B.Arch., National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan
M.S.Arch.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge MA
Ph.D. in Architecture and Conservation, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA.
I.T.A.R.C. Integrative Architecture and Urban Conservation, ICCROM International Center for Study of Restoration & Preservation of Cultural Properties, Rome, Italy.

Biography:

Samia Rab Kirchner makes, studies, and analyzes architecture that contributes to urban civic identity. She is currently tenured Associate Professor of Urban Design and Interim Chair of the Undergraduate Design Department at Morgan State University in Baltimore City. She has taught architecture, urban design, historic preservation and urban heritage management at the American University of Sharjah in the UAE, the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Kirchner’s research and practice focus on the (trans)formative role of water in City Design, Urban Regeneration and Redevelopment. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture selected her as Area Coordinator for the Arabian Peninsula and she has chaired two cycles of the Kenneth F. Brown Culture and Architecture Design Award. She has chaired the Leadership Committee of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) in 2019-2020 and is currently serving as Board of Trustee Member and Chair of the Governance Committee of the Interfaith Partnership for the Chesapeake Bay. She is also serving as the Middle East Area Editor for the forthcoming Bloomsbury Global Encyclopedia of Women in Architecture, as Editorial Member of the Journal of Arabian Studies, as Desk Reviewer for ICOMOS on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and led the Morgan Internationalization of Education Task Force.

List of Professional Affiliation(s):

• American Institute of Architects-International Affiliate (AIA-IA)
• Congress of New Urbanism (CNU)
• Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA)
• National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA)
• Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP).

List of Research Interest(s):

• Architectural and Urban History & Theory
• Islamic Architecture & Urbanism
• Port City Regeneration & Incumbent Upgrading
• Urban Regenerative Design

List of Classes Taught:

• ARCH 103 - Communications Skills I
• ARCH 105 - Place Matters: Introduction to Contemporary City
• ARCH 205 - History of the Built Environment I (Antiquity - 18th Century)
• ARCH 206 - History of the Built Environment II (19th Century - Present)
• ARCH 305 - Design and Human Behavior
• ARCH 401 - Building Design I
• ARCH 403 - Urban Design II
• ARCH 418 - Special Topics in Architecture and Environmental Design I
• ARCH 498 - Environmental Design Internship I
• ENST 739 - Design & Human Behavior 

List of Selected Publication(s):

• Paca, B., Kirchner, S.R. “Preserving Building character for Character building: Two case studies in Community Engaged Repurposing of Plantations.” Advancing Risk Management for the Shared Future. ICOMOS GA2020 - 6ISCs Joint Meeting Proceedings, 2022.
• Kirchner, Samia Rab, Soflaei, F. “Middle Eastern Maidans: Lessons for Sustainable Urban Public Places.” ARCC Proceedings (Ryerson Univ.: Toronto), 2019.
• Kirchner, Samia Rab, “History of Dubai”, “Urban Scale: Dubai” and “Neighborhood Scale: Dubai.” Ardalan, Polalis (ed.) Gulf Sustainable Urbanism (Harvard College), 2018.
• Kirchner, Samia Rab, Soflaei, F. “Mount Auburn Cemetery in Baltimore: Historic significance and future role in urban social sustainability.” ARCC Proceedings (Temple University: Philadelphia), 2018.
• Rab, Samia, "Re-Place: Bank Street in Historic Sharjah as a site Authentic Modernity" in Venice Biennale Architecture Exhibition UAE Catalog, 2014.
• Rab, Samia, "Maritime Heritage in the UAE: Museums as anchors for Urban Regeneration". In MUSEUM International, No. 249, Wiley., 2012.
• Rab, Kubat, Guney, Özer & Kaya. "Application of Space Syntax in the urban regeneration of Sharjah's heritage area". In Greene, Reyes and Castro (ed.) SSS8, Chile, 2012.
• Al-Gohari, Dolkart, Rab (ed.) Conservation of Architecture, Urban Areas & Landscape, CSAAR., 2011.
• Rab, Samia. "DUBAI: Architectural heritage in service of globalization". In ESPACES URBAINS À L'AUBE DU XXIe SIÈCLE, PUPS l'universite Paris-Sorbonne, p. 231-229, 2010.
• Rab, Samia. “Rooted Modernity: Reconstructing Memory in Architecture.” In Menin, S. (ed.) Constructing Place, Routledge, 2003.
• Rab, Samia. “Rooted Modernity: Reconstructing Memory in Architecture.” In Menin, S. (ed.) Constructing Place, Routledge, 2003.
• Rab, Samia. “Kashgar, China,” and “Hazaras, Pakistan.” In P. Oliver (ed.) Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World, Cambridge University Press, 1998.
• Rab, Samia. “State of the Art and the Art of the State: Akbar’s ambition to bridge the ‘Realm and Religion’ in the Arts and the State.” Traditional Dwellings & Settlements, Vol. 83, Berkeley, 1996.
• Rab, S. “Ethnicity and Habitat: Comparison of indigenous and migrant settlements in Quetta.” Traditional Dwellings & Settlements, Vol. 52, Berkeley, 1993.

List of Grants and/or Award(s):

• 2022 PI, K.E.E.P Inc. Grant: “GeoAg Architecture Design Research” ($15,000).
• 2022 Morgan Co-PI with Drs. Hunter and Sanders, Department of Energy, Integrated Field Laboratory (IFL) Grant for Baltimore Social-Environmental Collaborative (Led by Johns Hopkins University $25 million over 5 years across universities: Morgan State University share is $5 million).
• 2021 Design Proposal for the Seeds of Park Heights Demonstration Kitchen selected for the Beyond the Built Say It Loud Exhibition in Baltimore MD ($10,000).
• 2020 Winner of Campus Compact Mid-Atlantic (CCMA) Penczek Faculty Service-Learning Award.
• 2020 PI, Title IX Grant: "Virtual Exchange as preparation for Study Abroad programs", Co-PIs Drs.Bista + Gaulee, School of Education ($10,000).
• 2020 Co-PI, National Institute of Food + Agriculture Conference Grant, with Dr. Owolabi, School of Engineering ($70,000).
• 2019 Co-Designed Project Entry Transect 7 selected for the AIA-Baltimore Edge Competition.
• 2018 Co-PI, NIH-ASCEND Grant for New Course Development: Urban Wellbeing Indicators, with Dr. Liao, School of Social Work ($25,000)
• 2018 Co-PI, Lumina Foundation Grant for Environmental Justice, with Dr. Barnes (College of Liberal Arts-Geography ($12,000).
• 2017 MDCC Maryland Campus Compact Mini-Grant for Community Engaged Teaching ($2500
• 2017 Collaborator on “Morgan: National Treasure Preservation Plan," with PI D. Green ($550,000)
• 2015-2016 Urban Design Consultant for the City of Cambridge, MD Grant, “Pine Street Community Small Area Plan," with PI Dale Glenwood Green ($180,000).
• 2010 Emirates Foundation of Philanthropy Science & Technology Grant ($40,000)
• 2010 National Endowment of Humanities (NEH) Summer Institute Grant ($6,000)
• 1999 Graham Foundation Publication Grant ($9,500)
• 1998 Georgia Inst. of Technology Doctoral Achievement Award & CETL Teaching Award

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