Simon Schleicher

Research Expertise and Interest

biomimetics, structural engineering, architectural design, 3D printing, 3D scanning, digital fabrication, fabrication, composite structures, finite element analysis, parametric design, bio-inspired structures, robotics manufacturing, robotics

Research Description

Simon Schleicher is a visionary architectural designer, researcher, and educator whose work seamlessly integrates architecture, engineering, and biology. With a Ph.D. in Engineering (Dr.-Ing) from the University of Stuttgart and an M.Arch from MIT, Simon leverages his diverse expertise as an Associate Professor at UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design (CED).

Simon's innovative research spans bio-inspired design, lightweight structures, parametric modeling, digital fabrication, and robotic construction. He spearheads the Robotic Fabrication Lab (RFL) and Flexible Structures Lab at UC Berkeley, pushing the boundaries of interdisciplinary design. His groundbreaking work has earned him the prestigious Hellman and Bakar Fellowships.

Previously, Simon managed the award-winning ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010, which garnered the DETAIL prize and a Mies van der Rohe Award nomination. His numerous accolades include the Gips-Schüle-Forschungspreis, International Bionic-Award, Ralph Adam Cram Award, Imre Halasz Thesis Prize, British Institution Award, and Pininfarina-Förderpreis.

Simon's academic journey was supported by a Merit-Based Full-Tuition Scholarship at MIT, grants from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and the esteemed German National Academic Foundation (Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes), underscoring his exceptional talent and potential in bridging multiple disciplines.

In the News

Putting a new roof over our heads

More than a billion people around the world – hundreds of millions of families – can’t afford secure housing. Researchers project the housing gap will nearly double within a decade. Simon Schleicher is part of a new generation of architects and engineers developing novel designs and construction technologies to ramp up production of affordable homes.  The Bakar Fellows program supports his research to advance the use of 3D printing in home construction.
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