Structures and Architecture. A Viable Urban Perspective?

Paulo J.S. Cruz is Founder and President of the International Association of Structures and Architecture since 2016. Chairman of the former international conferences in this field (ICSA2010, ICSA2013 and ICSA2016).

Faculty member of the University of Minho since 1989, initially at the Civil Engineering Department, where he was Head of Department from 2003 to 2004. Dean of the School of Architecture from 2004 to 2011. Full Professor of Construction and Technology at the School of Architecture since 2008. Pro-Rector of the University of Minho since 2017.

Graduated in Civil Engineering by the University of Porto in 1987; MSc in Structures by the University of Porto in 1991, and PhD in Construction Engineering by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona, in 1995; Habilitation in Structures by the University of Minho, in 2005.

Since 1987 he has conducted research in the domain of special structures. After his PhD he started in the field of steel and composite structures, progressively devoting his research interests to the area of bridges, particularly concerning safety, inspection, assessment and monitoring.

Since his involvement with the School of Architecture, he has bridged the gap between architecture and structural engineering, promoting the efficient use of the traditional materials and their judicious combination; exploring innovative technological, constructional and structural solutions and establishing effective collaborations with the construction industry.

He is the President of the Design Institute of Guimaraes and Coordinator of the Advanced Ceramics R&D Lab, aiming the application of additive manufacturing techniques to the built environment.