Danielle S. Willkens

About Danielle S. Willkens

Experienced Associate Professor with a demonstrated history of working in higher education and community-based research and design initiatives. Skilled in archival research, sustainable design, grant submittals, heritage tourism, HBIM, and scaffolded curricular design. Certified FAA Remote Pilot, experimenting with digital history and the visualization of the built environment. Strong educational profile, with institutional experience in accredited architecture and site-based learning programs in the US and Europe.

Experience

1. Research Program Professor for Sustainable Approaches to Architectural Heritage

   Pioneer Academics

   Jun 2022 — Present

   Many architects, architectural historians, and those in fields related to the built environment assert that existing pieces of architecture are the best examples of sustainable design because they represent embodied energy. It typically takes less energy, and results in a smaller carbon footprint, to repair an existing structure than to destroy an existing building and rebuild a new one. To effectively research and analyze sustainable design in existing architectural heritage sites, students learn about the practices of preservation, reconstruction, restoration, and rehabilitation. We will explore building lifecycle analysis as well as the impactful economic and ecological footprints of tourism on historic sites. Group experiences operate as collaborative \'heritage studios\' that consist of discussions focused on readings as well as the evaluation of textual and graphic case studies. For the second half of the program, students construct independent research projects focused on an adaptive reuse site.

Education

• Savannah College of Art and Design

  Graduate Certificat in Historic Preservation

  2010 — 2011

• University of Virginia

  M.Arch, Architecture

  2006 — 2008

• University of Cambridge

  M.Phil, Architectural History

  2005 — 2006

• The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Architectural History & Theory

  2011 — 2015

• University of Virginia

  B.S., Architecture & Architectural History

  2000 — 2004

Skills

• Research
• Autocad
• Design Education
• Rhino
• Mig Welding
• Teaching
• Design Research
• Historic Preservation
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Model Making
• Soldering
• Ecotect
• Concrete Materials
• Laser Cutting
• Leadership
• Drawing
• Architectural Drafting
• Architectures
• Historical Research
• Architectural Drawings
• Sketchbook Pro
• Architectural Design
• Architectural Photography
• Microsoft Office
• Architecture
• Submittals
• Sustainable Design
• Historical Interpretation
• Educational Program Design
• Museums
• Sketchup