Penn Ruderman

Penn Ruderman earned his BArch degree from the University of Cincinnati and a Post-Professional Master of Architecture degree (with distinction) from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD). While at the GSD, he conducted research on historic and contemporary forms of design pedagogy with an emphasis on the strategic formulation of the studio “design problem” as a teaching tool. Ruderman previously taught design at Northeastern University and Wentworth Institute of Technology. He frequently serves as a guest critic for student reviews and has served on numerous professional and academic juries.

Prior to founding the design practice OPRCH, based in Worcester, MA, Ruderman led award-winning projects in the offices of Hashim Sarkis Studios, Schwartz/Silver, Office dA and Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects. The work of OPRCH is focused on integrating cultural identity into the design of public places. Working directly with communities, mission-driven organizations and creative entities, the practice weaves together architecture, urban design and garden design based in regenerative ecology.

Ruderman’s research and projects examine the capacity of surfaces to carry multiple meanings by overlapping techniques of spatial definition and graphic communication. Recent design studios have emphasized the city surface as the primary site of sub-cultural expression. His students have explored the use of inscription, representation, polychromy and camouflage to manipulate interior and exterior spatial organization, create structural systems and respond to the dynamic interaction between social territory, geography and climate.