The Catholic University of America

Christopher Peter Grech, RIBA

Grech

Director, Master of Science in Sustainable Design (MSSD) program
Associate Professor

Office: B016D Crough
Tel: 202-319-6398
Email: grech@cua.edu

Courses

  • ARCH 209/509: Introduction to Sustainability, Fall 2007-present (CUA)
  • ARCH626: Sustainable Materials and Assemblies, Spring 2009 (CUA)
  • ARCH634: Ethics and Scales of Sustainability, Spring 2009 (CUA)
  • Third Year Architectural Studio (UNCC)
  • Architectural Materials (UNCC)
  • Building Envelopes (UNCC)
  • Fourth Year Topical Architectural Studio in Sustainability (UNCC)

Education

  • Bachelor of Architecture with Honors, University of Liverpool
  • Bachelor of Arts in Architecture with Honors, University of Liverpool

Teaching Experience

  • Associate Professor, The Catholic University of America, 2007-present
  • Associate Professor, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2001-2007
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Michigan, 1994-1997

Lecture Engagements

  • Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom, 1992-1994
  • Columbia University, 1994
  • Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH), Zurich, 1993
  • Technical University (TU), Vienna, 1993

Professional Experience

  • Founder, Facade Engineering Group, Whitby Bird + Partners, London, UK, 1998-2001
  • Partner, Penfold Associates, London, UK, 1992-1994
  • Arup Associates, London, UK, 1989-1991
  • Foster and Partners, London, UK, 1986-1988
  • Heery Architects and Engineers, London, UK, 1985-1986

Licensing and Certifications

  • Architect's License: United Kingdom

Awards

  • Commendation for Reference Book: The Multilingual Dictionary of Architecture and Building Terms, Chartered Institute of Building, UK, Literary Awards, 1999
  • Commendation, All Saints Church Bradford, RIBA Design Competition, 1993
  • Citation of Excellence, International Book Publishing: The Building Envelope, The American Institute of Architects, 1990
  • First Prize, Industrial Design Competition, Phillips Lighting, 1985
  • Recipient, Holt Traveling Scholarship, Liverpool University, 1982

Grants

  • Culture and Heritage Foundation, Inc., York County Museum, South Carolina, "A Sustainable Community: Green Architecture and Urbanism," Joint Principal Investigator with Prof. David Walters, Grant Award: $18,000, 2003
  • Curriculum and Instructional Development Grant, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, "Digitization of The Building Envelope and Connections," Grant Award: $1,800, 2003
  • Curriculum and Instructional Development Grant, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, "Digitization of Images for Building Envelope Elective," Grant Award: $3,988, 2002
  • Junior Faculty Research Grant, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Support for Research on Publication: "New Technology Timber Buildings," Grant Award: $5,660, 2002
  • Sponsorship by Bovis Europe for The Multilingual Dictionary of Architecture and Building Terms, 1995

Conferences

  • Conference Initiator and Member of Content Committee and Steering Committee, FutureOffice: 2004, AIA North Carolina Summer Design Conference, Charlotte, NC, August 2004
  • Technology Paper Reviewer, ACSA Technology Conference, Salt Lake City, 2006
  • Technology Paper Reviewer, ACSA Technology Conference, Miami, 2004
  • Technology Paper Reviewer, ACSA Technology Conference, Dallas, 1998
  • Technology/Computer Paper Reviewer, ACSA International Conference, Berlin, 1997
  • Session Moderator, ACSA Technology Conference, Cleveland, 1996

Publications (Books)

  • Grech, Chris and David Walters, Ed., FutureOffice: Conference Proceedings. Oxford: Taylor & Francis, December 2007.
  • Grech, Chris, Ed., The Multilingial Dictionary of Architecture and Building Terms: A Selection of 2,500 Terms Relating to Everyday Architectural Practice and Construction. United Kingdom: Routledge, 1998.
  • Brooks, Dr. A.J. and Chris Grech. The Building Envelope + Connections (combined edition). Oxford: Butterworth Architecture, 1996.
  • Brooks, Dr. A.J. and Chris Grech. Connections: Studies in Building Assembly. Oxford: Butterworth Architecture, 1993.
  • Brooks, Dr. A.J. and Chris Grech. The Building Envelope. Oxford: Butterworth Architecture, 1990.
  • Commissioning Editor for NEW TECHNOLOGY SERIES. The Architectural Press/Butterworth Architecture, 1991-2002. For the following titles: Intelligent Skins (2002), Component Design (2001), Space Grid Structures (2000), Masted Structures (1996), Portable Architecture (1996), Supersheds (1991).
  • Manuscript Reviewer for Schodek, Daniel and Michelle Addington, Smart Materials, The Architectural Press, 2004.

Publications (Articles)

  • Grech, Chris. "The Musical Genius of Napoleon Tagliaferro," The Sunday Times of Malta, 4 July 2004, pp. 58, 59.
  • Williams-Tracy, Laura. "Rethinking Office Design," interviewed by author and quoted extensively, Charlotte Business Journal 19:10, 4 June 2004, pp. 20, 24.
  • Grech, Chris and David Walters. "'Office of Future' Will Be Better Suited For Setting," Charlotte Business Journal 18:26, 26 September 2003, pp. 28, 29.
  • Grech, Chris. "Cladding and Curtain Walling," AJ Focus, The Architects' Journal, October 2000, pp. 27-34.
  • Grech, Chris. "Villa Grech Mifsud: An Architectural Biography," Treasures of Malta, Christmas 1997, pp. 79-83.
  • Grech, Chris. "Watchtower: Coastal Defences in Malta," The Malta Independent, 1 December 1996.

University Service

  • Sustainability Committee (Chair)
  • Strategic Planning and By-Laws Committee
  • Curriculum Committee
  • UNCC: Curriculum Committee, Faculty Search Committee, Faculty Review Committee, UNCC Faculty Council, Faculty Advsiory Library Committee

Professional Service

  • Founder, member, vice-chair and chair designate (2007) for the Building Enclosure Council-Charlottem a subcommittee of AIA Charlotte.
  • Initiator and faculty advisor fo the UNCC student affiliate of the Charlotte branch of the Construction Specifications Institute.