Athanassios Economou

Athanassios (Thanos) Economou is a Professor and Director of the Shape Computation Lab at the School of Architecture within Georgia Institute of Technology's College of Design. His expertise lies in computational design, shape grammars, and architectural theory, with over 40 publications. He directs the Architectonics Study Abroad Program and leads funded projects like Shape Machine (NSF/iCorp) and Courtsweb ($1.3M grant). His research integrates algorithmic methods with architectural design, emphasizing formal systems and generative techniques.

Education:

• Ph.D. (Architecture), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
• M.Arch., University of Southern California (USC)
• Diploma (Architecture), National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)

His research interests include shape grammars, computational design, formal specification of architectural style, and the intersection of architecture with mathematics and music. Notable projects include parametric specifications of traditional designs (e.g., Chinese Dougong brackets, Mies van der Rohe’s courthouses) and AI-driven sustainable urban development. His studios’ design projects have earned awards in international competitions.

Grants & Projects:

• Shape Machine (NSF/iCorp)
• Courtsweb: Visual Description of Federal Courthouses (GSA/US, $1.3M)

Labs & Teams: Directs the Shape Computation Lab, advancing computational tools for architectural design.