Caroline Amstutz

About

Caroline (they/them) is is a multidisciplinary designer with a commitment to craftsmanship.

They received a Master of Architecture (M.Arch) from MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning where they defended their thesis Frictitious Matters. During their time at MIT, Caroline focused their studies on fabrication, material culture, and ecological knowledge. They also hold a B.S. in Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis, and were awarded the college’s top honor, the Frederick Widmann Prize.

Caroline has hands-on experience from positions across academia, research, industry, and fabrication settings, blending technical precision with a sensitivity to contextual nuance. Driven by curiosity, Caroline relishes design challenges at the intersection of material, ecology, and culture.

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Education

Master of Architecture (M.Arch)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA

Department of Architecture Graduate Fellowship, Full Merit Scholarship.

Coursework in design, computation, building technology, and theory.

Thesis: Frictitious Matters defended December 2023 at the MIT Media Lab.

Bachelor of Science in Architecture
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO

Magna Cum Laude

Minor in Art at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts.

Coursework in digital and analog design, structures, and building systems.

Industry Experience

Matter Design
Boston, MA

Research Lead
November 2022 - Present

Advance design, research and fabrication work for Matter Design’s industry collaboration with a global concrete supplier, involving closely crafted design work, on-site fabrication, and collaboration with the international team.

Research Assistant
June 2022 - October 2022

Fabricated highly crafted flip-milled maple and naturally dyed fiber objects for installation piece “Ancient Entanglements” at Wasserman Projects, Detroit.

MOA - Mobile Office Architects
Guemes Island, WA

Design-Build Resident
June 2021 - August 2021

Summer resident for MOA's pilot program Small Project Studio -- an immersive design-build internship where early-career architects learn to integrate craftsmanship and construction process through architectural design. Participated in design charrettes and led the design and construction of the kitchen. Honed craftsmanship in CNC fabrication and acquired skills in assembling architectural envelopes, crafting custom cabinetry, electrical wiring, and casting concrete while gaining competence using a wide range of construction tools.

Mancini Duffy
New York, NY

Junior Architect
July 2019-June 2020

Design team member for corporate interior revitalization project. Responsible for producing drawings and details, schematic design through construction documentation. Developed design standards package to be applied to twelve sites across the country. Produced rendered animations and digital models to be experienced by clients in VR.

patterhn ives llc
St. Louis, MO

Emerging Professional
May 2018-June 2018

Involved in ideation and documentation of schematic design phase for residential clients. Prepared thoughtful and thorough client presentations. Digitally modeled details for spatial problem-solving. Constructed and documented highly crafted models.

Academic Experience

MIT Department of Architecture
Cambridge, MA

Teaching Assistant
Fall 2023

Core III: Integrated Design Studio

Selected as T.A. for required third semester M.Arch studio. Facilitated teaching digital design including Rhino, digital drawing, and model building skills. Prepared and presented tutorials.

Professors: Yolande Daniels, J Jih, Adam Modesitt, Andrew Scott

MIT Architecture Fabrication Labs
Cambridge, MA

Teaching Assistant
Academic Year 2022-23

Shop Monitor
Academic Year 2021-22

Assist students with operation and maintenance of fabrication shop tools, from laser cutters to hand tools. Work one-on-one with students to creatively translate design ideas into physical fabrications.

[dhd] derek hoeferlin design
St. Louis, MO

Research Assistant
Summer 2017

Conducted research and produced drawings for ongoing design-research project “Watershed Architecture” supported by Washington University in St. Louis. Investigated the relationship of political conditions to watershed health in the Mississippi, Rhine, and Mekong rivers.

Washington University College of Architecture
St. Louis, MO

Teaching Assistant
Spring 2018, Spring 2019

Intro To Design Processes II

Selected as T.A. for required second semester freshman studio. Facilitated teaching digital design including Rhino, digital drawing, and model building skills. Prepared and presented tutorials.

Professors: Kelly Murphy, Bruce Lindsey

Awards

Sidney B. Karofsky '37 Prize
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2022

Awarded to two outstanding Masters of Architecture degree candidates who have demonstrated the highest excellence in architectural studies.

Frederick Widmann Prize in Architecture
Washington University in St. Louis
2019

Presented to one undergraduate annually, awarded by the College of Architecture faculty to a student demonstrating excellence in their academic career.
“Through a bequest from the late Frederick Widmann, an annual prize of at least $1,500 is offered to the best architectural student in the University.”

The Elizabeth S. Schmerling Endowed Scholarship
Washington University in St. Louis
2018

Merit scholarship awarded by a faculty committee to students in their final year of study who demonstrate superior academic performance, innovative thought, and a commitment to the study and understanding of architecture.

Laskey Charrette Award
Washington University in St. Louis
2017

Sophomore design charrette competition winner, awarded by outside jury.

Skills

Digital:

revit, rhinoceros, V-Ray, lumion, photoshop, indesign, illustrator, after effects, AutoCAD, MasterCam, RhinoCam,*

Analog:

drafting, sketching, watercolor, model making, casting, ceramics, machine assembly and wiring, various printmaking (...screenprint, block, monotype, letterpress...) and book binding (...coptic, side-sewn, accordion, perfect...) techniques, *

* and constantly adding more to my repertoire !

©2024