SPOKANE, Wash. — Three Interdisciplinary Design Institute faculty have been named in the construction management, interior design, architecture and landscape architecture programs at Washington State University Spokane.
Lawrence Hokanson, ScD, PE, joins the construction management program with the Interdisciplinary Design Institute as a clinical associate professor. He will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, advise students and interact with the Inland Northwest construction industry.
Hokanson acted as visiting associate professor at WSU Spokane this last year. Prior to joining WSU Spokane he taught civil engineering at WSU in Pullman and at the University of Idaho. He also served as the base civil engineer, commander and fire marshal at the 377th Civil Engineering Squadron at the Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. Hokanson has extensive international experience in engineering issues with Thailand, Saudi Arabia, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Korea.
Hokanson earned his doctorate in science in civil engineering/soil mechanics and foundation engineering (geotech) from New Mexico State University. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University in civil engineering and construction management.
Matthew Melcher, M.Arch, has been named assistant professor in interior design with the Interdisciplinary Design Institute. He will teach interior design studio and lecture courses as well as advise senior and graduate level students and mentor student activities.
Previously, Melcher was a temporary assistant professor with WSU Spokane. His professional experience includes working as principal of IDR Studio in Spokane since March 1999, principal of Melcher Sinisterra Design-Build in Seattle and practitioner with Olson Sundberg Architects in Seattle.
Melcher has been recognized with several awards for his work. His design, with WSU Spokane faculty member Nancy Clark Brown and local designer Juliet Sinisterra, of an office space in the Holley-Mason Building in downtown Spokane, received the American Institute of Architects Spokane Chapter’s Honor Award and Best in Show for interior design at the 2001 Interior Design Educators Council International Conference.
Melcher received his master of architecture with honors from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and his bachelor’s degree in environmental design from the University of Washington.
Keith Diaz Moore, Ph.D., has been named assistant professor of architecture & landscape architecture with the Interdisciplinary Design Institute. Moore will teach undergraduate and graduate interdisciplinary studios and seminars and coordinate graduate design studios.
As visiting associate professor prior to his permanent appointment, Moore taught undergraduate and graduate interdisciplinary studios and seminars from a social perspective since 1999. His research focuses on the socio-physical aspects of the design and organization of adult day care centers for the cognitively impaired. Prior to his experience with WSU Spokane, Moore was the project coordinator at the Institute on Aging and Environment at the University of Wisconsin. He coordinated research and consulting projects related to gerontological environments.
Moore received his doctorate in architecture from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, his master’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana in architectural studies. The Interdisciplinary Design Institute at WSU Spokane advances knowledge to enhance the quality of people’s lives in the built and natural environment through interdisciplinary instruction, research and community service in design and construction.
