Biography
Dr. Mahesh Daas is the dean and ACSA Distinguished Professor at the School of Architecture & Design at the University of Kansas. Daas is a designer, author, technologist, and innovative academic leader. His academic career spans over two decades at four universities including 13 years in administrative capacity.
His newly co-edited book Towards a Robotic Architecture (2018, Oro Editions, co-edited with AJ Wit) is the first comprehensive book on robotics in architecture and features 42 leading researchers from around the world. The book reframes robotics and defines robotics research in architecture here on Earth and on Mars.
Daas is also the author of the critically-acclaimed book Leading with Aesthetics: The Transformational Leadership of President Charles M. Vest at M.I.T. (Lexington Books, 2015). The book has been hailed by critics as “a tour de force of interdisciplinary scholarship.”
Throughout his career, Daas has been honored for his creative achievements, leadership, and innovative approach to teaching. He has delivered invited lectures and keynote speeches at scholarly forums all over the world.
Daas was recognized for his longstanding contributions to design computing with the 2013 ACADIA Society Award of Excellence.
In 2011 he became the youngest educator and the second person of Asian origin to be chosen as an Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture Distinguished Professor, the highest national recognition for an architectural educator. Fewer than 2.5 percent of architectural educators have been so honored since the inception of the ACSA national career awards program in 1984. Daas is a perpetual member of the ACSA College of Distinguished Professors.
The Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA) has elected him twice as its president. He’s also been elected thrice to serve on the editorial board of the International Journal of Architectural Computing (Sage Publications).
Daas is a seasoned designer with many competitions and commissions under his belt. He is a co-recipient of a Kansas City chapter of American Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Baron BMW Dealership building in Merriam, KS in 2001; and a co-recipient of International Fabrics Foundation Outstanding Achievement Award for the design and construction of Advanced Fabrics Exhibition in San Antonio, TX. In 2007. In 2000, he won the second place in the high-profile American Institute of Architects + U.S. Department of Energy Sun Wall national competition in Washington, D.C.
Daas has been actively involved with federal funding agencies. He has been a peer reviewer for the National Science Foundation (NSF). He was a member of the United States NSF delegation to Israel in 2010 to explore bilateral research opportunities between the countries in sustainable materials and technologies. Daas also has served on research grant review panels for the Canadian government. In 2011, Daas co-chaired a National Science Foundation symposium and workshop entitled Research in Materials and Manufacturing for Extreme Affordability in collaboration with ASME and IEEE.
Daas earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, India, in 1990 with A.P. Riding Club Gold Medal; a master’s degree in urban design from Kansas State University in 1994 with John F. Helm Award for professional promise; and a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania with distinction for dissertation in 2013. He has also received executive certificates in management from the University of Texas at Austin and Harvard University.
His creative spirit extends beyond his professional work: Daas is also an award winning creative writer and poet with an interest in existentialist and Latin American magic realist literature. He is a member of the Rotary Club and lives in Lawrence, KS.
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Portrait courtesy KU
Book cover photo courtesy Byron Wolf