Stefana Parascho

Stefana Parascho serves as Assistant Professor of Architecture at Princeton University's School of Architecture, where she directs the CREATE Laboratory Princeton (Computation and Robotics Enabling Architectural Technologies). She joined Princeton in 2019 after completing her PhD at ETH Zurich's Gramazio Kohler Research.

Parascho received her Diploma in Architectural Engineering in 2012 from the University of Stuttgart and has professional experience with DesignToProduction Stuttgart and Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering. Her research bridges computational design, structural engineering, and robotic fabrication to develop new construction methodologies.

Her work focuses on strengthening the connection between design, structure, and fabrication through computational tools and robotic systems. She specifically explores cooperative robotic assembly techniques for self-supporting structures, including spatial constructions, bending-active systems, and masonry. Rather than replacing human labor, her approach leverages robots for tasks humans perform poorly, such as holding heavy materials with precision for extended periods.

Parascho's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on robotic construction of complex geometries without traditional scaffolding, with particular emphasis on glass structures, material efficiency, and sustainable building practices. Her research shows how precision robotics can enable architectural forms that would be difficult or impossible to construct using conventional methods.

• ACADIA Board of Directors (2020)

Parascho mentors PhD students including Isla Xi Han, who worked on developing the LightVault prototypes. Her CREATE Laboratory serves as a hub for research on robotic fabrication techniques and their integration into architectural practice. The lab's work has significant implications for sustainable construction, particularly through resource reduction by eliminating scaffolding needs and improving structural efficiency.

Her research has practical applications in dangerous work environments and locations with limited human access, while also pushing the boundaries of architectural expression through previously unattainable forms.