Catherine Wetzel

Catherine Wetzel is an Associate Professor at Illinois Institute of Technology's College of Architecture, specializing in beginning design education, structural integration in studio teaching, and material processes. She has coordinated the Third Year UG Studio and taught courses such as Pure Form, Collage Making, and hybrid architecture studios since joining the faculty in 1990. Her pedagogical scholarship builds on the legacy of Mies van der Rohe's curriculum while innovating new modes of teaching.

Her creative practice focuses on repurposing upholstery off-cuts and upcycled materials into bold domestic furnishings, reflecting a synergy with her teaching methods. She also co-founded Zed Architects in Chicago, contributing to residential, commercial, and religious architectural projects since 1991.

• Expertise in design pedagogy and haptic learning
• Advocate for daylight, ventilation, and spatial order principles
• Leader of study abroad programs in Europe and Japan

Wetzel's contributions to the National Conference on the Beginning Design Student and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) highlight her leadership in architectural education. She is a registered architect and active collaborator in professional and academic circles.