Yo-Ichiro Hakomori

Yo-Ichiro Hakomori is a Professor of Practice and Director of Global Studies at the USC School of Architecture. He holds a BS from Whitman College, M.Arch from UCLA, and a Ph.D. in Engineering in Architecture from the University of Tokyo. His work integrates sustainability, natural environments, and cultural influences into architectural design. As founder of StudioHAU, he emphasizes environmentally responsive spaces and has led projects like the Grand Rapids Art Museum (LEED Gold certified) and sustainable hotels in UNESCO sites.

At USC, he oversees Global Studies programs, focusing on cross-cultural urbanism and design research. He teaches courses such as Comprehensive Architectural Design and Contemporary Asian Architecture, emphasizing passive sustainable systems and global design practices. His 2021 USC Associates Award for Artistic Expression recognizes his blend of aesthetic and functional innovation.