Chuck Hoberman

Pierce Anderson Lecturer in Design Engineering

Chuck Hoberman, internationally known for his transformable structures, seamlessly fuses the disciplines of art, architecture and engineering, Through his products, patents, and structures, Hoberman demonstrates how objects can be foldable, retractable, or shape-shifting.

He is the founder of Hoberman Associates, a multidisciplinary practice that utilizes transformable principles for a wide range of applications including dynamic architecture, transformable stage sets, consumer products, deployable shelters and structures for aerospace. His art has been exhibited around the world on many occasions over the last 20 years.  Examples of his commissioned work include the transforming video screen for the U2 360° world tour (2009-2011), the Hoberman Arch in Salt Lake City, installed at Medals Plaza for the Winter Olympic Games (2002), a retractable dome for the World’s Fair in Hanover, Germany (2000), and ‘Emergent Surface’ (2008) shown at The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

In 2008, partnering with the global engineering firm, Buro Happold, Hoberman formed the Adaptive Building Initiative (ABI) to develop adaptive technologies for the built environment. ABI has since built dynamic facades and operable roofs in the US, Japan and the Mideast.

In 2009, He joined Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering as a Visiting Scholar where he works alongside researchers in biology, materials science and robotics. The goal of these collaborations is to develop bioinspired materials and devices that emulate the way nature builds.

Hoberman holds over twenty patents for his transformable inventions, and has won numerous awards for his designs.

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