SPACES LANDSCAPES PROTOTYPES SIMULATION GEOMETRY ENVIRONMENTS ECOLOGIES
2018 March

Dana speaks at the CMUThink Pittsburgh event themed around Greening the Urban Environment. This Alumni Association University event introduces CMU’s innovative research and technology that could lead to healthier cities.

2018 March

Epiphyte Lab has been recognized as the Next Progressive design practice by ARCHITECT, The Journal of American Institute of Architects. Learn more about Epiphyte Lab’s design work in the interview with Dana.

2018 March

Dana presents Senyai: Vaulted Acoustics project at the Building Behaviors panel, 106th Annual Meeting ACSA, Denver, CO.

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KEVIN PRATT was a founding member and principal of EPIPHYTE Lab. At 2007 he was appointed an Assistant Professor at the Cornell University Department of Architecture, where he conducted research and taught in the area of building technology and sustainable form. He often co-taught design research studios with Dana Čupková where they seeked to further develop strategies for adaptive component assemblies design using parametric CAD and environmental simulation software. Kevin received his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (Magna Cum Laude) from Columbia University and a Master of Arts degree from the Environment & Energy Programme at the Architectural Association in London. He was a Registered Architect in the state of New York and LEED v2 Accredited Professional with over 25 years of experience as an academic, researcher and architect. From 2004 to 2007 Kevin was Director of Research at KieranTimberlake Associates in Philadelphia where his work included developing daylighting, shading and thermal simulation analysis for the Sidwell Friends Middle School (a LEED Platinum building), the design and detailing of the solar thermal façade at the new Sculpture Building at Yale University, and the development of design, sustainable strategies and technologies for the Institute for Energy, Environment and Ecology at the University of Calgary. Kevin also led research into prefabricated housing in collaboration with Living Homes and investigated the use of sustainable prefabrication technology for commercial space development. Prior to relocating to London in 2002, he spent five years at the design and façade consulting firm Evans Heintges Architects in New York City. Kevin was also a contributing writer to Artforum, and has written articles for various design and general interest publications, including TimeOut New York, Artbyte, Art on Paper. During his time at Cornell University Kevin was leading a multidisciplinary research group linking the departments of Computer Science, Architecture and Mechanical Engineering. Funded by the US dept. of Energy, this group was developing new methods in building simulation and parametrically based energy analysis. He was a fellow at the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future (ACSF), which seed-funded a collaborative research project on Integrated Digital Design Environment for Sustainable Architecture.

Sadly, on February 19, 2013 Kevin has passed away at age 43. Obituaries: Cornell Chronicle, Ithaca Journal, The Cornell Daily Sun, Atkinson Center for Sustainable Future.

Links

  • Providing real solutions to green energy design
  • Where computer simulation and architecture meet
  • Strauch Symposium on Sustainable Design | Part 1 - Tools
  • Sustaining Sustainability: Alternative Approaches in Urban Ecology and Architecture | Green Negligée
  • Simulate first, design and build second
  • Students harness vibrations from wind for electricity
  • Computer graphics to help streamline green building design
  • Design for Biodiversity: Architectural Responses to Urban Ecology
  • The Bigger Picture: Aims and Actions in Urban Ecology