Alexander Wolkow
Edmonton, Alberta
I have found my strongest sense of belonging at AAP through my work in the Sabin Lab and through my studio classmates.
Why did you choose Cornell and AAP?
I chose Cornell because of its reputation as a top-ranked M.Arch. program with a strong design tradition and solid grounding in theory. At the same time, it was important for me to maintain my activity within the field of computational design, and I found the opportunity for doing so within Jenny Sabin's lab here at Cornell AAP.
What school(s) did you attend before coming to AAP and what degree(s) did you receive?
I completed a B.S. in biological and physical sciences at the University of Alberta, Canada, where I concentrated in genetics. I worked for two years before moving to Stuttgart, Germany, to complete my M.S. in architecture at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD). Here I helped to design and fabricate the 2015 ICD/ITKE Pavilion and completed my thesis with Karola Dierichs and Achim Menges on a project concerning programmable materials and aggregate architectures.
Did you decide to attend AAP immediately following graduation or did you work for a period of time? If you worked, what did you do?
After completing my thesis at the ICD, I interned for six months at UNStudio, Amsterdam, while I completed applications to M.Arch. programs all over North America.
What experiences have contributed to your sense of belonging at AAP?
I have found my strongest sense of belonging at AAP through my work in the Sabin Lab and through my studio classmates.
What are your extracurricular interests and how have you incorporated them into your college life?
I am formerly a competitive cross country runner and cyclist. Although I haven't had time to maintain these activities at the same level during the program, I continue to stay physically active. Working in the lab is always a nice break from studio.
What do you hope to accomplish during your time at AAP and after graduation?
I have tried to strengthen my noncomputational abilities through my studio work, and I would like to continue to improve as a designer through my soft skills. My goal is to pursue architecture within a field of work which integrates design with fabrication.
