Barbara Klinkhammer

Barbara Klinkhammer serves as Dean of the College of Architecture & the Built Environment and Professor of Architecture at Thomas Jefferson University, a role she assumed in August 2012. Under her leadership, the college expanded its research centers, doubled graduate enrollment, and developed award-winning nationally ranked programs. She is recognized as a thought leader in architecture and urban design and a pioneer for women in architecture and construction.

Her educational background includes a Dipl-Ing in Architecture from RWTH Aachen University in Germany, one of the country's leading research institutions. This foundational training supports her dual expertise in academic scholarship and professional practice.

Her research spans Early Modern and Mid-century Modern Architecture with deep specialization in Le Corbusier's work, Color Theory applications in architectural design, and Sustainable Urbanism principles. Recent initiatives extend into Smart Cities frameworks and Inclusive Design methodologies through the Jefferson Institute for Smart and Healthy Cities and SMARTlab. Her scholarly output includes peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and an upcoming monograph titled 'After Purism: Le Corbusier and Color'.

Professor Klinkhammer has received design competition awards and served as Co-PI for the award-winning UT solar house project 'Living Light', showcased at the 2011 Solar Decathlon Competition. Her leadership extends to national roles including President of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) for 2024-2026 and service on the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) National Leadership Committee.

She has secured multiple successfully funded grant proposals throughout her career, including those supporting the 'Living Light' project and urban sustainability initiatives. Her current research direction integrates creative technology innovation with inclusive design principles through SMARTlab, a partnership with University College Dublin.

Professor Klinkhammer co-founded the Jefferson Institute for Smart and Healthy Cities and directs SMARTlab at Thomas Jefferson University. She also holds the UNESCO Co-Chair in Smart, Healthy, and Learning Cities, driving global collaboration on sustainable urban development and inclusive design practices across multiple disciplines.