Johan Wijesinghe



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CVLast update Feb 2025

Professional Experiences


ETH Zürich – Institute of Technology in Architecture (ITA)


Guest Faculty & AI Researcher, Studio Retsin (2024 – Present)

Teaching and research at ETH Zürich focus on the integration of AI, digital fabrication, and prefabricated timber construction. Through the studio Architecture in Large Quantities, Johan explores how computational methods and automation can transform building design and delivery at scale


    Key Contributions
  • AI & Computational Design – Developing workflows that merge generative AI, parametric modeling, and automation.
  • Scalable Timber Systems – Investigating how prefabrication and timber construction can scale sustainably.
  • Teaching & Mentorship – Guiding students toward entrepreneurial practice models, linking cultural production with technical system-building.
  • Collaboration – Partnering with computational researchers and industry specialists to bridge AI research with construction applications.


    • Skills: AI in Architecture · Computational Design · Generative Design · Timber Prefabrication · Digital Fabrication · Teaching & Mentorship

LEVER Architecture (Portland & Los Angeles)

 Designer, Researcher & BIM Manager (2020 – 2024)

At LEVER, Johan worked with the Innovation team, combining design delivery with technical R&D to advance mass timber systems and performance-based construction strategies. He served as both project designer and BIM manager, coordinating digital delivery while pushing the boundaries of timber technology with engineers, code officials, and supply-chain partners.



Key Contributions
  • Mass Timber Systems – Designed and tested structural systems for seismic, fire, and acoustic performance, translating research into buildable solutions.
  • Performance-Based Design – Developed diagrid timber exoskeletons, rocking-wall systems, and large-span office prototypes in collaboration with engineers and jurisdictions.
  • Specialized Labs – Led design/research for the Oregon Acoustic Research Lab and OSU Fire Testing Lab, integrating mass timber with advanced acoustic and fire systems.
  • Procurement & Supply Chain – Created sourcing and logistics strategies to scale prefabrication effectively.
  • Digital Delivery – Managed BIM workflows, prefabrication models, and multi-disciplinary coordination across major projects.

Selected Projects:

  • Kirkland Urban East (WA, 180,000 sf) – BIM manager and designer for six-story mass-timber office building; coordinated diagrid lateral system, prefabrication logistics, and city permitting.
  • Oregon Acoustic Research Lab – Led schematic design; integrated timber with advanced acoustic chambers and performance-driven façade concepts.
  • OSU Fire Testing Lab – Coordinated design development with researchers for full-scale fire testing facilities.
  • Forest-to-Frame Tool (USDA-funded) – Co-developed a digital platform connecting forestry practices, sourcing, and procurement with carbon metrics.

    • Skills: Schematic to Project Managment, Mass Timber Design · Procurement Strategy · BIM Management · Performance-Based Systems · Acoustic Research · Fire Testing · Digital Project Delivery


    Department of Health Services - Housing For Health (Los Angeles)

    Consultant (2020)

    As a consultant for Housing for Health, Johan applied expertise in prefabrication and data analysis to accelerate the delivery of supportive housing in Los Angeles. His work focused on risk modeling, procurement, and modular construction strategies to make housing production more efficient at scale.

    • Applied data science and prefab expertise to housing-for-health initiatives.
    • report on financial risk models and evaluated construction timelines for modular housing delivery.
    • Advised on procurement, supply-chain strategy, and prefabrication roadmaps for county-wide supportive housing.

    Focus Areas: Prefabrication Strategy · Housing Innovation · Data & Risk Modeling · Public Sector Consulting

    Gilles Retsin Architecture (London)

    Architectural & Computational Designer (2018 – 2020)

    At Gilles Retsin Architecture, Johan worked on competitions, exhibitions, and research projects at the intersection of parametric design, automation, and robotic fabrication. He contributed to international design competitions, museum installations, and public workshops, advancing speculative approaches to digital construction.


    Key Contributions
    • Computational Design – Led parametric modeling and robotic fabrication workflows for the Royal Academy of Arts “Real Virtuality” exhibition.
    • Competition Work – Developed modular CLT A-frame proposal for the Helsinki National Museum Annex Competition, inspired by Finnish boathouses.
    • Workshops & Teaching – Supported Digital Futures (Shanghai) with instruction in AI-assisted design, robotic fabrication, and mixed-reality workflows.
    • Project Coordination – Managed communications with students, museum partners, and collaborators on large exhibition projects.

    Focus Areas: Computational Design · Digital Fabrication · Exhibition Architecture · Competition Strategy

    EscherGuneWardena Architecture


    Designer & Advisor (2011 – 2024, part-time)

    At Escher GuneWardena, Johan contributed to adaptive reuse, conservation, and cultural projects that bridge architecture, art, and community. His work balanced design sensitivity with technical research in preservation, materials, and collaborative practice.

    Selected Projects
    • The Jeweled Isle – LACMA – Exhibition design integrating spatial and cultural narratives.
    • Conservation plan for one of the most iconic modernist residences.
    • Pilot House Restoration – Restoration of A. Quincy Jones & Whitney Smith’s cooperative prototype.
    • Flora Animalia – Factory-to-garden adaptive reuse with designer Rozae Nichols.
    • Exhibitions – Interventions for Sharon Lockhart, Hermès, and Washington University’s Kemper Art Museum.

    Focus Areas: Historic Conservation · Adaptive Reuse · Exhibition Design · Cultural Projects



    Education


     

    University College London (UCL)

    MSc Computational Design (2018–2019)
    • Advisors: Sean Hanna, Khalid El-Ashry
    • Dissertation: Domain Transfer in Pretrained Networks and GANs for Architecture
    • Graduated with Distinction

    Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc)

    B.Arch (2012–2017)
    • Advisor: M. Casey Rehm
    • Graduated with Distinction
    • SCI-Arc Scholarship (2012–2017)

    Universität für die Angewandte Kunst (Vienna, Austria)


    Visiting  Studio Kazuyo Sejima (Spring 2016)

    Publications and Research



    Energy Trust of Oregon — Net Zero Fellowship
    Researcher & Data Modeler (2024 – 2025)
    Supported LEVER’s Jeff Stern in a Net Zero Fellowship exploring low‑carbon building strategies. Modeled and compared assemblies to identify pathways toward net‑zero carbon development, while analyzing life‑cycle impacts and market feasibility.

    • Contributed to carbon‑reduction research presented in the report and public events examined optimal approaches for different building types, feasibility of zero‑carbon construction, and comparisons of Passive House versus mass‑timber.
    • Developed case study analyses for affordable townhomes, rental apartments, and a Black Business Hub, incorporating whole‑building carbon metrics.
    • Collaborated with industry partners to translate research findings into actionable strategies.


    University of Oregon Seminar — “Forest to Frame”
    Teaching Assistant (Eugene, OR, 2023) Taught with Timothy Cooke (LEVER) in a seminar exploring sustainable timber supply chains and climate impacts.

    • Sessions covered forestry practices, intentional timber sourcing (“Forest for the Trees” and “Forest to Frame”), and carbon.
    • Guided student research on timber harvest practices and supply‑chain transparency; used UO’s Acoustic Lab as a case study for long‑span mass‑timber construction.


    Digital Futures Workshop
    — Tongji University (Shanghai)
    Teaching Assistant (2019)
    Supported Gilles Retsin in a workshop on architectural intelligence, digital fabrication and augmented reality.

    • Led instruction in HoloLens‑based mixed‑reality workflows, modular timber systems and robotic assembly.

    • Facilitated real‑time fabrication experiments and integrated digital‑twin modeling for rapid prototyping.


    Pop‑Arch: Community Outreach
    (Los Angeles, 2015 – 2017)
    Mentor
    Organized design‑build workshops for local high‑school students with SCI‑Arc.
    • Taught spatial thinking, model‑making and visual storytelling; introduced students to digital tools.
    • Fostered diversity and inclusion in architecture by engaging underrepresented youth through hands‑on fabrication projects.
    Hopscotch — A Mobile Opera (SCI‑Arc, 2015)
    Pavilion Designer & Fabricator
    Contributed to the design and construction of the temporary hub for The Industry’s site‑specific opera, staged in 24 moving cars across Los Angeles.
    • The opera’s 24 journeys were live‑streamed to a temporary structure at SCI‑Arc, allowing audiences to experience simultaneous chaptersapps.operaamerica.org.
    • Worked with interdisciplinary teams to design modular set elements and manage logistics for the immersive performance.
    Domain Adaptation Research — Bartlett UCL
    Researcher (2018 – 2019)
    Conducted under Dr. Sean Hanna on generative adversarial networks (GANs) for architectural spatial analysis and generation.
    • Explored layer‑wise domain adaptation and addressed generalization limits via the “projection problem,” inspired by Elman’s work at UCSD.
    • Evaluated the performance of domain‑adaptation techniques using auxiliary datasets to train GANs on architectural plan morphologies.

    Publications & Exhibitions
    • “Binary Shelter: Notes on the Unhoused” (Underscore Journal Vol. 3, 2016). Visual essay examining temporary housing and spatial precarity in Los Angeles.
    • Bartlett Journal Vol. 10 – “Algorithms Are Here to Stay” (2018–2019). Curated and edited essays on architecture, automation and ethics in computational design.
    • Venice Architecture Biennale, “Reporting from the Front” (2016). Collaborated on a speculative project for Inujima, Japan, as part of Kazuyo Sejima’s visiting studio; exhibited at Japan House in London and the Royal Academy of Art.
    Lectures & Presentations
    • Manufactured Wood Products and the Future of Timber Construction – Woodbury University class of (2025).
    • Forest to Frame – ETH Zürich (2024).
    • AI and Architectural Details – various venues.

    Languages & Interests


    Languages: English (fluent), German (basic), Sinhala (basic)

    Interests: AI, forestry, product development, hiking, clothing design, cooking, gardening, swimming.

    Skills & Expertise


    Architecture & Construction Delivery
    • Project Leadership: 10+ years managing projects from concept through construction — scheduling, budgeting, permitting, consultant coordination, and supply-chain integration.
    • Mass Timber & Performance-Based Design: Expertise in timber procurement, seismic/fire/acoustic testing, prefabrication, and performance-driven systems.
    • Construction Integration: Experienced in prefabrication logistics, shop drawing/BIM workflows, and jurisdictional approvals for performance-based projects.

    Computational Design & BIM


    • 10+ years with Rhino/Grasshopper, Revit/Dynamo, AutoCAD.
    • Advanced parametric modeling, generative workflows, and BIM/CAD interoperability.
    • Extensive BIM management experience, delivering multi-disciplinary coordination across large, complex projects.


    AI & Emerging Tech (Product Development Side)


    • Generative AI: RNN development, Stable Diffusion, custom ML models for architectural workflows.
    • AR/VR & Digital Twins: Developed immersive design/coordination platforms; experience with robotics and CNC automation for industrialized construction.
    • Innovation Ecosystems: Skilled in grant management, financial modeling, and scaling research into applied tools/products.


    Teaching & Mentorship

    • ETH Zürich Guest Faculty: Computational design, AI, and prefabricated timber construction.
    • Experienced mentor for students, interdisciplinary teams, and clients — translating technical systems into clear strategies.
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