John Folan

John Folan is a Professor and Department Head of the Department of Architecture at the University of Arkansas's Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. He is also the director of the Urban Design Build Studio (UDBS), which he founded in 2008, and previously held the T. David Fitz-Gibbon Chair in Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University. His work focuses on public interest design, social justice, and community-based initiatives.

Education: John Folan earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, graduating with high honors, and completed his graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was awarded the Henry Adams Medal.

Research Interests: Folan's research emphasizes participatory design processes, affordable housing prototypes, sustainable architecture, and material research. His work prioritizes equitable community development and innovative construction methodologies, often collaborating with underrepresented communities to create catalytic projects.

Awards and Recognition: Folan has received numerous accolades, including AIA Design Excellence Awards, AIA/ACSA Collaborative Practice Awards, Design Corps SEED Awards, and the 2018 AIA Impact Practice recognition. His graduate studies earned him the Henry Adams Medal, and his work in Arizona garnered three AIA Arizona Residence of the Year Awards.

Advising and Leadership: As director of UDBS and founder of PROJECT RE_, Folan has spearheaded collaborative ventures addressing regional challenges through design. He co-founded the Drachman Design Build Coalition, fostering affordable housing initiatives. His leadership bridges academic and community engagement, emphasizing entrepreneurial opportunities and skill development.

Labs and Teams: Central to his work are the Urban Design Build Studio (UDBS) and the Drachman Design Build Coalition (DDBC), which focus on community-driven design and sustainable construction projects.