Nancy J. Uscher, dean of 8kbet’s College of Fine Arts, is pleased to welcome architectural designer, educator, researcher, and writer Steffen Lehmann as director of the School of Architecture and professor of architecture. Previously, he served as a professor for sustainable architecture as well as director of the Cluster for Sustainable Cities at the University of Portsmouth.
Born in Stuttgart, West Germany, Lehmann was educated at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and the Technical University of Berlin. Prior to the UK, Lehmann served for 13 years as full professor at leading universities in Australia, where he held a range of senior leadership roles, including as head of school, and leading teams of more than 100 academic faculty. He is the author of 19 books and numerous publications on sustainable architecture and future cities. In 2008, he was appointed a UNESCO chair for sustainable urban development in the Asia-Pacific region.
The founder of Steffen Lehmann Architekten Berlin, he has been teaching advanced design studios at leading universities in six countries since 1991. He became a licensed architect in Berlin in 1993, and in the 1990s was actively involved in the creation of the "New Berlin," where he was responsible for a number of key buildings in the city center.
“At the School of Architecture, our people are our biggest asset, and I see it as an immense privilege to lead this team,” Lehmann said. “SoA will focus on setting a clear and successful vision for the school's future aligned with university and college strategies, making the School of Architecture a great place to study and work.”
“The main goal over the next three years for the School of Architecture will be to continue its clear focus on the student experience and teaching excellence to enrich the learning experience,” he continued. “At the same time, we also want to advance research and impact through the development of a strong and supportive research culture to maximize our influential outputs and our positive impact in society. And, last but not least, growing the school’s internationalization to become recognized internationally as a leader in relevant architectural education in a desert context, providing great opportunities for entrepreneurship and more international students to join. I believe we can capitalize on our unique geographical location. I look forward to working with everyone across all three of the brilliant disciplines in the school.”
