Paul Hirzel

Professor, Emeritus
Architecture
phirzel@wsu.edu
509-335-1373
Carpenter Hall 114
PO Box 642220

Professor Paul Hirzel holds Bachelors degrees in Humanities from Washington State University, Art Education and Industrial Education from University of Washington, and Architecture from Cornell University. He earned his Master of Architecture with a minor in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University in 1984 winning both the Eschweiler Prize and Cornell Marshall Award for design excellence. A typological study of descriptive and metaphoric relationships between landscape and architecture was his thesis focus.

Academic Focus

Hirzel’s academic emphasis at WSU has focused on the introduction of landscape significance into the architecture curriculum. An advocate for the inclusion/recognition of the “outside condition” in the building design solution, he has developed innovative strategies for site analysis and design. His site design course has won national awards from the American Institute of Architects: The AIA National Education Award (the professions most prestigious award to educators for teaching excellence) and the National Associated Collegiate Schools of Architecture: The ACSA Design Studio Award and has been featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Student work has been invited for exhibition at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane, Washington and at the AIA National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He has been a lecturer at Cranbrook Academy of Arts, the Interdisciplinary Design Institute in Spokane, Washington, Texas A&M, Gonzaga University, Cornell University, and the University of Washington.

Education

Master of Architecture, Cornell University.

Bachelor of Architecture, Cornell University.

Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Education, University of Washington.

Bachelor of Arts in Art Education, University of Washington.

Bachelor of Arts in General Humanities, Washington State University.