Dr. Alicia Nahmad Vazquez

Biography

Alicia Nahmad-Vazquez is an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at the University of Calgary. She co-directs the Laboratory for Integrative Design and is a UCalgary Research Excellence Chair. Her work uniquely intersects robotics, digital fabrication, and traditional building cultures, aiming to democratize access to advanced technologies. By empowering communities, she promotes meaningful and productive work through participatory design frameworks that engage local communities, fostering social innovation at the confluence of technology and architectural geometry. Nahmad-Vazquez has gained international acclaim as an artist and entrepreneur, founding initiatives like Circular Factory (CF) and MI Toolbox. Her research emphasizes the importance of caring for humanity and the evolution of architecture, believing in the human focus. She is particularly inspired by the notion of creating cities that resemble gardens where people can grow and flourish, utilizing technology as a resource to build efficiently and sustainably while addressing pressing challenges for the future. Her approach is centered on incorporating technology to make a positive impact on humanity.

Research Interests