Peter Wiederspahn is an Associate Professor of Architecture and principal of Wiederspahn Architecture, LLC. His research and pedagogy are focused on architectural design, production, performance, and systems. He has conducted research on future-use architecture; rapidly deployable, thermally proficient emergency, military, and humanitarian shelter systems; wood-frame construction and its cultural significance; high-performance, rapid-assembly, stress skin structural/thermal component construction system; and furniture design.
Professor Wiederspahn was awarded the FAIA Latrobe Prize with Northeastern professors Fannon and Laboy and is co-author of the book based on their research, “The Architecture of Persistence: Designing for Future Use” (Routledge 2022), and two major exhibitions in Los Angeles and Boston. He is lead PI for a 4-year design research grant to design and fabricate the next generation of expeditionary and humanitarian shelter systems for the US Army with the Northeastern Kostas Research Institute. He has also been awarded grants from the Graham Foundation and the Boston Society of Architecture.
Professor Wiederspahn has served as Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs for CAMD, Interim Director of the School of Architecture, and inaugural Director of the School of Architecture Berlin Semester Abroad. His architectural practice has received numerous design excellence awards. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University and his Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University.
Professor Wiederspahn was the Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs for the Northeastern College of Arts, Media and Design, and intermittently the Interim Director of the School of Architecture. Additionally, he was the inaugural Director of the School of Architecture Berlin Semester Abroad. He has also held teaching positions at Harvard University, Dartmouth College, and the Pennsylvania State University. Professor Wiederspahn earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University and his Master of Architecture from the Harvard University.
Professor Wiederspahn is a co-PI for the 2017 FAIA Latrobe Prize, he has been awarded a Graham Foundation grant for his research entitled, äóěWood Frame Multi-Family Housing in Boston, 1865-1900,äóť and has received a design research grant from the Boston Society of Architect for äóěSmart Growth Planning Prototypes.äóť Through his research and pedagogy, he has collaborated with the Northeastern College of Engineering and the School of Business on student capstone projects for designing and producing business plans for prefabricated component construction systems.
Professor Wiederspahn is also the principal of Wiederspahn Architecture, LLC. His architectural practice has produced residential, multi-family, commercial and interior projects in Boston, New York and Chicago, and has received numerous design excellence awards.
Departments
Architecture
Education
- M.Arch, Harvard University
- B.Arch, Syracuse University
Professional Experience
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Architecture, University Park, PA: Assistant Professor: 1991-1995
- Harvard University, Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, MA: Visiting Design Critic: 1996
- Dartmouth College, Studio Arts Department, Hanover, NH: Visiting Professor: 1997
Research Focus
- Architectural Design
- Architectural Production
- Architectural Performance
- Architectural Systems
- Future-Use Architecture
- Wood Construction and its cultural impact at the detail
- Architectural and Urban Scales
- Wood-Frame Building Envelope Performance
- Wood-Frame Architecture and Urbanism in Boston
- High-Performance Structural/Thermal Component Construction System for Manual Assembly
- Flat-Pack
- Rapid-Deployment
- Long-Term-Use Emergency Shelter System
- Mutable Domestic Space
- Furniture Design
Research & Publication Highlights
Lead PI for the US Army with the Northeastern Kostas Research Institute to design and fabricate the next generation of expeditionary and humanitarian shelter systems
Co-PI for the SENTRY Center of Excellence for the Department of Homeland Security for “Layered Security Architecture in the Public Realm”
Co-PI for the Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) Latrobe Prize for “Future-Use Architecture: Design of Persistent Change”
Lead PI for the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts research grant for “Wood Frame Multi-Family Housing in Boston, 1865-1900”
Lead PI for the Boston Society of Architecture design research grant for “Smart Growth Planning Prototypes”
