Tom Wiscombe
Tom Wiscombe is an American architect based in Los Angeles, California. He is the founder and principal of Tom Wiscombe Architecture. Wiscombe's work is often categorized within the lineage of Deconstructivism, stemming from his early career at Coop Himmelb(l)au, as well as contemporary movements such as Speculative Realism and Object-Oriented Ontology. His design approach integrates computational modeling with tectonics influenced by aerospace engineering.
Career
Wiscombe began his career as an intern at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, where his father served as a chief scientist. He was later employed for over ten years at the Viennese firm Coop Himmelb(l)au, where he served as a project partner and chief designer for international projects including BMW Welt and the UFA Cinema Center. In 2006, he founded the firm Tom Wiscombe Architecture in Los Angeles.Notable projects and competition results include:P.S.1 MoMA : Winner of the Young Architects Program for a temporary installation in the P.S.1 courtyard.Kinmen Passenger Service Center : Awarded second prize in an international competition for a maritime terminal in Taiwan.Sunset Spectacular : A competition-winning digital billboard and public plaza in West Hollywood developed with Orange Barrel Media.Blockchains City : A master plan for a proposed development in Nevada, designed in collaboration with EYRC Architects.The Dark Chalet : A residential project in Utah utilizing integrated solar technology to generate a reported surplus of energy.Qiddiya Performing Arts Centre : Winner of an international competition for a cultural venue in Saudi Arabia.
Academic Career and Resignation
Wiscombe has held academic positions including the Louis I. Kahn Visiting Assistant Professorship at Yale University and visiting professorships at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a senior faculty member and Chair of the Bachelor of Architecture program at the Southern California Institute of Architecture for over ten years.In March 2022, Wiscombe and his partner were placed on administrative leave by SCI-Arc following student allegations of exploitative labor practices at TWA. Following an independent investigation commissioned by the school's board of trustees into whether these practices aligned with institutional values, Wiscombe resigned from the school in September 2022.