Dana Cuff

Professor Dana Cuff is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Architecture at Monash University and holds a full-time appointment as Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She directs cityLAB, an award-winning think tank advancing experimental urbanism and architecture, and leads UCLA’s Mellon Foundation-funded Urban Humanities Initiative. Her expertise spans spatial justice, affordable housing innovation, and humanistic design.

Educational Background:

• PhD in Architecture, University of California, Berkeley (1982)
• B.A. in Design and Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz (1976)

Research Focus: Cuff’s work addresses housing affordability, urban density, and compassionate city design through interdisciplinary collaboration. Notable achievements include co-authoring California’s AB 2299 (2016) to legalize backyard homes, doubling suburban density across the state. Her research explores affordable housing prototypes near schools and leverages digital technology to expand housing markets.

Awards & Recognition:

• Women in Architecture Activist of the Year (2019)
• International Researcher of the Year (2019)
• Architectural Educator of the Year (2020)
• ACSA TAD Research Contribution Award (2021)

Grants & Collaborations:

• Mellon Foundation funding for the Urban Humanities Initiative (Pacific Rim megacities)
• "The Rightsize Service" project (2019) with Monash collaborators

Labs & Initiatives: cityLAB (UCLA) and Monash Urban Lab collaborate on design research addressing urban challenges. Recent projects include a studio partnership with Monash Architecture students exploring housing as a common good.