SCI-Arc Welcomes Winka Dubbeldam as Next Director/CEO

SCI-Arc is thrilled to share that Prof. Winka Dubbeldam has been appointed as the next Director and Chief Executive Officer of SCI-Arc. A globally recognized Dutch architect, educator, and leader in design innovation, Winka will officially assume the role on September 1, 2025.

Winka brings more than three decades of experience to the forefront of architectural practice and education. She is a full Professor of Architecture and served as Chair at the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design for ten years (2013–2023). Previously she initiated and directed the Post-Professional Architecture program for ten years (2003–2013), providing international students with innovative design skills, cutting-edge theoretical and technological knowledge necessary for a productive and innovative career in the field of architecture. Winka is the founding principal of Archi-Tectonics, an award-winning studio with offices in New York, Amsterdam, and Hangzhou. Her work is known for hybrid sustainable materials, smart building systems, and elegant, innovative structures. Her work has been published in four monographs, with a fifth, Monsters and Mutants (Park Books, Switzerland), launching later this fall.

“SCI-Arc has long been a beacon for radical experimentation, and I am honored to join a community that continuously redefines what architecture can be,” said Winka. “I look forward to building on the school’s legacy of innovation and fostering new opportunities for students and faculty to engage with the future of design.”

This appointment reflects SCI-Arc’s ongoing commitment to design excellence, critical thinking, and global leadership in architectural education. Winka’s breadth of experience and forward-looking vision will help shape the next chapter of SCI-Arc’s evolution.

As we look to the future, we also extend our profound gratitude to Hernán Díaz Alonso for his transformative leadership over the past decade. Under his direction, SCI-Arc expanded its global reach, deepened its research agenda, and redefined architectural education for a new generation in the digital age.

“SCI-Arc has always been about looking forward—challenging conventions, taking risks, and imagining new futures for architecture,” shares Hernán Díaz Alonso. “I’m excited for this next chapter, and I know the school is in excellent hands with Winka. She’s been a longtime friend of SCI-Arc, and her vision, creativity, and global perspective align deeply with the spirit of this place. That spirit has never been about any one person—it’s about the ideas we build together.”

Innovating Design Education

At Penn, Winka launched the Advanced Research and Innovation Lab (ARI), restructured the curriculum to foster experimental research, initiated three Master of Science in Design (MSD) programs, and established Pressing Matters, an annual publication by ORO showcasing the school’s boundary-pushing design-research. Her academic leadership reflects a deep belief in architecture as a tool for invention, transformation, and discovery.

Empowering Students

Winka has long championed student mentorship, educational equity, and inclusive pedagogy. Her leadership of Penn’s MSD programs and her recognition as one of DesignIntelligence’s 30 Most Admired Educators speak to her commitment to preparing students to think boldly and act with purpose.

Global Impact

From large-scale urban projects in China to collaborations across Europe and the U.S., Winka’s work reflects a deep understanding of architecture as a global practice. Her engagement with international institutions, exhibitions, and juries brings global visibility and perspective to the communities she serves. In 2013, Winka gave a TED Talk in Edinburgh, Scotland, discussing the studio’s bottom-up design for Downtown Bogotá.

Leading with Vision

Winka’s tenure at Penn saw major programmatic growth and thought leadership, including hosting the 2023 ACADIA Conference, serving as External Examiner for the Architectural Association School of Architecture (London) and the Bartlett School of Architecture (London), and serving on the editorial board of THE PLAN Journal (Italy). Her ability to translate vision into strategy—while galvanizing faculty, students, and institutional partners—positions her to lead SCI-Arc into a new era of innovation and impact.

The Board of Trustees and the entire SCI-Arc community is proud to welcome Winka Dubbeldam to SCI-Arc and looks forward to all we will accomplish together.