Spirograph
person with clear glasses wearing a dark blazer over a dark t-shirt Ruben Alcolea
Faculty

Rubén Alcolea

Ph.D., M.Arch., Registered Architect COAC
Associate Professor
person with clear glasses wearing a dark blazer over a dark t-shirt Ruben Alcolea

Rubén Alcolea is Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon Architecture while also developing a professional architecture practice. He received an M.Arch. from the School of Architecture of the University of Navarra in Spain, and a Ph.D. with a dissertation focused on architecture and photography in early modernism, later published as a book. Since 2000, he has been actively involved in both academia and practice.

His academic, teaching and research work has been developed at several institutions: the University of Navarra in Spain (2000-16), where he was Vice-Dean for Research and Academic Programs (2009-15); Visiting Scholar at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London (AA) (2008-09); Visiting Professor at Cornell University (2016-21); Professor of Architecture and Director, Architecture Advanced Studies at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island (2021-26); and currently Associate Professor of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University. Specialized in photography and modern architecture, he is the author of several books, including "Pioneer Picnic/Picnic de Pioneros" (Valencia, 2009); "Premios Pritzker: Discursos de Aceptación 1979-2015" (2015); "Formando arquitectos, antología de textos" (2015); the four volumes with proceedings for the international conference "Inter: Photography and Architecture" (2016), which he chaired in the Art Museum MUN Pamplona; and the book "Architectural Precedents"(2025), among others. He has produced and curated exhibitions, cultural events, public seminars and conferences.

Rubén has been actively practicing since 2000 as a registered architect in Spain, where he founded alcolea+tárrago with his office partner Jorge Tárrago. Their work has been widely published and awarded in more than 25 national and international competitions, including awards for built work. A selection of their awarded projects includes the Sports Complex in La Figuerassa (2007), the House MP in Sesma (2009), the New Technologies Building in Aulesti (2015), the Headquarters and Auditorium for the Public University in Malaga (2017), the Multipurpose Building in Castro Urdiales (2019), and the Conference and Exhibition Hall La Azucarera in Monzón (2026), among others.