Visiting Instructor Inducted as AIA Fellow

APLA Visiting Instructor Tom Chung was one of 115 American Institute of Architects members recently inducted into the College of Fellows. Tom Chung has 20 years of leadership at Leers Weinzapfel Associates where he is a Principal in the firm, and is considered one of the pioneers in the field of Mass Timber Architecture.

Auburn’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture design studios greatly benefit from professional partnerships with visiting instructors like Tom, and he recently dedicated himself to working with Assistant Professor David Kennedy in the Mass Timber studio in the Spring of 2019. It is through mass timber construction that members of our university from Forestry, Business, Engineering, Building Science and Architecture all find opportunities to collaborate and conduct research. Tom Chung’s leadership in this area has been instrumental in organizing interest and aligning goals. Christian Dagg, School Head stated “It is precisely for his record of excellent design work and the applied research inherent in the use of mass timber that we have brought him to Auburn University. Tom spent the semester with us teaching a studio of advanced undergraduate students. They went on field trips to mass timber manufacturing facilities, while also asking the students to work on a design project in New York City for a mixed-use housing project. As he traveled back and forth, from Boston to Atlanta, his commitment to his students was constantly on display.”

APLA is proud to recognize Tom for his elevation to fellow, and grateful for his contributions to the School.