Tzu-Chieh Kurt Hong, Ph.D., MS.EE
Assistant Professor of Architecture
School of Architecture and Design
University of Kansas, Lawrence KS
kurt.hong@ku.edu
CV
ResearchGate
About
Dr. Tzu-Chieh Kurt Hong is an Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture and Design at the University of Kansas. His research is driven by a dual professional background in electrical engineering and architectural design, with the goal of integrating computational logic with creative design thinking.
In architecture, his work focuses on Computational Design, Digital Fabrication, Generative Systems, and Rule-based Design.
In computer engineering, his research includes Artificial Intelligence, Visual Computing, Visual Data Synthesis, Very-High-Level eXpressive Programming Language (VHXL), and Very-Large-Scale Design Automation (VLSA).
Dr. Hong earned his Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2021, an MS in Architecture from the University of Michigan, and an M.Arch along with BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan. Before transitioning into architecture, he worked for several years as a professional digital circuit engineer.
His doctoral dissertation, Shape Machine: Shape Embedding and Rewriting in Visual Design, introduces a visual computing system—Shape Machine—that enables designers to perform shape embedding and replacement operations within computer-aided design environments. This research was recognized with the 2022 ARCC (Architectural Research Centers Consortium) Dissertation Award for its contributions to shape recognition in CAD systems. That same year, he also received the ARCC King Medal for excellence in architectural research.
Since 2019, Shape Machine has been integrated into coursework and research across both the University of Kansas and the Georgia Institute of Technology, including applications in artificial intelligence, alternative computing, digital fabrication, and visual data synthesis. It has been adopted in design studios and elective courses within both the School of Architecture and the School of Interactive Computing.
Appointments
Assistant Professor (2022-Now)
School of Architecture and Design
University of Kansas
PhD Instructotr (2019-2021)
School of Architecture
Georgia Institute of Technology
Lecturer (2014-2015)
Transdisciplinary Design Innovation Shop (TDIS)
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Digital Circuit Designer (2009-2011), Agilogic Co., Taiwan
Digital Circuit Designer (2008-2009), Synerchip Co., Taiwan
Education
PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
Dissertation:
SHAPE MACHINE: Shape Embedding and Rewriting in Visual Design. PhD Dissertation, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA USA.
MS-Arch, University of Michigan, USA
MArch, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
MSEE, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
BSEE, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
Teaching
Architecture Studios and Core Courses
ARCH812 Graduate Studio and Design Thesis
ARCH509 Design Build Studio: Digital Fabrication
ARCH510 Architectural Detailing
ARCH108 Architecture Foundations
Electives
ARCH600 Computational Design
ARCH600 Data Visualization
ARCH600 Parametric Modeling