John Folan is a professor and the head of the Department of Architecture at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas. He is also the director of the Urban Design Build Studio (UDBS), which he founded in 2008, and has held the T. David Fitz-Gibbon Chair in Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University. Folan's work is centered around underrepresented communities and prioritizes public interest and social justice in design processes. He has been recognized with numerous awards for his contributions to public interest design and has exhibited work internationally, showcasing projects that emphasize community engagement and innovative design solutions. Previously, he co-founded the Drachman Design Build Coalition at the University of Arizona, focusing on energy-efficient and affordable housing. His educational background includes graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania and undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, where he graduated with high honors. Folan's research interests include net-zero residential projects and sustainable design practices globally.
University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design • Fayetteville, AR
Leading the Department of Architecture and overseeing academic programs.
Urban Design Build Studio • Pittsburgh, PA
Founding and directing a collaborative studio focused on social equity and public interest projects.