Keelan Kaiser, M.Arch.

Keelan Kaiser is an architect and educator. He leads the nationally accredited CBU Architecture program as Program Director of a thriving school of 200+ eager learners, and co-labors with a wonderful, rapidly growing cadre of expert teachers and caring mentors. He is actively engaged with a remote architecture practice with the Chicago firm of Serena Sturm, with expertise and applied research work in advanced sustainable design, high performance and net positive building technology, and data driven design. In addition to his contribution at CBU, he has taught architecture and design at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Judson University, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; and has reviewed, advised, and consulted with numerous new and existing architecture programs throughout the United States. He served on national architectural education boards including the National Architectural Accrediting Board (2009-12as president in 2012), the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (2006-09), and the Design Communication Association (2012-14). He has served as president of the AIA Inland California (2020-21). He has twenty-five years+ of teaching and practice experience and several years of academic leadership experience and is excited about the future of CBU Architecture (https://www.instagram.com/cbuarch/). He is married to Melisa (also an architect and educator), and has four wonderful children Nikolas, Kadin, Aria, and Mathias. He is an avid marathoner and triathlete.

Nearly all courses in a traditional architecture curriculum over 25+ years of teaching

Architecture Design
Design for Resiliency
Design for Elderly
Design for Net Positive and Carbon Neutrality
Architecture Representation
Architecture Practice

Judson University, Elgin, IL 1998-2017
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL 2008-2009
University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 1994-1998

Publications:

The Designers Guide to Doing Research: Applying Knowledge to Inform Design, Ed. Sally Augustin and Cindy Coleman, Wiley (2012). Chapter 7 includes Post-Occupancy Evaluation Case Study, Primary author.

Digital Architecture, M. Uddin, McGraw Hill Publishing (1999)
Publication includes two student digital media projects from courses taught at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln.

Hybrid Drawings by Contemporary Architects and Designers, M. Uddin, McGraw Hill Publishing (1999) Publication includes images from Masters Thesis (UNL ’93) and one project from private practice.

Composite Drawings, M. Uddin, McGraw Hill Publishing (1996) Publication includes images from Masters Thesis (UNL ’93).

Progressive Architecture (Jan 1993), GA Document (June 1993), A & D (July 1993), M Emory Games, P. Eisenman, Rizzoli, (1995).
Project Assistant in the design of the Emory University Center for the Arts, Emory University, GA.

Lectures and Exhibitions:

Past + Futures International Conference, Architecture & Digital Representation (2022). Material Exploits: Exploring Genomic Data in Cosmological Architecture Toward Alternative Material Expression.”

International Conference on Sustainability, Design, and Construction – Elsevier (2016) Phoenix, AZ Peer Reviewed Paper: “Expressions and evidence, advances in architecture studio pedagogy.”

International Conference on Sustainability, Design, and Construction – Elsevier (2015) Chicago, IL Peer Reviewed Paper: “Substantial energy use reduction strategies for buildings in continental climates.”

Florida A&M University (2015) Invited Workshop Leader: Travel Drawing and Watercolor, Analog- Digital Symposium, Tallahassee, FL.

Urban Sketchers (2014-16) Invited Workshop Leader Chicago Summer Workshop: Travel Drawing and Watercolor.
ARCC – University of Texas (2009) San Antonio, TX
Peer Reviewed Paper: “Harm A. Weber academic center, post-occupancy building performance and comfort perceptions.”

AIA Illinois State Convention (2008) Moline, IL
Peer Reviewed Paper: “Green Pedagogy, Using Scale Changes in Teaching Holistic Sustainable Design”

AIA Illinois State Convention (2007) Elgin, IL
Peer Reviewed Paper: “2030 and the Inevitability of Regenerative Architecture(s) and Urbanism(s)”

Taylor University, 42nd Annual Natural Sciences Seminar Series (2007) Upland, IN
Invited Lecture: “Shades of Green: Addressing Climate Change in Architecture and the Built Environment”

Ball State University, Design Communication Association Conference (2007) Muncie, IN Peer Reviewed Paper: “Lines of Thought”

SBSE Retreat (2007) Bainbridge, WA
Invited Workshop 1: Sustainability in Architecture Education, Preparing for the 2008 NAAB Accreditation Review Conference, co-led with Walter Grondzik, P.E. (Ball State University).

Invited Workshop 2: A New Mixed-Mode Naturally Ventilated Building at Judson College, co-led with Dr. David M. Ogoli (Judson University)

ARCC – University of Oregon (2007) Eugene, OR
Peer Reviewed Paper: “A Green Studio Pedagogy: Using scale changes to influence architectural design for sustainability.”

Judson University (2006) Elgin, IL
Sabbatical Exhibit: “A House and Five Lions,” A low energy affordable single family campus housing proposal and drawings/watercolors after grotesques at the Alley of the Hundred Fountains, Tivoli

AIA Illinois State Convention (2005) Rockford, IL
Seminar: “Earth Stewardship and Sustainable Development at Judson College” Professional AIA Seminar (1.5 HWS), Co-Authored with Dr. David M. Ogoli

U.S. Green Building Council, Chicago Chapter (2005) Chicago, IL
Seminar: “Harm A. Weber Academic Center and the Greening of Judson College” Professional AIA Seminar (1.5 HWS), Co-Authored with Dr. David M. Ogoli

Illinois Institute of Technology (2005) Chicago, IL
Invited Graduate Studio Lecture: “Harm A. Weber Academic Center and the Greening of Judson College”

Union University, Department of Art (2005) Jackson, TN Invited Lecture: “Current Academic and Professional Work”

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (2005) Deerfield, IL
Invited Graduate Seminar Lecture: “Communities of Sustainability”

University Place Art Center (2001) Lincoln, NE Three person show: “Influenced by Architecture”

Judson University (1999-Present) Elgin, IL Faculty Show: “Current works”
Carnegie Mellon University, 14th Annual Conference on the Beginning Design Student (1997) Pittsburgh, PA. Exhibit: Freshmen student work from courses at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

University of Minnesota, ACSA Midwest Regional Conference (1993) Minneapolis, MN Peer Reviewed Paper: “Spatiality and the Electronic Wire frame”

Grove Community Church

Small groups
Community projects

Marathoner, 2020 LA marathon most recent
70.3 distance age group triathlete, 2019 Indian Wells 70.3 Ironman most recent
Extensive travel to art and architecture heritage sites in Europe, South America, and China