akobald

Alexander Kobald

avkobald@gmail.com

I am a designer, builder, and researcher currently working as the associate director of the Design Across Scales Lab at Cornell University. My work engages with multi-disciplinary issues, mapping their extents, communicating their complexity, and speculating on future changes through design.

I have ten years of experience in design and building industry, beginning with three years of experience in residential construction, a bachelor degree in architectural science (McGill University, 2016), and a Master in Architecture (MIT, 2019).

Resume

Summary

8+ years of combined workplace design strategy and design research experience. Skilled in designing new strategic frameworks that support the future of the workplace, optimizes for cost, coordinating cross-functional initiatives, and team leadership. Known for building clear and compelling narratives from messy inputs that can drive impact-oriented decision making.

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 2015 – 2019 Master of Architecture

McGill University School of Architecture | 2012 – 2015 Bachelor of Science in Architecture

Core Skills

`Workplace Strategy • Stakeholder Discovery • Workshop Facilitation • Strategic Storytelling (Insight-to-Action Narratives) • Executive Presentations • Framework Development • Workplace Metrics • Data Analysis • Program Guidance • Site Consultations • Program Management • Team Leadership • Contract/Scope Management`

Work Experience

Lead workplace strategy for a leading global technology client, translating business needs, data inputs, and user insights into decision-ready narratives and scalable frameworks. Specifically worked on developing strategy that bridges user experience, data analytics, and real estate priorities.
Created and scaled strategic frameworks (standards, metrics, and design guidance) for planning to agile and hybrid office needs, securing executive sponsorship in Q4 2025 and establishing standard criteria across regions.
Advised 15+ office campuses through strategic reviews, synthesizing quantitative signals and stakeholder input into recommendations and prioritized actions for executive review that enabling clearer trade-offs on cost and experience factors and delivered more consistent planning decisions.
Facilitated alignment and adoption through stakeholder workshops, executive presentations, and working sessions to create shared decision criteria and reduce rework across teams.
Advanced measurement and analytics by evolving metric definitions, guidance, and tools to reduce ambiguity and accelerate site review processes.
Managed commercial execution: negotiated contracts and task orders (2024-2026). Defined team scope, deliverables, and timelines that delivered multiple parallel initiatives with high quality.

Co-founded the Design Across Scales Lab, established research agenda and strategic direction for sponsor-funded applied research.
Produced original design research engaging in data analysis, historical research, and speculative design, and developed clear, insight driven narratives and prototypes to advance knowledge and inform sponsor partner priorities.
Presented lab research and priorities at external events (e.g., Urban Tech Summit 2021–2022; Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale to expand the lab’s visibility with partners and sponsors.
Directed and mentored 10+ research assistants, building research plans, coordinating day-to-day schedules, and maintained project schedules ensuring each contributor to the lab had a meaningful impact.
Selected projects: Tree Folio (NYC) | Extraction Infrastructure (Shenzhen) | Safely Together (NY)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research Assistant | Cambridge, MA | 2016 – 2019
Conducted original research for a sponsored research project, involving frequent client meetings, collecting and representing proprietary data, and giving frequent presentations. Developed a manuscript for a book on the history of American infrastructure in Pennsylvania and developed a set of educational programs for a public installation.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Teaching Assistant | Prof. J. Meejin Yoon | 2018
Taught a workshop sponsored by the Make It Right Foundation to study and analyze permanent post-disaster housing in the American context. Developed the workshop syllabus, conducted original research, curated resources for students and the research, led student discussions, and coordinated weekly guest lecturers.

Block Research Group
Visiting Researcher | ETH Zurich, Switzerland | 2017
Conducted original research on a dry-fit masonry vault system that could be assembled without formwork culminating in a 1:10 functioning prototype. Contributed directly to ongoing research projects including the Hi-Lo thin shell concrete roof prototype and the Detail publication Beyond Bending.

QuarraStone Company ltd.
Production and Automation Researcher (Visiting) | Madison, WI | 2016
Developed automation tools to streamline the process of converting design drawings into CNC tool pathing and shop drawings for custom stone fabrication. Developed a deep understanding of custom stone fabrication and automated workflows.

Michael Green Architecture
Architectural Intern | Vancouver, BC | 2014 – 2014
Participated in a fast-paced, cooperative work environment. Produced design development and construction documentation drawings and exhibition physical models. Participated in client and design meetings.

Mountainside Design + Build
Carpenter | Abbotsford, BC | 2010.5 – 2013.8
Two years of experience as a finish carpenter, designing and building custom home furnishings. One year experience as a framing carpenter involving the construction and renovation of residential homes.

Awards and Honours

Faculty Recognition Prize | MIT (2019)
Wilfred Shaver Scholarship | McGill University (2015)
Derek Drummond Award | McGill University (2015)
Gordon Gale Memorial Prize | McGill University (2014)
Peter Sebestyen Award Scholarship | McGill University (2014)
EP Canada Higher Education Prize | McGill University (2014)
Winner of the Habitation ‘67 Award | McGill University (2014)
Favretto Scholarship | McGill University (2013)

Teaching Experience

4.184 Architectural Design Workshop: Experiments in Post-Disaster Permanent Housing
Prof. J. Meejin Yoon | MIT | Fall 2018
This workshop worked closely with the Make It Right Foundation to study and analyze permanent post-disaster housing in the American context. Students studied, analyzed and postulated on environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and design forward approaches to post-disaster housing. As a TA, I was involved in the shaping of the workshop syllabus, the initial research and curation of resources for students and the research and invitation of guest lecturers for the workshop.

Design, Research, and Exhibition Credits

Extraction Infrastructure Web
Arch Daily | UABB | 2019.05
A response to a call for a discussion on how new technologies – and Artificial Intelligence in particular – might impact architecture and urban life. This submission examines the scale of the infrastructure network that powers the technology of the city.

2019 SA+P Thesis Show
MIT | MIT | 2019.05
An exhibition of thesis explorations by graduate students in architecture, urban design and planning, art, media studies, and real estate.

Drawing, Designing, Thinking: 150 Years of Teaching Architecture at MIT
MIT Museum | MIT | 2019.03
A retrospective of architecture education on the 150^th anniversary of the MIT SAP. Involved in the gathering and curation of archive material for the exhibition.

HiLo Shell Roof
ETH Zurich, Switzerland | Block Research Group | 2017
A full-scale prototype investigating the feasibility of spraying a textile reinforced thin concrete shell using a lightweight flexible formwork composed of a tensioned cable net as falsework and tailored fabric as shuttering. Involved in the construction, analysis and demolition of the full-scale feasibility test.

Hello, Robot. Design Between Human and Machine
Vitra Design Museum | MIT | 2017.11
Involved in the building of an exhibition model that was submitted by Howler+Yoon Architecture for the exhibition.

Wood Innovation Design Center
Prince George, BC Canada | Michael Green Architects | 2015
The Wood Innovation Design Centre (WIDC) was the tallest all wood office building at the time of its construction and serves as a gathering place for researchers, academics, and design professionals generating ideas for innovative uses of wood. Involved in the design and construction documentation as well as the construction of a presentation model.

Volunteer

VP Academic | McGill University, Architecture Student Association
2013.9 – 2014.4, 2014.9 – 2015.4
Served as a student representative for academic priorities for two school years. In that time, served as a student representative in the McGill School of Architecture Curriculum Committee. Also facilitated two $20,000 equipment fund proposals and purchases and two $6,000 proposals for additional teaching resources.