Uli Dangel Joins the School of Architecture & Environment as New Head

Photograph from Dangel

New SAE Director Joins College of Design 

The College of Design and the School of Architecture & Environment (SAE) are happy to announce its next head. Architect and professor Ulrich "Uli" Dangel is joining the college as the new director of the school and Endowed Stott Chair. 

Dangel is a University of Oregon (UO) alumnus, MArch '99, and holds a diploma in Architecture from Universität Stuttgart in Germany. He joins the college after nineteen years working at The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture. While there, Dangel taught as an associate professor and served as the Program Director for Architecture and as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Outside the academic realm, Dangel has practiced as an architect for various firms in the United Kingdom and Austin, Texas, including his own firm, which he operated for seventeen years. A few projects he worked on include the Frankfurt Airport, the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England, and the five-star Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich. Dangel is excited to return to the Pacific Northwest and lead the school and student body into the future.

Uli Dangel's headshot. Shows a smiling man with glasses in front of a light brick wall.

"I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to return to the UO as the school's new director, and I hope to serve the community as a trusted adviser and mentor. I look forward to providing inspirational leadership by reinforcing a collegial environment, promoting equity and fairness, and making faculty, staff, and students feel valued and included," explained Dangel. "I am particularly thrilled to get involved with and contribute to the mass timber research already happening at the school since this is my area of expertise. Lastly, I look forward to moving back to the Pacific Northwest, which I consider to be one of the most desirable places to live in the US."

Dangel is passionate about the importance of sustainability at all levels of design, as shown by his research and the three books he has authored, Sustainable Architecture in Vorarlberg: Energy Concepts and Construction Systems, Turning Point in Timber Construction: A New Economy, and Time for Timber. His expertise in timber-based architecture and low-carbon construction, along with his network of architects, engineers, and researchers, equip him with the tools necessary to lead a new generation of students to advocate for and participate in the advancement of sustainability and resilience in the fields of architecture and design. Dangel's passions and expertise fit university and college priorities of creating a better tomorrow for all. 

The book cover for Dangel's book, "Sustainable Architecture in Vorarlberg". Shows a modern designed home/building that shows a mountain range reflected in the large windows near the bottom of the cover.
Book cover for Dangel's "Turning Point in Timber Construction: A New Economy". Design is a photograph of a helicopter hauling a timber construction off a staging area in a scenic mountain range. The helicopter and structure are yellow and the rest of the photo is in black and white.
Photograph the front cover of Dangel's book, "Time for Timber". Cover shows a collection of white lines on a brown background that is similar to a brown paper bag or a brown paper pulp.

"As designers of buildings, landscapes, and interiors, we are directly responsible for our work's significant environmental impact on the planet. The decisions we make today will have implications far into the future, and I therefore believe that sustainability needs to play an integral role in every design process," said Dangel. "With its multiple centers and initiatives, [SAE] is already a research leader in the field, and there is broad consensus among many faculty members about addressing the most pressing concerns. As the incoming director, I fully support the school’s focus on sustainability and resilience, and I will ensure that we maintain and expand upon the high level of research activity."

Dangel's research will build on the school's reputation as a thought leader in the built environment and sustainability, a point of pride for the institution, and he is eager to relocate to an area with a vast timber playground. 

Photograph of new SAE head, Uli Dangel, at a worksite.

"My ongoing research explores low-tech, open-source timber building systems. These systems have versatile applications across various building scales, socio-economic contexts, and markets. The primary objective is to develop strategies to provide sufficient sustainable and affordable housing in urban areas, particularly in emerging economies that struggle to meet the growing demands while simultaneously satisfying economic, ecological, and social concerns," explained Dangel. "These countries might possess vast forest stocks, but they likely do not have a well-established or sophisticated timber products industry or have traditionally focused on building with wood. The promotion of timber construction has the potential to offer alternatives to more carbon-intensive construction methods by introducing more resilient and sustainable building practices." 

The college would like to extend its deep appreciation to interim school director, Michael Zaretsky, whose hard work and service were integral to the continued success of SAE during the leadership search.