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Andy Shanken is an architectural urban historian whose interests center around the cultural constructions of memory and the ways in which they shape the built environment. He specializes in unbuilt paper architecture, themed landscapes, and heritage conservation planning, as well as the traditions of representation within twentieth-century architecture. His work engages with the intersection of popular culture and architecture, focusing on architectural history and historiography. Shanken has authored notable works such as '194X,' which examines how American architects and planners anticipated the home front during wartime, and 'Void Pacific,' investigating the architecture of the neglected 1939 San Francisco World's Fair. His recent book, 'Everyday Life Memorials' (Zone Books, 2022), explores the mundane experiences of memorials within urban spaces. He co-edited 'Breaking the Bronze Ceiling' (Fordham, 2023), a collection of essays on monuments commemorating women. As a professor, he teaches courses related to architecture and American Studies, reflecting his joint appointment at UC Berkeley. Shanken also serves as the Faculty Curator for the Environmental Design Archives.
The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.