Christopher Roach

Christopher Roach

Christopher Roach is a San Francisco-based architect and urbanist with over 25 years of experience in the profession and a deep commitment to both the built environment and society.13 He is the founder and principal of Studio VARA, an interdisciplinary design studio driven by a passion for excellence in design, service, and execution across a wide range of project types.14

Roach holds a Bachelor of Architecture with Honours from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Architecture in Urban Design with distinction from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.1 While at Harvard, he received several awards for his work, including the Urban Design Thesis Prize, the Gerald M. McCue Medal for highest academic achievement in post-professional programs, and awards for academic leadership and excellence in urban design.2

In addition to his professional practice, Roach currently serves as a Senior Adjunct Professor of Architecture at the California College of the Arts (CCA), where he teaches advanced studios and seminars focused on housing, urbanism, and the design of architectural practice.14 He is also the Co-Director of the Urban Works Agency at CCA, where he has co-produced exhibitions, symposia, and installations exploring topics such as housing, the post-retail city, and the ground floor of the city.35

Roach's research has focused on reimagining the public and private realms in the "post-retail" metropolis and reshaping our urban footprint into a more resilient, just, and bountiful common space.15 His collaborations with students, faculty, community organizations, and industry partners have resulted in several books on this subject, including "Apocalypse Now! Project for the Post-Retail City: Rethinking the Ground Floor" and "Common Ground: Project for the Post-2020 City: Remaking the Ground Floor".1