Nathan King

Role and Background

Dr. Nathan King serves as Co-director for the Center for Design Research (CDR) in the School of Architecture at Virginia Tech, Lecturer in the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, and Instructor of Robotics and Autonomous Systems at University of Pennsylvania. After serving as Principal Faculty since 2015, King re-joined the Myers-Lawson School of Construction as Affiliate in 2024.

Dr. King's research focuses on the convergence of industrial methods to create technologies for impact and inclusion with global reach. His work includes the development of computational design-to-robotic fabrication workflows, novel tooling, and their influence on novel opportunities in art, design, architecture, and construction. King also leads multiple international design and construction projects in Liberia, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, etc. where his work leverages a systems approach to advanced design and making technologies for use in resource-constrained environments. Currently, he is collaborating with Myers-Lawson School of Construction professors Dr. Andrew McCoy, Dr. Kereshmeh Afsari, Dr. Alexander Brand, and Dr. Philip Agee to develop automated systems for in-situ construction that include additive and robotic processes. 

Education

Dr. Nathan King earned his doctorate from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design with a focus on automated digital tools for making and digital material systems. With B.A. in Studio Art and Art History from Randolph-Macon College, King completed graduate degrees in Architecture and Industrial Design at Virginia Tech experimenting with opportunities for novel methods at their intersection.