APLA Appoints New ARCH, ARIA Leadership

Bird will succeed Associate Professor Il Kim as the Undergraduate Program Chair of Architecture (ARCH), while Pindyck will succeed Associate Professor Kevin Moore as Undergraduate Program Chair for Interior Architecture (ARIA). Pindyck will also serve as the Associate Architecture Chair, taking over for Professor Matt Hall.

An Auburn alumnus, Bird holds both a Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Interior Architecture from APLA and a Master of Science in Architectural Conservation from the University of Michigan. He practiced at Houser Walker Architecture in Atlanta before joining the Architecture faculty in 2019.

Since returning to Auburn, he has taught a range of design studios for beginning design students and led research projects for critical conservation and historic preservation—including the documentation and preservation of the Rosenwald Schools.

“As I work with beginning design students, I’m able to see the tremendous growth in knowledge and skills, and it reminds me of how hardworking our students are,” Bird said, noting that the students gain skills that translate to both the profession and life. He enjoys building the students’ trust and “showing them that design isn’t about genius ‘lightbulb’ moments, but a thoughtful and rigorous process of developing an idea.”

Also having joined Auburn’s faculty in 2019, Pindyck brought 20 years of experience she gained as the founding principal of architecture practice DSNWRK and working at Atlanta-based Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects and Brooklyn-based landscape practice Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.

A graduate of Wellesley College and Harvard University Graduate School of Design, she primarily teaches second-year, fourth-year and thesis interior architecture studios, as well as researches heirs’ property, systems-based logic and the concepts of play and imaginations.

“I really love teaching here,” Pindyck said, mentioning she brings a maximalism approach to color, texture and pattern to the studio projects. “I want the students to experiment with all of it and understand the possibilities of phenomena—to understand that space is an experience that should provoke all of our senses.”

In their roles, Bird and Pindyck will be responsible for program leadership, curriculum review, academic standards and student recruitment for each program. They will also facilitate a visit from the National Architectural Accrediting Board later this academic year.