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John H. Locke, AIA

Sr. Principal Research Scientist in New York City

johnhlocke.com

I’m an architect and research lead at Autodesk, where I bridge advanced software solutions and sustainable design. Over the past decade, I’ve directed multi-disciplinary teams to develop AI-driven tools to enable a carbon-positive, more equitable built environment.

My work transforms theoretical workflows into practice, through real-world demonstrations. These have been featured in The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Atlantic, Wired, and more.

I was born in Los Angeles, grew up in El Paso, and now live and work in New York City.

Contact Me ↗

Education

2008 — 2009

Columbia University ↗

MS Advanced Architectural Design

New York, New York

2000 — 2005

University of Texas at Austin ↗

Bachelor of Architecture

Austin, Texas

Work Experience

2014 — Now

Autodesk ↗

AEC Manager, Sr. Principal Research Scientist

New York, New York

I lead a cross-disciplinary team to manifest cutting-edge research into the real-world. This involves directly engaging with messy project realities, high-level goals, compromises, and ultimately opportunities inherent in prototype demonstrations.

I've initiated and delivered on a number of projects. My goal is always to strive for clarity, synthesizing complex topics into actionable steps of the "what" and the "how."

In addition to built prototypes, this work has resulted in a number of published papers, conference symposia, patents and ROI’s.

A highlighted selections of projects include:

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Hy-Fi, MoMA PS1, Queens, NY

The world's first net-zero, compostable, architectural-scale installation built with “grown” mycelium bricks. This was a full cradle-to-cradle material circularity design.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Princeton Embodied Computation Lab, Princeton, NJ

A research laboratory built with mass timber - the first to include an interior/exterior 5-ton gantry crane. The building is designed to change over time, and to be an instrument in itself to support the researcher's work.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Autodesk MaRS Flagship Office, Toronto, ON

An 80,000sf office space designed through novel, generative methods. Multi-disciplinary teams collaborate in environments that are dynamically tailored to their own individual workstyles.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Maternal Center of Excellence, Koidu, Sierra Leone

A site-responsive birthing center harmonizing local materials and community knowledge with cutting-edge comfort and climate modeling, balancing high-tech simulations and low-tech construction.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Phoenix Housing Development, Oakland, CA

A 400-unit affordable housing complex integrating net-zero carbon materials with cost-conscious construction, proving sustainable design elevates affordability, investor viability, and resident well-being. Designed with AI, this resulted in a net-zero carbon facade panel.

2010 — 2020

Columbia University GSAPP ↗

New York, New York

I developed and instructed a decade-long curriculum interrogating the architect’s agency in contemporary urban discourse, while democratizing access to advanced fabrication technologies. These courses generated projects deployed across all five boroughs, anticipating the growing significance of informal, decentralized urban interventions. This pedagogical approach engaged students in critically navigating the complex challenges inherent in implementing installations within New York’s urban fabric.

Courses taught include:

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Hacking the Urban Experience

Initiated and examined unsolicited urban interventions in New York City, guiding students to independently formulate problem statements addressing urban conditions and to realize solutions through public, physical installations. This pedagogical approach engaged students in critically navigating the complex challenges inherent in implementing installations within the urban fabric.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Emergent Epigenesis

A course exploring the theory that an organism develops via unstructured differentiation, rather than simply enlarging. This led to explorations with digital fabrication with adaptable modules and a final installation on Governor’s Island.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Cryptoform, Polytics, Noise

A graduate studio including international site visits to Berlin and Istanbul, the course involved urban scale questions related to post-colonial, post-recession political ramifications.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Adv Fabrication and Component Systems

I ran the fabrication shop and provided tutorials and hands-on support for students in a number of related courses. This included both analog tools and cutting edge, advanced machining.

2013 — 2014

The Living ↗

Senior Project Architect and Researcher

New York, New York

I was part of a start-up team working at the intersection of technology, biology, and design. The Living was acquired by Autodesk in 2014.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Biomaterials Research

Advanced research into iterating, testing, developing, quantifying, and ultimately deploying novel biomaterials for AECO. This mycelium brick is now in the MoMA permanent collection.

2011 — 2013

Rogers Marvel Architects ↗

Architect

New York, New York

I spearheaded a $40M adaptive reuse project from concept design to construction completion, managing cross-disciplinary teams and material logistics to deliver on schedule. I learned how a building physically comes together and was fully engaged with the construction process, dealing with RFI’s, project site visits, submittals, and all engineering coordination.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Sandridge Energy, Oklahoma City, OK

Sandridge developed their new headquarters in the heart of Oklahoma City. This project wove together a network of existing buildings into a cohesive urban campus. I focused on the 1923 Braniff Building. The final project demonstrates how existing buildings can be transformed through sustainable practices, computational optimization, and innovative adaptive reuse.

2009 — 2011

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) ↗ ↗

Project Designer

New York, New York

Contributed as a designer in SOM’s Education Design Lab, leading concept-to-construction documentation for The New School University Center, a 375,000 sq ft academic hub in Manhattan’s Union Square. Coordinated stakeholder engagement, zoning compliance, and site logistics to deliver a LEED Gold-certified campus building integrating urban context with institutional needs.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

New School University Center, New York, NY

The project unifies 23 distinct academic and administrative functions within a single flagship campus building, requiring aligning stakeholder priorities with spatial and operational efficiency.

2005 — 2008

Randall Stout Architects ↗

Computational Design Lead

Los Angeles, California

I led computational design initiatives for three constructed museum projects and multiple internationally recognized design competitions, overseeing engineering coordination and pioneering direct digital fabrication linkages between digital project delivery, parametric software and physical construction processes. The goal of our computational approach was to democratize architectural innovation with low cost software. This led to the development of systems that made cutting-edge design methodologies more accessible while enhancing both technical precision, constructability, and expanded the creative possibilities within the built environment.

Architectural projects include:

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, VA

The 75,000sf facility includes 12 separate galleries. The complex geometry coordinated via a novel method of digital design documentation.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

A graduate studio including international site visits to Berlin and Istanbul, the course involved urban scale questions related to post-colonial, post-recession political ramifcations.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

MSU Broad Art Museum, East Lansing, MI

I led an intensive competition for a new museum at Michigan State University. The project had a unique elevated design in response to a challenging urban campus condition.

Selected Personal Work

2010 - 2012

johnhlocke.photo ↗

Various Locations

A record of photographic work, updated semi-regularly with how I see the world.

2010 - 2012

Cloud Performance Pavilion ↗

Uptown Grand Central, 125th St and Park Ave, Manhattan

This community-driven installation—developed in partnership with Columbia University, Uptown Grand Central, and emerging sound artists—transformed the underutilized space beneath the Metro-North tracks at 125th Street into a sustainable, technology-enhanced performance venue. By repurposing reclaimed materials and integrating sound-activated LED systems, the project reimagined urban infrastructure as a platform artistic innovation.

Modular "speaker pods", constructed from upcycled components and embedded with adaptive audio-reactive lighting, created an immersive environment where music dynamically interacted with visual elements. Powered by solar-charged batteries and optimized via generative design algorithms—exemplified a scalable model for eco-conscious public art.

The initiative’s success—achieved at minimal cost through cross-sector collaboration—highlighted the potential for adaptive reuse of transit infrastructure to serve as catalysts for cultural sustainability, technological experimentation, and neighborhood identity formation.

2010 - 2012

Inflato Dumpster ↗

Various Locations Throughout New York City

This is an inflatable classroom, film screening venue, and music performance space installed inside of a standard, roll-off dumpster. This exploited a zoning loophole, allowing us to legally take over a street parking space for extended periods of time. The project was installed and activated multiple times across New York City between 2014-2016.

The Inflato includes 165 square feet of enclosed space with maximum dimensions at 17’ height by 12’-6” wide and 24’ long. Working closely with local communities around programming, over 2500 people interacted with the installations. The total project budget was a crowd sourced $4,200.

2010 - 2012

Parasite Book Share ↗

Various Locations Throughout New York City

This project reimagines obsolete phone booths as vibrant, hyper-local community hubs, embodying a tactical urbanism approach rooted in sustainability, technology, and innovation. By creatively reusing and adapting neglected urban infrastructure, the initiative minimizes waste and fosters a culture of resourcefulness within the neighborhood.

Through a series of playful, human-scale installations, the project demonstrates that urban design can prioritize delight, community connection, and bottom-up planning over transactional or market-driven imperatives. It succeeds in capturing public imagination and paves the way for innovative, participatory models of urban transformation.

Writing

March 2024

PART 1: AECO Innovations that Address Industry Impact on Climate Change.

Autodesk Research Blog

May 2024

PART 2: Real-World Application of Carbon-Negative Materials.

Autodesk Research Blog

June 2024

PART 3: How AI Innovations Can Transform Sustainable Design & Construction.

Autodesk Research Blog

January 2024

Optimal Design of Buildings for Natural Ventilation using Comfort and Occupancy Models.

Sim Build

June 2019

Design for the Many: Fabricating Urban Installations with Community Partners.

Architecture, Media, and Politics Society

May 2017

An Application of Generative Design for Architectural Space Planning.

Symposium on Simulation for Architecture and Urban Design

March 2015

Computational Brick Stacking for Constructing Free-Form Structures.

Design Modeling Symposium

October 2015

Adapt of Die! A Selection of Opportunistic work in NYC.

ASCA Conference

May 2010

Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control, or: Why Infrastructure Won’t Save Us.

Columbia GSAPP

Invited Speaking

June 6, 2025

“Project Phoenix and Recent Work by Autodesk Research”

AIA25 Boston National

Invited Presentation and Tour

May 29, 2025

“Autodesk Research and Autodesk AI Applications”

Software.org

Invited Presentation

May 16, 2025

AI, Tech, & Architecture: The Future

Society of American Registered Architects

Opening Keynote and Panel

May 5, 2025

The Architecture Major

Barnard College

Guest Critic

Nov 11, 2024

Graduate School of Architecture

Columbia University

Guest Critic

May 31, 2024

“AI and the Future of AEC Software”

Congressional Staff from Capital Hill

Guest Critic

Dec 7, 2023

“AI and the role of Health, Safety, and Welfare for Architecture”

National Council of Architectural Registration Boards

Invited Presentation and Panel

Dec 2, 2023

“Low Carbon Workflows for Affordable Housing”

Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability

Invited Presentation and Workshop

June 2, 2022

“The Future of Health, Safety, and Welfare in AEC”

National Council of Architectural Registration Boards

Invited Presentation

May 5, 2022

“Landing a Net Zero Carbon Moonshot”

Autodesk TechX

Invited Presentation

April 25, 2022

“But What is the Question?”

Washington U St. Louis

Invited Presentation

March 5, 2022

“Vision of AEC Practice in 5-10 Years”

NCARB International Roundtable

Keynote and Panel

Nov 12, 2021

“Recent Work: Design for Sustainability and Environmental Analysis”

Cornell University, College of Human Ecology

Invited Talk

May 5, 2021

College of Architecture

Texas Tech at El Paso

Guest Critic

April 20, 2020

“Takeaways from WFH: How the AEC Industry is Remotely Working”

CTBUH Future Leaders

Panel

April 1, 2020

“Thermal Comfort and Energy Simulation Analysis in Western Africa”

Harvard GSD

Invited Presentation

Mar 23, 2020

“AEC Digital Workflows in a Post-Covid World”

Autodesk Symposium

Panel

Sept 23, 2019

“Design for the Many: Fabricating Urban Installations with Community Partners”

Stevens Institute

Invited Presentation

Aug 11, 2019

“New Directions in Digital Sustainable Design”

Autodesk Future of AEC

Panel

April 5, 2019

“Future of Design Technology within AEC”

NCARB Futures Task Force

Invited Keynote and Panel

Sep 4, 2018

“Project Discover: Generative Design for Architecture”

BIM Thoughts

Podcast

June 20, 2018

“Recent Work with Generative Design for Architecture”

COO Roundtable

Invited Keynote and Panel

May 17, 2018

“The Future of AEC Technology and Digital Workflows”

Gray Construction

Invited Keynote

March 9, 2018

“Recent Work and Research at Autodesk”

AIA Kentucky Annual Meeting

Invited Keynote

Oct 10, 2017

Autodesk Toronto Office Tour and Discussion

CanBim Toronto

Guided Project Tour

Sept 27, 2017

“What’s Next for Tech and Design”

Elevate Toronto

Invited Presentation

Aug 13, 2017

“BIM: What’s Around the Bend? Or BIM Version 3.0”

CanBim Calgary

Invited Keynote

April 11, 2016

“New Directions in Pop-Up Architecture”

AIA New Jersey

Invited Presentation

Feb 12, 2012

“How New York Pay Phones Became Guerrilla Libraries”

The Atlantic Cities Conference

Invited Presentation

Jan 27, 2012

“John Locke: Recent Work”

National Endowment for the Arts

Invited Presentation

Jan 12, 2012

“Hacking the Urban Experience”

WKCR 89.9 Columbia Radio

Invited Interview

Jan 5, 2012

“Conversation with John Locke”

Inside the Phoenix

Podcast

Selected Awards

2019

Architecture Merit Award (with Autodesk)

AIA New York

Princeton University

2019

Americas Prize.Emerge Awards (with Autodesk)

Mies Crown Hall Awards

Princeton University

2017

Emerging Young Professional Award

AIA National

Professional and Personal Work

2017

Zumtobel Award, Finalist, Applied Innovations (with Autodesk)

Zumtobel

Hy-Fi

2015

New York Chapter Merit Award (with SOM)

AIA New York

New School University

2015

Global Finalist (with Autodesk)

LaFarge Holcim

Hy-Fi

2014

Spontaneous Interventions Exhibition

Trust for Governors Island

Parasite Book Share

2014

Barrier Beautification Competition Winner

New York DOT

Singing in the Rain

2014

Top 10 Award for Sustainable Design (with SOM)

AIA Committee on the Environment

New School University

2012

Honor Award (with RogersMarvel)

AIA National Awards

Sandridge Energy

2012

Design Action for the Common Good Exhibition

Venice Architecture Biennale

Parasite Book Share

2011

Alternate Urban Use Award

GO11

Parasite Book Share

2009

William Ware Prize for Excellence in Design / Saul Kaplan Traveling Fellowship

Columbia University

The highest Honor Award given for design work

2009

Graduate Design work exhibited at AIA New York

Columbia University

Top studio design project

2009

Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize

Columbia University

Best final semester design problem

2009

William Kinne Traveling Fellowship

Columbia University

Travel Fellowship

Selected Publications, Media Mentions, and Features

2024

AI as an Enhancer for the Architect, Not a Replacement” ↗

Jenny Kawecki, NCARB.org, January 8, 2024

2021

"Interview with John Locke...of The Living for the 17th Venice Biennale: “How will we live together?”

Venice Biennale Channel, October 13, 2021

2018

Sharon Francis, Phaidon Press, November 28, 2018, Pgs 117-119.

2018

Now We See Now: Architecture and Research by The Living

David Benjamin (author), Paola Antonelli (Foreword), Alejandro Zaera-Polo (Contributor), Eyal Weizman (Contributor), The Monacelli Press, November 20, 2018

2018

"World's first brick made of urine requires a lot of it”

Shoshana Wodinsky, NBC News, November 28, 2018

2018

PhD Thesis: Recycling Urban Infrastructures

Zétényi Zsófia, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design PhD Thesis, Fall 2018, pgs. 68-77.

2018

"Subculture: Microbial Metrics and the Multi-Species City”

Storefront for Art and Architecture, September 19, 2018

2018

“The Living Projects: Autodesk MaRS Office”

Katie Gerfen, Architect Magazine, January 12, 2018

2022

Now is the Time for All Good Men to Come to the Aid of their Party ↗

Jackie Caradonio, Bloomberg, June 19, 2022

2017

“First Look: The Living’s Princeton Architecture Lab”

Alex Klimoski, Architectural Record, November 2017

2016

“New York’s Most Stunning Public Art Shows This Spring”

Sarah Cascone, ArtNet, April 5, 2016

2015

“Art Raises Awareness in Jamaica”

Valerie Victor, Pandoras Box, November 4, 2015

2016

Nanotecture: Tiny Built Things

Rebecca Roke (Editor), Phaidon Press, March 21, 2016

2015

“Meet the Creative Nomads Building New Lives on the Move”

Alex King, Huck Magazine, October 19, 2015

2015

The New Nomads: Temporary Spaces and a Life on the Move

Robert Klanten (Editor), Sven Ehmann (Editor), Gestalten Press, March 24, 2015

2014

Uneven Growth: Tactical Urbanisms for Expanding Megacities

Richard Burdett, Teddy Cruz, David Harvey, Pedro Gadanho (editor), Museum of Modern Art, New York, December 31, 2014, Pgs 59-62.

2014

“Hacking Into New York’s Street Structures”

Orla Tiffney, Pop Up City, December 4, 2014

2014

“NYC dumpster turned inflatable classroom for urban education design”

Nina Azzarello, DesignBoom, November 26, 2014

2014

“Creating Community Space Inside a Dumpster”

Jillian Steinhauer, HyperAllergic, November 21, 2014

2014

“How the Inflato Dumpster Installation Fosters Community and Improves the Urban Experience”

Michelle Waters, Columbia Spectator, October 23, 2014

2014

“Have You Heard of the Inflato Dumpster?”

Sean Nally, The Trash Times, September 10, 2014

2014

“Biodegradable Hy-Fi by the Living Opens at MoMA PS1”

Philip Stevens, DesignBoom, July 1, 2014

2014

The Death of Drawing: Architecture in the Age of Simulation

David Scheer (author), Routledge Press, August 5, 2014, Pgs 131, 135-139.

2013

“Presto, Inflato! Dumpsters to be reclaimed as "pop-up" public spaces in NYC”

TreeHugger, November 5, 2013

2013

“Can An Inflatable Pop-Up Dumpster Help NYC Residents Transform Their Neighborhoods?”

Architizer, November 1, 2013

2013

“One Day We Will All Live In Dumpsters”

Jen Carlson, Gothamist, October 22, 2013

2013

“The Future of Pop-Up Hackspaces Is... Dumpsters?”

David Lumb, Fast Company, October 21, 2013

2013

“Inflato Dumpster Gives NYC a Blow-Up Mobile Learning Lab”

Nina Azzarello, Design Boom, October 18, 2013

2013

“Architect Wants To Reclaim Public Space, One Dumpster At A Time”

Sammy Medina, Fast Company, October 13, 2013

2013

“Inflato Dumpster: Turning a Dumpster into an Inflatable Classroom in NYC”

Michelle Young, Untapped Cities, October 16, 2013

2013

“New York Could Get a Classroom Inside a Dumpster”

John Metcalfe, The Atlantic Cities, August 11, 2013

2012

“New York Designer Creates the Most Polished Phone Booth Library Yet”

Zachary Slobig, Good Magazine, September 12, 2012

2012

Tactical Urbanism: Volume 2 Short Term Action, Long Term Change

Mike Lydon (editor), Dan Bartman (editor), The Streets Plan Collaborative, Fall 2012, Pgs 50-51.

2012

“Superman, Grab a Book”

Joshua Brustein, The New York Times, September 8, 2012

2012

“Turning Urban Obsolescence into Community Connection: A Conversation with John Locke”

John Tyler Allen, World Literature Today, July 2012

2012

“An Interview with New York Architect John Locke, Bringing Books to a Pay Phone Stand Near You”

New York Daily News, February 28, 2012

2012

“Calling Urban-Design Geeks”

Lauren Murrow, New York Magazine, March 15, 2012

2012

“NYC Phone Booths Turned Into Free Mini Libraries by Architect John Locke”

Tafline Laylin, InHabitat, February 21, 2012

2012

“Phone Booths Reincarnated As Bookshelves Finally Make Phone Booths Useful”

Joop de Boer, Pop Up City, February 21, 2012

2012

“New York’s Alternative Public Library”

Architizer, February 18, 2012

2012

“Repurposed Phone Booth Library in NYC”

Jenny Filippetti, DesignBoom, February 17, 2012

2012

“Phone Booths Reincarnated As Bookshelves Finally Make Phone Booths Useful”

Gizmodo, February 12, 2012

2012

“Architect Builds Library You’re Meant to Talk In.”

Columbia Spectator, February 14, 2012

2012

“Part of John Locke’s Department of Urban Betterment Project.”

Rosemary Feitelberg, Women’s Wear Daily, February 1, 2012

2017

“If an AI Doesn’t Take Your Job, It Will Design Your Office”

Joseph Bien-Kahn, Wired, April 5, 2017

Certifications

2014

National Council of Architectural Registration Boards

2014

American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Manhattan Chapter

2011

LEED AP Building + Construction V3

 

2014

Registered Architect in the State of New York

Profile image

John H. Locke, AIA

Sr. Principal Research Scientist in New York City

johnhlocke.com

I’m an architect and research lead at Autodesk, where I bridge advanced software solutions and sustainable design. Over the past decade, I’ve directed multi-disciplinary teams to develop AI-driven tools to enable a carbon-positive, more equitable built environment.

My work transforms theoretical workflows into practice, through real-world demonstrations. These have been featured in The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Atlantic, Wired, and more.

I was born in Los Angeles, grew up in El Paso, and now live and work in New York City.

Contact Me ↗

Education

2008 — 2009

Columbia University ↗

Masters of Science in Advanced Architectural Design

New York, New York

2000 — 2005

University of Texas at Austin ↗

Bachelor of Architecture

Austin, Texas

Work Experience

2014 — Now

Autodesk ↗

AEC Manager, Sr. Principal Research Scientist

New York, New York

I lead a cross-disciplinary team to manifest cutting-edge research into the real-world. This involves directly engaging with messy project realities, high-level goals, compromises, and ultimately opportunities inherent in prototype demonstrations.

I've initiated and delivered on a number of projects. My goal is always to strive for clarity, synthesizing complex topics into actionable steps of the "what" and the "how."

In addition to built prototypes, this work has resulted in a number of published papers, conference symposia, patents and ROI’s.

A highlighted selections of projects include:

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Hy-Fi, MoMA PS1, Queens, NY

The world's first net-zero, compostable, architectural-scale installation built with “grown” mycelium bricks. This was a full cradle-to-cradle material circularity design.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Princeton Embodied Computation Lab, Princeton, NJ

A mass timber research lab featuring the first interior/exterior 5-ton gantry crane. The building is designed to evolve over time and serve as a tool for researchers.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Autodesk MaRS Flagship Office, Toronto, ON

An 80,000sf office space designed through novel, generative methods. Multi-disciplinary teams collaborate in environments that are dynamically tailored to their own individual workstyles.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Maternal Center of Excellence, Koidu, Sierra Leone

A site-responsive birthing center harmonizing local materials and community knowledge with cutting-edge comfort and climate modeling, balancing high-tech simulations and low-tech construction.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Phoenix Housing Development, Oakland, CA

A 400-unit affordable housing complex integrating net-zero carbon materials with cost-conscious construction, proving sustainable design elevates affordability, investor viability, and resident well-being. Designed with AI, this resulted in a net-zero carbon facade panel.

2010 — 2020

Columbia University GSAPP ↗

Adjunct Assistant Professor

New York, New York

I developed and instructed a decade-long curriculum interrogating the architect’s agency in contemporary urban discourse, while democratizing access to advanced fabrication technologies. These courses generated projects deployed across all five boroughs, anticipating the growing significance of informal, decentralized urban interventions. This pedagogical approach engaged students in critically navigating the complex challenges inherent in implementing installations within New York’s urban fabric.

Courses taught include:

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Hacking the Urban Experience

Initiated and examined unsolicited urban interventions in New York City, guiding students to independently formulate problem statements addressing urban conditions and to realize solutions through public, physical installations.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Emergent Epigenesis

A course exploring the theory that an organism develops via unstructured differentiation, rather than simply enlarging. This led to explorations with digital fabrication with adaptable modules and a final installation on Governor’s Island.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Cryptoform, Polytics, Noise

A graduate studio including international site visits to Berlin and Istanbul, the course involved urban scale questions related to post-colonial, post-recession political ramifications.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Adv Fabrication and Component Systems

I ran the fabrication shop and provided tutorials and hands-on support for students in a number of related courses. This included both analog tools and cutting edge, advanced machining.

2013 — 2014

The Living ↗

Senior Project Architect and Researcher

New York, New York

I was part of a start-up team working at the intersection of technology, biology, and design. The Living was acquired by Autodesk in 2014.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Biomaterials Research

Advanced research into iterating, testing, developing, quantifying, and ultimately deploying novel biomaterials for AECO. This mycelium brick is now in the MoMA permanent collection.

2011 — 2013

Rogers Marvel Architects ↗

Architect

New York, New York

I spearheaded a $40M adaptive reuse project from concept design to construction completion, managing cross-disciplinary teams and material logistics to deliver on schedule. I learned how a building physically comes together and was fully engaged with the construction process, dealing with RFI’s, project site visits, submittals, and all engineering and systems coordination.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Sandridge Energy, Oklahoma City, OK

Sandridge developed their new headquarters in the heart of Oklahoma City. This project wove together a network of existing buildings into a cohesive urban campus. I focused on the 1923 Braniff Building. The final project demonstrates how existing buildings can be transformed through sustainable practices, computational optimization, and innovative adaptive reuse.

2009 — 2011

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) ↗

Project Designer

New York, New York

Contributed as a designer in SOM’s Education Design Lab, leading concept-to-construction documentation for The New School University Center, a 375,000 sq ft academic hub in Manhattan’s Union Square. Coordinated stakeholder engagement, zoning compliance, and site logistics to deliver a LEED Gold-certified campus building integrating urban context with institutional needs.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

New School University Center, New York, NY

The project unifies 23 distinct academic and administrative functions within a single flagship campus building, requiring aligning stakeholder priorities with spatial and operational efficiency.

2005 — 2008

Randall Stout Architects ↗

Computational Design Lead

Los Angeles, California

I led computational design initiatives for three constructed museum projects and multiple internationally recognized design competitions, overseeing engineering coordination and pioneering direct digital fabrication linkages between digital project delivery, parametric software and physical construction processes. The goal of our computational approach was to democratize architectural innovation with low cost software. This led to the development of systems that made cutting-edge design methodologies more accessible while enhancing both technical precision, constructability, and expanded the creative possibilities within the built environment.

Architectural projects include:

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, VA

The 75,000sf facility includes 12 separate galleries. The complex geometry coordinated via a novel method of digital design documentation.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

AGA is an addition to an existing, outdated gallery space. All complex surfaces were rationalized to aggregations of simple geometry to allow ease of construction and fabrication via custom automated workflows.

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1

MSU Broad Art Museum, East Lansing, MI

I led an intensive competition for a new museum at Michigan State University. The project had a unique elevated design in response to a challenging urban campus condition.

Selected Personal Work

Ongoing

johnhlocke.photo ↗

Various Locations

A record of photographic work, updated semi-regularly with how I see the world.

2018

Cloud Performance Pavilion ↗

Uptown Grand Central, 125th St and Park Ave, Manhattan

This community-driven installation—developed in partnership with Columbia University, Uptown Grand Central, and emerging sound artists—transformed the underutilized space beneath the Metro-North tracks at 125th Street into a sustainable, technology-enhanced performance venue. By repurposing reclaimed materials and integrating sound-activated LED systems, the project reimagined urban infrastructure as a platform artistic innovation.

Modular "speaker pods", constructed from upcycled components and embedded with adaptive audio-reactive lighting, created an immersive environment where music dynamically interacted with visual elements. Powered by solar-charged batteries and optimized via generative design algorithms—exemplified a scalable model for eco-conscious public art.

The initiative’s success—achieved at minimal cost through cross-sector collaboration—highlighted the potential for adaptive reuse of transit infrastructure to serve as catalysts for cultural sustainability, technological experimentation, and neighborhood identity formation.

2014 - 2016

Inflato Dumpster ↗

Various Locations Throughout New York City

This is an inflatable classroom, film screening venue, and music performance space installed inside of a standard, roll-off dumpster. This exploited a zoning loophole, allowing us to legally take over a street parking space for extended periods of time. The project was installed and activated multiple times across New York City between 2014-2016.

The Inflato includes 165 square feet of enclosed space with maximum dimensions at 17’ height by 12’-6” wide and 24’ long. Working closely with local communities around programming, over 2500 people interacted with the installations. The total project budget was a crowd sourced $4,200.

2010 - 2012

Parasite Book Share ↗

Various Locations Throughout New York City

This project reimagines obsolete phone booths as vibrant, hyper-local community hubs, embodying a tactical urbanism approach rooted in sustainability, technology, and innovation. By creatively reusing and adapting neglected urban infrastructure, the initiative minimizes waste and fosters a culture of resourcefulness within the neighborhood.

Through a series of playful, human-scale installations, the project demonstrates that urban design can prioritize delight, community connection, and bottom-up planning over transactional or market-driven imperatives. It succeeds in capturing public imagination and paves the way for innovative, participatory models of urban transformation.

Writing

March 2024

PART 1: AECO Innovations that Address Industry Impact on Climate Change.

Autodesk Research Blog

May 2024

PART 2: Real-World Application of Carbon-Negative Materials.

Autodesk Research Blog

June 2024

PART 3: How AI Innovations Can Transform Sustainable Design & Construction.

Autodesk Research Blog

January 2024

Optimal Design of Buildings for Natural Ventilation using Comfort and Occupancy Models.

Sim Build

June 2019

Design for the Many: Fabricating Urban Installations with Community Partners.

Architecture, Media, and Politics Society

May 2017

An Application of Generative Design for Architectural Space Planning.

Symposium on Simulation for Architecture and Urban Design

March 2015

Computational Brick Stacking for Constructing Free-Form Structures.

Design Modeling Symposium

October 2015

Adapt of Die! A Selection of Opportunistic work in NYC.

ASCA Conference

May 2010

Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control, or: Why Infrastructure Won’t Save Us.

Columbia GSAPP

Invited Speaking

June 6, 2025

“Project Phoenix and Recent Work by Autodesk Research”

AIA25 Boston National

Invited Presentation and Tour

May 29, 2025

“Autodesk Research and Autodesk AI Applications”

Software.org

Invited Presentation

May 16, 2025

“AI, Tech, & Architecture: The Future”

Society of American Registered Architects

Opening Keynote and Panel

May 5, 2025

The Architecture Major

Barnard College

Guest Critic

Nov 11, 2024

Graduate School of Architecture

Columbia University

Guest Critic

May 31, 2024

“AI and the Future of AEC Software”

Congress Staff from Capital Hill

Invited Presentation

Dec 7, 2023

“AI and the role of Health, Safety, and Welfare for Architecture”

National Council of Architectural Registration Boards

Invited Presentation and Panel

Dec 2, 2023

“Low Carbon Workflows for Affordable Housing”

Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability

Invited Presentation and Workshop

June 2, 2022

“The Future of Health, Safety, and Welfare in AEC”

National Council of Architectural Registration Boards

Invited Presentation

May 5, 2022

“Landing a Net Zero Carbon Moonshot”

Autodesk TechX

Invited Presentation

April 25, 2022

“But What is the Question?”

Washington U St. Louis

Invited Presentation

March 5, 2022

“Vision of AEC Practice in 5-10 Years”

NCARB International Roundtable

Keynote and Panel

Nov 12, 2021

“Recent Work: Design for Sustainability and Environmental Analysis”

Cornell, College of Human Ecology

Invited Talk

May 5, 2021

College of Architecture

Texas Tech at El Paso

Guest Critic

April 20, 2020

“Takeaways from WFH: How the AEC Industry is Remotely Working”

CTBUH Future Leaders

Panel

April 1, 2020

“Thermal Comfort and Energy Simulation Analysis in Western Africa”

Harvard GSD

Invited Presentation

Mar 23, 2020

“AEC Digital Workflows in a Post-Covid World”

Autodesk Symposium

Panel

Sept 23, 2019

“Design for the Many: Fabricating Urban Installations with Community Partners”

Stevens Institute

Invited Presentation

Aug 11, 2019

“New Directions in Digital Sustainable Design”

Autodesk Future of AEC

Panel

April 5, 2019

“Future of Design Technology within AEC”

NCARB Futures Task Force

Invited Keynote and Panel

Sep 4, 2018

“Project Discover: Generative Design for Architecture”

BIM Thoughts

Podcast

June 20, 2018

“Recent Work with Generative Design for Architecture”

COO Roundtable

Invited Keynote and Panel

May 17, 2018

“The Future of AEC Technology and Digital Workflows”

Gray Construction

Invited Keynote

March 9, 2018

“Recent Work and Research at Autodesk”

AIA Kentucky Annual Meeting

Invited Keynote

Oct 10, 2017

Autodesk Toronto Office Tour and Discussion

CanBim Toronto

Guided Project Tour

Sept 27, 2017

“What’s Next for Tech and Design”

Elevate Toronto

Invited Presentation

Aug 13, 2017

“BIM: What’s Around the Bend? Or BIM Version 3.0”

CanBim Calgary

Invited Keynote

April 11, 2016

“New Directions in Pop-Up Architecture”

AIA New Jersey

Invited Presentation

Feb 12, 2012

“How New York Pay Phones Became Guerrilla Libraries”

The Atlantic Cities Conference

Invited Presentation

Jan 27, 2012

“John Locke: Recent Work”

National Endowment for the Arts

Invited Presentation

Jan 12, 2012

“Hacking the Urban Experience”

WKCR 89.9 Columbia Radio

Invited Interview

Jan 5, 2012

“Conversation with John Locke about his work”

Inside the Phoenix

Podcast

Selected Awards

2019

Architecture Merit Award (with Autodesk)

AIA New York

Princeton University

2019

Americas Prize.Emerge Awards (with Autodesk)

Mies Crown Hall Awards

Princeton University

2017

Emerging Young Professional Award

AIA National

Professional and Personal Work

2017

Zumtobel Award, Finalist, Applied Innovations (with Autodesk)

Zumtobel

Hy-Fi

2015

New York Chapter Merit Award (with SOM)

AIA New York

New School University

2015

Global Finalist (with Autodesk)

LaFarge Holcim

Hy-Fi

2014

Spontaneous Interventions Exhibition

Trust for Governors Island

Parasite Book Share

2014

Barrier Beautification Competition Winner

New York DOT

Singing in the Rain

2014

Top 10 Award for Sustainable Design (with SOM)

AIA Committee on the Environment

New School University

2012

Honor Award (with RogersMarvel)

AIA National

Sandridge Energy

2012

Design Action for the Common Good Exhibition

Venice Architecture Biennale

Parasite Book Share

2011

Alternate Urban Use Award

GO11

Parasite Book Share

2009

William Ware Prize for Excellence in Design / Saul Kaplan Traveling Fellowship

Columbia University

The highest Honor Award given for design work

2009

Graduate Design work exhibited at AIA New York

Columbia University

Top studio design project

2009

Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize

Columbia University

Best final semester design problem

2009

William Kinne Traveling Fellowship

Columbia University

Travel Fellowship

Selected Publications, Media Mentions, and Features

2024

AI as an Enhancer for the Architect, Not a Replacement

Jenny Kawecki, NCARB.org, January 8, 2024

2022

“The Hotel Industry’s Big Carbon Lie”

Jackie Caradonio, Bloomberg, June 19, 2022

2021

"Interview with John Locke...of The Living for the 17th Venice Biennale: “How will we live together?”

Venice Biennale Channel, October 13, 2021

2018

Sharon Francis, Phaidon Press, November 28, 2018, Pgs 117-119.

2018

Now We See Now: Architecture and Research by The Living

David Benjamin (author), Paola Antonelli (Foreword), Alejandro Zaera-Polo (Contributor), Eyal Weizman (Contributor), The Monacelli Press, November 20, 2018

2018

"World's first brick made of urine requires a lot of it”

Shoshana Wodinsky, NBC News, November 28, 2018

2018

"Subculture: Microbial Metrics and the Multi-Species City”

Storefront for Art and Architecture, September 19, 2018

2018

PhD Thesis: Recycling Urban Infrastructures

Zétényi Zsófia, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design PhD Thesis, Fall 2018, pgs. 68-77.

2018

“The Living Projects: Autodesk MaRS Office”

Katie Gerfen, Architect Magazine, January 12, 2018

2017

“First Look: The Living’s Princeton Architecture Lab”

Alex Klimoski, Architectural Record, November 2017

2017

“If an AI Doesn’t Take Your Job, It Will Design Your Office”

Joseph Bien-Kahn, Wired, April 5, 2017

2016

“New York’s Most Stunning Public Art Shows This Spring”

Sarah Cascone, ArtNet, April 5, 2016

2016

Nanotecture: Tiny Built Things

Rebecca Roke (Editor), Phaidon Press, March 21, 2016

2015

“Art Raises Awareness in Jamaica”

Valerie Victor, Pandoras Box, November 4, 2015

2015

“Meet the Creative Nomads Building New Lives on the Move”

Alex King, Huck Magazine, October 19, 2015

2015

The New Nomads: Temporary Spaces and a Life on the Move

Robert Klanten (Editor), Sven Ehmann (Editor), Gestalten Press, March 24, 2015

2014

Uneven Growth: Tactical Urbanisms for Expanding Megacities

Richard Burdett, Teddy Cruz, David Harvey, Pedro Gadanho (editor), Museum of Modern Art, New York, December 31, 2014, Pgs 59-62.

2014

“Hacking Into New York’s Street Structures”

Orla Tiffney, Pop Up City, December 4, 2014

2014

“NYC dumpster turned inflatable classroom for urban education design”

Nina Azzarello, DesignBoom, November 26, 2014

2014

“Creating Community Space Inside a Dumpster”

Jillian Steinhauer, HyperAllergic, November 21, 2014

2014

“How the Inflato Dumpster Installation Fosters Community and Improves the Urban Experience”

Michelle Waters, Columbia Spectator, October 23, 2014

2014

“Have You Heard of the Inflato Dumpster?”

Sean Nally, The Trash Times, September 10, 2014

2014

The Death of Drawing: Architecture in the Age of Simulation

David Scheer (author), Routledge Press, August 5, 2014, Pgs 131, 135-139.

2014

“Biodegradable Hy-Fi by the Living Opens at MoMA PS1”

Philip Stevens, DesignBoom, July 1, 2014

2013

“Presto, Inflato! Dumpsters to be reclaimed as "pop-up" public spaces in NYC”

TreeHugger, November 5, 2013

2013

“Can An Inflatable Pop-Up Dumpster Help NYC Residents Transform Their Neighborhoods?”

Architizer, November 1, 2013

2013

“One Day We Will All Live In Dumpsters”

Jen Carlson, Gothamist, October 22, 2013

2013

“The Future of Pop-Up Hackspaces Is... Dumpsters?”

David Lumb, Fast Company, October 21, 2013

2013

“Inflato Dumpster Gives NYC a Blow-Up Mobile Learning Lab”

Nina Azzarello, Design Boom, October 18, 2013

2013

“Inflato Dumpster: Turning a Dumpster into an Inflatable Classroom in NYC”

Michelle Young, Untapped Cities, October 16, 2013

2013

“Architect Wants To Reclaim Public Space, One Dumpster At A Time”

Sammy Medina, Fast Company, October 13, 2013

2013

“New York Could Get a Classroom Inside a Dumpster”

John Metcalfe, The Atlantic Cities, August 11, 2013

2012

“New York Designer Creates the Most Polished Phone Booth Library Yet”

Zachary Slobig, Good Magazine, September 12, 2012

2012

Tactical Urbanism: Volume 2 Short Term Action, Long Term Change

Mike Lydon (editor), Dan Bartman (editor), The Streets Plan Collaborative, Fall 2012, Pgs 50-51.

2012

“Superman, Grab a Book”

Joshua Brustein, The New York Times, September 8, 2012

2012

“Turning Urban Obsolescence into Community Connection: A Conversation with John Locke”

John Tyler Allen, World Literature Today, July 2012

2012

“An Interview with New York Architect John Locke, Bringing Books to a Pay Phone Stand Near You”

New York Daily News, February 28, 2012

2012

“Calling Urban-Design Geeks”

Lauren Murrow, New York Magazine, March 15, 2012

2012

“NYC Phone Booths Turned Into Free Mini Libraries by Architect John Locke”

Tafline Laylin, InHabitat, February 21, 2012

2012

“Phone Booths Reincarnated As Bookshelves Finally Make Phone Booths Useful”

Joop de Boer, Pop Up City, February 21, 2012

2012

“New York’s Alternative Public Library”

Architizer, February 18, 2012

2012

“Repurposed Phone Booth Library in NYC”

Jenny Filippetti, DesignBoom, February 17, 2012

2012

“Phone Booths Reincarnated As Bookshelves Finally Make Phone Booths Useful”

Gizmodo, February 12, 2012

2012

“Architect Builds Library You’re Meant to Talk In.”

Columbia Spectator, February 14, 2012

2012

“Part of John Locke’s Department of Urban Betterment Project.”

Rosemary Feitelberg, Women’s Wear Daily, February 1, 2012

Certifications

2014

American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Manhattan Chapter

2014

National Council of Architectural Registration Boards

2014

Registered Architect in the State of New York

2011

LEED AP Building + Construction V3

US Green Building Council for Sustainable Design