Curatorial Urbanism

Qingyun Ma is Dean of the USC School of Architecture and holder of the Della and Harry MacDonald Dean's Chair in Architecture.

Ma is considered one of the most influential architects in his field through his participative architectural practice and large range of social initiatives. Prior to beginning his deanship he was principal of the firm MADA s.p.a.m., which is based in Shanghai, China. Navigating from the professional world to the academic, he brings with him a global perspective and also an integrated vision to the school.

He recently launched a variety of programs and initiatives to bolster the school's profile including two task forces: the Center of Performative Environment (COPE) and the Center of Design Operatives (CODO). Both centers are meant to consolidate the school's traditional strength and explore new territories and techniques in design research. He also initiated a graduate foreign studio program called Delta Investigation and Inquiry Program (DIIP). A 12-week summer Graduate Studies Abroad Program, DIIP identifies a locality by a specific global problem and involves three universities, one of which is local. The first Delta was formed by USC, Columbia and Tongji Universities and focused on the tropical island of Hainan to investigate eco-urbanism. The program has exhibited great promise among students, faculty, local scholars and government and even building industries. He was also tapped to curate the Shenzhen Biennale on Urbanism and Architecture, which takes place in December. His involvement in the Biennale marks the USC School of Architecture's first exposure across the Pacific Ocean in a way that is systematic and celebrational. Working in collaboration with students and faculty, the Biennale will feature the first DIIP project on eco-urbanism titled "Troparadise" and conceived in Hainan, China during summer 2007.

His architectural firm MADA s.p.a.m. has produced some of the most critical urban designs and creative buildings in China, garnering worldwide recognition. His designs, which include Thumb Island, Shanghai and the Zhejiang University Library in Ningbo, China, have been widely exhibited throughout Europe and Asia. He has served as keynote speaker at the 2005 World Association of Chinese Architects sponsored by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Mies van der Roe Foundation in Barcelona, 2007, at Bridge the Gap, CCA, Japan, 2006 as well as at numerous Urban Age Conferences which are a worldwide series investigating the future of cities sponsored by the London School of Economics. He has been profiled in articles such as "Design Vanguard 2003" by Architectural Record, "Emerging Design Talents" by Phaidon, "Pioneers of Chinese Architecture" by Architecture and Urbanism (A+U, Japan) and "New Trends of Architecture" by the Euro-Asia Foundation. Additionally, he has served as a planning expert and presenter to the International Olympic Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and as a member of the conceptual script team for the 2010 Shanghai Exposition.