Vanessa Grossman

Vanessa Grossman is an Assistant Professor in the History and Theory of Architecture at the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania. She serves on the Faculty Advisory Board, contributing to academic governance and institutional development within the school.

Her research explores the intersections of architectural history, political ideology, and urban transformation, with emphasis on 20th-century modernism. Key areas include: the architectural legacy of Oscar Niemeyer; urban renewal politics in postwar Europe (particularly France); the sociopolitical dimensions of brutalist and sacred architecture; and interdisciplinary methodologies in design research. Her work critically examines how spatial practices reflect and shape ideological movements.

Grossman's publications consistently engage with transnational architectural dialogues, analyzing case studies across France, Brazil, and Germany. Recent articles demonstrate recurring investigations into: the representation of marginalized urban narratives, institutional architectures of political power, and the mediation of architectural discourse through journals and publications. Her scholarship reveals a sustained commitment to unpacking architecture's role in societal change.