Profile

Ding Wen ‘Nic’ Bao

Current positions held

Senior Lecturer in Architecture – School of Architecture and Urban Design – RMIT University

About

Dr Ding Wen ‘Nic’ Bao is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Architecture Technology Stream Coordinator at the School of Architecture and Urban Design as well as a Researcher at the Centre for Innovative Structure and Materials, School of Engineering at RMIT University. His research explores design methodologies for establishing a complementary relationship among performance architecture, computational design, sustainable design, structural optimization, behavioral algorithms, additive manufacturing, robotic fabrication, and intelligent construction.

Prior to joining RMIT, Nic part-time taught as a design studio leader at the University of Melbourne and Monash University from 2015 to 2020 while working as a full-time architect in various Tier 1 architecture firms in Australia. He has published over 40 articles, including high-impact journal papers, book chapters and conferences. He also serves as an editorial board member of the Architectural Intelligence journal and Sustainable Structures journal.

Nic is a practising architect with ten years of professional experience, he holds Australian Registered Architect (ARBV, RAIA). US Registered Architect (NCARB) and UK Chartered Architect (RIBA). Nic is the director of B+W Architects (BWA) and Wonderform Studio, a co-founder of FormX, and a partner of Ameba. Nic is also a committee member of the Australian Institution of Architects (AIA), Education Committee and Design Technology Advisory Group to the National Practice, as well as an officer/committee member and Chair of the award at the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA).

Nic is a core member of the organizing committee of DigitalFUTURES International conferences (2020 – 2022) and the IASS 2023 Annual Symposium in Melbourne. He also played a role as a scientific reviewer and session chair for the international conference including CAAD Futures, CAADRIA, ASCAAD, eCAADe and DigitalFUTURES as well as ran 11 workshops and masterclasses at international conferences including DigitalFUTURES, CAADRIA, SIGraDi, IASS and ACADIA.

Nic’s work has been exhibited widely, including Hong Kong BoDW, Shanghai DigitalFUTURES, NGV Melbourne Design Week, Melbourne Design Fair, Venice Biennale, Shenzhen Biennale, 2019 Barcelona IASS Expo and 2023 Melbourne IASS Expo. He was also invited as a guest lecturer, critic and PhD panels at Tongji University, Universita Di Pisa, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen University, The University of Melbourne, University of Newcastle, UCL Bartlett, ETH Zurich, Southeast University, University of Michigan, Massey University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University etc.

Nic received his Ph.D. with the 2021 Research Excellence and Impact Award and Prize from RMIT University, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in architecture in 2012. He also holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Melbourne in 2014. Nic has been the recipient of numerous awards, including two first prizes in national and international structure optimization and 3D printing design competitions in 2019 & 2020, Young CAADRIA Award, MUSE Design Award, Grand Prix Du Design Paris Gold Award, IAI Design Award, A’Design Award, and DigitalFUTURES Young Award and third winner of 2023 IASS Design Competition.

Nic will join two research nodes within the Advance Timber Hub: 1) Manufacturing Innovation, which encompasses projects focusing on the digital design and fabrication of innovative structures and systems; and 2) Value Chain Innovation, which covers projects dedicated to enhancing resource utilization throughout the forest-to-building timber value chain.

More information

https://www.rmit.edu.au/contact/staff-contacts/academic-staff/b/bao-dr-nic

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