Joseph Choma Named Educator of the Year by AIA Palm Beach

Joseph Choma, Ph.D., Director of FAU’s School of Architecture, recently received the 2026 Educator of Year from AIA Palm Beach at a ceremony at the Breakers in West Palm Beach.  Choma was recognized for advancing the school’s profile in innovative design, emerging technology and architectural research. Under his leadership, the school has integrated artificial intelligence throughout its professional architecture curriculum and established the Creative AI Lab, providing students with opportunities to explore AI-assisted design and human-machine collaboration. This work earned Florida Atlantic the Tambellini Future Campus Award for Innovation in AI and Technology Integration. Choma also led an industry-sponsored research collaboration with Google in which students helped design and fabricate a lightweight, deployable structure using foldable fiberglass technology, bringing together research, teaching and real-world applications.

Choma’s own research has further elevated Florida Atlantic’s reputation in computational design and material innovation. In 2023, he received the internationally recognized ACADIA Innovative Research Award of Excellence for his contributions to computational materials, fabrication, manufacturing and design. As director of Florida Atlantic’s Foldable Structures & Materials Lab, Choma investigates new approaches to sustainable design using mathematics, geometry, folding, structures and materials. He is also the inventor of a patented technique that allows fiberglass to be folded by hand, opening possibilities for lightweight and deployable structures. An author, educator and researcher, Choma has helped position Florida Atlantic’s School of Architecture at the intersection of technology, sustainability, research and the future of architectural practice.