Ryan Brooke Thomas

Assistant Professor Adjunct

Ryan Brooke Thomas is a designer, educator, and Principal of Kalos Eidos, a New York-based design office. Overlapping a foundation in architecture with other modes of design, creative practice and cultural research, the office takes an expanded approach to architecture practice that looks beyond the building envelope to encompass an array of outputs, spanning between the artifact and the city. Rather than focusing on a specific project type or scale, the office pursues a broad range—from objects, installations and interiors, to buildings and urban spaces—seeking to create environments that stimulate new possibilities for living, working, socializing, engaging culture and cultivating community.

Thomas is a Founding Member of WIP Collaborative, a feminist practice of independent design professionals working collaboratively on research and design projects that engage the public realm. She is also Co-Chair of AIANY New Practices New York at the Center for Architecture which recognizes emerging architects and develops critical dialogue around the nature of design practice in the city. Her research interests are centered around exploring the intertwined spatial, experiential, social and cultural conditions that connect issues of interiority and urbanism, as well as the potential for alternative modes of practice to shape architectural production, agency and discourse.

Prior to launching her independent practice, Thomas held leadership roles for multiple architecture and design offices in both New York and Los Angeles. Most recently, she was Director of Architectural Design for the multidisciplinary design firm 2x4, where she oversaw the architecture studio and led diverse teams of architects, strategists, graphic and interactive designers on a diverse mix of project types and scales in locations all around the world.

Thomas has taught design studio courses previously at Syracuse University School of Architecture, Pratt Institute Graduate School of Architecture, and Parsons School of Design. She holds a Master of Architecture degree from UCLA Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University where she graduated with Honors in Humanities, Modern Thought & Literature.

Thomas's CV is available here
 

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

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  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.