Elizabeth Cohn-Martin is an architect, educator, and sustainability specialist with experience in research and development of alternative & biobased materials and sustainable systems for diverse projects. She has global work experience in New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, Mexico, Guatemala, and Saudi Arabia and is a registered Associate Architect with the AIA, a LEED BD&C credentialed professional with the USGBC, and holds a certificate in Healthy Materials and Sustainable Building offered by the New School Parsons Healthy Materials Lab.
Elizabeth completed a Master of Architecture (MArch) and Master of Science in Urban Planning (MSUP) focused on Sustainable Urbanization from Columbia University GSAPP. Her research and development work focuses on biomaterials, biophilic systems, sustainability and building performance. She holds a keen fascination for the worlds of computational design and digital fabrication and believes that there is great potential in the future of technology and innovation within the realm of the built environment to address some of our most pressing global issues. Elizabeth is currently faculty at the Academy of Art in San Francisco, a position that she held concurrently while previously working as the Research and Development Manager and Sustainability Lead at Roth Architecture in Tulum, Mexico.
At Roth Architecture, Elizabeth led the curation of the R&D and FabLab departments. As the R&D manager, she spearheaded advanced material and fabrication initiatives geared towards exemplary innovative design strategies included within each project. She coordinated in-house and consultant development efforts, facilitating communication between the integrated team and enabling the provision of applied material & technical solutions. Analysis of raw material provision, processing, fabrication, and installation of developed material options for interior and exterior application all fell within her scope of deliverables. The intended goal of the R&D department at Roth Architecture was to enable high performing, sustainable, and creative use of material within the built environment. Elizabeth supported in all phases of project delivery, from early conceptual analysis of possibility to defined technical development, fabrication procurement, and construction administration.
Elizabeth’s prior work experience includes David Baker Architects in San Francisco, Terrapin Bright Green, Latent Productions, and RePlace Urban Studio in New York City. In addition to her current faculty position at the Academy of Art, past teaching experience has included positions held within Columbia University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP), the School of Professional Studies, and the Earth Institute as well as The New School’s Continuing and Professional Education program. Current and past faculty and instructor positions have focused on sustainability in the built environment, building performance analysis, and technical advising for advanced studio courses.
Academy Of Art University, San Francisco, CA, US, Faculty in the Bachelor of Arts in Architecture Program
Part-time faculty member teaching Sustainable Design to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the BA Architecture and MArch programs; Technical adviser focusing on sustainable systems integration for various design studios. Specific softwares taught include ClimateStudio, COMFEN, Climate Consultant, Sefaira, and Ladybug Tools.
Roth Architecture, Tulum, Mexico, R&D and Sustainable Design Lead
Research & Development Lead:
Led the curation of the R&D and FabLab departments; Spearheaded advanced bio-based material development and fabrication initiatives geared towards exemplary innovative design strategies included within each project; Efforts included coordinating in-house and consultant development efforts, facilitating communication between the integrated team and enabling the provision of applied material & technical solutions; Analysis of raw material provision, processing, fabrication, and installation of developed material options for interior and exterior application; Supported in all phases of project delivery, from early conceptual analysis of possibility to defined technical development, fabrication procurement, and construction administration.
Sustainable Design Lead:
Supported project teams with addressing principles of regenerative design and building performance within their design development process; Oversaw the integration of key international consultant teams and internally led initiatives focused on certification of our building proposals; Standards and certifications of relevance included EDGE and LEED certification; Performance analysis generated includes simulations using Ladybug Tools, ClimateStudio, and Climate Consultant.
The New School, New York, Adjunct Faculty
Part-time adjunct faculty in the Interior Design Certificate program teaching drafting and design fundamentals.
David Baker Architects, New York, Architectural Designer
Preliminary, schematic, design development, and construction set production for multiple multi-family affordable housing projects in the Bay Area.
Huntersview Phase III, San Francisco, CA // 110 units affordable multifamily // Living Building Challenge Affordable Housing Pilot Project
355 Sango Court, Milpitas, CA // 102 units affordable multifamily
Hotel Sebastopol, Sebastopol, CA // creative boutique inn, spa and wellness center
The Union, Oakland, CA // 110 units of modular market-rate
965 Weeks Street, East Palo Alto, CA // 136 units affordable multifamily
Marina Cove, Richmond, CA // 138 units affordable multifamily
53 Colton Avenue, San Francisco, CA // 100 units formerly homeless
Tipping Point, San Francisco, CA // 145 supportive SRO units
HH Residences, Sebastopol, CA // boutique hotel and town homes
Urban Design Lab at The Earth Institute, New York, NY, US, Lead Instructor, Sustainable Urbanization: New Designs for the Future City
Lead Instructor directing a co-staff of two and a student group of 30; The client for this course was the 125th Street BID and the students learned ArcGIS, 3D modeling & drafting.
RePLACE Urban Studio, New York, NY, US, Mapping Analyst & Architectural Designer
City-scale analysis of Newark, New Jersey through GIS, data analysis, and mapping; Development of a methodology that identifies critical lots in Newark for future intervention.
Columbia University, New York, NY, US, Teaching Assistant in the MArch & MSUP Programs
Architectural Technology 1 - Fall 2015, Fall 2016
Environment, Transportation & Land Use Specialization - Spring 2015
Sustainable Design - Summer 2015, Fall 2015
Berlin/New York Studio: Modern Era Housing Projects - Spring 2015
Latent Productions | DeathLAB, New York, NY, US, Architectural Designer & Research Associate
Schematic design, programming research, and site analysis; In-depth evaluation of a hydroponics food production system for the Greylock Mill in North Adams, MA; Research on alternative body disposition strategies, public grief and mourning within shared space.
Terrapin Bright Green, New York, NY, US, Built Ecosystem Reference Standards Designer
Development of the Framework for an Ecological Built Environment (PHOEBE Framework) which merges ecology, planning, and design into an ecosystem-based assessment; Research, mapping, and data visualization completed for the client Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper.
The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, US, Teaching & Research Assistant in the MS Sustainability Management Program
Courses:
The Hungry City Workshop (Urban Metabolism) - Fall 2013, Fall 2014
Empirical Approaches to Building Energy Assessment - Spring 2014
Research:
Urban metabolism in New York City and mapping emergent food systems
Material- efficient high performance building systems (focus on bio-based
composites and rapid 3d prototyping of wall joints and panels)
The New School, New York, NY, US, Certificate in Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings
Columbia University, New York, NY, US, MArch, Architecture and Urban Planning
Completed both the MArch (Master of Architecture) and MSUP (Master of Science in Urban Planning) programs (2013-2017)
University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, US, Bachelors, Architecture
Activities and societies: Peer Advisor for College of Environmental Design--Assisted undergraduate architecture students with decision making, basic design questions, and course issues
Studied: Architecture, design, fine arts, anthropology, astrophysics, and global poverty and development
GSAPP Incubator Membership // NEW INC, New Museum, Other
Membership awarded to A-Frame which investigates socio-economic and political issues in architecture.
Ethnography for Designers (Routledge 2016), Other
Publication - “Community Sustenance: Sunday Brunch at a Thai Buddhist Temple” included in the book.
Design Like You Give a Damn 2 (Architecture for Humanity), Other
Generated original writing and research while working at Architecture for Humanity, SF (2010). Final publication came out in 2012.
2011 ASLA Student Award of Excellence, Award
Awarded for the PlantLAB installation at the 2011 SF Flower and Garden Show
