Mary Guzowski

Professor, Architecture

"Let the beauty we love, be what we do." –Rumi

Mary Guzowski is a Professor in the School of Architecture at the University of Minnesota. She teaches and conducts research related to daylighting, biophilic, and sustainable design. Her recent research has focused on aesthetic and ecological innovations in daylighting and biophilic design. She is currently collaborating with colleagues on a new book on the integration of biometric, circadian, biophilic, and regenerative approaches to daylighting design. Recent research includes collaboration with faculty from the College of Biological Sciences, Computer Science, and the School of Architecture to explore biophilic and biomimetic approaches to architectural design to support human and planetary health and well-being.

Her research publications include the books Art of Architectural Daylighting (Laurence King), Towards Zero Energy Architecture: New Solar Design (Laurence King) and Daylighting for Sustainable Design (McGraw Hill); web-based design resources including the Biophilic Net-Positive Design Project and the Carbon Neutral Design Project, Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide, the Minnesota Green Housing Design Guide, and scholarly and professional articles. Mary has received awards for her contributions to ecological design education from the American Institute of Architect’s Committee on the Environment (AIA COTE), the AIA Minnesota, and the Associate Collegiate School of Architecture (ACSA). She recently received the Honorable Achievement Award for Climate Change Curriculum in Energy and Design from the Tulane Prize for Climate Change at the University of Tulane. She and Billy Weber, in collaboration with Emilie Snell-Rood and Dimitri Smirnoff (College Biological Sciences). received the winning submission for architectural research for the Sustainable Six 2.0 Competition sponsored by the School of Collective Building (SOCB) and Dezeen. The research will be included in a traveling exhibition in Europe and a book publication on research innovations in sustainable design.

Credentials

Master of Architecture, University of Washington

Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts, Kalamazoo College

Selected Scholarship

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Published Books & Chapters

Mary G Sustainable Six

Sustainable Six 2.0 Competition

Guzowski, M. and B. Weber in Collaboration with E. Snell-Rood and D. Smirnoff. "A Bio-Inspired Cold Climate Facade: Lessons from the Emperor Penguin". Vienna, Austria, 2026, traveling exhibition and book publication (pending). Watch a short video about this research.

 

 

Visionary Challenge 2020 by Mary Guzowski Book Cover

Visionary Challenge 2020

Guzowski, M. (2021). “Daylight as a Design Driver for Biophilic Lighting: Integrating Health and Net-Positive Energy”. IES Visionary Challenge, Beyond 2030: What Do You See?, New York: Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, 160–171, 2021, book chapter, national publication.

 

 

The Art of Architectural Daylighting book cover

Art of Architectural Daylighting

Guzowski, M. Art of Architectural Daylighting. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd., 2018. (Published in English, Chinese, and Spanish; international distribution.)

 

 

 

 

Towards Zero Energy Architecture book cover

Towards Zero Energy Architecture: New Solar Design

Guzowski, M. Towards Zero Energy Architecture: New Solar Design. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd., 2010. (Published in English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Italian; international distribution.)

 

 

 

 

Daylighting for Sustainable Design book cover

Daylighting for Sustainable Design 

Guzowski, M. Daylighting for Sustainable Design. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000. (Published in English in 2000, Chinese 2002, and Japanese in 2004; international distribution.)

 

 

 

 

Sustainable Energy Landscapes book cover

Sustainable Energy Landscapes: Designing, Planning and Development

Lehrman, B. and L. Abraham, M. Guzowski, and L. Neckar.  “Chapter 21: Towards the Zero+ Campus: multi-disciplinary design pedagogy and the energy-water nexus,” for the book Sustainable Energy Landscapes: Designing, Planning and Development; editors: A. van den Dobbelsteen and S. Stremke; London: CRC/Taylor & Francis Group. (Peer review chapter, 2012.) 

Published Articles

Select Grants Received

  • Guzowski, M. (PI); Interrante, V. (Co-PI), and Weber, W., Handeen, D., Graves, R., Snell-Rood, E. and Travisano, M. (Project Team), “ Bio-Inspired Daylighting as a Design Driver for Health & Sustainable Performance: Integrating Virtual Reality with Computational Design Tools”; Digital Design Center, University of Minnesota, 2024-2025.
  • Snell-Rood, E. (PI); Borrello, M.; Guzowski, M.; Shaw, R.; Roehrig, G.; Travisano, M. (Co-PIs); Rossi-Mastracci, J. and Weber, W. (Senior Personnel), "Agency, Directionality, and Function: Foundations for a Science of Purpose," John Templeton Foundation, 2021-2024.
  • Abimbola, A. and M. Guzowski, "Sustainable Design Expansion to the Lighting Minor," Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education, 2021-2022 (Co-PI).
  • Guzowski, M. and Abi Asojo, Genell Ebbini, Joe Favour, Richard Graves, Jessica Rossi-Mastracci, "A Biophilic Approach to Net-Positive Design, College of Design, University of Minnesota, 2020-2021 (P.I.). Website: Biophilic Net-Positive Design Project.
  • Asojo, A., and M. Guzowski, Lighting Design Minor, Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education, 2018-2020 (Co-P.I.).
  • Graves, R. and B. Keeler (Co-P.I.); M. Guzowski, S. Polasky, S. Hobbie, J. Hellman, and R. Strong. “Sustainable Development: Architecture and Planning within the Ecological Footprint of One Planet,” Grand Challenges Research Grant, University of Minnesota, 2016-2018 (Research Team Member).
  • Guzowski, M. "Art of Architectural Daylighting," Imagine Fund, University of Minnesota, 2015-16 (P.I.).
  • Strong, R. and M. Guzowski (2010-12: L. Neckar, L. Abraham, B. Lehrman, et al). “Zero+ Campus Design Project,” Office of the Provost, University of Minnesota, 2010-2015 (Co-P.I.).
  • Wasley, J., T. Meyer Boake, M. Guzowski, and J. Quale.  “Carbon Neutral Design Project,” American Institute of Architects (AIA), 2008-2009 with the educational initiative on-going, AIA and Oak Hill Foundation (Co-P.I.).
  • Guzowski M. and J. Carmody.  “Initiative for Renewable Energy in Architecture (reARCH),” Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), 2006-2008 (P.I.).
  • Carmody. J, M. Guzowski, and R. Strong. “Minnesota Zero Energy Design Protocol (mnZED Protocol),” MPCA, 2007-2009 (Co-P.I.).
  • Carmody, J., F. Forsyth, M. Guzowski, P. Huelman, and L. Lavine.  “Affordable Housing Initiative,” U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs; 2004-2007 (Co-P.I.).
  • Guzowski, M., L. Lavine, and P. Huelman. “Phase One:  The Single Family Pilot House Demonstration Project,” Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, 2002-2004 (P.I.).
  • Carmody, J. and M. Guzowski.  “Integrating Sustainable Design and Affordable Housing in Minnesota (Minnesota Green Housing Design Guide),” Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (MnOEA), State of Minnesota, 2002-2004 (Co-P.I.).

Select Paintings

Horizons

Seasonal Meditations
Cold Wax & Oil

Painting is an opportunity to witness and engage the changing qualities and moods of the seasons. It is a type of meditation that draws on direct experience and observations of nature.  The paintings are developed “in season” and throughout the year. They are intended to capture an ever-changing spirit and quality of time and place. These imagined landscapes communicate impressions of time as experienced in my day-to-day life. Painting keeps me connected with the beauty and ever-changing cycles of nature.

View More of Mary's Paintings

Six selected paintings by Mary Guzowski

Mary Guzowski

Mary Guzowski

Specialties & Expertise:

Daylighting, Solar Design, Biophilic and Sustainable Design

Contact

Phone
Address
151B Rapson Hall
89 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Map address