Ryan E. Smith

Ryan E. Smith is the Director of the School of Architecture and a Professor of Architecture at the University of Arizona's College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture. A 2002 graduate of UArizona's Bachelor of Architecture program and UC Berkeley's Master of Architecture, he has nearly 20 years of experience in teaching, research, and consulting, with a focus on housing equity and offsite construction.

Education:

• Bachelor of Architecture, University of Arizona (2002)
• Master of Architecture, University of California, Berkeley

Research Focus: Smith's research centers on building technology, prefabrication, and housing affordability. He has dedicated nearly two decades to studying housing production, offsite manufacturing, and construction to address social, environmental, and political challenges. His work emphasizes leveraging innovative manufacturing practices from other industries to achieve housing affordability and equity.

Professional Contributions: He is the founding past chair and current board member of the National Institute of Building Sciences Offsite Construction Council, a fellow of the Modular Building Institute, and a member of the Ivory Innovations in Housing Affordability Board. He also advises companies, governments, and organizations on housing production through his consulting company, MOD X.

Academic Leadership: Before joining UArizona, Smith held academic positions at the University of Oregon, University of Utah, and Washington State University, where he served as director of the School of Design and Construction. His leadership emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration to address grand challenges like climate change, water scarcity, and housing affordability.

Research and Teaching Philosophy: Smith believes the future of architecture is research-based, integrating social and environmental justice into the built environment. At UArizona, he has implemented research-based education in the final three semesters of the B.Arch program, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration with fields like Landscape Architecture, Planning, Engineering, and Health Sciences.

Scientific Awards:

• Fellow, Modular Building Institute

Advising and Collaboration: Smith actively collaborates with architecture and built environment firms, encouraging internships, mentoring, and networking events for students. He continues the legacy of his predecessor, Rob Miller, in fostering strong relationships with Tucson and Phoenix firms, as well as alumni and professionals nationwide.

Labs and Teams: Smith leads the School of Architecture at UArizona, focusing on interdisciplinary research and education. His work involves collaboration with faculty, staff, and students to address pressing societal challenges through architectural innovation and community engagement.