Ralph Spencer Steenblik
Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design
Expert Bio
R. Spencer Steenblik, an assistant professor in the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design and a registered architect in New York, has built, taught, published, exhibited and curated globally. His work negotiates vernacular and advanced digital processes through an equitable, interdisciplinary, sustainable and naturally inspired approach, creating urban intricacy and inspiring, interactive spaces.
He has spoken globally at universities including MIT, Tongji University and Yonsei University, and his work is published prolifically. He has also taken on academic roles at Pratt Institute, NJIT, CUNY and School of Public Architecture at Kean & Wenzhou-Kean University in China; and workshops at Tongji University, Shanghai Institute of Art and Haikou University of Economics. He has been as architectural critic globally in an effort to mentor young designers through teaching both graduate and undergraduate students.
His practice, phi architecture φ — with clients including Google, Huayi Space, Venture Anyway, BYU and the Fictionist band — focuses on designing across scales. He holds a master’s from Southern California Institute of Architecture.
Areas of Expertise
Design thinking, co-design, placemaking, inclusive innovation, architectural design, urban design, sustainability, AI, robotics, generative design, computational design, material research, sculpture.