Frederick Scharmen

Frederick Scharmen serves as Interim Chairperson/Program Director and Associate Professor of Architecture at Morgan State University's School of Architecture and Planning. A LEED AP credential holder, he co-founded The Working Group on Adaptive Systems and Brick Moon space habitat consultancy, blending academic practice with real-world design innovation.

His educational foundation includes:

• B.S. in Architecture from University of Maryland-College Park
• M.Arch from Yale University

Scharmen's research critically examines space architecture and future habitats through lenses of social inclusion, cultural representation, and technological speculation. His work interrogates who gets invited into imagined futures, merging architectural theory with space science and urban design to challenge conventional settlement paradigms. This manifests in both scholarly publications and tangible installations exploring modernism's legacy in contemporary contexts.

His publication trajectory reveals consistent thematic evolution from terrestrial urban studies toward cosmic-scale design thinking, with increasing focus on robotic systems, interstellar topology, and climate-adaptive off-world habitats. The recurring integration of science fiction tropes with rigorous architectural analysis creates a distinctive interdisciplinary signature.

Notable recognitions include:

• Dual Graham Foundation Grants (2021, 2018)
• AIA Baltimore President's Awards for Architectural Journalism (2016) and Civic Engagement (2011)
• Baker Award Finalist (2018) and Sondheim Prize Semifinalist (2014)
• National Park installation featured in City Paper Top Ten Art Shows (2012)

Scharmen mentors students through core architecture curriculum including Environmental Design, Urban Design studios, and Environmental Controls while securing research funding through competitive grants. His academic leadership extends to editorial roles at The Architect's Newspaper and community engagement with Baltimore Heritage.

Through The Working Group on Adaptive Systems and Brick Moon, he maintains active design laboratories exploring speculative futures, while The Baltimore Modernism Project anchors his commitment to local architectural heritage preservation and reinterpretation.