Gabe Nolle

Growing up in rural Western Pennsylvania, architecture wasn’t obvious to me until I read Fallingwater Rising by Franklin Toker (former Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the History of Art and Architecture Department) the summer I graduated high school. That moment transformed my path, inspiring me to study at the University of Pittsburgh and fostering a deep admiration for the work of Frank Lloyd Wright.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies from Pitt and a Master of Architecture from Syracuse University, I worked for renowned biophilic design firm Cookfox Architects in New York City. My work as an architect has ranged from high-end residences to large-scale towers and everything in between. In 2017, I returned to Pittsburgh to start a family and, later, joined Pitt’s faculty as a Teaching Assistant Professor. Today, I teach and help coordinate our program's Foundation Studio, Design Studio 1, and courses in building sciences. I also developed and teach our newest studio offering, the Fallingwater Studio, which takes place over the summer and includes a residency for students at the UNESCO World Heritage site.

In addition to teaching, I advise students in our department, helping them develop their academic and professional paths. Whether mentoring students through design studios or supporting them in building professional portfolios, my goal is to train future architects to understand the interconnectedness of design processes within context, space, and time. I take great pride in guiding students as they matriculate through their Architectural Studies degrees and pursue graduate studies or transition directly into the profession.