About

Paul Howard Harrison is an Assistant Professor in the teaching stream at the University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. His design research uses simulation and artificial intelligence to interrogate the relationship between typology, material, and the environment.

Paul’s work suggests that we can better understand the architecture around us by simulating the process of design itself. His research operates within the context of our intersecting climate and inequality crises and aims to learn from the many millennia of vernacular knowledge embedded in our built environment; ultimately, his work seeks to build equitable and sustainable futures through the integration of labour, craft strategies, and machine learning.

He has taught at the University of Toronto since 2020. ‘Simulation and Subjectivity’, his graduate seminar focused on equity, design, and artificial intelligence, has expanded to form part of the core curriculum of both the Bachelor of Architectural Studies and Master of Architecture programs at Daniels. Paul was a Conference Chair and Scientific Chair of ROB|ARCH 2024 and coordinated and edited its conference proceedings, currently in press with Springer, alongside Maria Yablonina and Brady Peters.

Paul is also a recognized leader in architectural practice. He is the Design Principal for HOK’s Canadian studios; in his previous role as Design Principal at HDR, he led the design of major redevelopment projects for clients like Queen’s University and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. Paul’s work has received awards from The Architect’s Newspaper, Canadian Architect, Fast Company, Architizer, the Canada Wood Council, and the European Healthcare Design Awards, among others.

Paul received a Faculty Design Prize and Frederick Coates Scholarship while completing his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Toronto, where he was advised by Prof. Dr. Benjamin Dillenburger, and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University.