Chad R. Kraus

School of Architecture & Design - Architecture, Architecture & Design Administration
Associate Professor
Primary office:
785.864.4129
Marvin Hall, 211
University of Kansas
1465 Jayhawk Blvd
 Lawrence, KS 66045
Second office:


Summary

Chad Kraus is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Kansas and a licensed architect. He teaches architectural theory, architectural design studio, and the award-winning designbuild Dirt Works Studio. His scholarship concentrates on designbuild pedagogy and material research. He is the editor of the book Designbuild Education (Routledge 2017) and an editor of the journal Technology | Architecture + Design (TAD). Prior to teaching, Professor Kraus worked for Pritzker-prize laureate Shigeru Ban and studied architectural history and theory under Alberto Perez-Gomez at McGill University.

Teaching

Chad Kraus teaches ARCH 508 Materials and Tectonics Studio; ARCH 509 Designbuild Studio [Dirt Works Studio]; ARCH 630 Theory of Architecture; ARCH 690/692 Architecture in Europe Study Abroad; as well as electives such as ARCH 622 Material Investigations.

Teaching Interests

  • Architectural design
  • Design build
  • Earthen architecture
  • Timber construction
  • Sustainability
  • Community engagement
  • Architectural theory
  • Phenomenology
  • Tiny houses

Research

Chad Kraus' scholarship is focused on designbuild pedagogy and material research, with a focus on natural building materials.

Research Interests

  • Design build
  • Earthen architecture
  • Phenomenology

Service

Chad Kraus serves on the Editorial Board of the journal Technology | Architecture + Design as well as several University and School Committees.

Selected Publications

Kraus, Chad, ed. 2017. Designbuild Education. Books. New York: Routledge.
Kraus, Chad, and Nils Gore. 2016. Educating for an Embodied Culture of Building. Conference Proceedings. 104th Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture Annual Meeting 2016, Shaping New Knowledges.
Kraus, Chad, Chloe Hosid, and Abigail Davis. 2016. Iron-Stabilized Ferrimagnetic Rammed Earth. Conference Proceedings. Earth USA 2015 Proceedings. Santa Fe: Adobe in Action.
Kraus, Chad. 2016. The Mud Hut Rebirth, Part 1: A Once and Future Earthen Experiment. Conference Proceedings. Earth USA 2015 Proceeedings. Santa Fe: Adobe in Action.
Kraus, Chad, Daniel Hirmas, and Jennifer Roberts. 2014. “Compressive Strength of Blood Stabilized Earthen Architecture.” Book Chapters. In Earthen Architecture: Past, Present, and Future, edited by Camilla Mileto, Fernando Vegas Lopez-Manzanares, Lidia García Soriano, and Valentina Cristini, 217–20. London: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group.
Kraus, Chad. 2014. “Fitness of Earthen Architecture.” Book Chapters. In Earthen Architecture: Past, Present and Future, edited by Camilla Mileto, Fernando Vegas Lopez-Manzanares, Lidia García Soriano, and Valentina Cristini, 209–15. London: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group.
Kraus, Chad, Daniel Hirmas, and Jennifer Roberts. 2013. Microbially Indurated Rammed Earth: A Long Awaited Next Phase in Earthen Architecture. Conference Proceedings. Edited by Chris Jarrett, Kyoung-Hee Kim, and Nick Senske. The Visibility of Research. Vol. 2013. Charlotte, North Carolina: University of North Carolina.
Kraus, Chad. 2012. “From the Ground Up: Building the Dirt Works Studio.” Book Chapters. In Rammed Earth Conservation, edited by Camilla Mileto, Fernando Vegas Lopez-Manzanares, and Valentina Cristini, 151–56. London: CRC Press / Balkema, Taylor & Francis Group.
Kraus, Chad. 2012. “On Perceptions of Rammed Earth.” Book Chapters. In Rammed Earth Conservation, edited by Camilla Mileto, Fernando Vegas Lopez-Manzanares, and Valentina Cristini, 157–62. London: CRC Press / Balkema, Taylor & Francis Group.
Sanguinetti, Paola, and Chad Kraus. 2011. Thinking in Parametric Phenomenology. Conference Proceedings. Edited by Janghwan Cheon, Steve(n) Hardy, and Timothy Hemsath. Parametricism: SPC. Lincoln, Nebraska: Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture.

Selected Presentations

Kraus, C. (9/12/2014). Compressive Strength of Blood Stabilized Earthen Architecture. VerSus 2014 - International Conference on Vernacular Heritage, Sustainability, and Earthen Architecture. Valencia, Spain. http://versus2014.blogs.upv.es
Kraus, C. (9/12/2014). Fitness of Earthen Architecture. VerSus 2014 - International Conference on Vernacular Heritage, Sustainability, and Earthen Architecture. Valencia, Spain
Kraus, C., Swackhamer, M., & Stevens, J. (6/28/2014). Digital Fabrication, Making, and Construction in the Academy: Lessons for Future Architectural Practice. American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention. Chicago, Illinois
Kraus, C. (4/11/2014). Prairie Earth. Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture 102nd Annual Meeting. Miami Beach, Florida. http://www.acsa-arch.org/docs/default-source/13-14-award-winners/-prairi...
Kraus, C. (3/27/2013 - 3/30/2013). Microbially Indurated Rammed Earth: A Long-Awaited Next Phase in Earthen Architecture. The Visibility of Research. Charlotte, NC
Kraus, C. (6/21/2012 - 6/23/2012). From the Ground Up: Building the Dirt Works Studio. ResTAPIA - International Conference on Rammed Earth Conservation. Valencia, Spain
Kraus, C. (6/21/2012 - 6/23/2012). On Perceptions of Rammed Earth. ResTAPIA - International Conference on Rammed Earth Conservation. Valencia, Spain
Sanguinetti, P., & Kraus, C. (3/11/2011 - 3/13/2011). Thinking in Parametric Phenomenology. Parametricism: SPC. Lincoln, NE

Selected Grants

Biostabilization of Rammed Earth for the Reduction of Waste and Co2 Emissions. SU835497. National Center for Environmental Research, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. $14980.00. (9/1/2013 - 4/30/2014). Federal. Status: Funded. Principal Investigator. EPA P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet. Competitive Process.
MIRE: Biostabilization of Earthen Architecture. $11997.00. (4/30/2013). The primary goal of this research is to develop microbially indurated rammed earth (MIRE) using the soil microorganism, Sporosarcina pasteurii, to provide an economical and sustainable alternative to industrially stabilized rammed earth (SRE) and create a sustainable building practice that drastically reduces CO2 emissions, eliminates waste, sequesters existing atmospheric CO2, and recycles industrial byproducts. I anticipate that MIRE will have significant advantages over conventional methods of construction with respect to responsible environmental stewardship.. University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded
Dirt Works Lab. University of Kansas. $8000.00. (5/31/2011). The NFGRF enabled me to travel and research some of the most innovative forces in earthen architecture in North America as well as set up the initial Dirt Works Lab to testing and building demonstrations of earthen construction.. University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded