Sharon Johnston

Sharon Johnston is a Design Critic in Architecture at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design (GSD). She is a partner of Johnston Marklee & Associates, an internationally recognized architecture firm based in Los Angeles. Johnston has held academic roles at Princeton University, UCLA, and Rice University (Cullinan Chair), as well as the Frank Gehry International Chair at the University of Toronto. Her firm's work emphasizes diverse architectural scales and types across multiple continents, with notable projects including the Menil Drawing Institute and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago renovation. Their designs are featured in major museum collections worldwide.

Her research interests focus on architecture's intersection with urban contexts, cultural institutions, and contemporary art spaces. Recent publications explore architectural theory and urbanism. Johnston co-directed the 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial with partner Mark Lee. She teaches courses like 'The Spectacular Vernacular' and has contributed to architectural discourse through monographs and exhibitions.

While no personal awards are explicitly listed, her firm has received over 30 major awards and published works such as HOUSE IS A HOUSE IS A HOUSE IS A HOUSE IS A HOUSE (2016) and an earlier monograph (2014). Her academic advising and pedagogical contributions are central to her GSD role, though specific grants are not detailed in the text.

Her practice and teaching are anchored in exploring the 'new generic' in architecture, blending vernacular traditions with contemporary urban challenges. The firm's projects reflect a commitment to innovative spatial solutions within cultural and institutional frameworks.