Szende is Assistant Professor of Architecture in the field of Building Sciences and Materiality at Université Laval’s School of Architecture. She has been involved in university and higher education architecture for over twelve years. She has created curricula and taught complex studios, seminars and courses devoted to the general practice of architecture, building science and computational environmental optimization in Europe and North America. More recently, she has taught and supervised undergraduate and graduate architecture workshops at the Université de Montréal School of Architecture as a visiting professor.
She holds an integrated BA+MA and a PhD in architecture from her home university, the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca in Romania. Her doctoral research focused on urban space and ideology in experimental housing districts in Eastern Europe in the second half of the 20th century, deciphered using analytical tools such as computational spatial syntax to link spatial configurations to social effects.
She is a researcher interested in the development of digital workflows for optimization processes focused on environmental performance, a topic at the intersection of two areas of interest: construction and ecological transition, and digital modeling and design.
She has organized and taught workshops internationally and presented her work at prestigious conferences such as eCAADe, CAADRIA and IASS. In addition to several conference papers on a wide range of architectural issues, she has published a book and a book chapter on higher education in architecture.
Finally, she is a certified architect and urban planner with a wealth of practical experience acquired on two continents in renowned agencies. She recently worked as an architectural designer and environmental consultant for a well-established architectural firm in Montreal.