teaching Area
Computer Aided Design and Computer ApplicationsEducation
MArch, University of California, Berkeley, May 1986
BS in Art and Design, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, June 1984
Teaching and Administrative Experience
Courses Taught
ARCH 207ab - Computer Applications in Architecture
ARCH 402 - Topic Studio
ARCH 407 - Computer Programming in Architecture
ARCH 499 - Introduction to Virtual Reality
ARCH 499 - Designing and Building for Cyberspace
ARCH 507 - Theories of Computer Technology
ARCH 599 - Gadgets, Gizmos, and Ghosts
ARCH 599 - Faculty Seminar- Computer Applications
Positions
Adjunct Assistant Professor, USC School of Architecture, February 1993-present
Lecturer, USC School of Architecture, Sept. 1991-Jan. 1993
Lecturer, UC Berkeley, Department of Architecture, June 1986-August 1991
Research Specialist, Department of Architecture, UC Berkeley, June 1986-June 1990
Memberships
Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA)
Academic and Professional Honors
Studio consultant to three winning student design competitions: Tony Kim (USC), companion to the Chrysler Building, second prize William Van Alen Fellowship, Spring 1994; Sky Kogachi and Hoa Trinh (USC), team chosen as one of the winners of an international competition for a redesign of a section of Hamburg, Germany (with Mark Angelil); and Paul Geldbach (USC), first place winner of AIAS Environment 3 national competition, Spring 1993.Instructor for Alfredo Andia (UCB), honorable mention for his images, Dolphin 1 and Dolphin 3, in the Alias Design Power Competition, Spring 1991.
Publications (Selected)
Books
Mission, Method, Madness; Computer Supported Design in Architecture, ACADIA, (with Douglas Noble), 1992Software for Architects; A Guide to Software for the Architectural Profession, (with Douglas Noble), 1992
Computer Aided Architectural Design at the University of California, Berkeley, October 1990, (with Douglas Noble)
Articles
Solar Zoning and Solar Envelopes, ACADIA Quarterly, Vol. 14., No. 2, Spring 1995Shading Mask: A Teaching Tool for Sun Shading Devices, ACADIA 1995 Proceedings, with S. Effendi and D. Noble.
Student Initiated Explorations in the Design Studio, ACADIA, (with Douglas Noble), 1994
Issues Regarding Architectural Records of the Future: Planning for Change in Libraries, Architronic: The Electronic Journal of Architecture, (with Douglas Noble), 1994
The Sorcerers Apprentice, Computer Graphics World, 1990, (with Douglas Noble)
Reviews of work
Architecture Magazine, Sept. 1993USC Transcript, 1991
Concrete, Berkeley, 1991
ITP Newsletter , Berkeley, Dec. 1989
Exhibitions (Selected)
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles, May 14, 1994 - August 1994Urban Revisions: Current Projects for the Public Realm, Coordinated with Angelil/Graham Architects in producing an animation for their part of the display. Now part of a traveling exhibit.
University of California, Los Angeles, School of Architecture and Urban Design display, Summer 1993
Developed computer model of Berlin for Angelil/Graham Architects entry to the Berlin Competition. Displayed at UCLA. Latino Mural Collaborative, Los Angeles, October 1992 (not built)
With Wayne Healy, Roberto Delgado, and Ronald Rose, prepared animation of a highway mural project for Barcelona.
Research (Selected)
Apple Computer, Powerbook computer awarded for a project entitled "Computer-Assisted Site Analysis and Documentation for Architectural Design" to be completed with Douglas Noble, 1994.Lusk Center Research Institute Grant (with Ralph Knowles) for investigating how architects, planners, and developers can incorporate solar-zoning policy as a tool inside their computer-aided design (CAD) packages, 1994.
Grant from the L.A. Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to explore solar implications of downtown development.
MIT, Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), Solar Protractors, 1983
Service
School
Facilities Committee (School), 1991-1992
College of Environmental Design Computer Committee (UC Berkeley), 1987-1991
Architecture Department Computer Affairs Committee (UC Berkeley), 1989-1991
Professional
Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA); vice-president and president elect, 1995-present; editor of the ACADIA Quarterly, 1993-present; ACADIA Steering Committee, 1991-1993; technical co-chair of the 1992 ACADIA conference.Los Angeles American Institute of Architects CADD Group: Steering Committee, 1991-present and gave seminars; co-chair of the East Bay American Institute of Architects (EBAIA) CAAD Group, 1990-1992
Invited speaker at Berkeley, invited design juror at UCLA
Professional Experience
CAD Consultant, for Vickerman, Zachary, and Miller (VZM), Oakland, CA, 1988
Graphic Artist, part time for Morgan Systems, Berkeley, CA, 1986-1987
Intern, for Eugene E. DePiazza, architect, Fredericksburg, VA, 1984
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