On December 2, a ceremony was held to appoint Russell as Dean of the iFHH. Tsinghua SIGS Executive Dean Gao Hong, CPC Committee Secretary Wu Xiaofeng, Associate Deans Zhang Chuanjie and Chan Wai Kin (Victor), Executive Associate Dean of the iFHH Xu Weiguo, and others attended the ceremony. Tsinghua University and Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS) are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Peter Russell as Dean of the Institute of Future Human Habitats. 

Russell is a Canadian-born architect, educator, researcher and administrator with rich experience in architectural education in North America and Europe, specialising in the development and application of computation in the built environment. Russell has participated in many fruitful projects in China over the years, having contributed to sustained collaboration between the schools of architecture at Tsinghua University and RWTH Aachen University. Additionally, he has led a team to design, develop and operate an interactive-city-game as part of the Chinese-German pavilion at the Expo 2010 held in Shanghai.

“We are pleased to welcome Peter Russell as Dean of the Institute of Future Human Habitats at Tsinghua SIGS,”said Professor Zhang Li, Dean of the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University. “His international experience, combined with his expertise in computation, are a natural fit to the borderless and innovative goals of the school.”Professor Gao Hong, Executive Dean of Tsinghua SIGS added, “Peter’s appointment at the launch of the Future Human Habitat Studies program gives a definite boost to the school’s profile and ambitions.”

“I am honored and thrilled to join Tsinghua SIGS,”said Russell. “The Institute of Future Human Habitats has great potential given the borderless premise of the school, the advanced technology-driven economy of the region, and the legacy of excellence that Tsinghua University represents. I look forward to working with the students, staff, faculty, and the regional & international community to build an architectural programme for the 21st century.”

The Institute of Future Human Habitats at the Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS) is a sub-program of the School of Architecture at Tsinghua University. Based on the intersection of 21st century architecture and related disciplines, IFHH will focus on frontier issues of future human habitats, and take design thinking as the core innovation force to create smarter and more sustainable built spaces. We will make full use of Shenzhen’s unique advantages in urban construction, gather the latest concepts in design thinking and human habitats, and build a think tank hub to disseminate knowledge and conduct leading research in future human habitats.