Mary Ben Bonham
Courses Taught (past two academic years)
ARC 225 Design and Behavior
ARC 301/302/401/402C Architecture Studio
ARC 304 Interior Design Studio
ARC 4/506C Case Studies in Sustainable Design
ARC 4/514 Environmental Control Systems II
Areas of Expertise
facades, sustainable design, lighting, building systems, adaptive reuse
Educational Credentials
Master of Architecture, University of Pennsylvania, 1994
Bachelor of Architecture, University of Texas at Austin, 1989
Teaching Experience
Professor, Miami University, 2023-Present
Associate Professor, Miami University, 2013-2023
Assistant Professor, Miami University, 2007-2013
Adjunct Professor, Wentworth Institute of Technology, 1998-1999
Instructor, Boston Architectural College, 1996-1997
Professional Experience
Senior Associate, Prellwitz/Chilinski Associates, Cambridge, MA, 1995-2007
Architect, Modigliani Noyes Architects, Boston, MA, 1994-1995
Intern Architect, Arrasmith, Judd, Rapp, Louisville, KY, 1992-1993
Intern Architect, Ambrose and McEnany Architects, Houston, TX, 1990-1991
Intern Architect, Kendall Heaton Associates, Houston, TX, 1989-1990
Intern Architect, Claude Vasconi Associés, Paris, France, 1988
Licenses/Registration
Licensed Architect, No. 4302, Commonwealth of Kentucky, 1994-Present
LEED-Accredited Professional, U.S. Green Building Council, 2001-Present
NCIDQ, Certificate No. 34470, Council for Interior Design Qualification, 2018-Present
Significant Publications/Creative Projects/Paper Presentations
Bonham has published work on themes in architectural technology including facades, lighting and pedagogy. Her research activity includes refereed conference proceedings, presentations, internal grants, invited professional talks and design commissions in addition to the following publications and external grants.
“Biofacades: Integrating Biological Systems with Building Enclosures.” Co-authored with Kyoung Hee Kim, published in the July 2022 issue of SKINS, edited by Mic Patterson. The article introduces performance benefits and challenges for different forms of building-nature integration. Read online at https://www.facadetectonics.org/articles/biofacades-integrating-biological-systems-with-building-enclosures.
Bioclimatic Double-Skin Façades. New York and London: Routledge, 2020. 374 pages.
Bonham’s book examines the intersection of climate, culture and technology in advanced façade systems.
“Defining the Double-Skin Facade in the Postwar Era.” In the book Constructing Building Enclosures: Architectural History, Technology and Poetics, edited by Clifton Fordham, 228-46. New York and London: Routledge, 2021.
The chapter provides a critical look at the development and purpose of double-skin technologies in the context of post-war modernism.
“Leading by Example: New Professionalism and the Government Client.” In the journal Building Research and Information 41:1 (2013): 77-94.
The article describes how government building agencies can lead the design and construction industry to more sustainable practices through their position and example.
“Hybrid Cultural Significance for the Bibliothèque Municipale à Vocation Régionale de Marseille.” In France and the Mediterranean: International Relations, Culture and Politics, Modern French Identities Vol. 86, edited by E. Godin and N. Vince, 193-216. Oxford: Peter Lang Publishing Group, 2012.
The chapter analyzes the architecture of the new Marseille regional library in the context of cultural dialogue and cross-fertilization between France and the Mediterranean.
Awards/Recognitions/Grants/Competitions
Lighting Across the [Design] Curriculum.
Awarded the $50,000 Twentieth Anniversary Grant by the Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education. Awarded the 2013 Interior Design Educators Council Media Award. Bonham was one of ten authors in a multi-university group that developed online teaching modules with topics applicable to architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture; lead developer for “Topics for Upper Level Studios” and contributor to “Lighting for a Sustainable Future” and “Digital Interface of Lighting.” 2010-2012. Accessible at http://s464659611.onlinehome.us/education/Nuckollsfund/about/
Professional Memberships and Service
Interior Design Program Coordinator. 2017-present.
Miami U. Institute for the Environment and Sustainability (IES).
Affiliate Faculty. Internal Advisory Committee, Member 2019-present.
Miami U. Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE). Department Liaison 2019-present.
American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). Internet of Things Committee, Member 2018-present. Contributing author to ANSI/IES LP-12-21 IoT Connected Lighting. Cincinnati-Louisville Chapter, Board Member and Partner Educator Liaison, 2011-2017.
Facade Tectonics Institute (FTI)
Building Technology Educators Society (BTES), Institutional Liaison.
Society of Building Science Educators (SBSE), SBSE Student Scholarship Review Committee, 2010-2014.
Construction History Society of America (CHSA)
Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC)
Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA)