Judy O'Buck Gordon

Judy O'Buck Gordon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture at Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning and Design. She teaches Building Construction Systems, design studios, and seminars focused on praxis and architectural detailing. She is a Licensed Architect and LEED®AP with extensive experience in both academia and professional practice.

Educational Background:

• Bachelor of Environmental Design, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
• Master of Architecture, Columbia University
• Study abroad at the Architectural Association, London, United Kingdom

Her research centers on architectural tectonics, materiality, and making, with a strong emphasis on critical and creative thinking in architectural education. She has presented her work nationally and internationally, particularly on the spatial tectonics of Carlo Scarpa’s Gipsoteca Canoviana Addition in Italy and pedagogical strategies in design studios.

The publication she contributed to in 2018 reflects a sustained interest in developing creative thinking in beginning design education, bridging theory and practice through embodied and phenomenological approaches. Her scholarly focus integrates design theory, material exploration, and teaching innovation.

Scientific Awards:

• The Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Prize for Outstanding Thesis, Columbia University

She has advised numerous students indirectly through studio teaching and has served as a guest critic at institutions including Columbia University, Georgia Tech, and the University of Arkansas. She has also peer-reviewed conference abstracts and book proposals, contributing to the broader academic discourse in architecture. Her professional experience includes work with prominent firms such as Aldo Rossi’s studio, Kohn Pederson Fox, and Swanke Hayden Connell.

Gordon has been an invited lecturer at EPF Sceaux, France, and has contributed to architectural education across the United States through teaching and criticism. She continues to integrate practice, pedagogy, and research in her academic role.