Associate Professor, Associate Dean (Research & Innovation)

Josh Taron is an Associate Professor and the Associate Dean (Research and Innovation) at SAPL, where he also co-directs the Laboratory for Integrative Design (LID). He is an academic co-lead for the Cities and Societies area of focus at the University of Calgary’s Institute for Transdisciplinary Scholarship. His work blends digital design and fabrication tools with a commitment to addressing challenges at the intersection of industry and society, with a focus on innovation in post-secondary design-based research and curriculum. His current research is necessarily transdisciplinary - exploring construction innovations in collaboration with a variety of disciplines such as computer science, engineering, social work and community-engaged art. The collaborative and holistic nature of his work lends itself to overcoming disciplinary silos while building institutional resilience in the context of changing conditions.

Taron’s journey in architecture took a distinctive turn while earning his master’s degree at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), a school known for its avant-garde design-forward approach to architectural education “It’s basically art school for architects… almost punk rock in its approach in a certain way.” It was here that Taron first realized the transformative potential of architectural thinking that learns from design-based accidents. “I had a proclivity toward teaching and designing by doing and learning through making.” His transition to the University of Calgary marked a significant shift in his career, where he was hired along with Jason Johnson for the task of integrating digital technologies into the curriculum—an area that had previously been lacking at the institution. “We were given a lot of agency to make those transformations happen, which has been and continues to be very hard work to do, not just in the context of the city, but also within the institution because people have different beliefs and biases about what it means to engage with technology and its broader importance.” The efforts have had their effect, transforming the way architecture is taught at the university and positioning SAPL as a leader in digital design education in Canada. However, the broader implications of these changes continued to be a major concern, becoming a central exploration of his work. “The medium through which agency occurs in this world is predominantly digital, as evidenced in social media and communication technologies.” He sees this especially in the architecture profession, where digital design tools have been broadly adopted as the primary means of creation. “There’s just a lot of territory there that’s very interesting to me and very interesting to try to understand how design pedagogy connects with it.”

Taron’s design pedagogy is also defined by an intersectional approach and demonstrates his commitment to innovation, collaboration, and progress. His initial approach to teaching failed to have the impact he was hoping for. Frustrated by the limited results that a single studio course might be able to achieve, he resolved himself to finding more lasting, impactful and effective strategies for students. “We were able to repurpose an otherwise undefined degree program and transform it into an intersectional mechanism for community and industry engagement that delivered applied research projects and real-world training while a student wrote their thesis.” This introduced students to a wide variety of collaborative problems that pushed their learning forward. “Students earning the degree were getting really amazing experiences that were converted into job placements where the projects would continue even after their degree had been completed.” The successes he achieved by connecting teaching, research, and practice have become a defining feature of SAPL’s approach to post-secondary education during his tenure as Associate Dean Research + Innovation, allowing broader and more complex challenges to be addressed across the university and its partners.

This evolution of Taron’s work has meant a shift in focus from digital design and fabrication to the ways in which they can be used to make cities more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive. “When infrastructure is designed such that it can take hits and bounce back to function as it was before also enables people and communities to weather adversity while remaining intact through crisis.” Taron’s research explores how architectural design can contribute to creating these resilient, adaptable urban systems, particularly in the face of climate change. One of his key insights is that the design process must account for the inevitability of disruption. “We’re not trying to be so perfect with our designs anymore.” Instead, he is exploring ways that design can embrace flexibility and resilience in all contexts. “It’s not just mega infrastructure, but really the idea of socially inhabitable infrastructure, social infrastructure itself. So what does it mean when infrastructure is not so invisible and that we might value a wider range of uses and connections it produces?”

Taron is particularly interested in how these principles can be integrated with educational models and research frameworks, predicting that questions of institutional resilience will come to define the conversations around universities in coming years. “All of the projects that we’re going to be trying to make happen and agendas that we’ll try to see through across the university will very likely be attempting to establish and maintain some model of resilience.” This involves rethinking how education and research are structured to reinforce one another, particularly in resource-scarce environments like Calgary, where strategic focus and adaptability are essential. He believes that design will have an important role to play. “Historically, design has operated on the periphery of research. But design as a territory is fundamentally integrative and fundamentally transdisciplinary which means that it will function as a key to addressing our most pressing challenges as outlined in our latest strategic plan.” Toward that end and as one of three academic co-leads of the Cities and Societies transdisciplinary area of focus at the university, Taron is helping to connect the strengths and strategic priorities of the university with the industries, governments and communities that are shaping our collective future. He notes that Calgary presents a unique opportunity for transformation compared to other Canadian cities. “In so many cases, cities are not in the position to support, explore or pilot new approaches. But Calgary is different. There is a real opportunity for the university to focus its expertise such that Calgary becomes the prototypical model for a more prosperous, equitable and healthy future.”

Taron is particularly proud of his work on the Future of Stephen Avenue project, a collaborative effort that involved SAPL faculty and students, community partners, and the city of Calgary. “One of the key lessons that we got out of it, is that design-based and art-based forms of engagement are uniquely capable of garnering high-quality ideas and buy-in from community participants.” One notable success was the YYC LRT project, led by Jennifer Eiserman, which leveraged a $40,000 investment to yield over $100,000 in research dollars and partner contributions. Another highlight was the Black Youth Leadership Workshop, conducted in collaboration with Dr. Patrina Duhaney and Alberto de Salvatierra. “Black high school and junior high youth from across the city came together for the dual purpose of evaluating the history and present condition of Stephen Avenue as a place of exclusion who then through a series of workshop exercises and guest lectures, imagined ways to reclaim space to be more inclusive, expressed through their own voices.” These projects underscore Taron’s belief in the power of design. “Seeing how much design as a platform for engagement and imagining the future and bringing real things to bear on that is really great.” The outcome garnered council support and has allowed many of the ideas to be carried forward.

Looking ahead, Taron is excited about the potential of community-engaged research in translating ideas into physical transformations of the built environment. “I think that there’s a lot of different ways to do that, but playing around with things like robotics, digital fabrication, and digital design tools is not only useful but also fun – it fundamentally feels good to explore new things in social settings, particularly when you’re imagining life as you’d like it to be.” His ongoing research and projects aim to explore these possibilities further, with a focus on integrating digital tools into community-engaged design practice and bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world applications. “Doing stuff like that is what’s next and fun, and we’re trying to see that happen here in Calgary’s downtown.”

Joshua Taron’s work at SAPL reflects a deep commitment to integrating digital innovation with inclusive climate action and community engagement. His approach to teaching and research is characterized by a focus on resilience, adaptability, and social equity, making him a leading figure in the effort to create a more sustainable and just built environment. As he continues to push the boundaries of architectural practice, Taron remains dedicated to using design as a tool for positive change, ensuring that architecture serves the broader needs of society in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

Selected Work

Edited Publications and Contributions

• Taron, J., Parlac, V., Kolarevic, B., Johnson, J. (eds), Integration through Computation: Proceedings of the 31st Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture, ACADIA Press, 2011.
• Johnson, J., Taron, J., Parlac, V., Kolarevic, B., (eds). Integration through Computation: Project Catalog of the 31st Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture, ACADIA Press, 2011.
• Johannesson, L., Eggermont, M., Taron, J. (eds), Journal of Computational Media Design, Calgary, Summer 2011.
• Taron, J., “On the Integrative Program”, in Integration through Computation:Proceedings of the 31st Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture, ACADIA Press, 2011.
• Taron, J., “Inducing Disconnection: Dissensus, Incongruency, Liminality”, in Integration through Computation: Project Catalog of the 31st Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture, ACADIA Press, 2011.

Refereed Journal Articles

• Taron, J. “Speculative Structures”, 30th eCAADe conference: Digital Physicality / Physical Digitality, Prague 2012 (in Press).
• Taron, J., “Structurally Intelligent Swarms: Exploiting Interoperability toward Generative Design”,6th ASCAAD Conference: CAAD / Innovation / Practice, Manama, 2012.
• Von Mammen, S., Taron, J., “A Trans-Disciplinary Program for Biomimetic Computing and Architectural Design”, 6th ASCAAD Conference: CAAD / Innovation / Practice, Manama, 2012.
• Johnson, J., Marquez, W., Taron, J., Re:Connecting Devington – Parametric Agricultures, FORMCities Symposium Publication, Jackson, 2011.
• Taron, J., “Interactive Localized Particle Swarms in Complex Restricted Environments”, ALGODE, Kanagawa, 2010.
• Johnson, J., Taron, J., “Swarms, Cells and Infrastructure: Designing for Indeterminate Futures”, ALGODE, Kanagawa, 2010.
• Taron, J., Von Mammen, S., “Interfacial Design: Situating Contemporary Autopoietic Techniques within the Context of the Autonomy Project and Biotechnological Revolution”, 28th eCAADe Conference: Future Cities, Zurich, 2010.
• Taron, J., “Interactive Hemostasis Modeling In Urban Network Design”, International Journal of Architectural Computing, 2009.
• Von Mammen, S., Jacob, C., Taron, J., “Dynamic and Complex Modeling with Swarms”, presented at Insect Nest to Human Architecture: Workshop on Engineering Principles of Innovation in Swarm-Made Architectures, Venice, 2009.

Curated Exhibitions

• Johnson, J., Taron, J., Parlac V., Integrative Sensibilities, (AX2011), EVDS Kasian Gallery/Banff Center, 2011.
• MAK Center + Sci-Arc Vertical Garden Competition, Los Angeles, 2006.

Invited Exhibitions, Installations and Workshops

• Taron, J. “Structurally Intelligent Swarms”, in AX2011 Project Exhibition, Banff/Calgary, 2011.
• Taron, J. “Animal Stripping”, in AX2011 Project Exhibition, Banff/Calgary, 2011.
• Johnson, J., Taron J., “Weather Stripping”, in AX2011 Project Exhibition, Banff/Calgary, 2011.
• Parrish, D., Taron, J., “Little Billionaires”, Collaboration with Drura Parrish of PRvD, Kasian Gallery Installation, Calgary, 2011.
• Taron, J., “Phlebotomic Formations Installation”, Synthetiques at the Land of Tomorrow Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky, 2011.
• Taron, J., “Particle Protocols Workshop”, University of Kentucky College of Design, Lexington, Kentucky, 2011.
• Taron, J., Von Mammen, S., Jacob, C., “Bio-Designs”, Research Studio Exhibition and Panel Discussion, History of Medicine Days Conference, Calgary, 2010.
• Parrish, D., Taron, J., Johnson, J., Collaboration with Drura Parrish of PRvD, Kasian Gallery Installation, Calgary, 2011.
• Kudless, A., Johnson, J., Taron, J., Collaboration with Andrew Kudless of Matsys Design,Kasian Gallery Installation, Calgary, 2010.
• Fornes, M., Johnson, J., Taron, J., Collaboration with Marc Fornes of The Very Many, Kasian Gallery Installation, Calgary, 2009.
• Taron, J., “Quarantine”, Research Studio Exhibition at the History of Medicine Days Conference, Calgary, 2009.
• Taron, J., “South Street Seaport – Re-envisioning the Urban Edge”, New York, 2008.

Public Lectures

• “Speculative Structures”, co-hosted by DRL and EmTech Graduate Programs, Architectural Association, London, 2012.
• “Speculative Structures”, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, 2012.
• “Speculative Structures”, American University, Dept. of Architecture, Sharjah, 2012.

Joshua Taron CV

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