The Rice School of Architecture announces the addition of four new faculty members: Brett Schneider, Chelsea Spencer, Alison Von Glinow, and Lap Chi Kwong. Each brings a unique blend of academic excellence and professional experience that will enrich the school’s innovative approach to architectural education and discourse.
"Our school has long prided itself on nurturing a space for critical inquiry and imaginative thinking. With Brett, Chelsea, Alison, and Lap Chi joining our faculty, we continue to strengthen our commitment to advancing architectural discourse and addressing the urgent issues of our time,” said Igor Marjanović, William Ward Watkin Dean of the Rice School of Architecture. “Their work represents a breadth of intellectual and creative perspectives, and their diverse areas of expertise will strengthen our school’s core sequences: architectural design, practice, technology, and theory.”
Brett Schneider joins the school as an associate professor of architecture. As a senior associate at Guy Nordenson and Associates, he has worked on many signature projects, including the Menil Drawing Institute in Houston. With a deep expertise in structural design and material innovation, Schneider’s work spans both research and practice, engaging with new construction techniques and sustainable systems. His interdisciplinary approach has garnered him recognition for pushing the boundaries of architectural performance.
Chelsea Spencer is the new postdoctoral fellow in the School of Architecture and the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning (CERCL). Spencer is an architectural historian whose research investigates the practice and production of architecture from the eighteenth century to the present, with a particular interest in histories of media, law, and capital.
Kwong Von Glinow (KVG) is an award-winning architecture practice cofounded by Lap Chi Kwong and Alison Von Glinow, both of whom are visiting critics. Their work translates forward-looking architectural concepts into playful designs with broad appeal. Taking an optimistic and explorative approach, KVG focuses on creating innovative living environments, places for cultural engagement, urban public space, and contemporary workspaces.
For more information about the faculty, please visit our faculty page.