Dr. Reynders has exhibited, lectured, and acted as moderator in Chicago and numerous international cities, including Barcelona, Lugano, Tokyo, Johannesburg, among others.
BULL VALLEY, IL, October 24, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Hennie Reynders, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Reynders is a respected architect and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Architecture, Historic Preservation and Designed Objects at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. As architect and designer his work crosses disciplinary boundaries and includes writing, art installations, product design, architecture and landscape urbanism projects. Dr. Reynders's research and teaching focus on spatial relationships, citizen infrastructure, design theory and interdisciplinary thinking and making as expressed in the relationship that exists between structure and agency.
In addition to his academic roles, Dr. Reynders has been actively involved in professional practice. He has been the director of Studio Alabaster Blue LLC since 2006. His Chicago-based firm specializes in architecture, product design, design research, consulting, and collaborative urban and community activism. Furthermore, Dr. Reynders has exhibited, lectured, and acted as moderator in Chicago and numerous international cities, including Barcelona, Lugano, Tokyo, Johannesburg, among others.
Dr. Reynders's practical experience gained before transitioning to teaching has given him a profound understanding of architecture's limitations and potential. He remains a principal at Hennie Reynders Architects in Chicago and Pretoria, South Africa since 1984 and as design consultant and writer for the Good City Group in Chicago between 2015 and 2017.
Having begun his career in South Africa, Dr. Reynders taught architecture at the University of Pretoria from 1995 to 2001. In 2001, he accepted a visiting position at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, which led to a full-time role as a professor of architecture. During his tenure on campus, Dr. Reynders was head of the department of architecture, interior architecture and designed objects between 2007 and 2009. Additionally, he held the position of chair of architecture between 2017 and 2022.
Highly educated, Dr. Reynders received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Pretoria in 1981, a Master of Architecture in landscape urbanism and activist practice from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2002 and a Doctor of Philosophy in architecture, arts, culture and environment from the University of Edinburgh, UK in 2010.
Aside from his work-related responsibilities, Dr. Reynders has been an active member of several industry-related organizations, including the American Institute of Architects, and as a former board member of the International Federation of Interior Architects and Designers. His civic affiliations include involvement with the Living With the Land initiative as board member of the Stickney House Foundation and as board member of planning and zoning commissions and board director of arts organizations. Dr. Reynders is dedicated to developing an innovative curricular framework for design education that explores the future direction of architecture. His focus includes redefining curricular structures and establishing models for design pedagogy that prioritize equity, empathy, and collaboration.
Dr. Reynders's contributions have been recognized with several awards, including an award in a competitive commission to Reynders Cronje Bolt Architects for the design of a commercial urban center for a previously disadvantaged community near the end of apartheid politics in South Africa, an award from the Research Cluster of Design for the 21st Century from the University of Edinburgh, and a Product Design Award from Design Within Reach.
Throughout his career, Dr. Reynders has been committed to bridging the gap between academia and real-world applications. One of his most significant accomplishments is his innovative approach to interdisciplinary design education, particularly his collaborative work with communities and external partners. His involvement in design research and alternative practice formats have left a lasting impact on design education.
Through collaborative project work and extensive research and writing, Dr. Reynders aims to catalyze a shift in the approach to design education. His commitment to nurturing the profession and harnessing architecture's potential to impact the world remains at the forefront of his ambitions.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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