Carrie Norman

Carrie Norman is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at Tulane University's School of Architecture and co-founder of the architecture practice Norman Kelley, based in New Orleans and Chicago. She teaches architectural design and theory while maintaining an active professional practice that has received national recognition.

Her educational background includes:

• Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Virginia
• Master in Architecture from Princeton University

Professor Norman's research and practice focus on architectural reuse, exploring how existing buildings can be creatively adapted and repurposed. She is particularly interested in "hand-me-down culture" and challenging the stigma associated with alteration work compared to ground-up construction. Her work demonstrates how "big ideas can be translated into small projects, be it furniture-scaled objects, or rehabilitated interiors." She has noted that "American architecture can learn a lot from our European counterparts when it comes to working with existing buildings," citing offices like Architecten de Vylder Vinck Taillieu, Lacaton & Vassal, and the Rotor Collective as inspirations.

Her firm Norman Kelley has received significant recognition including:

• Architecture League of New York Young Architect's Prize (2014)
• United States Artists Fellowship (2018)

As an educator, Professor Norman has taught at various institutions including the Harvard Graduate School of Design where she co-taught an upper-level options studio focusing on optics and architectural reuse. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship and encourages students to "attend all the lectures" and "not let their intimidation get in the way of reaching out to their faculty, potential mentors or employers." She is particularly interested in supporting women in architecture, especially "architect moms" who balance professional excellence with family life.

Norman Kelley has completed diverse projects ranging from furniture design (like the Wrong Chairs collection) to building-scale interventions including the Chicago Cultural Center window drawings for the Chicago Architecture Biennial and the Aesop Bucktown store in Chicago. The firm has also collaborated with artists such as performance artist Brendan Fernandes, expanding their work into new disciplines like ballet and sculpture.