Joe MacDonald (architect)

Joe MacDonald is a Canadian-American architect, researcher and professor. He is most known for his work on The Bone Wall, The Water Planet, Johnson & Johnson's Olympic Games Pavilion and Project Energos. He founded Urban A&O, a design firm in 2004 and now serves as one of its principals.[1]

Joe MacDonald
Born
Canada
NationalityCanadian, American
Alma materUniversity of Washington
Harvard University
Occupation(s)Architect, Researcher, Professor
Years active2004–present
OrganizationUrban A&O
Notable workThe Bone Wall
The Water Planet
Johnson & Johnson's Olympic Games Pavilion and Project Energos

MacDonald uses parametric modeling tools of CATIA-based software combined with digital fabrication processes to produce sculptural and geometrically complex forms and environments.[2][3] He has received several research grants and awards, including four consecutive research grants from Harvard Graduate School of Design, China's Most Successful Design Award, Vanguard Award "Top 10 Emerging Firms from around the World" by Architectural Record,[4] and the Outstanding Property Award, London (OPAL) Platinum Award, Property Development, Environmental, Sustainable for Project Energos, in Nevada.[5]

Early life and education

MacDonald was born in Canada. He completed his B.A. in architecture, environmental design, from University of Washington in 1987. In 1992, he received his M.Arch. I AP from Harvard University after briefly studying at the Architectural Association in London under Zaha Hadid. His master's thesis was titled Navigable Sites: Toronto Island Airport.[6]

Career

MacDonald joined Harvard University as an assistant professor in 2000.[7] In 2004, while teaching at Harvard University, he founded Urban A&O, a boutique design firm specializing in advanced computational design work. Through the firm he started working on residential, commercial and exhibition design projects.[8] In the same year, he became an associate professor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.[2]

MacDonald collaborated with sound artists O+A on an installation called Blue Moon.[9] As part of the installation, three tuning tubes were installed in the North Cove Harbor, which created melodies and chords in response to ambient noise on the Hudson River.[9][10] The sound was then played back through five cube loudspeakers.[10]

MacDonald designed The Bone Wall, a solo exhibition at the Storefront for Art and Architecture, in 2006. The Bone Wall was supported by the Harvard Graduate School of Design[11] and became one of MacDonald's early well known works.[2][12]

In 2006, MacDonald collaborated with Thinc to design Water Planet, a multi-media aquarium experience at California Academy of Sciences. The Water Planet is shaped by an aggregate of seven walls surrounding three interactive islands. The seven walls house exhibits that illustrate a variety of evolutionary adaptations of life to water. MacDonald designed the fiberglass walls to resemble waves and the effect of an underwater experience. Openings in these walls provide windows to various aquarium tanks.[13]

ArtDaily reviewed the Water Planet and wrote that "Constructed using new technologies for computer-aided design and fabrication, the complex molded surfaces seemingly flow into one another, inviting touch and creating an immersive, watery setting."[14] In its review, the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that "when the lights are dimmed and images of kelp and underwater life are projected onto the cases, viewers get the feeling of being fully submerged."[13]

In 2008, he designed the Johnson & Johnson's Olympic Games Pavilion for the Beijing Olympics.[15] The pavilion was surrounded by a bamboo forest that sheltered its guests and housed The Caring World, an exhibition exploring how people care for each other and the world.[16] The exhibition highlighted the views of individuals through storytelling, documentary video and photo exhibition.[17] The project China's Most Successful Design Award and LEED Gold recognition award.[18]

Through his firm Urban A&O, MacDonald was the lead architect for the 400th Henry Hudson anniversary exhibition in 2009.[19]

MacDonald left Harvard University in 2010. His research at Harvard was focused on advanced and emerging computational developments into parametric modeling. He has also received several other grants for his research on social patterns within dense urban environments.[6] MacDonald has regularly incorporated his academic research into practice, most notably in his projects, The Bone Wall and Cairo Tower.[20][21]

MacDonald has designed urban and residential development planning projects in China and India.[22] He has also worked with Audi, General Electric and Metropolis magazine as an architect. He regularly speaks at industry conferences around the world and was a speaker at TED 2006. He has lectured extensively on the relationship between architecture and technology.[23] In 2010, he was recognized by Cambridge Who's Who for "demonstrating dedication, leadership and excellence in architecture and design."[24]

From 2017 to 2021, Joe MacDonald served on the Weitzman School of Design's faculty at University of Pennsylvania, offering the final 700-series travel studio, to Dubai, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo.[25][26] His focus in studio aligns with his research-based practice, net-zero and carbon neutral design solutions.[27][28]

Awards and honors

MacDonald has received following awards and honors:

  • 2008: New Practices New York from the New York Chapter of the AIA[29]
  • 2008: Architecture Magazine's Vanguard award[30]
  • 2009: IDEA International Design Excellence Silver Award for Environments for the Water Planet
  • 2009: China's Most Successful Design Award for the Johnson & Johnson Olympic Pavilion in Beijing
  • 2009: Good Design Award[31]
  • 2009: Archi-tech AV Award for the Water Planet
  • 2009: LEED Gold recognition award for Johnson & Johnson Olympic Pavilion in Beijing
  • 2009: LEED Double Platinum Recognition for Water Planet[32]
  • 2020: Project Energos Wins Platinum 2020 Outstanding Property Award London In Property Design.[5]
  • 2021: OPAL Platinum Award, Property Development, Environmental, Sustainable for Project Energos, in Nevada[33]
  • 2021: Novum Design Award[34]
  • 2021: ICONIC Award, INNOVATION, German Design Council[35]
  • 2022: Urban A&O won the Most Innovative Sustainable Design Firm

Bibliography
  • 2006 - Studio Works 10, Editor[36]
  • 2006 - Studio Works 11 (Graduate School of Design, Studio Works), Editor[37]

References
  1. "Fresh Crop".
  2. "A Pattern Language".
  3. "The Next Dimension".
  4. "Design Vanguard 2008 Features". www.architecturalrecord.com. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  5. "Platinum / Project Energos, Nevada". outstandingpropertyaward.com.
  6. "Urban A&O NYC Inc. - Where Architecture is Academic" (PDF).
  7. MACDONALD, JOE; GLYNN, RUAIRI; SHEIL, BOB (2017). "THE AGENCY OF CONSTRAINTS". Fabricate 2011: 195–200. doi:10.2307/j.ctt1tp3c6d.36. JSTOR j.ctt1tp3c6d.36 – via JSTOR.
  8. Billard, Mary (September 29, 2010). "Combining Architecture and Clothes". The New York Times.
  9. Vogel, Carol (April 16, 2004). "INSIDE ART". The New York Times.
  10. Smith, Roberta (May 21, 2004). "ART REVIEW; At Shows Painted With Sound, Be Prepared to See With Your Ears". The New York Times.
  11. "Strict Parameters Yield Sensitive Designs". Archived from the original on 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  12. "Storefront for Art and Architecture | Programming: Exhibitions: Joe MacDonald/Urban A&O Architecture LLC: The Bone Wall". storefrontnews.org.
  13. "Water Planet ready to open at Academy". SFGATE. September 10, 2008.
  14. ""Water Planet" Showcases Connection Between Water and Life".
  15. "Johnson & Johnson Olympic Pavilion, Beijing PRC". 31 March 2010.
  16. Leow, Jason; Wang, Shirley S.; Crow, Kelly (August 18, 2008). "J&J Wins Favored Status By Curing Statue Fungus Woes". Wall Street Journal – via www.wsj.com.
  17. "Johnson & Johnson Turns Fungus Into Pure Gold". Ad Age. August 20, 2008.
  18. "| Thinc Design".
  19. "VISITING FACULTY LECTURE: JOE MACDONALD".
  20. "Calendar - AIA New York / Center for Architecture". Calendar - AIA New York | Center for Architecture.
  21. "The Next Dimension".
  22. "The new wave of algorithm-based design". December 13, 2008.
  23. "JOE MACDONALD".
  24. "Cambridge Who's Who Recognizes Joseph R. MacDonald for Excellence".
  25. "ARCH 701-205, Joe MacDonald | Stuart Weitzman School of Design".
  26. "Graduate Architecture | Weitzman School".
  27. "ARCH 701-205, Joe MacDonald | Stuart Weitzman School of Design".
  28. Sardar, Zahid (October 8, 2008). "The high, wild and gay life". SFGATE.
  29. "Center for Architecture". Center for Architecture.
  30. "Architectural Recor".
  31. "Joe MacDonald's Archinect profile". Archinect.
  32. "Urban A&O".
  33. "Platinum / Project Energos, Nevada". outstandingpropertyaward.com.
  34. "Nda210478".
  35. "Directory - Iconic World".
  36. Studio works. [Place of publication not identified]: Harvard Univ Press. 2004. ISBN 978-0-935617-76-4. OCLC 76910640.
  37. Studioworks 11. Joseph MacDonald, Harvard University. Graduate School of Design. [Place of publication not identified]: Harvard University Graduate School of Design. 2006. ISBN 0-935617-96-5. OCLC 71891159.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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