The University of California, Berkeley has named Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) founder Vishaan Chakrabarti as the new dean for the university's College of Environmental Design (CED). 

Chakrabarti comes to UC Berkeley after teaching at the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. Chakrabarti is an alumnus of CED graduate program and currently serves as a member of the school's Dean's Advisory Council. Chakrabarti earned a master's degree in city planning from MIT, as well as dual bachelor's degrees in art history and engineering from Cornell University. 

Chakrabarti founded PAU in 2015 and previously practiced at SHoP Architects and SOM. He also served as the director of the Manhattan Office for the New York Department of City Planning under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Chakrabarti will expand PAU to include a west coast office when he assumes the role of dean. PAU studio director and associate partner Ruchika Modi will lead the New York office, where the firm is engaged in a variety of urban scaled projects, including the development of a master plan for the 180-acre Sunnyside Yard site in Queens. 

Describing the decision to hire Chakrabarti in an announcement, UC Berkeley chancellor Carol Christ said, "Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Chakrabarti has remained a zealous advocate for our College of Environmental Design, and he impressed the CED dean search committee with his enduring support for the college coupled with his credentials as a practitioner and scholar, his ambitious vision for CED, and his own personal commitment to the college’s twin pillars of social impact and design excellence." 

She added, "We are certain that he will continue to elevate CED’s stature as an influential, top-tier institution celebrated for producing creative and skilled professionals who craft sustainable, resilient, fair, practical, and beautiful built environments."

Chakrabarti will take over the helm of the school on July 1, 2020. Between July 1 and then, professor Renee Chow, chair of Berkeley's architecture department, will serve as acting dean.