Ivan Shumkov

Dr. Ivan Shumkov is an architect, urbanist, entrepreneur, researcher and professor. He is the founder of Build World, Build Academy, Build Tours, and the Harvard Alumni Architectural and Urban Society - organizations dedicated to providing professional building solutions, education, events and experiences in the built environment. His companies have cultivated an industry-wide, global community of professionals and organizations and supplies them with an online platform for collaboration, networking, education, and professional resources for the implementation of high-impact projects worldwide.

Dr. Shumkov is currently an adjunct associate professor at Columbia GSAPP where he teaches in the Masters of Architecture and Urban Design program. Previously, he has taught at New York University, Harvard University GSD, Pratt Institute School of Architecture, Parsons the New School for Design, the International University of Catalonia, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Barcelona, and his Build Academy.

Dr. Shumkov is a licensed architect in Spain and founder of ISA (Ivan Shumkov Architecture), a NY-based architecture practice operating at the intersection of architecture, design, and urbanism. Previously, he was director of strategy and expansion at ELIA/Office for Architecture in Barcelona. He has lectured and exhibited his projects and research extensively across Europe, Brazil, Colombia, China, Kenya, and the USA.

His experience in urban design and planning for the public sector includes senior government advisor, chief expert in architecture and urban planning for the capital, and chief architect for a major municipality in Bulgaria. During that time, he worked on European, national, and local development plans, digital transformation, energy efficiency, and urban renewal programs, and led strategic projects and teams.

Dr. Shumkov graduated with four master’s degrees from ETSA Barcelona, University of Florence, and Harvard University GSD, as a Fulbright scholar. He earned his PhD in Architecture in 2010 at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, as a visiting scholar at Columbia GSAPP and fellow of the Fondation Le Corbusier and the government of Catalonia.