Geoffrey von Oeyen is a Principal of Geoffrey von Oeyen Design and von Oeyen Architects, based in Los Angeles, and is an Assistant Professor of Practice at the USC School of Architecture. The recipient of multiple national awards including the Architectural League Prize, Next Progressives, and a MacDowell Fellowship, his built architectural projects in North America and Asia have been widely published in international architectural publications such as Architect, Architectural Record, Dezeen, and Architizer. Von Oeyen leads graduate and undergraduate students in multidisciplinary design research and design-build projects in the United States and China, exploring innovative tectonic systems that leverage precedent, site, and community to reconcile disparate visual, spatial, and cultural conditions, and this work has been awarded and published by organizations such as the American Institute of Architects and the American Composites Manufacturing Association. As President of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design, von Oeyen has advocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the built environment, and has critically explored new systems for housing architecture in Los Angeles, the topic of his current graduate directed design research studio at USC.
Prior to founding his practice, von Oeyen was an Associate at Gehry Partners, LLP, where from 2005 to 2011 he played key roles in the design of several geometrically and technically complex institutional projects, including the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris and the UTS Business School in Sydney. Born in Detroit and raised in Los Angeles, von Oeyen received an M.Arch. from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and accepted the Faculty Design Award and Chair’s Letter of Commendation. Prior to the Harvard GSD he was a U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Scholar at the University of Cambridge, where he received an M.Phil. in the History and Philosophy of Architecture. Von Oeyen’s M.Phil. dissertation extended his funded undergraduate thesis research at Stanford University, where he graduated with Honors in Urban Studies and double minors in Art History and History.
University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, US, Assistant Professor of Practice
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, US, MArch, Architecture
• Design Thesis: “Second Nature: Towards a Symbiotic Architecture of Housing and Landscape at Lafayette Park.”
Advisor: Preston Scott Cohen. 2005.
• Faculty Design Award: Selected by the GSD Faculty for Most Outstanding Design Work, Harvard GSD Graduation.
• Formal Letter of Commendation: Toshiko Mori, Architecture Chair, Harvard GSD Graduation.
• National Finalist: SOM Foundation, Design Traveling Fellowship, SOM New York. 2005.
• Design Studio Option: Superquadras, Projections, and Pilotis. Jorge Silvetti, Instructor. 2004.
• Design Studio Option: Open Figures: The Contouring of Architecture. Ron Witte, Instructor. 2003.
• Studio Works Exhibitions and Publications: Gund Hall Gallery, Harvard University; http://studioworks.gsd.harvard.edu
• Community Service Fellowship for the Architectural Design of the Kalihi Community Center: Honolulu, HI. 2003.
• Architectural Drawing Seminar: Prof. T. Kelly Wilson, Rome, Italy. 2002.
• Research Assistant: Dr. Eduard Sekler, Harvard GSD. 2003-2004.
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, UK, Masters, History and Philosophy of Architecture
• Dissertation: “Le Corbusier’s Project for a Chandigarh Museum of Knowledge: Image Technology, Politics, and Redemption in the Atomic Age.” Supervisor: Peter Carl. MPhil Director: Dalibor Veseley. Archived in the Cambridge University Library. 2001.
• US-UK Fulbright Scholar 2000-2001: One of sixteen US postgraduates selected for the one-year fully funded research scholarship in the United Kingdom. The only 2000-1 US-UK Fulbrighter from Stanford University, the only Fulbrighter at Cambridge University, and the only US/UK Fulbrighter in the field of architecture. One of five US-UK Fulbrighters selected to participate in the European Fulbright conference at the European Union, NATO, and SHAPE Headquarters. Fulbright Forum with members of the British Parliament. US Embassy/US Fulbright Program at the United States Embassy, London.
• Honorary Membership: The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce; London, UK.
• Honorary Membership: The English-Speaking Union; London, UK.
• Cambridge University Overseas Trust Fellowship.
• Kettle’s Yard Travel Fellowship.
• Selected to participate: Film and Architecture Seminar, Cambridge University.
Stanford University, Stanford, CA, US, Bachelors, Urban Studies (Honors)
• Honors Thesis: “Chandigarh Reconsidered: A New Proposal for Modern India’s Capitol Complex.” Supervisor: Paul Turner. Stanford University Departments of Urban Studies and Art History. 2000.
• URO Major Grant funding for Honors Thesis architectural research in Chandigarh, India.
• Invited Member, Honors College.
• Albert J. Hettinger Full-Tuition Scholarship for Outstanding Scholarship, Athletics, and Service.
• Undergraduate Representative, Committee on Land and Buildings, Stanford University Board of Trustees.
• Appointed Representative, Committee on Urban Studies.
• Undergraduate Admissions Project: One of ten undergraduate students selected to be profiled in a year-long documentary video and literature project supporting undergraduate admissions. Featured student in Stanford recruiting presentations.
• Scholar Athlete, Stanford University Varsity Sailing Team.
Oxford University, Oxford, England, UK, Stanford Overseas Studies
• Research Tutorial: History of Oxford’s Architecture and Urban Planning. Geoffrey Tyack, Program Director and Tutor.
