Erik (Rick) Sommerfeld
About Erik (Rick) Sommerfeld
Erik (Rick) Sommerfeld is an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado and the Director of the Design Build Certificate program. He founded the Colorado Building Workshop in 2009 and has received over 40 design awards for his work, including the construction of micro-cabins for the Colorado Outward Bound School.
Work at University of Colorado
Erik Sommerfeld has served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado since 2015. In this role, he engages in teaching and mentoring students in architecture. He also holds the position of Director of the Design Build Certificate at the University of Colorado Denver, a role he has maintained since 2010. His contributions to the academic community include lecturing internationally and participating in various conferences related to design and architecture.
Education and Expertise
Sommerfeld studied at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design (B.ENVD) from 1993 to 1997. He furthered his education at the University of Colorado Denver, achieving a Master of Architecture (M.ARCH) from 1999 to 2001. His expertise lies in design-build pedagogy, and he has co-authored and presented multiple conference papers on related topics.
Achievements
Sommerfeld founded the Colorado Building Workshop in 2009, which has successfully completed eleven community projects. He has received over 40 design awards at local, national, and international levels for his architectural work. Notably, he built 21 micro-cabins for the Colorado Outward Bound School, showcasing his commitment to innovative design and community service.
Publications and Presentations
Sommerfeld has contributed to numerous publications, including chapters in books such as 'Designbuild Education' and 'The Design-Build Studio,' both published by Routledge in 2017. He has presented various conference papers at significant events, including the ACSA Fall Conference and the ACSA International Conference in Antwerp, Belgium, covering topics related to design-build education and innovative construction methods.
Collaborative Projects
Sommerfeld has collaborated with DesignBuildBLUFF at the University of Utah, where he contributed to the construction of five charitable homes and two cabins in Southern Utah. His work has been featured in over 35 publications worldwide, highlighting his influence and contributions to the field of architecture and design.