David Jurca

David Jurca holds dual appointments at Kent State University as Assistant Professor of Urban Design in the College of Architecture ] Environmental Design (CAED) and Associate Director of Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (CUDC), the college's community design center. His work integrates professional practice, applied research, and graduate teaching. David has over 12 years of professional design experience leading master plans, urban redevelopment, and green space network projects. His work...See more

David Jurca holds dual appointments at Kent State University as Assistant Professor of Urban Design in the College of Architecture ] Environmental Design (CAED) and Associate Director of Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (CUDC), the college's community design center. His work integrates professional practice, applied research, and graduate teaching. David has over 12 years of professional design experience leading master plans, urban redevelopment, and green space network projects. His work has been exhibited and recognized with numerous awards from organizations including the Environmental Design Research Association, American Institute of Architects, American Planning Association, Van Alen Institute, Chicago Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the American Pavilion at the 2012 Venice Biennale of Architecture. Responding to dynamic community needs, David leads CUDC's multiple advocacy initiatives and spearheads efforts to develop effective techniques for public engagement. In 2013, David launched the COLDSCAPES International Design Competition and co-edited the book "Coldscapes: Design Ideas for Winter Cities" to spur creative solutions for improving livability in cities year-round. He also co-founded DesignDiversity.org, an initiative which promotes people of color in architecture and design professions in Ohio. In his role as academic faculty, David teaches graduate studios, community charrette courses, and advises Master of Urban Design thesis projects. He leads the annual International Design Exchange (INDEX) Studio, which offers graduate students in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design the opportunity to learn by comparison of two urban contexts: in the United States and another global city, both facing similar challenges. David also taught the Designing Urban Green Spaces course for three years at Case Western Reserve University as a lecturer in the SAGES program. David currently serves as Chair of the City of Cleveland's Near West Design Review Committee and serves on the Board of Directors for Canalway Partners and the Friends of the Romanian Cultural Garden. He is fluent in Romanian and speaks conversational Italian and Spanish. David holds a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from The Ohio State University and received his Master of Architecture from Kent State University. See less