2024

David and the Purple Crayon: An Imperfect Archive

Professor David Rockwood

This exhibition delves into the less visible aspects of Professor Rockwood's work. It offers a glimpse into how he perceives, conceptualizes, and brings his ideas to life—merging intellectual rigor with heartfelt passion. It celebrates his multifaceted contributions as an architect, educator, designer, and inventor over his selection of works over his career.

David Rockwood was educated at the University of Oregon and Princeton University. Prior to his retirement in August 2024, he served as Professor and Graduate Chair and Director of Graduate Architecture Programs at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Architecture. During his time at UH he led the development and implementation of the Bachelor of Environmental Design, 3-year Doctor of Architecture, and Master of Architecture degree programs, and changed the designation of the graduate architecture programs to hold the STEM designation. Rockwood taught and served in administrative positions previously at Oregon School of Architecture + Design (Assistant Professor, Director of Academic Affairs), Pacific Northwest College of Art, (Instructor), Portland State University (Adjunct Professor of Architecture), University of Washington (Visiting Lecturer), and Pratt Institute (Associate Professor, Graduate Chair, and Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs).

Rockwood apprenticed with architectural firms including Michael Graves and Batey & Mack, and formed David Rockwood, Architect in 1985. Exhibitions of Rockwood’s work include the Buenos Aires Biennial, Princeton University, Haigo and Irene Shen Architecture Gallery, Duy Tan University, The Storefront for Art and Architecture, The Smithsonian Institution’s Archives for American Art, and the National Building Museum. Publications of his work include Royal Institute of British Architects Journal, Architectural Design, Civil Engineering, Domus, Engineering News Record, Global Architecture Houses, Global Architecture - Project, Ottagono, Progressive Architecture, and Kenneth Frampton’s American Masterworks: The 20th Century House. Rockwood’s book Bamboo Gridshells was published in 2015. He has also published articles in peer reviewed international scientific journals. Rockwood holds a U.S. patent for a continuously variable transmission.

Rockwood’s research is focused on building materials, construction methods, structural systems, and urban systems. Rockwood led University of Hawaiʻi’s U.S. Department of Energy’s 2011 Solar Decathlon competition team. In 2014, he was named a Fulbright Specialist and received a Fulbright Specialist grant in urban planning in Da Nang, Viet Nam working with faculty and students at Da Nang University of Science and Technology (DUT). He was a 2017-18 Fulbright U.S. Faculty Scholar conducting research and teaching at DUT.

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