Assistant Professor Nicholas Brinen

Aims and expectations

Design-Build is the opportunity for practitioners, educators, and especially students to experience the various roles involved with taking designs to built form. My focus is to take this one step (or several steps) further to treat the process as activism within the community. Context, physical site, community, and culture are factors just as "real" as materials and tools. It is my belief that design-build experience is a form of alchemy. Thus, the goals of my design-build endeavors so far, aim for a well balanced synthesis between design-craft, client-goals, and context-awareness to unlock brilliant architectural solutions that serve as betterments in daily life.

Short CV

EDUCATION

2003-06
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
School of Architecture - Austin, TX
Masters of Architecture M.Arch 1 with Specialization in Sustainability

2000-03
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
School of Architecture – Gainesville, FL
B.D. Architecture, Magna Cum Laude

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2016
PARSONS THE NEW SCHOOL FOR DESIGN
Lead Faculty & Coordinator, The Design Workshop, School of Constructed Environments – New York, NY

2007-2016
PARSONS THE NEW SCHOOL FOR DESIGN
Part-Time Assistant Professor, School of Constructed Environments – New York, NY

2013 Fall
RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN
Adjunct Professor, School of Architecture – Providence, RI

2008-2010
THE NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Adjunct Professor, School of Architecture – New York, NY

2004-2006
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Studio Instructor and Teaching Assistant, School of Architecture– Austin, TX

2006
Project Leader, Alamo Community Garden Dining Pavilion – Austin, TX

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

2010-Present
LIGHTSHED Architecture
Principal & Founder - www.lightshed.us - New York, NY

2006-2009
SMITH-MILLER + HAWKINSON ARCHITECTS LLP
Project Manager/Junior Architect - New York, NY

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE & MEMBERSHIP

-Registered Architect in New York State
-National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), Certified Architect
-LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design + Construction (LEED AP BD+C)
-American Institute of Architects, AIA, New York Chapter and National Chapter