Peter MacKeith

Peter MacKeith serves as Dean and Professor at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, University of Arkansas. He leads the Anthony Timberlands Center for Design & Materials Innovation, a regional hub for sustainable wood product research. Previously, he held leadership roles at Washington University in St. Louis and Finland’s Helsinki University of Technology. His academic career spans 40+ years, emphasizing forest-centric architecture, Nordic design, and design education innovation.

Education:

• B.A. in Literature & International Relations (Echols Scholar, University of Virginia, 1981)
• M.Arch. (Yale University, 1985)

Research Interests: Sustainable construction materials, wood product innovation, Nordic architectural culture, design education reform, and forest economy advocacy. He curates exhibitions like the Venice Biennale’s 'South Forty' initiative and the Finnish Embassy’s 'Creative Finland' showcase.

Recent Contributions: Led the $50M Anthony Timberlands Center construction project (2021–2025), organized Finland trade delegations, and curated 30+ exhibitions on Nordic architecture. His work bridges academia, practice, and policy through grant-funded research (NSF, U.S. Forest Service) and design excellence programs.

Awards:

• ACSA Distinguished Professor
• Design Intelligence Educator of the Year (2017, 2019)
• Finland’s Knight First Class Order of the Lion

Advisory Roles: Chair of Walton Family Foundation’s Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program, editorial board member of Places Journal, and Senior Advisor to the Fulbright-Finland Foundation.

Labs/Initiatives: University of Arkansas Community Design Center (200+ awards since 1995), 'South Forty' regional architectural network, and Finland-U.S. cultural exchanges.