Vanessa Keith Email & Phone Number

New York, Ny, Us

New York, Ny, Us

New York, Ny, Us

VANESSA KEITH is a registered architect and the Principal of Studioteka, an award-winning design firm she founded in 2003. Studioteka approaches design through a lens that spans the boundaries between architecture, economic and social development, and urban and environmental concerns. Vanessa is especially interested in the issues faced by cities as they adapt to climate change, and in envisioning design-oriented technical and engineering solutions to environmental problems.The firm’s work ranges from urban design to residential and commercial buildings, site planning, lighting and interior design, program research, feasibility studies and creation of investment packages, as well as research and writing. Select projects include Caribbean Highlands, a Costa Rican eco-community located on a lush, 112 acre rainforest site, Lower East Side favorites Tre Restaurant and Nurse Bettie Bar, as well as Flatiron Marketing Offices, a project featured in Frame Magazine (8/2008), and in the 2/2010 edition of Hinge Magazine. YMCArt Center, a prize winning competition entry, was featured in the Honors section of the Architect’s Newspaper, and published in the 4/2010 issue of Mark Magazine. First Date,” Studioteka’s entry for Design Against the Elements was featured in Surface Asia Magazine (3/2011), along with an interview. Nurse Bettie was featured in the Mar/Apr 2012 edition of Design Bureau, and our entry for the Busan Opera House competition was published in the Dec/Jan 2012 edition of Mark. An interview with Vanessa about her background, practice, and ideas was published by Modelo Design Manifestos in 2/2016 and in 8/2017 by AIANY. "2100: A Dystopian Utopia: The City After Climate Change,"​ was published by Terreform as part of Michael Sorkin's Urban Research series in Jan 2017. Vanessa gave the Alan H. Rider Distinguished Lecture at Carnegie Mellon on 2/20/2017, and has also given talks at NYU, UPenn, Eyebeam, and the Center for Architecture in the spring of 2017.

Philadelphia, Pa, Us

Second year Bachelor of Architecture Core 3 Design Studio instruction focused primarily on designing within the urban context and cities. Prior experience as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Spitzer School of Architecture between 2003-2014 teaching design studios in the second, third and fifth years (two of my students won the thesis prize for best in their year) of the B.Arch program as well as a vertical summer studio and a design-build course in Jamaica.

Organized graduate capstone course for Economic and Political Development (EPD) concentration students and led the group in researching new engines of economic growth for downtown Kingston, Jamaica. Established relationships with the Urban Development Corporation of the Government of Jamaica and the Kingston Restoration Company, a private-public partnership, as well as local NGOs, private sector, and stakeholder groups. Organized weeklong field visit for EPD researchers to meet with local partners, organizations and stakeholders. Edited research findings prepared by graduate student group and presented to local partners in Jamaica and in New York to faculty and students at SIPA.

Brooklyn, Ny, Us

Design instruction to graduate interior design students. Created special studio project on the future of retail featuring the Gap as our client with invited collaborator and innovator David Polinchock. Presented design concepts and research findings to Gap corporate office.

New York, Ny, Us

Spring 2010 traveling urban design studio to Kingston, Jamaica and Mumbai, India. Design studio instruction with chair of UD program and fellow professors. Coordinated and organized partnerships with Jamaican collaborators Urban Development Corporation, Kingston Restoration Company, and University of the West Indies, as well as guest lectures and site visits for traveling studio group by Utech and UWI faculty, and public and private sector stakeholders. Organized public forum at Jamaica Conference Centre featuring preliminary findings from joint UWI-Columbia student teams. Notable participants included the honorable Edward Seaga, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the honorable Maurice Facey, Chairman, and Stephen Facey, CEO, of Pan Jamaican Investment Trust, economist Dr. Michael Witter, heritage expert Dr. Suzanne Francis Brown, Diana McCaulay of Jamaica Environment Trust, and Dr. Barry Chevannes and Dr. Donna Hope of UWI. Co-edited and contributed foreword for publication of studio work, research findings, and contributions by our Jamaican partners entitled, Kingston Harbour Development Transects, published by the Trustees of Columbia University, 2010.

New York, Ny, Us

Master Of Architecture, Architecture

Mia, Economic And Political Development

Ba, Religion/Non Western Philosophy