Adrienne Brown

Adrienne Brown is a Part-time Assistant Professor at The New School's Parsons School of Design. She is an architect, educator, and writer based in New York City, founder of AKB Architecture Works (established in 2015 in Chicago, relocated to NYC in 2019). Her practice focuses on design, preservation, and development, emphasizing accountability to history, theory, and the built environment. She teaches courses such as Design Studio 6: Capstone and Professional Practice, and her work includes renovations in New York and Chicago.

• Education:
• B.A., Wellesley College
• M.Arch, Yale University

Her research interests revolve around adaptive reuse of buildings, material manipulation, and the evolving relationship between cities and their inhabitants. She advocates for architecture as a dynamic, evolving entity, famously paraphrasing Jane Jacobs: 'Designing a dream city is easy; rebuilding a living one takes imagination.' Professional affiliations include registration as an architect in New York and Illinois, NCARB certification, and AIA NY membership.

Adrienne has taught courses like PUID 4011 (Spring 2025/2026) and PUID 4110 (Fall 2024/2025), focusing on design studio and professional practice. Her firm, AKB Architecture Works, prioritizes projects that balance historical context with modern adaptation.