The Georgia Institute of Technology School of Architecture has appointed Dennis Shelden as the new director of the Ph.D. in Architecture program.

Since joining the School of Architecture in 2016 as associate professor and director of the Digital Building Lab (DBL), Shelden has been instrumental in connecting the School with other academic departments at Georgia Tech. An expert in the application of digital technology for building design, construction, and operations, his experience spans across research, technology development, and professional practice, including multiple architecture, building, engineering, and computing disciplines. Shelden will continue his roles as associate professor and director of the DBL.

Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Shelden served as associate professor of practice in design computation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technologies School of Architecture and Planning. He has also taught at University of California, Los Angeles, and the Southern California Institute of Architecture. Shelden is a licensed Architect in the State of California.

Shelden has lectured and written widely on topics of computational applications to architecture and building industry transformation. He has served on numerous industry leadership and standards bodies, including the National Institute of Building Sciences and BuildingSmart, and served as chair of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) Standard Legal and Contracting Committee for the National BIM Standard.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture program at Georgia Tech is one of the largest and most robust architecture Ph.D. programs in the U.S., with nearly 30 students in residence pursing their Ph.D. coursework or completing their dissertation research. The program has a diverse faculty of scholars and researchers who advise students in one of four areas of specialization, including architecture, culture and behavior, design technology, history, theory, and criticism, and urbanism.