ºÚÁÏÍø

Dr. Coffman is a global leader and distinguished figure in the area of living architecture whose research and publications have helped establish the understanding of green roofs as constructed ecosystems.

As a leader, he has been the primary force in growing North America’s capacity for scientific publication and the development of a U.S. academic network to deliver preprofessional education enabling students to join the green roof profession.  His intellectual contributions include pioneering the concept of vegetative roofs as urban ecosystems (2007); providing the concept of ‘biodispersing buildings’ in which buildings disperse vegetation for landscape restoration (2014); and offering a roof cultivation approach for rare plant species threatened by climate change (2020).

Currently, he is the North American Chair of Regional Academic Centers of Excellence program (GRHC), Executive Director of the Greater Ohio Living Architecture (GOLA) Center, and Director of the Novel Ecology Design Lab (NEDLab). He is the Past Editor of the Journal of Living Architecture and Past Chair of the International Research Committee on Living Architecture (GRHC). 

At Kent State, he is a Professor and Coordinator of the Master of Science in Architecture and Environmental Design. His teaching focuses on interdisciplinary coursework to aid students in the understanding, conceptualization, design, and construction of contrived ecological systems.

Dr. Coffman leads and advises doctoral and masters students in dissertation, thesis and graduate projects in CAED, Kent State and other institutions. 

Courses: Living Architecture, Green Roofs and Walls, Design Studio, Research Methods

More information visit