Andrew Hart, MArch

Andrew Hart's work focuses on teaching students how to ethically and responsibly, engage with document and learn from the collective, cultural experience of communities, specifically focusing on stories, in history that have historically been undervalued and underappreciated.

In this research and work, Hart strives to connect students and community members and immersive, creative environments to communicate history, personal stories, and co-author values in the best taxes that can be used in both community design and academia as a model for other schools and professionals.

As a vehicle for this research, Hart uses imaginative and fantasy imagery combined with documentation and observation research methods. The research often results in the creation of immersive collaborative creation of imagery, collage; sculpture, and photography to assist in forming connections and create conversations between participants (neighbors and students)  to envision new future design solutions.

Communities in which Hart actively works include towns in the coal mining region of Northeastern Pennsylvania, rural Pueblas Abandonadas of Spain, and for over the past ten years the Brewerytown/Sharswood neighborhoods and surrounding environs of Philadelphia.  Through research and teaching, Hart has brought students to other locations nationally and abroad for research at conferences in Denver, Louisiana, and Los Angeles, and internationally through courses taught in India and Morocco.

Research work in these areas has been exhibited at art, galleries (3rd Street Gallery, and the DaVinci Art Alliance), published papers (National Conference on the Beginning Design Student,  ARCC), as well as service, in academic, community, and professional organizations to advocate and promote sustainable preservation and increased community resources.

Hart's work on design justice in both curriculum and community practice has fed his service on NCARB (Think Tank and Licensing Advisors), Justice Alliance in Design Education (JADE), and membership in Dark Matter University (DMU). He is also the NOMAS (National Organization of Minority Architecture Students) faculty advisor.

Classes taught include undergraduate and graduate-level architecture, including Visualization, Historical Preservation, Photography, Foundation Design Studio, and Thesis.